How to Handle a Nosy Neighbor

If life was like a cartoon, you could stick a firecracker in the end of your neighbour’s binoculars and light it on fire. Unfortunately, this is just not acceptable behavior in the real world. So, what do you do with that neighbour who always seems to have one eye pinned to your yard? Well, you can always wait until nightfall, make a little noise and let them see you digging holes in the backyard.

Ignore Them

Like bees and other pests, sometimes, if you just ignore them, they will go away. While this does not work with all nosy neighbours, there are some that really are trying to push your buttons or get attention. Try pretending like they are not even there. This does not mean that you have to ignore them completely when they wave hello, but do not acknowledge that you know they are watching you.

Kill Them with Kindness

There is a good chance that this neighbour has been nosy and confronted before by someone else, at some time. Although the first reaction may be to be mean and lash out, sometimes the opposite approach is better. Try baking them something and when you see them peeking through their window, take a treat over to them. Make a point to let them know you “noticed” they were home in the window and you hope you aren’t intruding on their privacy to just stop over unexpected.  They may learn a little from your thoughtfulness.

Stay Out of the Gossip

Talking about the private affairs of others without their consent is really never a good idea. Gossip hurts and it causes a lot of problems. Sure, you probably gossip with your family and friends, and for the most part, a lot of this is innocent. However, when you start getting involved with gossip around the neighbourhood, it often backfires and makes you the target for attention. When people know you feed the fire, neighbours will start watching your every move to make you the topic of conversation. Just stay out of it!

Confront Them

Sometimes the only thing you can do is approach the situation head on. Remember, the way you begin the conversation is how they will respond. If you go over to their house banging on the door and screaming, they will be defensive and hostile as well. Try to tell them nicely that you respect their privacy and you would appreciate it if they would do the same. You can always tell them that you are extremely private or overly sensitive and that you have anxiety attacks when you know someone is watching you. It does not have to be true, it just has to work.

Barricade

If nothing else works, take your privacy back, whether they like it or not. A privacy fence is a good place to start. Keep in mind that you will likely need some type of building permit before you get started. You can also plant a nice line of small trees or tall shrubs to break up the property and offer privacy as well.

What to Do if Furniture Doesn’t Fit Through the Door

Moving in many cases is related to transferring not just your personal belongings but also some of your furniture. Unless of course you have sold it out in a sale you have organized or online before moving out. Sometimes the new home may be smaller or you may find it cheaper to leave the old furniture and sell it to the new owner instead of shipping it, especially if you are moving long distance. Whatever the reason, you see that you will need to buy new furniture. Usually modern buildings are made to fit the standard size furniture so whatever you decide to buy for your new home will most probably fit but this is not always the case.

Older buildings may need extra work to get your couch or table in. You may also have larger pieces of furniture like a king size mattress or a piano. And this is the key moment to note the that its size is very important. What every moving expert will recommend to you is to measure the furniture before buying it so that you make sure it will match the room it is meant for and fit through the door. Otherwise moving becomes a bit more complicated. Still, if furniture doesn’t fit through door there are ways out of it.

If you can prevent this situation from happening to you – this would be the best outcome. First of all, measure the size of your new home and the furniture that will go through it. This is how not only you will know if it will fit the room but also if it will go through the door. You also need to know the width of the hall and the staircase if the couch is going up stairs.

If you plan to purposely buy a larger piece of furniture then you can plan better how to deal with it and organize it in time. If this situation occurred to you without predicting it then take a look at these tips. What to do if furniture won’t fit through door?

What if the Furniture does not Fit the Door?

Here you will find a few possible solutions that you can use. Of course, every case is different so you need to decide which option is applicable for you. What is not advisable is trying to break or move walls – especially if you are renting the place. Some of the walls are made with a supportive function so breaking them or moving them can threaten the strength of the construction of the whole building especially if you don’t know which walls carry this function. However precious or expensive is your furniture getting it in must not be done in a dangerous way like this. The safe options that you have to choose from if your furniture doesn’t fit through door are listed below.

Measure the furniture when you by it and the door frame. This is how you can be sure that when your couch, table, etc. arrive, they can go through the door without a problem.

Before thinking of serious measures like hoisting or dissembling furniture try and see if it will go through the door anyway. Things like couches and sofas are soft and if you measure them according to their full length, width and height it may seem impossible to get them in. Anyway, try to get your sofa in vertically. Or think of different angles through which you can try to get it in and maneuver. If it doesn’t work, remember that a couple of inches from the soft area of the couch can be squeezed in through the door frame either way.

If furniture won’t fit through door you can take a large blanket and place your couch on it on its end. Wrap it up with the blanket and then carry it through the door. It will be easier to get it in like this. The blanket will also provide protection for the couch surface during carrying.

If you need just a little bit extra space see if you can take the door out of the hinges. Another potential problem solver is the door frame – it can add up another 1/2 inch, if necessary. It is fixed with nails – if you can get them out and get your furniture in, then you can place back the door frame and the door itself.

Perhaps this is the best option of all. First of all, you have experts who know how to move large furniture, dismantle it or assemble it – in general how to handle it safely. Since you are probably going to use a moving company for your moving anyway you can ask them to fix the problem. If this is a couch, cupboard or other stuff that can be taken into parts use the opportunity. 

Moving companies’ professionals do this all the time – they are used to the process so much that it is the most regular thing for them to do and while you worry how to handle the situation they’ll just come and do the job. In this case if your furniture won’t fit through door and you call a moving company you will have nothing to worry about.

In a case when your furniture won't fit the door you can count on movers - they have a routine in handling cases like this.

The movers can dissemble that and then assemble it back for you. Whether the movers take this approach or decide to get your furniture in through the window – they will advice you what to do. Save money on hiring movers for that, too. Asking the moving company to use more services from them is one of the ways in which you can ask them to give you a discount for you as well! 

Find movers in your state and contact them to see if they offer this service and at what cost it will be or just use the moving company that has organized your moving. If your furniture doesn’t fit through door your mover may be able to help you with it.

Think about calling back at the store from where you bought your new furniture or another furniture store in the area. Ask them if they can send someone out to dismantle it. They should point you towards such a person or be able to contact you with someone who can recommend such an expert to you.

A similar option is to remove just the legs of a table or chair to get it through if you can instead of taking the whole furniture apart.

Hoisting the furniture through the window or using a crane

This is the last option you can consider using when planning what to do if your furniture didn’t fit through the door – try with the window but measure it first of course. In this case you may have to hoist your furniture down from the roof or through the balcony. This is very dangerous to do if you do not have any experience in it so even though you can hire the equipment from such companies always call experts – use a moving company. They have the professionals and know the technology in which a furniture can be hauled up through the window if it won’t go through the door.

This approach is good but sometimes it can not be applied – the terrace of your neighbour is up stairs or for some other reason. In these situations you can also use a crane but again remember – for yours and your belongings’ safety only real professionals should do such work.

Break Your Back While Moving!

Rentabox knows moving can be a very stressful time. It can become even more stressful if you injure yourself in the process. Therefore, we have created a list of precautions everyone should take to ensure that you do not injure yourself while in the process of moving.

Think of moving, especially lifting boxes, like any other exercise– you must stretch first if you really would like to prevent any damage to your body from happening. You should definitely stretch your arms, legs, and back since those will be the parts of the body that will be used the most while lifting. Check out this site for ways to stretch these parts of your body for a move.

There are many ways to lifting boxes, however many people tend to do it wrong. The proper way to lift a box to keep yourself injury free is to:

• Bend at the knees, not the waist.
• Keep the object you’re lifting close to your body.
• Do not twist your body.
• Avoid lifting things over your head.
• Position legs apart.
• Get a good grip and lift with the legs, not the back.
• When moving something, push rather than pull.
• Keep your footing secure.
• Lift smoothly and slowly; do not jerk.
• Use a dolly to carry objects when possible.

The main key to lifting a box is to put more pressure on your legs over your back so as not to strain your back. Hand carts should become your best friend when moving because they not only make moving many boxes at once easier, but it also alleviates the stress on your body since you are not carrying boxes, just pushing them. If you can, avoid lifting at all costs.

Other ways to prevent injury while moving is to wear gloves when lifting heavier objects, especially furniture, so you have a better grip and the object does not fall out of your hands. Also, do not forget to bring plenty of water to keep from becoming dehydrated and if it is possible to move during the morning or early in the day that is also a wise move too because that will prevent you from overheating or tiring out quickly. It would also be wise to have a First-Aid kit handy just in case someone does get a cut or a minor bruise.

Rentabox is all about making moving as little about stress as possible. We do not want something that can be prevented like an injury or strain to your body to effect your move one bit, so take caution when lifting boxes during your move and remember these tips; you will not regret it once your all moved in with no issues.

Top 5 Reasons South Africans Move

We all dream of moving into a home and being able to stay in the same place for years, if not all of our adult lives. Visions of raising our children at the same address, planting a garden, doing home projects, decorating for the holidays, and watching our families grow up are at the base of our culture and part of the South African dream.

If you are considering a move, you’re not alone. Nearly 15% of the SA population moves every year.

Here are the top 5 reasons that might mean it’s time to make a call to your local real estate agent:

Needing More Space

Let’s face it. We get new things all the time. As family needs grow and change, we may need more space than our current home can provide. Many homes are designed with a lot of wasted space, so moving to a newer, more efficient home will help you make the most of what you’ve got, and may even leave room for the changes you may face over the next few years.

Getting Married

If you’re planning on getting married, one or both of you will need to change your address. Although moves are known to be stressful, relocating because of such a happy occasion usually raises adrenalin levels, excitement, and feelings of contentedness. Moving because of marriage should be a relatively low stress occasion.

A New Baby

If you’re expanding your family, sometimes there’s not enough room to live comfortably when the bundle of joy arrives. Moving into a new home with more space will help accommodate your new family member and will keep your family busy until the big day. When you move to a new place, you can look forward to decorating the baby’s nursery, and as the child grows, the nursery can grow and adapt into a bedroom or playroom.

A New Career

If you’ve recently landed a new job, especially if you’ve transferred to another city or province, you’re obviously going to have to move. Being closer to work will save you money over the long run in terms of fuel, wear and tear on your vehicle, or other transportation costs so you can make the most of your new salary.

Retirement

As you enter your golden years, there are numerous things to take into consideration. You may not need the space for your children, as you once did. If you’ve tucked away a nice nest egg, your golden years are often a time of reward and leisure. A smaller space, somewhere warm and tropical, may be just the ticket. Many retirement communities or condo associations have all expenses included rental agreements, and even provide help for those with limited mobility.

Are you moving for any of these reasons? Moving the traditional way puts an unbelievable amount of trash and other waste into our landfills which are harmful to the planet. Why waste time and money on cardboard boxes and tape that you’re just going throw away when you move into your new place? Instead, consider getting green plastic moving boxes from us at Rentabox. We’ll deliver them to you and pick them up from your new address so you don’t have to worry about it. With Rentabox, moving can be a streamlined, pleasant experience all the way around!

At Rentabox, we believe in win/win situations! Call us before your big move, and let us guide you in the right direction!

Must-Have Tools for New Home Owners

Whether you’re building a house or are getting prepared for the moving and storage of your belonging to a new home, there is a list of must-have tools you should consider having. Things become quite difficult when you’re having issues with household items and don’t seem to have a solution for them. I’ve compiled a list of tools I’d suggest as personal must-have’s:

Screw Drivers
Screw drivers are a must-have for everyday chores at home and moving and storage. If you do not own a set of screw drivers presently, I’ll suggest you get one soon right away because you’re probably going to need one soon – especially if you’re getting ready to move to a new home. Go for a set that includes screw drivers of all sizes, i.e. large, small and medium flat or screw drivers (star).

Levels
Levels are quite expensive tools. So, I’d suggest you go for these if you’re going to be having a lot of maintenance jobs or heavy moving and storage activities. A level of 30 cm will be ideal if you’re planning on putting up cornices, hanging mirrors, paintings or adjusting washing machines or fridges. Like the screw drivers, you might also need to use these tools quite often.

Spanners
These tools are not as crucial as levels or screwdrivers, but equally come in handy for a lot of chores like assembling garden tables. Spanners come in various sizes, so I’ll recommend that you get a complete set instead of buying them separately one by one.

Tape Measures
Once you get yourself a tape measure, you’ll forget living without one. I’ll suggest that you buy at least two – one to keep in your car and the second for your home. Tape measure especially come in handy during moving and storage, or while you’re shopping around for things like furniture or appliances that need to be fit into specific spaces in your home. Go for the spring tapes that retract after use. Those will save you the trouble of locking your tapes in place when you’re done with them.

Ladder
I don’t think I even need to elaborate on this one? The only time you won’t need a step ladder is if you’re 8 feet tall – which is very unlikely! Ladders make it possible for us reach up to high levels to do things like cleaning top shelves or changing light bulbs. So, consider getting yourself a safe ladder if you don’t have one already.

Hammers
As a new hone owner, hammers are tools you’re surely going to use quite often. Not only will you need them during the moving and storage, but also after you’ve fully settled in. You’re definitely going to need a hammer to nail up your photo frames or to hang paintings on the wall.

Are you moving soon or in the near future? Moving the traditional way puts an unbelievable amount of trash and other waste into our landfills which are harmful to the planet. Why waste time and money on cardboard boxes and tape that you’re just going throw away when you move into your new place? Instead, consider getting green plastic moving boxes from us at Rentabox. We’ll deliver them to you and pick them up from your new address so you don’t have to worry about it. With Rentabox, moving can be a streamlined, pleasant experience all the way around!