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.

How a Nanny Can Help During Your Local Move

If you have a child, then the process of moving and storage is significantly more stressful. If you are single and living alone or married, you can get away with tossing everything in boxes, eating a bag of pretzels for breakfast and not worrying about a shower until you find the box with the bathroom stuff later that night. Children are sensitive to changes in their schedule. They need a healthy breakfast and bath time needs to happen as scheduled in the new house, whether you are ready or not. A nanny can help more than you can imagine.

Pack a Personal Box
Your nanny will likely have a good idea as to what your child’s favorite toy of the day is, so they can be very helpful in packing a personal box for your child. This box should include everything needed immediately at the new house so their daily routine is not interrupted. Pajamas, toothbrush, change of clothes, toys, and homework, if applicable, should go in this box. This way, you do not have to dig through piles of boxes at the new house just to find a few necessary odds and ends.

Outing During Moving Time
If moving and storage is being done locally, you can have the nanny take your child for a fun-filled excursion. This gets them out of the way of the movers and they do not have to feel unsettled by watching their belongings carried in and out. This will help make the move a positive experience too. They can go to the zoo, park, museum, movies or anywhere else that is fun in your local area.

Keep them Occupied
The last thing you want while you are trying to unpack is children running around or looking for your attention every few minutes. Your nanny can keep them occupied while you are busy. If they did not go somewhere fun during the move, you can try to get some unpacking done while they are still gone.
If the movers came bright and early before any places opened, then the nanny can always take the children somewhere fun once you have arrived at the new house, so you can have a few hours of unpacking time.

Maintain Structure
Your nanny plays a key role in your child’s life. Quite often, there are many days when they see your child more hours than you do. They provide a great deal of stability, which is why they are often so recommended during a divorce.

Contact with the nanny will be the constant that your child needs in their life to know that nothing has changed. Sure, they are in a new location, but everything else is the same.

Moving and storage is as stressful for children as it is for adults. They are not packing or paying expenses, but even watching their toys boxed up can be overwhelming. Your nanny will offer the reassurance they need to feel safe in a confusing situation.

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!

The Top What-If Questions Asked by People Moving

Just before a move I always doubt our decision; usually, it's too late to back out (although, I'm a firm believer it's never too late). These doubts come from my own fears of the move not working out. Find out what the common "What if?" questions are then face the fear to see that if even the worst happens, you'll be okay.

• What if the movers don't show up on moving day? This is the most common fear when you've hired movers to move you. I've never actually had it happen, but friends did and they were moving an entire house across the country on a very tight time line. If this does happen, first try to get in touch with the driver of the truck to see if he or she's been delayed. If the movers simply refuse to move you, get out your list of the moving companies you had previously interviewed and call each one to see if other arrangements can be made. If you're moving during the off-season, movers might be able to move you on short notice, but if you're moving across the country, this will be almost impossible.
  If movers are unable to accommodate your move for that day, book it for the next day or as soon as possible. To avoid potential time issues, that is having to move out on a specific day because others are moving in, make sure when you're scheduling your move that you allow time for these kinds of delays. If possible, arrange your move-out day two days in advance of the drop-dead date. This will ensure that you have time to deal with these kinds of issues should they arise.
  
• What if the truck I reserved from the rental agency loses my reservation? This just happened to a friend of mine who'd reserved a moving truck months in advance. She managed to find another agency with a truck available the morning she needed it, but that was pure luck (and a lot of phone calls).
  Again, have a back-up plan. Know which agencies have trucks available for that day by calling a few days before your move. Keep a list with telephone numbers and prices. Also, find out where you'll be picking up the truck since some agencies may require you to drive a long way first, cutting into your move time.
  
• What if the people (friends and family) I asked to help me move, cancel? This is always difficult, in particular if you're counting on friends and family rather than paid help. I always keep a list of movers handy, local people who do local moves. If they aren't busy on a move, often they'll help you for a fee, just make sure you let them know that you don't need their truck. The other option is to call up your friends two days before the move to confirm that they are definitely helping out. Always offer dinner or drinks or both afterward just as extra incentive.
  
• What if our new home isn't ready to move into on the day we move out of our old home? This happened to us once. We ended up having to pay the movers to load and unload our stuff into storage for a few days until the new place was ready. We insisted that our landlord pay for the storage fees, simply because it was her error. She agreed.
  It's always a good idea to build this kind of contingency plan into your budget as well. Adding extra money to the budget allows for such errors to occur and for you to have the funds to amend them. While storage isn't cheap and paying movers to move it twice adds up, at least your things will be safe and secure while your new home awaits.
  
• What if the movers don't arrive with our things on the day they're supposed to? This can happen if you move a long distance. Movers have to give you a move in window of time in which they'll arrive, so make sure that's written into your contract. Ultimately, if the movers are late, there's not a lot you can do except continue to call the moving company on a regular (daily at least) basis then wait. If you feel the company is not being straight up with you, then you should contact the BBB and report the problem. Let the movers know that you'll be reporting them if your things don't arrive soon.
  
• What if after the move I find some stuff missing?
  It's important when you move in, that you play an active role in checking off your items as they come through the door. Using the household inventory sheet, check each item to make sure it's there. If you're missing a box or an item, don't sign the waybill or make sure the item is clearly marked so the company can try to trace the item. If the move truck is sharing moves between a few households, your item may have ended up at another home. It's up to the company to trace the item and to pay for replacing it. Just make sure you have adequate insurance and that you report missing items as soon as possible; at least three days within the move.
  
  
  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!
   

What should I expect on moving day?

Question: What should I expect on moving day?

 

A reader wanted to know what to expect on moving day. She said her family was packed up and ready for the moving company, but wondered if I had any last minute tips for moving day. It's a great question, because no matter how well you prepare, there will always be some things missed so knowing what might happen and what to expect helps ease the stress.

Answer: Here are the top five things people are most likely to forget to do that have lead to some last minute scrambling on moving day:

1. Don't forget to save room for the moving truck. Whether you're hiring movers or moving yourself, you're going to need to ensure that there's a parking space for the moving truck. It's always a good idea to notify your neighbours of the move and that you'll be using the front parking spaces or the back alley or whatever space is best for your move. Remember, that if you're hiring a moving company, you'll need to make sure that the truck is parked close to both the old house, where you're moving from, and the new home, where you're moving to. If you don't block off enough parking space and the movers have to park down the street, you may be charged extra for what movers call a long carry.


2. Notify the neighbours. While this point has already been mentioned, it's worth mentioning again. Not only should neighbours be aware of the parking space you'll need, but also of any inconvenience they may encounter because of your move. If you're moving on a weekend, when neighbours are more likely to be home, it's good to let them know that you'll be using the sidewalk or the space out front or that more cars will be parked out front.


3. Have cash on hand. Tipping the movers and having cash on hand for pizza or snacks or any last minute things that you might need will save you the trouble of having to dig for a credit card or running to the bank at the last minute. Most movers appreciate a cash tip so have it ready before they arrive and keep it somewhere that's easy to access after your move in is complete.


4. Remember to leave the keys behind. Before moving day, make sure you know what you're supposed to do with the house keys. If you're renting, make arrangements with your landlord; if you own your home, remember to check with the real estate agent or the new owners. Also collect all copies of the keys beforehand; from your children, spouse, friends or relatives. Have them ready for the new owners. And don't forget to have the keys to your new home ready when you arrive. Having movers wait to move you into a new space while you try to track down the keys, may cost you extra.


5. Have detailed driving directions to the new house. You may know how to get to your new home, but the movers might have a harder time. If you have detailed instructions, including where to park, the moving company will appreciate your organization. Also, friends and family who are helping you move will need to know where to go; the last thing you want to worry about is making sure that everyone is following you. Moving day isn't a good day to keep a convoy together!

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!