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Whether you seek a better home, plan to buy your own, take on a new job, or save money, moving shouldn’t add additional stress. Here are five tips that will make your move easier.

1. Early Preparations

As soon as you confirm moving plans, make sure to call and arrange your utility contracts. New contracts usually have to be planned for your new home, and old utilities need to be canceled on time.

If you’re a residential mover, to make your move easy, start your search early so that you can get at least three different quotations. Using a mover, make your move easy if you have to take many possessions a long distance. Searching for a mover last minute can make it very stressful and may result in you having to pick one out of desperation, rather than intention.

2. Planning and Drop-Offs

Arrange drop-offs or pick-ups for donations or sales. Getting rid of old items and furniture you can’t take with you is best done in advance. If not, you may end up throwing away perfectly useable items or selling for a lower price than you wanted.
Remember to plan meals in your last weeks at home!

Moving food can be a hassle, and throwing out food is just wasteful. Planning your meals in the last weeks at home can help you finish everything at the right time, and maybe even make a new recipe.

3. Packing Together

Packing smaller items inside larger items can save you time, space, and money. Keeping clothing inside drawers, putting smaller things in containers or pots, and packing suitcases are great ways to save space. Packing smaller items this way can be an easy way to move heavy objects.

4. Labeling

Labeling or color-coding boxes can help you while moving so you don’t break fragile items. Labeling can also make unpacking more efficient so that you can carry boxes directly to the correct rooms.

You can even take pictures of the boxes’ inside, so you know the contents later on.

5. Remember Essentials

Pack a bag of essentials for the moving day. Make sure you have documents, medications, chargers, toiletries, and some clothes so you won’t have to search for them. To make moving easier, remember to leave these items out before packing.

Move Easier Using These Tips

We hope you found these easy moving tips useful. Moving can be stressful and demanding on top of other life responsibilities. Good planning and preparation can help you move easier and save money and time.

If you found this article useful, be sure to check out the rest of our blog, which details other important information about moving. We also have a convenient guide on moving during the pandemic.

Maybe your existing garage door is on its last leg? Perhaps you’re looking to add a garage door for the first time? Whatever the case may be, you’re hoping to learn a little something about new garage door costs.

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’re going to teach you everything there is to know about new garage door prices, ensuring that you make a wise and cost-effective purchase. Let’s go!

How Much is the Average Garage Door Installation?

Garage door installation usually runs between $700 and $1,500. Note, though, that the average garage door installation costs around $1,100.

There are a variety of factors that can affect this price, including but not limited to the garage door material, your geographical location, and the rates that the installation company charges. Regardless, you’re advised to obtain an estimate before receiving any services. That’s the only way to know the true cost.

What are Typical New Garage Door Costs?

Though garage door installation is generally priced as a single value, it consists of a number of sub-values. We’ll discuss these sub-values below.

Labor

If you hire someone to install your garage door for you, you’re going to have to pay somewhere between $200 and $500 for labor. The exact figure is dependent on a variety of factors, including the type of garage door that is installed and your geographical location. Higher-cost-of-living areas will generally have more expensive labor than will lower-cost-of-living areas.

The Door

Garage doors themselves (along with their corresponding tracks) generally cost between $350 and $1,500. Again, the exact figure is highly dependent on various factors, but primarily the style and material of the garage door. We’ll cover more about the different materials below.

Door Lock

An unlockable garage door isn’t much of a garage door at all. As such, you’ll need to install a lock. This will likely cost you between $50 and $300.

Opening Device

Though they’re not required, opening devices can make garage doors much more functional. If you’re going to be parking your vehicle in your garage, you’re advised to install one.

This will set you back between $200 and $500, depending on the quality of the device. Note, though, that it will last you between 15 and 20 years.

Installation Supplies

Let’s say you’re going to install your garage door on your own. If so, you’re going to need a number of supplies, including but not limited to a level, a drill, pliers, and wrenches.

If you don’t already have these tools in your possession, you could end up having to pay several hundreds of dollars for them. Of course, because these tools can benefit you in other situations, paying for them now might not be a bad idea.

Cost of Garage Door By Material

Garage doors are available in a number of different materials, each of which has its own unique set of upsides and downsides. We’ll discuss the cost of each material below.

Steel

The most commonly used garage door material is steel. Why? It’s inexpensive, costing only $600 to $2,000 per door.

Considering its durability and low-maintenance condition, it’s the best budget buy you can find.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is a step up from steel, possessing the same low-maintenance condition but offering more in the way of durability and aesthetic. Fiberglass garage doors can typically be purchased for between $1,000 and $2,200.

Wood

If the aesthetic of your garage door is important to you, you might consider going with wood. Available in a number of styles, it can transform the look of a home.

The cost of wood garage doors? It runs between $750 and $2,000. Note, though, that maintenance costs can add up.

Wood Composite

If you’re interested in buying a garage door that looks like wood but which performs like fiberglass, you’ll be interested in wood composite. Made out of a combination of wood and synthetic materials, it’s wood composite is aesthetically pleasing, durable, and low-maintenance.

The cost of wood composite? It typically falls between $1,000 and $3,500. Note, though, that its maintenance costs are essentially negligible.

Vinyl

Another material to consider is vinyl. Vinyl is similar to fiberglass but typically lasts longer. Like fiberglass, it’s available in a number of styles.

The problem with vinyl is that it’s expensive. Generally speaking, it costs between $1,000 and $2,500. Note, though, that it requires almost nothing in the way of maintenance.

Signs You Need a New Garage Door

Wondering if it’s time for a new garage door? There are a few different signs to look out for. They include the following.

Excessive Noise

The first sign to look out for is excessive noise. If your garage door is much creakier than it used to be, or if it’s taken to grinding when being opened, it is likely in need of attention.

It might just require a repair. But if you’ve had it for over a decade, a full replacement is probably the better option.

Deterioration

You’re also going to want to keep an eye out for excessive deterioration. Broken locks, warped tracks, cracks, dents, dings, and the like can all be an indication that it’s time for a new garage door.

In some cases, repairs will suffice. But in many situations, a full replacement is the more cost-effective choice.

Aesthetic Antiquation

Your garage door is a seismic part of your home’s aesthetic. As such, if it’s antiquated, your home will appear antiquated as well.

This is reason enough to opt for a replacement. You don’t want your garage door dragging down the overall aesthetic of your residence.

Seeking Out Other Such Information?

Now that you know a thing or two about new garage door costs, you might be seeking out similar info. If so, you’re in the right place. We’ve got articles on all types of subjects.

Browse our selection of articles now!

When it comes time to move, there are so many questions on our minds. It seems like a task that is insurmountable, with people, places, and belongings caught in a loophole that hopefully winds up in a new home.

Did you know that being outside can increase your health? When you have a patio, you’re more likely to spend time outside enjoying the fresh air and getting more sunshine.

The problem is that many people don’t know how to go about designing patios. In fact, most people stop before they get started because they feel overwhelmed.

We are going to help you get started by telling you about some of the most common mistakes and how to avoid making them, so you can design a patio you’ll love. Continue reading this article for great tips on patio design.

1. Failing to Set Up Drainage

Putting in drainage is no small task. If you want to grow garden plants, you’ll need to have good drainage. Some areas don’t have a problem with drainage, and you might not even need it for your space—but if you do—it’s a big problem not to have it.

You can see if you need to put pipes in the ground for drainage by checking for surface puddling when it rains. If there is surfacing puddling, that may mean you have compacted layers beneath the surface.

Look out for natural springs as well since they will need to be piped away.

2. Clashing Color

When you design your patio, you should keep color in mind. If your pavers and patio are one color, your house is another color, and furniture and flowers are other colors, you might find you’re with a big mess on your hands.

The last thing you want to do is get your space set up perfectly, just to see that nothing goes well together.

You might even go as far as to break out a color wheel and see how the colors of your different elements will go together. There are also design apps that might allow you to see your space put together virtually to get a better idea of how things will look.

3. Not Measuring for Space Needs

You might see your backyard and think you can eye how much room your new patio needs. Trying to eyeball your measurements is sure to end up in disaster since there are too many elements that go into it.

You’ve got your grill, chairs, firepit, accessories, and other things that will all take up space. If you simply hope that everything is going to fit your requested patio size, you might be in for a big surprise.

Once you do measure for your space, if you decide you want to use pavers to create your patio, make sure you learn how to measure them properly before you get started.

Anytime you are thinking about whether you should measure something or not, just remember the old saying about measuring twice and cutting once. Yes, you should always measure.

4. Picking the Wrong Furniture & Accessories

Before you start picking out furniture and accessories, you need to know what you want it to do for you. Some people want to have big parties, and others want to have a little spot to enjoy their coffee in the mornings.

Once you know what you want to use the space for, it’s a lot easier for you to pick your furniture and accessories.

This is another time when you need to measure your space and measure what you will put in it. If you buy furniture that is too big for a little patio, it will feel overcrowded vs. feeling like a relaxing spot.

When you’re looking through great choices like these patio chairs and tables, use those measurements to see which ones will work best for your space.

Check online reviews to see what people say about each of the products you are thinking about buying. Are any of the problems people mention a dealbreaker for you, or are they something you can work around?

Another key point is that you should keep your style consistent. Your indoor space shouldn’t clash with your outdoor space.

Make sure the furniture and accessories you buy a durable and easy to maintain. Wrought iron, steel, and aluminum are very durable and don’t require a lot of maintenance, so these are often good choices. Keep in mind that you might want to go for other materials and styles if they fit the look you want more.

5. Making the Outdoors Look Like Indoors

When you set up your space, you do want it to flow nicely from indoors to outdoors and vise versa, but you don’t want them to look the same. You want it to be obvious which furniture is for outdoors and which furniture is for indoors.

Having a second living room outside isn’t usually attractive, or a look people go for. Make your patio look unique and inviting.

6. Lack of Decor or Accessories

You have everything you need for your outdoor space, but you realize it feels a little bare. You might be confused about what to do about it. You are trying not to make it look like a living room, but what do you do if you want to decorate?

You can put rugs outdoors and make the space look nice. There are special outdoor rugs that you can purchase. Just make sure something is sitting on them, so they don’t take flight if it gets windy.

Add pops of color by putting colorful pillows or a colorful footrest ottoman in your space. You can add lanterns, stools, benches, fire pits, and more to make your space look unique and enjoyable.

7. Forgetting to Design Around Trees

If you have trees in your backyard, it might be a bit of a challenge to figure out how you want to design around it. Depending on the size of the tree, it might be a bigger or smaller challenge, but there’s always an attractive solution.

If you have a large tree, you can put a swing in its branches and hang out under the tree. There are plenty of ways to make the bottom of the tree look pretty, from ferns and flowers to small shrubs.

Some people are looking for a calming space, which might make an Asian garden a great choice for you, depending on the types of trees you have in your patio area.

If you want to put a deck in your yard, you can still do it if there’s a tree there. You can simply build around it. If you’re worried about how it’s going to affect the tree—don’t—it can actually help it because of the reduction of foot traffic and soil compaction.

8. Lack of Lighting

Once you’ve created your patio paradise, you need to think about how you’ll light it. You can use lighting for more than just seeing in the dark. Use lighting to showcase your patio’s best structural features.

You may even have a special tree nearby that deserves a little extra light to make it look beautiful when you’re relaxing outside in the dark.

When you’re picking out fixtures, make sure they are unique. They can be fun, artsy, or simply task-oriented to lead the way to the door. Know what you want the light to do and find something that fits the bill.

9. Not Setting Up a Focal Point

Do you walk out to your patio, and everything hits you at the same time? Do you feel like you aren’t sure what to look at first?

You can do something as simple as choosing a beautiful outdoor rug to catch attention, or you might opt or something bigger like constructing a pergola. There are many different options for your backyard space.

10. Too Many Plants or No Plants

If your patio is too crowded with plants, you won’t have anywhere to turn. If you choose the wrong plants, you might even attract unwanted pests, so make sure you know what you’re putting in your outdoor space.

If you play it too safe and don’t put any plants in your outdoor space at all, it can look bare and won’t be as enjoyable to hang out. If you aren’t sure how to take care of plants or which plants to choose, you might consider speaking to a professional landscaper for advice on which direction to go.

Designing Patios Like a Pro

Now you know some of the biggest mistakes that happen when you start designing patios. Avoiding these mistakes can help you get one step closer to a patio that is going to be an outdoor oasis.

Do you want to learn more about outdoor design? Continue through our blog for more.

The question is: how do you find the right one? There are a number of factors to consider when hiring a plumber for homes. We’ll get into 6 of these factors below.

1. Cost

Different plumbers charge different rates for different services. Whereas one plumber might charge $50 an hour to snake drains, another might charge $100 an hour to snake drains. As such, before you make a hire, you need to get estimates for the work that you need to be finished.

Any reputable plumber will provide you with a cost estimate upon inquiry. This estimate should come free of charge and should include the broken-down costs of parts and labor.

If a plumber won’t give you an estimate, you should not utilize his or her services. Doing so would make you vulnerable to exceedingly high bills, some of which you might not be able to pay. So, make the call, get an estimate, and know what you’re getting yourself into.

2. Experience

Another factor you’re going to want to consider is experience. Generally speaking, the more experience a plumber has, the higher level of service he or she will provide. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule — new plumbers can get the job done, for instance — but it’s, more or less, a good rule to follow.

Now, what’s the minimum level of experience that you should accept? We recommend a minimum of 2 years. This is enough time for a plumber to have proven his or her ability; if a plumber is still working professionally after this length of time, he or she is capable of getting the job done.

Why avoid plumbers with less experience than this? To put it simply, they’re an unsafe bet. Sure, they might be able to perform quality work, but there’s very little way of knowing that. You don’t want to waste your time and money being the guinea pig.

3. Reputation

Any seasoned plumber will have a reputation of some kind. Your job is to identify what kind of reputation this is. If it’s a positive reputation, the plumber is worth hiring; if it’s a negative one, the plumber should be avoided at all costs.

Now, how do you determine a specific plumber’s reputation? The best option is to ask around. But if that doesn’t prove fruitful, there’s something else you can do: check online review sites.

Sites like Facebook, Yelp, and Google are loaded with reviews for businesses of all kinds, including plumbers. All you have to do is search for plumbers in your area on Google and these reviews will be presented to you.

Generally speaking, it’s best to stick with plumbers with 4-star ratings or greater. The higher the rating, the safer bet the plumber will be.

4. Insurance

When you hire a plumber, you’re inviting someone into your home to perform a task. Unfortunately, in some cases, while in the midst of completing this task, the plumber will actually cause damage to the property. This occurs even with the best of plumbers.

As such, before hiring a plumber, you need to make sure that he or she is properly insured. Insurance will cover the cost of any damages that occur to your home. It will also cover the cost of any injuries that the plumber’s employees suffer on your property.

There are two types of insurance you need to inquire about. One of these is general liability insurance; the other is workers’ compensation insurance. As long as the plumber has both of these insurances in his or her possession, he or she is safe to hire.

5. Certification

In most states, plumbers are required to have specialized plumber’s licenses. These are issued by the state itself and indicate that the plumber does, indeed, have the skill and knowledge necessary to perform the work in a satisfactory manner.

If a plumber is operating without a license from his or her respective state, there’s a good chance that he or she is working illegally. Look up your particular state’s laws and find out what the qualifications are. Departments of Labor should be able to furnish you with this information.

You should also note that most states provide license lookup tools. These enable anyone to type in the name of a business and discover what licenses that business has in effect.

Just go to Google and type in “[name of your state] license lookup tool”. It should be one of the top results returned.

6. Required Services

The last factor to consider when choosing a plumber is the services that you require. Simply put, not all plumbers provide all plumbing services. While some do, others are experts in only a few key areas, like water damage, for instance.

As such, before hiring your plumber, you need to make sure that he or she can handle all of the tasks that need to be tended to. So, if you need to have your septic line cleaned, for example, you need to make sure that your chosen plumber is capable of doing such.

Most plumbers have a list of their services on their websites. If one doesn’t, you can simply make a call and ask. Any reputable plumber will be happy to speak with you.

Finding the Right Plumber for Homes Is as Simple as Considering These 6 Factors

If your goal is to find the right plumber for homes, you need only to consider these 6 factors. Doing so will help you to identify the perfect candidate, one who is experienced, skilled, and legally certified.

In need of other such info? Our website is the place to be. Check out our other articles right now!