Guest Post - 3 Things First-Time Parents Should Know About Moving into Their First Home

Buying a house is a huge milestone in any person’s life–having a baby, an even bigger. What about doing both of those things at the same time? Whether you’re a first-time parent with a newborn or you’re expecting the arrival of your baby soon, there is a lot to consider when moving into your first home with your new family. Here are three important things you should know.

Choosing the Right Home

As a new parent searching for your family’s first home, there are a few things you need to consider. First, with each house you view, you should ask yourself whether or not the floor plan makes sense for you and your family. For example, you’ll want to be as close to your new baby as possible, so consider single-story homes with a master bedroom that’s close to a bedroom that you could use as a nursery. It helps to look a little into the future as well. Your baby won’t be a baby forever. Eventually, he or she will be old enough to walk around on his or her own. At that point, you’ll need as much visibility as possible, so opt for an open floor plan that will allow you to see your child at all times.

Something else you should contemplate is how well you know the neighborhood and whether or not you feel comfortable with your child growing up there. Visit each prospective neighborhood at night to see how well-lit the streets are and during rush hour to see how busy the roads can get. You should also try to find out if there are other new parents with young children in the area if the neighborhood is filled with older parents whose children have already left home.

Finally, you’ll need to do some research into the schools around the area. These are the schools your baby will eventually attend and grow up in, so it’s important that you’re satisfied with them.

Building Your Home

On the other hand, if you’re building your first home from scratch, then you have complete control and can design it with your family’s needs in mind. More and more people are choosing to build their homes over buying simply because finding a home can be difficult, considering the average amount of time a home stays on the market is a short 30 days. Remember when coming up with the floor plan to look ahead. You might be a first-time now, but someday that might change and you’ll be a parent two or three times over. Design your home so that it can “grow” with you. If you can fit it into your budget, include two or three bedrooms in addition to the master. It may feel like too many at first, especially if it’s just you, your partner and your newborn, but when you have several children running around instead of one, you’ll be grateful for the additional rooms and won’t have to move out and into a bigger space.

As a new parent, one room in particular that you’ll want to pay special attention to is the baby nursery. You may not realize it, but a lot goes into designing a nursery, from the floor plan to the decor. Ceiling fans are essential for your baby’s nursery, as they have been found to reduce the risk of SIDS by 72 percent.

As you design your new home, don’t be afraid to splurge a little on something that you really want. For example, if you enjoy cooking and want to create an outdoor kitchen and dining space for your family and friends, consider investing in a gas barbecue grill. If you do plan on selling your home in the future, this could be viewed as a perk by many buyers and may even increase your home’s value.

Babyproofing

Whether you bought your first home or built it from the ground up, your next step as a new parent is to thoroughly babyproof your home. Go through each room in your new home and take the necessary steps to make sure it’s safe for your baby. For example, if you have a fireplace in your living room, make sure you install a fireplace door. Fireplaces are extremely dangerous for babies and toddlers, and when your baby starts crawling, you’ll want to make sure he or she is protected from its intense heat.

When choosing window treatments, opt for cordless blinds to prevent the risk of your baby getting his or her neck caught in the loop and choking.

Kitchens are a hazardous place for babies, so make sure it’s completely off limits when you’re not around. Place a baby gate at every entrance to the kitchen, keep the bottom cabinets (which often contain toxic cleaning products) and your dishwasher locked and remove the knobs from your stove when you’re not cooking.

In the bathroom, you’ll want to make sure your toiletries and medicine are kept out of reach. You should also consider installing a baby-proof toilet seat with a latch so that your baby can’t stick his or her head in.

Other ways to keep your baby safe inside your new home include: securing the refrigerator so that it can’t be accidentally opened; installing a device that keeps your door open so it doesn’t close on your baby’s fingers; and adding window guards to your windows, especially if they’re low to the ground and within your baby’s reach.

Final Thoughts

Moving into your first home and becoming a first-time parent are major life events that you should be proud of. As you take this next big step, consider whether your new home will work for you and be prepared to turn it into a safe space for your new family to grow.

Author bio: With over 28 years in the ceiling fan, lighting, and fireplace business, Greg possesses a unique blend of hands-on experience, product knowledge, and creativity unlike any Webmaster in this industry. Greg is also a musician who taught himself to play the piano and composes. He is the Director of eCommerce at www.hansenwholesale.com.

Guest Post - Best Moving Tips: Prepare Your Family For Your First Move

Planning your first move with the family requires a lot of planning and coordination. From packing up all of your belongings to hiring professional movers, it can be much easier to get lost in the entire process.

Since preparing for this transition can be more challenging to your family, here are some of the best moving tips to help you handle the relocation as smooth as possible.

Give the whole family sufficient time to prepare

When it comes to relocating, time is of great essence. Without it, everything about your move can be a lot more chaotic than you’ve never expected. If your family is planning to move to another state for the first time, it’s highly advisable to give yourself plenty of time to prepare and make the necessary arrangements. When making the most of your time, think about your plan, schedule, and any other details that can help make the process seamless.

Show positivity

No doubt that moving can be a sad thing for your family, especially if it’s happening for the first time. With all the sadness and fear that your family members may experience, you should always be there to stay optimistic throughout the transition. By showing positivity, you can help prepare your family for their first move without being sad and lonely. Make your relocation more fun, exciting, and full of optimism by laughing and singing.

Allow your kids to do a moving job

Moving can be more stressful for your children. They may become more anxious with the fact that the entire family is relocating to a different place. To ease the anxiety of your kids, giving them a moving job can be a great idea. For instance, you can let them tackle their own stuff and decide which items to bring and leave behind. Although a packing job for them requires a little supervision, it’s one way of preparing your kids for the upcoming move. By getting them involved, you’ll be able to reduce their fear that comes with moving.

Create a solid packing plan

Dealing with a family move can be a daunting task. With all the stuff that needs to be packed before the big day, everything may turn out as a disaster without a good packing plan. If you want your first family relocation to be as stress-free as possible, begin by getting rid of all unwanted belongings. To do that, you can organize a garage sale or donate some of your things to a local charity. Once everything is decluttered, it’s time to pack by category or by room. Just be sure you pack the not-so-important ones first and to be followed with the essentials. Then, don’t forget to label every box appropriately to avoid missing items in the middle of your move.

Take a break

Sometimes, tension happens during the moving day. There may be lots of frustrations, siblings fight, or patience that goes out of the line. If all of these things aren’t avoided, this is the kind of situation that can make your relocation a disastrous one. In order to prevent this complication and prepare the family members for what lies ahead, take a break for family time. It can be a group stretch or an ice cream cone eating together. No matter how you spend your family time, what’s important is that you can be able to minimize the tension and get everyone to relax.

Get help from a moving company

Whether you’re moving from or within New York City and other cities, hiring a reputable moving company NYC usually makes a lot of sense. If you have experienced movers on your side, you can help prepare your family for the first move. This is by way of giving you and your family members the time to adjust and understand your new major life event. After all, most moving companies can handle every phase of your relocation faster and smoother. Instead of dealing with the move by yourself, you can let the professionals take care of the job for you, thereby providing you the upper hand to assist your loved ones throughout their adjustment period.

Schedule a family visit to your new city

Another way of preparing your family for the move is by planning a visit to your new city. If you have a budget, bring your entire family to the place where you’ll be relocating so they’ll have an idea about their new surroundings. Once you’re there, explore the city and get familiar with the establishments and neighborhood nearby. By getting to know your new city, you can avoid any unpleasant reactions or surprises from your family members upon your arrival.

Final Thoughts

Moving your family doesn’t necessarily have to be scary or traumatic. By keeping these tips in mind, you can prepare your family in advance and help them stay organized and focused throughout the transition. With the assistance of professionals like Movers NYC, your first family move to New York City or other places will be a huge success. Not only will it give them an enjoyable moving experience, but you’ll also have your family prepare for whatever is waiting for you at the end of the line.

Author Bio: Dianne Belencio-Abonita has been writing blogs for quite some time now. She is interested in a lot of things which makes it a joy for her to write about a different niche. But among all the niches, business and marketing are her favorite. When she’s not busy writing, Dianne spends her time with her husband Francis and daughter Francinne. This is where she draws inspiration from to continually provide informative blogs to a different audience.

Guest Post - 5 Ways To Make Your Home Safer For You And Your Family

Safety is a significant concern in homes as half of the emergency hospitals cases result from home accidents. Falls are notorious as they account for 75 percent of the cases. The number of people who suffer from fatal falls inside homes is high.

The risk of electrocution is also high. Kids are at risk of all manner of safety concerns including suffocation, tripping, burns, and many other threats. Surprisingly, you can do a few things to make the home environment safe for you and your loved ones.

1. Keep things organized and tidy

Simple things such as following instructions can save you from potential danger. Drugs are labelled to ensure you keep them out of reach from children. Find a way to put them where children cannot access them.

The same case applies to electrical appliances. Ensure that all cable covers are intact to prevent potential tripping and fatal falls. Check the wiring to ensure it does not pose a threat to any of your house occupants.

Using the correct and recommended standards is key here. You can also visit websites that offers cable and electrical appliance covers for help. Remove clutter from your home, too. Make sure the pathways are free from anything that can cause a fall.

2. Ensure there are grips in the stairs and bathrooms

Children, old people, and people under medication may find it hard to concentrate while walking down a staircase. Install enough grips that a person can hold onto when using the stairs. Avoid slippery floors at all costs.

Most people want polished interiors and exteriors. They are a joy to watch. However, you need to install proper grip holders on all stairs. Do the same for grills. Bathrooms also need your attention.

Use the recommended tile grade for the bathrooms including floors and walls. They should be a bit rough to enhance grip. You can use handles in the bathroom where someone can safely anchor himself whenever he loses balance.

3. Ensure adequate lighting in all areas

Dimly lit areas can encourage many things. Such places are the first to suffer from mould damage, dust accumulation, pests such as rats, and such unwanted situations. You can prevent that by ensuring that every part of the house receives enough light. This effort will discourage unwanted intrusions. It will also make it easier to clean.

4. Proof your home for children and senior people

Baby proofing is essential for obvious reasons. Most people put it high on their bucket list whenever they move into a home. Unfortunately, doing it well is not the same as planning. It can get quite technical.

As children learn to crawl, the risks you envisaged when she/he was an infant multiply. The same case applies when you age or start living with a senior citizen at home. Children, the elderly and disabled person have many challenges.

You need to adjust the surrounding to accommodate the person who has mobility issues. Set appropriate doors. Sliding doors and windows should have automated sensors to prevent them from jamming or crushing a child's finger. Lockable doors on wardrobes and cabinets can prevent a child from accessing unsafe places or breaking fragile items.

5. Install sensors

Several sensors are now available in the market. The most common is the smoke and fire detection sensor. You can also install other sensors on the doors to make it lockable through a phone. If you want to travel, you can lock the house using the phone. You can also consult home alarm systems designers to evaluate your options.

Author Bio: Helen Cartwright is a passionate blogger, who excels in the Digital Marketing and Technology niche. When not wired in marketing strategies she ghost-write for a variety of authors who have their work published on leading online media channels such as The Huffington Post and Entrepreneur.com.

Guest Post - How To Decorate Your First Home On A Budget

Buying or leasing your first home is a milestone. Whether it’s a small apartment or a large house, it’s your residence. Yet it takes more than your signature on the paperwork to make that space feel like home. The bare walls and empty rooms of which you’ve taken ownership likely will need a lot of work before you can feel truly comfortable there.

It can be challenging to decorate on a budget. You’ll need to find furniture, area rugs and other accents that fit your style, personality and financial limitations. Fortunately, you can find ways to refresh your home even if times are tight. You just have to be smart about how you shop and learn a few tricks for cost-effective interior design. For instance, don’t underestimate the impact that color coordination can have on a room.

Even if you have to buy individual pieces of furniture from multiple sources, you can make them all fit more effectively by painting them matching colors. Estate sales and online retailers also offer opportunities for bargains if you’re willing to do the legwork. For even more tips to help you decorate smarter for your first home, see the accompanying infographic.

Author Bio: Shelley Alexanian is spokesperson for Alexanian, one of Canada’s most successful and versatile full-service flooring and window covering businesses. With several years of industry experience, Shelley is skilled at creating beautiful designs under a variety of budgets — she believes design is at the heart of everything.