Three ways to get a better nights sleep

Koala knows a thing or two about the land of nod, so we asked their resident sleep expert to share some advice on getting the best sleep ever.

Sleep is one of the most important elements of our lives. Just like air and water, we can’t live without it, but with busy lives, packed work schedules and always-on technology it can be hard to get enough quality zzz’s.

The team at Koala know how important sleep is, and are searching for someone to help them test out just how much difference a solid eight hours makes to your day. Their resident sleep expert Liz Marin (Sport and Nutrition Scientist to the Qantas Wallabies) shared her top tips on making sure you set yourself up for successful shut-eye.

Bedroom Tester Needed

The Koala research team is currently in need of an experienced and talented Horizontal Integration Specialist to assist us in testing, developing and assessing our current bedroom offerings over a one month period.

The successful applicant will be well-versed in the sleep sciences, including and not limited to: falling asleep easily in various locations with little effort, capable of sleeping through alarms, napping or dozing during work / study, and also possessing an extraordinary ability to stay in bed across weekends.

In return, Koala (previously Koala Mattress) will pay you your agreed upon dollar amount, plus send you our award-winning bed base, mattress and sheets in a sizing of your choice as well as pillows to keep after the study has completed.

The successful applicant must:

– Undertake a Nocturnal Resting Acceleration Session with our ambassador and fatigue science expert Liz Marin (Sports and Nutrition Scientist to the Qantas Wallabies)
– Wear a Sleep Tracking Bracelet (a method currently applied by the Wallabies) for the duration of the test to provide sleep and performance data for analysis
– Maintain an average sleep duration of 8 hours per night across the month-long study
– Record and share 2 x 15-30 second videos per week for the duration of the study for additional research purposes
– Consent to Koala sharing insights from the study with the rest of Australia, to improve sleep for all

Open to experienced HI Specialists across Australia.
Task can be completed from home.

Price: $1000

View on Airtasker

1. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.

1. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day

Research has proven that if you go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning you will end up with better quality sleep.

“It can take adjustment at first, but the body will soon recognise the routine, improving your sleep quantity and quality over time.”

And sorry, but that doesn’t just apply on work days. Sleeping in way past your regular wake up time on weekends and days off can disrupt the hard work you put in to your routine. That doesn’t mean you can never have a lie-in (weddings, birthdays and footy finals obviously don’t count), but keep your alarm set in a similar timeframe to avoid throwing off your sleep pattern.

2. Develop a pre-sleep routine for the hour leading into bed time.

This is something elite athletes do to start winding down at exactly right time to optimise their sleep window, and the good news is you don’t have to be Olympic level to train for it!

“Adopting a “wind-down” regime in the hour prior to going to sleep will help the body to fall asleep faster. You can even set an alarm to remind yourself to start getting ready for bed.”

Liz suggests incorporating one of more of these into your pre-sleep wind-down routine:
• Turn off technology 1 hour before sleep
• Take a warm shower
• Dim the lights
• Do something to relax the mind and body, such as stretching, meditation, or simply read a book.

Chic interior with dog — Set up your bedroom to be the ultimate place to relax

3. Optimise the environment for the perfect sleep

It’s not just about where your head’s at, your body needs to be comfy too. Setting up the ultimate sleep environment will improve your sleep in dramatic ways.

Consider these aspects:

LIGHT

• For a really deep sleep you want a really dark room. If you aren’t  keen on heavy curtains consider installing shutters or layered roller blinds.

COMFORT

• Invest in a good mattress (Koala have nailed it with their not too soft, not too hard design).
• Choose pillows that provide support for your neck and head in your preferred sleeping positions. Consider layering up for versatility rather than one giant pillow.

ENVIRONMENT

• Goldilocks had the right idea – for the perfect sleep you want the temperature to be just right. An optimum room temperature for sleep is between 19-21 degrees celcius.
• Minimise noise as much as possible. Double glazing, fabric curtains and shrubbery can help dampen noise from outside – or get some earplugs if the noise is closer to home!

Need a hand to install shutters or get the perfect space set up? Find someone on Airtasker.

Moving house? Don’t forget the power!

It's more than just moving from A to B. Don't forget to look after your electricity & gas too!

Moving home can be stressful to say the least. And it’s not just the shifting of prized possessions that can cause headaches – the internet, phone and of course electricity / gas need to be hooked up too!

That’s why we’ve teamed up with EnergyAustralia, one of Australia’s largest energy companies to help take some of the stress out of moving.

Now you’ll get a $100 Airtasker coupon when you sign up your electricity and/or gas to EnergyAustralia’s best-in-market offer, the Anytime Saver plan. Please note, this is a limited time offer – so jump on it quickly…

This coupon is a great way to help sort out any of the items on your moving to-do list. Need some heavy lifting, furniture assembly or end-of-lease clean? Get a Tasker to help out!

If you’d like to know more about the offer, please visit EnergyAustralia.

How to declutter your home before moving

Not many of us are natural minimalists. Plenty of us are more, let’s say, maximalists. Clutter seems to be magnetically "How to declutter your home before moving"

Not many of us are natural minimalists. Plenty of us are more, let’s say, maximalists. Clutter seems to be magnetically attracted to us and honestly, we’re secretly waiting for a knock on the door from the producers of the show Hoarders. That’s why it can be quite a relief sometimes when it comes time to move house. Finally, you’re forced to go through all of your possessions with a fine tooth comb, and you have the chance to really clean up your act by giving your whole household a thorough decluttering service.

Keeping only the things you love or that are useful, and getting rid of things you no longer need or want, helps you create a life that is more streamlined. And it allows you to live in a home where you can find things more easily and where you’ll spend less time constantly tidying up piles of accumulated belongings.

The bonus of giving your household a decluttering service right before you move is that you will have fewer items to pack and transport, and so the whole moving process will be faster, easier and cheaper.

Keep, sell, throw

There are many ways to successfully purging. Some decluttering experts advocate the Four Box Method, where the idea is to go through each room in your home, armed with separate boxes: one for things you want to keep, one for items to sell or give to charity, one for things to chuck, and one box for things you’re still undecided about.

Others are devotees of the Japanese KonMari method, where you pick up each item you own and decide to keep it only if it “sparks joy” or if it is useful. There’s even “Swedish death cleaning”, a new decluttering technique where you downsize your belongings in recognition of the stark fact that one day, you won’t be able to take anything with you, and that your junk will only be a burden for your loved ones. But hey, if that’s too much for you, you might prefer to stick with the Four Box Method.

Whatever method you use, most decluttering experts advise tackling only one room at a time, rather than attempting to declutter your whole house in one go. Give yourself enough time to ensure you don’t stress out and become overwhelmed with the magnitude of the job. But if you’re moving soon, and want to get it all done asap, don’t be afraid to call in help from a professional decluttering service, which can be surprisingly affordable.

Experts advise tackling only one room at a time, rather than attempting to declutter your whole house in one go.

Get a friend to help

As shows like Hoarders have demonstrated, the problem is usually with our psychological attachment to objects, rather than there being any physical difficulty in picking up items and placing them in boxes or garbage bags. Sometimes, what you really need is a truly objective person to help you with the task of discerning trash from treasure. That’s where hiring someone who offers a decluttering service can make things so much easier.

Don’t mistake the idea of a decluttering service as involving a stranger coming in and charging about, dumping your prized possessions in rubbish bags with reckless abandon. It can be as harmless as having an assistant follow you around, taking your directions, but also being critical enough to say “So how long have you had these 23 mascaras anyway? A few years? OK, I think it might be time to liberate some of these,” and “Do you think you’ll actually ever get this broken sewing machine fixed? You know, they’re less than a hundred bucks brand new at Aldi these days,” and “Come on now, 12 pairs of harem pants? Who are you, MC Hammer?”

Or you may go the whole hog and engage someone to assist you with a full decluttering service by completely reorganising all your belongings, room by room: sorting and tidying and removing excess clutter–with your approval naturally.

Your helper can undertake all kinds of decluttering tasks, like organising your DVD and CD libraries, or rearranging your kitchen cupboards and pantry or reorganising your clothes. They can also be tasked with making repeated trips to dispose of junk or to take clothes to Vinnies for you.

And in the end, once you are sitting in a beautiful, tidy, organised home, you’ll find packing up for your move and unpacking in your new house an absolute breeze.

Interested in hiring someone to help provide you with a decluttering service? From organising kitchen cupboards to sorting out your wardrobe, find someone on Airtasker.

How to move out of a rental home?

Need to move out quickly - here's how to do it!

Need to move out of your rental in a few weeks? Maybe you have a place lined up or perhaps you still need to find something, either way it can be a stressful time.

So let’s take a look at how you can make the move as easy as possible, including the dreaded end of lease cleaning… Here are some of our favourite tips.

Before you move

If you are the one giving notice you have a lot more time on your hands, but if you weren’t that lucky you don’t have as much time on your hands. So here’s what you need to do:

Decide how you’re going to move early on. Do you need to hire someone with a truck or a man with a van? Or will it just take a couple of trips in your car? Make it easier on yourself by getting a removalist to help.
Confirm with your real estate agent the exact date you are moving out and agree on when you want to have the final inspection.
Stock up on free cardboard boxes from Bunnings or supermarkets.
Declutter as much as you can before packing.
Start packing up things you don’t use often and clean cupboards as you empty them.
If you can get your mail redirected at least four weeks before your move.
Arrange for disconnection and reconnection of your utilities, making sure disconnection takes place after the final inspection. You don’t want to be left with any bills that you didn’t know about!

After you move out

But before you hand back the keys…

Clean thoroughly

End of lease cleaning is really important so that you can get your entire bond back, it’s essentially a really really good spring clean. So basically you need to leave the property in the same condition as when you moved in, except for wear and tear.

Your landlord might give you a move-out checklist which makes it a bit more obvious what needs to be done. And if you’re really lucky they might want to do some renovations after you leave so they might not be so picky about the state it’s left it.

Here’s a bit of a checklist to help you out:

Sweeping
Mopping
Vacuuming
Oven cleaning
Grout cleaning
All dust and spiderwebs removed
Cleaning windowsills
Blinds and curtains should be dust and mark free
Carpets steam cleaned
Grass mowed
Balconies washed down
Garden plants maintained

After the move, do a final check that the property is empty, including easily overlooked spots like on top of built-in cupboards or under the house. Leaving a roll of toilet paper as a courtesy for the next tenant is a nice touch, but don’t leave half-used cleaning supplies or spare kitchenware, even if you think it might be useful to someone; the landlord might charge you to have them removed.

Here are some extra tips for making sure you get all your bond back:

Be there. It’s really important that you try to be there for the final inspection especially because it’s often harder for someone to be critical to your face.

Don’t underestimate the power of scents to make a subtle positive impression on your landlord. For example, during your end of lease cleaning, freshen all drains by adding tablespoons of bicarb soda, a good splash of vinegar and several litres of boiled water from your kettle. Everything will seem much more pleasant if there aren’t nasty smells emanating from the drains.

Chucking orange peels into the oven for half an hour on a low setting can also make the property smell extra nice during the final inspection (just don’t forget to remove them before the agent inspects the oven).

Find out whether you really need to have the carpets steam-cleaned, because you may not have to. In NSW, for example, it’s actually prohibited for landlords to include a term in your lease requiring you to have the carpets professionally cleaned unless you agreed to it in your lease in order to keep pets.

So before going to the expense, make sure to check with your state’s tenant’s unions as to your legal obligations. If you are required to do so, make sure you keep receipts. (If you have pets, also check your lease in case you signed a clause agreeing to fumigation.)

Check you have all keys to be returned including window and garage keys, as well as the spare key your mum had.

Document everything – take lots of photos of the state you leave the property in so you can compare them if necessary with photos you took when you moved in (hopefully, you remembered to do that!)

Generally make yourself aware of the laws for renters in your state, your rights and responsibilities and what you can do if there’s a dispute over the bond. Don’t assume you have to wait for months for your landlord to sign off on your bond release form. For example, in NSW and Victoria, you can sign your form unilaterally and send it to the bond authority, and then the onus is on your landlord to make a claim within a fixed period of time.

If you don’t have the time or the equipment to do your end of lease cleaning, get an Airtasker to help you out.

Tips for moving house with children

Got kids and thinking about moving? You'll need these tips!

If you’ve asked a few friends or around the office about what it’s like moving house with children, you might be told to avoid it at all costs. But since it’s sometimes unavoidable, we’ve gathered up some pro tips on how to undertake a successful house removal when you have little ones.

Below are some tips for moving house with children

1. Preparation

And it seems preparation is really the key. Starting before the move, parents can help make a house removal with kids easier by getting them involved and allowing them to feel a sense of control over unfolding events because it can be hard convincing youngsters to leave a home and community they are attached to.

Some parents find blatant bribes work well to get their kids in the right frame of mind about a move. The promise of new bunk beds perhaps, or letting them pick the paint colour for their new room (maybe from within a range you’ve selected because you might not be especially keen on a pillar box red paint job). Allowing them to spend time designing their new room layout and where they will put their furniture can also help get them excited about the change.

Reframing it as a family adventure can turn it into a positive. And the beauty of living in the connected era is being able to use things like Google Earth to check out the new area in advance. Or, sometimes you’re able to show the kids the new house via a video tour of your real estate agent’s website. The more they can visualise the new place, the more real it will feel and the quicker they will accept their new normal. With older kids, the reassurance that they can keep in touch with friends through social media can help them with the transition until they form new attachments.

2. Time to pack

When it comes to the actual process of the house removal, again getting the whole family involved is usually helpful. In terms of packing, while the younger kids won’t be much help, older kids can enjoy getting involved by packing up their things, which also reassures them their precious toys aren’t being left behind.

Drawing on their boxes can be a fun activity and lets them feel part of the whole enterprise instead of just being inconveniently underfoot during the moving house process.

3. Getting help

For the most part, though, a whole house removal will be a far easier process if you arrange it to occur while the kids are at school or daycare (if you’re not moving far away) or hiring a babysitter to mind them at the new house if school is not an option. And it will be a thousand times more pleasant if you hire helpers for the packing and the move itself. If you can’t afford a professional moving company, you will find it very economical to hire an Airtasker or two to assist with all your removal needs.

4. First night ready

Seasoned movers advise creating a “starter kit” box, to contain all the essentials you will need on the first night in your new home, so you won’t be rummaging wildly through boxes looking for your baby’s special cup. Things like pyjamas and their favourite night-time music or DVD and a portable player are great to have handy, and even placing a familiar-scented candle into your starter kit can help the new house feel more like “home” straight away.

Similarly, if you don’t have the energy to unpack the whole kitchen immediately, make sure you have an easily accessible box containing familiar and easy-to-prepare foods for the family and the kids’ favourite snacks. You could also celebrate the new home with a picnic takeaway dinner on a tablecloth on the floor of your empty new house before you unpack, which the kids usually find fun.

5. All about the timing

Whether you’re going it alone or hiring helpers, try to schedule your house removal as early in the day as possible, and move the kids’ furniture and belongings last so those will be the first things to come off the truck. Making the children’s rooms look instantly familiar can be very comforting in the beginning.

6. Settle in

After the move, help them settle into their new community by exploring the area as soon as possible, finding fun new play spaces and setting up playdates with new mates. For older kids, actively seeking local extracurricular activities to keep them busy will stop them missing their old hangs, and enforcing their usual chore responsibilities helps them adjust quickly as well. Finally, don’t stress too much–remember that kids are generally very adaptable and resilient and it’s likely it won’t take them long to fall into new routines and discover new friends.

Moving house with kids? Find trusted Airtaskers who can help with your house removal needs. To look after you kids, we also have trusted childcare practitioners.

How to prepare your home for selling and moving

If you’re putting your home on the market, there are a number of things other than paperwork that you’ll need "How to prepare your home for selling and moving"

If you’re putting your home on the market, there are a number of things other than paperwork that you’ll need to do in preparation for selling and moving.

selling and moving home staging
Source: The Everygirl

Focus areas

The front door

Great first impressions matter. Make sure the entrance to your home is clean, tidy and looks nice. Gurnie the driveway, weed the front garden, and give the front door has a fresh lick of paint.

selling and moving front door
Source: Pinterest

Key rooms

The homemaker will want to focus on the kitchen, bathroom, toilet and laundry, so make sure repairs and cleaning for these rooms are on point. The other rooms of the house can usually be sorted out with a coat paint.

Repairs

Generally, you don’t need to fully renovate your home prior to selling and moving, but it should be in good, working condition. Little issues like mouldy shower grouting can put off people off. Small expenses and a little effort will go a long way in making your property more attractive to prospective buyers.

Do you need to?…

Re-grout bathrooms
Fix the fence
Fix leaking taps
Replace fixtures, e.g. chipped door knobs, rusty towel rails
Replace blown light bulbs

selling and moving repairs
Source: Getty via Popular Mechanics

Any investment you make in more expensive improvements prior to selling and moving, should be driven by where you’ll get the best return.

If you’re thinking of renovating prior to putting your home on the market, check out some Top renovations mistakes to avoid.

Rules and regulations

When selling and moving, there will be a number of rules and regulations that you’ll need to comply with, e.g. a pool safety certificate needs to obtained by the seller or purchaser in Queensland (Department of Housing and Public Works, 2015). It’ll make your property more attractive to a prospective buyer to have these things taken care of prior to sale.

Walls and painting

Check walls for marks, scratches and stains that might require plastering and a fresh coat of paint. Paint walls and ceilings in neutral colours; your property will appeal to a larger market (not everyone loves a bedroom in each colour of the rainbow).

selling and moving neutral paint
Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Declutter and depersonalise

The sale of your property is a great excuse to clean out your belongings! Declutter to maximise space for the open house and inspections. Depersonalise so buyers can imagine their own belongings in the space.

selling and moving decluttering and depersonalising
Source: Homey Oh My!

Cleaning

It’s important to give the impression that your property has been kept in good condition all the time (not just for the sale), so attention to detail is a must! For the best results, you should do an ‘end of lease’ style clean.

Inside

Here’s a list to start you off:

All surfaces, benchtops and cupboards
Walls, skirting boards, power points
Windows, window sills, doors, screen doors, fly screens
Floors, carpets, tiles, timber
All built in appliances, e.g. dishwasher, oven, stove, range hood, etc.
Sinks, basins, taps (descaling)
Baths, showers, shower screens
Mirrors and wardrobes
Fans, air conditioners
etc.!

If the thought of scrubbing the oven makes you die a little bit inside, get some help from Airtasker’s reliable and flexible residential home cleaners.

selling and moving cleaning
Source: Pinterest

Outdoors

Outdoor areas should not be forgotten. Make sure the:

Gardens and garage are tidy
Lawn is mowed
Garden beds are weeded
Gutters are cleaned
Pools are cleaned
Patios and driveways are clean
Cobwebs are removed

For open houses and inspections, you should also remove all rubbish, empty and wash bins, and make sure pet poo and pet bedding is removed.

selling and moving garden maintenance
Source: funky junk interiors

Odours

Sometimes if you’re living in it, you don’t notice it… Invite an honest friend with a keen nose over and get them to check for smells. Odours in the home are usually from pets, mould and mildew. Find the source and address the problem, rather than trying to ‘mask’ it.

Staging your home for display

Put your best foot forward when presenting your home to prospective buyers.

selling and moving staging
Source: Home Adore

Furniture and décor

If your furniture is a worn, mismatched, or a little ‘dated’, consider hiring a home stylist to furnish your home during the sale period. It might be necessary to put your furniture in to storage temporarily.

If you need some assistance with heavy lifting and getting things in to storage, consider hiring a local furniture removalist to help you out.

Greenery

Create a calm and inviting atmosphere by adding some healthy, green plants to your home’s indoor and outdoor areas. Little potted herbs perched on the window sill can freshen up the aesthetic of the kitchen. Hire larger plants if you don’t want to purchase them.

selling and moving staging greenery
Source: BLOGLOVIN’

Good smells

Make your home smell inviting by roasting some coffee beans or baking fresh bread on the day of the open house.

Selling and moving

You’re on the home stretch when you’ve sold your property and the time comes to sort out furniture removal and storage. If you’re lucky, you’ve got access to a ute or small truck and the manpower to do the moving yourself. If not, seeking a professional furniture removalist will be on your list.

selling and moving furniture removals
Source: Moving Company Brisbane

If you’re in the market for a trusted, reliable removalist, check out the removalists for hire via Airtasker. They’re located across Australia and covered by insurance.

Let us know if you have any other great tips, and best of luck with selling and moving your home!

Home Staging Tips When Selling Your Home

If you’re thinking about taking advantage of the current real estate market, it’s important think about how your house currently "Home Staging Tips When Selling Your Home"

If you’re thinking about taking advantage of the current real estate market, it’s important think about how your house currently presents itself. Home staging can mean all the difference as you aim to appeal to the emotional feelings of potential buyers.

Staging your home can make all the difference when you’re hoping to get a few interest bidders to battle it out on auction day. Here are our home staging tips when selling your home:

Street appeal
You’ve probably heard it all before but people make up their mind if they like a house or not in under a minute… So that means they have either a positive or negative feeling before they even step inside the doorway.

To make sure your home is looking top notch think about spraying the driveway, that your home has house numbers, that it looks presentable with greenery and any exterior painting is done.

Source: I build new

De-clutter
There could be a hundred or so people going through your home in a viewing so it’s important that they find it easy to move around in. People also don’t want to see an untidy home and even though you might think it’s not cluttered, it’s good to get another opinion from an honest friend.

Cleaning
After you’ve taken out the clutter, you’ll need to give the house a clean. It will take more than a regular weekly clean to get your home in tip top shape. Make sure you set aside adequate time for your home cleaning.

Keep it Neutral
Do you have brightly coloured walls? You might want to consider toning it down as it can be quickly off putting for potential buyers. That’s not to say that you can’t still have a feature wall or two.

Source: Bobvila

Painting
When was the last time you gave your lounge room or bathroom a fresh coat of paint? Updating the colour can make it brighter and make it look fresh. If you have a limited budget, this is where it should be spent.

Short on time or need some help, you can outsource the house painting on Airtasker.

De-personalisation
You want people to imagine living in your home, so it makes sense to remove items and pictures that are of you and the family. You can easily replace these with landscape imagery.

Furniture
If your couch is looking a bit worse for wear or if you need some extra furniture to complete a room, let’s say the dining room. There are plenty of home staging companies out there that you can rent furniture from for a couple of months. They can even help style your whole home so that it looks amazing for open viewings.

New Linen
This may not seem important, but having lovely new looking towels neatly folded in the bathroom or crisp sheets on the bed can really change how people perceive your home.

Hiding spaces
Thinking about hiding the clutter in the cupboards, wardrobe or shed? Think again, people will look – humans are curious after all.

Don’t go overboard
Whilst it’s tempting to go ‘The Block’ on your home and stage dining scenes, it is a very unnatural approach. What you really want is (as you might say in the clothing world) effortlessly chic. This means making it look inviting, lived in, natural and that the home always looks great.

Source: Nicashomes

Outdoors
Your backyard is almost as important (if not more – sometimes) than the inside. For prospective buyers with young families having grass and a play area for the kids is very important. However regardless of whom the buyer is, it should look clean and tidy. If there’s a lot of work to be done and you may need help with hedging, cleaning gutters and mowing the grass regularly for opens.

Source: Bruce Angels

10 Things You NEED To Do Before Moving Home

Moving into a new home is an exciting time of your life as you start a new chapter. But regardless "10 Things You NEED To Do Before Moving Home"

Moving into a new home is an exciting time of your life as you start a new chapter. But regardless of whether you’re renting or buying there’s a few things everyone seems to leave to the very last minute – or even worse totally forget about.

To make sure you’re all set for your move, we’ve put together these ten pre-moving tips that will not only save you time but keep you stress-free.

Start de-cluttering early

It doesn’t take much common sense to realise that the less you have to move, the easier (and cheaper) it will be. But what about that cabinet that you must take or the 5 throw blankets that keep you snuggly in winter – yep it’s time to be honest with yourself. Let’s face facts; we all have a little hoarder monster in us, but it’s important to ask yourself these three questions:

1. When did you last use {insert your item}? If it’s more than 6 months it’s got to go.
2. Does it fit in your new home? If you can’t get in past the front door, then there’s no point in putting it in the truck in the first place.
3. Is it useful? Ok here is where the honesty comes into play. If it’s a totally useless item, why do you need it?

De-clutter by giving your items, selling or donating to charity should happen as soon as you know you’re moving home. Think about it, if you do something everyday towards your end goal (moving in this instance) then it’s less of a hurdle at the finish line.

Always keep in mind the amount of space you’re moving into, knowing the room available to you sets the boundaries to how much you can take along with you for your move. Which brings us to…

Get measurements

This will help you to understand the space you’re moving into and which items you currently own will fit.

Make a start by measuring up the dimensions of large furniture (fridge, sofa and dining tables) and then go to your new home and measure out the space. You could even use masking tape to map out the room.

Don’t forget to measure the doorframes and hallways. There’s nothing worse than lugging the plush leather sofa to the new home, only to find that you can’t even get it inside the living room.

Say goodbye to your neighbours and hello your new ones

Don’t get too distracted by your move that you forget about your neighbours, even if they are ones you’d like to forget about.

You should let them know about your move, if moving trucks will be blocking driveways, and also your new address to forward mail and keep in touch.

The same goes for your new home, make sure meet your new neighbours, introduce the family and let them know when you’ll be settling in. A proactive approach is a great way to get a good start with your new community.

Source: Home Move

Look into using a removalist

Sometime things are best left to the professionals, and this is one of those times.
You’ll need to pick a day that you need to move buy and start compiling quotes. Booking a removalist on a weekday can sometimes be at a discounted rate so being organised can end up saving you some money.

Most removalists will only move boxes from A to B, and to get the full-service packing and un-packing help, it can become expensive. However having an extra pair of hands to help can ensure all your packing gets done and even help with
furniture assembly at the other end.

If a removalist is too expensive, hiring an Airtasker to help you is a great alternative as they can assist you with almost anything. From packing and moving to post and pre-moving home cleaning.

Label organisation

You may think this is over the top, but we promise it’s not. Start by numbering or naming each room in your new home on a plan, that you and removalists have a copy of. Then make sure you label the boxes to match the room in your new home.

This method will make it faster and more streamlined if you’re doing the heavy lifting yourself or if you’ve hired some help.

Source: Removal Tips

Get Powered Up

It’s a really simple thing to get power connected before you move, but don’t forget to also get it disconnected from your current place too. Whether it’s just changing names or providers, make sure it’s on your priority list.

Change Your Address

You’ll need to let companies, such as your bank that regularly sends you mail, know of your change of address. It’s also wise to go to the local post office and apply for a new address so your mail is redirected. Also don’t forget to also update your details on the electoral roll.

Get home & contents insurance

Organise your existing home insurance policy to cease the day after you’ve moved out and your next insurance policy to commence the day before you move. This means you’ll be covered for moving day when you technically aren’t living anywhere.

Pack an un-packing box

Keep a helpful box separate from the rest and is the first thing to unpack when you get there. It should contain all the tools you might need, cleaning products or screws from furniture for assembly. All helpful items should be in one simple place to save you time and frustration.

Pack a first night box

Likewise with the un-packing box another helpful box that is important for your move is a first night box. This should contain some food and drinks, clothes, basic toiletries and bed linen. Basically anything you’ll need to survive that first night.

Happy moving and don’t forget if you need some help to let us know.

How To Move Out Of Home In 6 Easy Steps

With more and more young adults opting to stay at home with their parents, flying the coop can seem an "How To Move Out Of Home In 6 Easy Steps"

With more and more young adults opting to stay at home with their parents, flying the coop can seem an increasingly daunting and stressful task the longer you leave it.

We’ve generated a six-step guide to help make the transition from your family home to independent fancy-free living as smooth as possible.

Step 1. Find the right spot
Regardless of whether you’re planning on buying, renting or living in a share house, you will have to decide on the location that best suits your needs, budget and lifestyle.

Ask family and friends if they have any areas to recommend. For example, some of the best places to live for young professionals include Richmond, VIC, Paddington, NSW and New Farm, QLD.

Once you have a few suburbs in mind continue your research online. Perhaps check out some suburb reviews on Homely to see what the locals have to say about that specific area.

Online research is all well and good, but there’s only so much you can take away from photos. Be sure to attend a few open houses to see what kinds of properties are out there in your price range and at the same time get a feel for the neighbourhood you’re interested in.

Once you find a potential place to call home be sure to check its proximity to your workplace, university, family, supermarkets and public transport, as no body enjoys a long arduous commute every day.

Step 2. Set a budget
Living independently can be very expensive, so it is essential to plan ahead and work out your budget before moving out. A budget will help establish whether you can afford it and perhaps more importantly ensure you won’t be subsisting on two-minute noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

When working on your budget consider the cost of rent, utilities (electricity, gas and water), groceries, clothing, pay tv and the internet, transport costs, parking permits (if required), furniture, appliances, extras and entertainment. Don’t forget to factor in certain ‘hidden’ expenses like the security bond (typically four weeks rent), utility connection fees and home and contents insurance.

To determine if your move will be sustainable in the long term, we recommend calculating your known monthly income and planning a monthly spend covering food, bills, rent, transport and extras.

Step 3. Set up house rules
If you’re moving in with a friend, partner or flatmates communication is the key to living in a happy and comfortable household.

The best way to avoid conflict in a shared environment is to set ground rules early on. Good topics to discuss with your new roomies include having guests to stay over, house parties, labelling food, shower time limits, loud music, pets, leaving dishes in the sink and smoking.

When raising concerns with your housemates always remember to respect others’ opinions and listen to their feedback. It’s important that you feel like you can be honest and open with the people you live with. At the end of the day if you’re not comfortable in a certain living situation there are always other options out there.

Step 4. Nail the chores
With moving out of home comes adventure, freedom and newfound independence, but with independent living comes great responsibility.

To avoid being overwhelmed by housework try making a schedule of chores for the first few weeks. This will help you to get into a routine of doing the laundry, grocery shopping, dishes, cleaning, cooking and putting the bins out. It can be worthwhile to draw up a cleaning roster if you’re living in a share house to make sure everyone is chipping in equally.

Before your grocery shop it’s wise to plan out your meals for the coming week, so you a) buy what you need, b) don’t over spend and c) don’t blow the budget on take away meals. If you’re moving in with housemates it can be fun to take it in turns cooking dinner or arranging a weekly group dinner to catch up, bond and voice any concerns.

Step 5. Seek help
If you’re having financial or emotional trouble once you’ve moved out don’t be afraid or too proud to seek help and advice from others.

If you’re moving out for the first time it can be good idea to do a trial run before going the whole nine yards. You could have a crack housesitting for a friend or let your parents put their feet up and run the family household for a month or so.

Remember your parents have been through the same transition when they were young. They may be able to help you out with a loan or offer valuable advice about how to best go about managing your household chores and bills.

Once you’re settled in if you have any pressing questions about your new neighbourhood (i.e. the best places to eat out or if there is a 24 hour pharmacy) online forums, like Homely’s Q&A, are a great way to get valuable insights and opinions from experienced locals.

Also, remember there are a number of community organisations that can be great source of advice in times of stress and hardship. Such as:
• Lifeline Australia
• Home Ground Services
• Relationships Australia

Step 6. Stay in touch

Having looked after you all your life, your parents or guardians are very likely to miss you when you move out and vice versa. So be sure to visit, text, call, email and Skype your folks regularly and try not to run back home to use their Wi-Fi and laundry too much.

Happy house hunting!

From the Homely team

Storage Ideas For Your Apartment

It’s a renter’s nightmare to move into a place with little to no storage. It normally means an unwanted trip "Storage Ideas For Your Apartment"

It’s a renter’s nightmare to move into a place with little to no storage. It normally means an unwanted trip to IKEA is on the cards, but before the flatpack anxiety kicks in we’ve got a few storage ideas for your apartment and house.

First of all let’s think about what storage is supposed to achieve, a sense of cleanliness due to de-cluttering and hiding of visible items. Buying bookshelves and storage units will only make your tiny apartment seem smaller, so it’s important to take a look at what you currently have and think about whether you can use it in a different way.

Hang your cleaning supplies

Source: Lifehacker

With a different cleaner for every surface and type of stain, the space under the sink can become very clutterd. It’s easy to maximise this space and keep it organised by using a tension rod and hanging spray bottle cleaners from it.

Kitchen Cupboards

Source: BizzyDayz

Keep the little bench space you have free of paper towelling, spices and other bench clutter by building organising racks into the cupboard doors. You can pick up something similar to the rack below from a dollar shop or even Bunnings, and with a bit of handyman help your kitchen storage will be instantly improved.

Source: iheartorgansing

Under the Bed
This is the biggest storage maximiser that you will have in your home and it’s incredibly simple to put together something that suits you.

Source: Decohubs

For instance, you could create sliding drawers by picking up some old drawers and attaching wheels to them, or just get some nice baskets to drag in and out for extra linen and seasonal clothes.

Source: The Holding Company

Bed Headboard
No room under the bed? No worries, you can create a storage headboard to be a place for all your trinkets, books and even filing.

Source: Our Humble Abode Blog

Plus it also replaces the need for a bedside table and triples as a feature wall!

Multi-purpose Desk
To have an office in your home is considered a luxury that many of us just simply can’t have. However there are many options to make existing areas multifunctional where you can get your work done.

Source: Make Use Of

Source: Memorable Decor

Kids Toys

Not only can kids toys take over the whole house, trying to store them away isn’t particularly easier either with big boxes. There are a couple of storage solutions for your smaller games and toys.

Any metal toy can get ‘stuck’ to the wall with a magnetic strip or utilise a feature of the home like a non-working fireplace or window sill to store toys.

Source: Pinterest

Source: Cool Mom Picks

Ever noticed how a small board game or puzzle requires a big box? Well we love this idea of DIY toy storage with compact plastic cases, which can be placed into a specific basked.

Source: Cool Mom Picks

Mason Jars

Jars that have been recycled or even mason jars purchased can be used in the kitchen, bathroom, or even the shed. Jars are perfect for any small items that you might need airtight, easily accessible or just to keep all the pieces together.

Source: Furnish Burnish

Jewellery Art

Instead of mixing up all your jewellery in a drawer where it’s bound to get tangled and use up valuable storage space, why not hang your beautiful pieces on the wall. Not only will it free up valuable storage space but it doubles as a cheap art alternative.

Source: Gurukoala

Source: Remark Organisations

Do you have any other storage ideas for small apartments? Let us know in the comments below.

Refresh Your Home With Airtasker

Home cleaning isn’t the only thing you can get done on Airtasker, in fact you can get a worker to "Refresh Your Home With Airtasker"

Home cleaning isn’t the only thing you can get done on Airtasker, in fact you can get a worker to do almost anything for any budget.

We’ve put together a few ideas of how an Airtasker can help you around the home and make your life just that little bit better.

Tasks Under $50

– Clean a 1 bedroom apartment – $20
– Babysitting – $20
– Dog walking – $20
– Baking food – $30
– Groceries delivered – $20
– Window cleaning – $40
– Garden Maintenance (mulch/weeding) – $45

Tasks Under $100

– Move around furniture– $60
– Lawn mowing and whipper snipper – $65
– Hang a door – $75
– Repair lights – $80
– Hang pictures on a wall – $80
– Trampoline assembly – $90

Tasks Under $200

– Repair walls with holes – $120
– Plant vegetable garden – $120
– Furniture assembly – $125
– Install kitchen cabinet – $135
– Move pipes – $200
– End of lease cleaning – $200

Tasks Under $500
– Landscaping steps – $320
– Tiling work – $300
– Clean garden and swimming pool – $300
– Paving and turf laying – $500

Moving Homes With Airtasker

It could be your first home purchase, a rental move or even making the leap to head overseas. Regardless of "Moving Homes With Airtasker"

It could be your first home purchase, a rental move or even making the leap to head overseas. Regardless of why it’s an exciting time but it can also be stressful, so a helping hand is always welcome or sometimes needed.

After noticing a few tasks on Airtasker removals asking for help moving furniture or even the entire contents of a home, I decided to reach out to a couple of Task Poster’s to get first hand accounts about their experience from start to finish.

Round the corner move

Tash had decided to move from her share-house in Richmond, Victoria into her own place but really loved the area and wanted to stay local. Lucky enough for her, an apartment became available just around the corner. However, she couldn’t lift some of her bigger items, such as the couch and fridge, by herself and need some help.

Only requiring a couple of guys and trolley to move furniture, professional moving services weren’t necessary. Not wanting to bother her friends or housemates she decided to use Airtasker.

After watching a quick how to get started video, Tash posted a task for a strong guy to come over help her move for 3 hours. Airtasker Richard made an offer on a Tuesday and the following Saturday at 10am he was there ringing the doorbell with a friend to help.

With the wonderful help from the two guys, Tash told me that in just a few hours she was out of the house and into her new pad. She paid the $150 after all their hard work and said there was no way she could have done it without their help.

Need advice on how to organise your moving day? See our Moving Home Checklist

Moving houses

Moving the contents of a house you’ve lived in for 10 years means there’s a lot to pack up, throw out and move. This is the problem that Dean and his wife, Susie, had but they also had the additional issue of a 2 year old and another one on the way, which meant Susie couldn’t do too much.

So, they turned to Airtasker to find someone to pack and organize boxes a couple of days a week, while Susie could work from home, meaning they still had time on weekend to look at houses.

After negotiating a fee with Airtasker, Lauren, the University student was able to give a helping hand wrapping and packing for two days at $20 p/h, which meant a total of $320 that she could put it towards her study fees.

Susie and Dean were so thankful that she managed to pack their entire kitchen, lounge room, and clothes, leaving them only with the essentials to be done. It saved them precious time and lucky for them they managed to find a new home quickly.

Opting to do the move without professional help, they enlisted a few friends and also a couple of reliable Airtasker’s with trucks and trailers to help.

The result: they were all moved in over the course of a weekend and were eating pizza for dinner surrounded by boxes on Sunday night in their new home.

Thinking of moving? Be prepared and take the first step by downloading the Airtasker App here. It’s free to post a task and there are no obligations to hire.

Read our Top 5 moving tips here and if your looking to deck out your new house checkout the Top 5 Furniture Delivered To Your Home.

Top 5 Furniture Delivered to your Home

It’s nearly the end of financial year, which means it’s a great time to buy big household items for an "Top 5 Furniture Delivered to your Home"

It’s nearly the end of financial year, which means it’s a great time to buy big household items for an absolute bargain. Shopping is the easy (and fun) part but it can be a real headache trying to work out how to fit a bedroom suite into your tiny VW Polo.

Getting furniture delivered to your home is great but many places will charge a premium cost to have it dropped off. Some even offer an assembly service as well so that you don’t have to lift a finger.

To help you make the best decision we’re comparing the top 5 furniture stores in terms of costs, hidden charges and timing. However before we get started, did you know that Airtasker could also help you out?

With people loving the flexibility, low-cost and full-service approach, it’s no surprise that furniture pick-up, delivery and assembly all feature in the Top 5 tasks on Airtasker.

To give you an idea, here are some estimates on Airtasker costs:
Furniture assembly
– Most frequent amount $50
– Average amount $78

Furniture Delivery
– Most frequent amount $50
– Average amount $83

Here are the top 5 furniture stores in terms of costs, hidden charges and timing

1. IKEA
With thousands of home accessories at a low cost, this Swedish megastore is like the Willy Wonka Factory, only for adults. The maze inspired store structure means you’re guaranteed to arrive at the checkout with items you didn’t intend on purchasing. So how do you get it all home?

IKEA has the most extensive service offerings but for getting things from A to B here’s a round up of what they can do for you:

Book a van
In a partnership with GoGet you can hire a van by the hour, however there are some catches e.g. a $500 security deposit.

Cost depends on membership type but as a starter it’s around $13.90 per hour plus $0.40 per kilometre. In other words, from Ikea Tempe and to Sydney CBD it’s approximately $27.80 + $ $3.72 = $31.52 to drive your items home within 2 hours.

Home Delivery
A delivery via Ikea is a next-day service, available seven days a week. However costs depend on your location. For example from Ikea Tempe to Bondi it’s a minimum $89, with larger deliveries (over 5m2) attracting an additional charge.

If you are moving or have just finished your renovations, check out Airtasker’s Top 5 Moving Tips.

Assembly
To have your furniture assembled Ikea has partnered with Install2u. They have a number of different fees as specified below:

– Call out fee: $35 (regardless of how many items)

– Packaging removal/ disposal: $15

– Cost for putting together items falls into four groups:
Group 1: $20 (e.g. coffee table, office chair, mirror)
Group 2: $45 (e.g. bedside table, bookcase, desk)
Group 3: $70 (e.g. sofa-bed, cot, 6+ drawers)
Group 4: $95 (e.g. bed with storage, bunk beds, L-shaped sofa)

Alternatively, you can check out the Airtasker blog post on How To Move IKEA Furniture

Shopping and delivering
IKEA can buy your products and deliver to your home or business. This service starts at $99.

2. Domayne
Domayne has a passion for design and offers both delivery and assembly services. The good news here is that you’re not likely to need anything assembled as most items sold at Domayne arrive completed.

Delivery
It’s a flat fee of $79 Monday- Saturday.

Assembly
It’s important to note that the assembly service is only on Monday to Friday at $85 but as mentioned you’re not likely to need it. For example a 4-piece bedroom package only needs the bed to be put together as the drawers and bedside tables are all ready to go.

3. Freedom
This national home and garden store has little information on their website, so you will need to call your local Freedom store for more details.

Delivery
Freedom can deliver to your home, however they charge more on weekends. As a rough idea, a three-piece bedroom ensemble is a minimum $90 Mon-Fri and $109 on weekends.

Assembly
Assembly will cost you around $80. This means you’re looking at $170 to get it to your home and set up.

4. Fantastic Furniture
This market-stall turned mega supplier with up to 70 stores nationally, offers a competitive delivery rate but no assembly service.

Delivery
They stay true to their brand name, fantastic, in terms of a low delivery cost at just $65. Items can be dropped off Monday to Saturday.

5. Nick Scali
Nick Scali, one of Australia’s largest importers of lounges, offers both delivery and assembly in metro areas within two days.

Delivery
The biggest downfall is that pricing is ‘per item’, which can add up. For example, a bedroom ensemble will cost $90 but if you want to add accessories it will cost an additional $35.

They also have a minimum delivery fee of $75 with only cash and bank cheque accepted on delivery. Credit cards are accepted 48 hours before but only in store not over the phone.

Assembly
While Nick Scali charges a premium on delivery, there is a silver lining – they will unpack and put the new furniture together for you for free.

However all packaging is left that the premises i.e. you have to clean it up!

With Airtasker you don’t need to worry what (or not) aftersales services are offered by your preferred store. An Airtasker can be there at the right time to make it a stress free experience without the added cost.

If you’re not convinced check out this article on Weekend Notes about a lady who had been to IKEA, see something she liked but wasn’t sure how to get it home and didn’t want to waste a day of her weekend putting it together.

How to Disassemble & Move IKEA Furniture

IKEA furniture is affordable and easy to assemble... Apparently. So what happens to it when you move house?

With such a the huge number of furniture assembly tasks, it’s obvious that putting together IKEA furniture isn’t something we enjoy. However when we move home, what do you do with the IKEA furniture? Keen, toss or is there another way?

First, you need to ask yourself:
1. Do you take the IKEA furniture apart (disassemble)?
2. Do you move it as is?
3. Do you just leave it behind?

Here’s how to disassemble and move IKEA furniture

Option 1: Take apart

If you decide to take it apart it will fit into your truck a lot easier and you won’t have to manoeuvre around tight corners trying not to scratch the walls.

That was the positive, now for the negatives… You will need to find those instructions that you probably threw out as a sign of IKEA victory because you’ll need to work backwards. But not to worry the website IKEAFANS could be the answer to your prayers with a bunch of PDF copies of the instructions you need.

Also, do you remember the pain of putting it together and the fights had with your partner or mate about who could put it together faster? Well, you’re about to go through that again. Twice.

If you do take it apart here are a few tips:
– Remember it’s cheap furniture and can get damaged easily. Use sheets etc to protect it during the move.
– Label the pieces and the screws if possible.
– Don’t tighten the screws – remember you may need to take it apart again.

Don’t forget to check out our top 5 tips for moving or post a task to help move IKEA furniture to your new home.

Option 2: Don’t disassemble, just move it

You will save time, perhaps energy but maybe not money depending on your agreement with removalists.

It is the easiest way to move the furniture if the layout of the old and new house allows it, however it could take up a bit of space in the truck which means possibly more trips back and forth.

You might want to also check if you have the same flimsy tools that you were given originally because we’ve heard that you will need that unique tool to fit those specific screws.

Option 3: Leave it behind

This is by far the easiest option if you decide to leave it, throw it out or even better donate it to a friend or charity.

Just remember IKEA furniture is cheap so you can buy brand new furniture that will fit and suit your new place. Think of it as a fresh start. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what option you go with, just pick the best option for you and make it work.

Top 5 Moving Tips

So you’re thinking about moving house or just about to? Well first up, congrats that’s awesome news! We’re guessing you’re "Top 5 Moving Tips"

Moving tips

So you’re thinking about moving house or just about to? Well first up, congrats that’s awesome news! We’re guessing you’re excited, extremely happy and maybe even slightly stressed at the thought of finances, moving logistics and possibly pre-move renovations.

It’s important to remember that almost everyone has been through this, so don’t worry you’re not alone with moving-day blues. The good news is that everyone will have moving day advice for you; you just need to decide what works for you.

Here are 5 main moving tips to make your life a tad bit easier:

Tip 1: Get the essentials
It’s not only boxes and tape that you’ll need to start the pack up, there are a couple of other things we bet you’ve forgotten…

– Packing paper
– Good textas
– Bubble wrap
– Scissors
– Labels (Have a box number system, put your new address and contact name/ number)
– Wardrobe boxes

Also get extra supplies, we bet you’ll run out quicker than you think.

Tip 2: Pack smart
Planning for the end game (un-packing) is a must, as you’ll save plenty of time, energy and it will make all the more enjoyable.

Here’s a quick round up:
1. Make a list of box and it’s contents
2. Be specific on box labels (not just room names)
3. Keep similar items together in the one box
4. Pack ahead – a little packing everyday will save you time on moving day

Tip 3: Helpers
Whether you’ve enlisted friends, family, removalists or a friendly removalist on Airtasker to help you move it doesn’t matter who exactly but don’t try to do it on your own. It’s often a bigger task than you think and besides you’ll be in your new place a lot quicker.

Not only can they help you with the move but if you have kids they could babysit or if it’s your precious kitty or puppy a pet sitter could be the answer to your worries.

Whoever you get to help, don’t forget to treat them to a yummy pizza or drinks after; they did give up their time to help you out after all.

Tip 4: Go professional
There are many options when moving other than by yourself, most popular option being hiring removalists. If you go down this route do NOT select based on price but consider what you need. Do you need to clean before and after? Do you want to move in with everything unpacked? (you’re saying yes to this right?!), Do you need them to pack? Or do you just need them to get everything from A to B?

Step back, consider your all options, compare and don’t be afraid to go after what you want. It is some of your most valuable belongings they are handling.

Tip 5: Consider recycling
Recycling may not only save you money but it’s also highly waste intensive with a serious impact on the environment. Surely you don’t need everything from your old house… You could consider having a garage sale or put items up on eBay, Gumtree or Oddswop. If there’s not a huge value or no takers why not give it to friends and family or donate it to a local charity such as the Salvation Army.

There’s bound to be a friend of a friend moving sometime soon, so rather than creating more landfill, give your used boxes to them. Or better yet, rent your boxes.

So there you have it, some simple great moving tips. Let us know how you went and share any more tips in the comments below.

For more helpful tips check out our top Handyman tips and Painting tips hints.