Moving into your new home? This can be a stressful time as you’re trying to juggle everything while maintaining your sanity. Organization and time management are important components when moving into a new home in order to set yourself up for success. The process can get overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start. These three simple steps will bring you clarity on what you should give your attention to while moving into your new home.

Try to donate clothes and things you no longer need! Be rational and realize that not everything you have holds sentimental value; more than likely it’s just taking up space. If you don’t organize your belongings, you will be bringing that mess into your new home. If you still feel like you have a lot of stuff left over and you have nowhere to put it try finding a storage facility. A storage facility is a great choice as you have more chances to lose items when you’re moving. Storage facilities are a great investment when you’re in need of extra space.

It’s important to do a thorough deep clean when moving into your new home. Why? It allows you to be confident in the cleanliness of everything in the house as you don’t know the homeowners who lived there before you. Cleaning will enable you to see what you’re working with it. If your walls are dirty and full of dust, you won’t know if you need to paint them or if cleaning will do the job. If your walls need a fresh coat of paint, it’s important to pick the right paint color. 

​Picking a paint color is one of the toughest decisions as it sets the tone of your living space and has a powerful effect on behavior. Color has the ability to transform the look of a room, making it seem larger or smaller, and can be the perfect backdrop for your furniture and décor. If you’re renting, ask your landlord’s permission before you start painting. This ensures no problems occur down the line.

This might be the last priority on your list. However, it’s important to pay attention to which month you’re going to be moving. The summer months are the busiest, as people take their vacation in order to move in peace. If you’re moving with children, book your long-distance movers as college students will also be moving in and out of dorms during the busy back to school season. If you can, try to book your movers ahead of time to avoid stress and further disappointments. 

​Even though moving can be a stressful time, it’s important to keep a cool head during this time. If you're moving and holding onto your previous property, consider property management! It’s a great way to increase your chances of finding high-quality tenants while also keeping your property in great condition.

If you have storage needs, chances are you're looking for a facility that has the right amenities, great customer reviews, and is trustworthy. The greater Pittsburgh area has 237 facilities, though, so how do you weed through all of the information to find the right one for you? Look no further!

Storageunits.com, which provides consumers with expertise, data, and research on the storage industry has complied a guide of the top 24 storage unit companies in Pittsburgh! The guide, which was complied using in-depth reviews of each company can be found here. 

The website looked at four specific factors to come up with their list of the best storage facilities in the 'Burgh. 

1. Reputation: Which facilities have a history of great customer reviews as well as outstanding service.
2. Credibility: Storage companies that build customer confidence with licensing, accreditations, and awards. 
3. Experience: Facilities that are masters of their craft, which can only come from years of practical experience and education.
4. Professionalism: Storage companies that provide service with honesty, reliability, and respect to their customers. 

Storageunits.com also has information on what to consider when looking for storage in the Pittsburgh area, as well as helpful moving tips, a packing guide, everything you need to know about car storage, and many other helpful resources. 

Most homeowners have spent a lot more time at home in the past year. Naturally, this has led to many working on home improvement projects. Curious to know how much the average homeowner has reported spending on renovations since March 2020? Read on to find out! 

A survey by Stoneside Blinds & Shades on Return on Investment of Home Improvement Projects found that homeowners have increased their spending on renovations since March. On average, homeowners reported spending $1,031 on renovations. Generation X reported spending the most ($1,178.41), while baby boomers spent an average of $1,099.45 and millennials spent the least ($998.68)

The Stoneside Blinds & Shades survey revealed that the kitchen is the most popular area for people to want to spend time and money renovating, with more than 27% of those surveyed saying that a kitchen repair or remodel is at the top of their list. Bathroom repairs and remodeling came in second, with 24.3% of respondents having it on their list. 

The area with the most perceived return on investment is the kitchen at 50.8%, with the bedroom after it at 17%, and the living room at 10.2%. The majority of consumers who undertook renovations hired a professional for their projects, with 25% or less noting that they did them as a DIY. Those who did the projects themselves estimated they saved over $600, though. For more information on consumer spending during the pandemic, the whole article on the Stoneside Blinds & Shades survey can be found here.