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Moving to your new home sweet home

Helping your family adjust	City profile report
Moving with pets	How to choose a Real estate agent
Moving your plants	Mortgage
Moving your electronics	Home improvement advice
School profile report	Home storage and organization ideas

Relocating your family isn't an easy task. With so much to do, you probably feel more than a little overwhelmed. Sit back, relax, and get the answers you need from Movemyhouse.com.

Relocations can cause emotions to run wild. Everyone ? even your animals and plants ? feel the stress of a move. But relocating doesn't have to be scary. With the right information, you'll know what to do from minute one. Find the moving tips and advice you need to help your family adjust to a relocation, find the right new home, and make your new home your own.

Make your move an exciting, positive experience for your entire family

Relocating is considered one of the top 10 most stressful events. Everyone in your family will feel the emotional and physical toll of a move. Use this guide to ease the transition and make your relocation an exciting opportunity for all.

Helping your spouse or partner adjust to a relocation.

When the decision is made to relocate to a new city, keep in mind that your spouse or partner will face hard personal and career choices. Additionally, many of the responsibilities associated with the move will fall on the trailing spouse or partner, as the person being relocated is often finalizing work duties at the old office or learning a new position.

By adhering to the advice below, you can help your spouse or partner cope with the move and successfully transition to your new home.

Communicate. Keep each other informed of the things that need to be done for the relocation. If everyone knows and understands the timelines and benefits, the move will likely be a successful one.
Inquire about a company's employee assistance program (EAP). Many EAPs offer spousal assistance for job searches, child care alternatives and advice, educational resources, and stress management.
Support the career search of your spouse or partner.
- Seek the advice of a career counselor.
- Apply to a headhunter.
- Prepare the resume and reference letters before the actual move. Then you can apply to positions as soon as possible.
- Develop a list of job prospects, possible employers, and networking opportunities.
- Join or volunteer with organizations that will allow you to meet new people and network.
Continue participating in activities you enjoy. If fitness is important, consider joining a nearby health club.
Identify a support system, and find people you can talk to when you're feeling overwhelmed.

Helping your children adjust to a relocation.

Change can be stressful for anyone ? especially children. Moving to a new neighborhood, new city, or new state will require that they change homes, schools, and friends. But a move can provide an excellent opportunity to teach children how to adapt to change and learn the skills and strategies that will be useful later in life.

Use the following tips to help ease the transition and position your upcoming move as an exciting opportunity:

Listen to your children and encourage open conversation. Be sensitive to fears, sadness, and confused emotions.
Include your children in planning the move by going house-hunting or exploring your new city as a family.
Help your children learn about the new area.
Playact with dolls, boxes, and a wagon to give children a feeling of "moving."
Let your children help decide how their new rooms will be arranged and decorated.
Encourage your children to exchange addresses and phone numbers with their friends.
Prepare a package containing snacks, clothing, and a few favorite toys for the move.
Take a "family break" as soon as the major unpacking is done. Don't try to do everything when you arrive.
Spend time after the move listening to each child talk about new schools and new friends. Follow progress in new schools. Accompanying your children to school for the first few days may ease tension.
Report any lingering abnormalities (e.g., loss of appetite, insomnia, constipation, diarrhea, and menstrual disorders) to a doctor.
Prepare children for the new situations they will likely face with a move from a suburban area to a rural one (or vice versa).

Want to show your children how exciting a move can be? Spend a few minutes watching an animated movie together. Jimmy's Journey is a short story about a boy and his move experience.

Helping your entire family with the transition.

To ensure a healthy transition, the entire family must adjust to the differences in the new location. Your life is going to change ? daily routines, schools, friendships, and even the landscape that surrounds you. How you plan and manage the move can determine whether the relocation is scary or exciting.

Be positive when speaking about the relocation. Convey genuine excitement about the new house, new schools, new community, and new opportunities ? but don't go overboard with cheerleading.
Stay in touch with friends and neighbors. Take lots of pictures before you leave. Consider having a goodbye party with friends, family, and neighbors, and/or visit your favorite restaurant one last time.
As you settle into your new home, keep the same traditions. If you always went out for pizza on Thursday night, resume this activity as soon as possible. Organize the refrigerator the same way.
Jump into your new city feet first ? a proactive approach to getting to know your new surroundings will help generate a sense of familiarity and eliminate your family's hesitation.
- Make an effort to meet neighbors.
- If you're religious, find a place of worship within a month of moving.
- Join organizations and clubs to meet others with similar interests.

Prepare your pets for the big move

Moving to a new home can be a traumatic experience for your pets. Proper planning for relocating your pets can make the transition smooth - and stress-free - for both you and your animals.

Most pets are fearful of new surroundings. To help them adjust quickly, follow these tips for moving with pets from the American Moving and Storage Association and pet movers, Animal Land.

Start planning for your pet's transfer as soon as you know you're going to relocate. Remember, pets cannot be shipped in the moving truck, so you'll need to make special arrangements for their transfer.

Except for service dogs, pets are not permitted on buses or trains. Therefore, if a service dog is accompanying someone, the bus or train company must be notified in advance, just as you would notify an airline to secure the dog's passage.

By traveling with you, your pet will retain a sense of identity. However, pets can become frightened and bolt out of open doors or windows, so keep them on leashes or in crates when outside your car or hotel. Always, regardless of whether pets are traveling with you or by another means, give your pets a special identification tag. The tag should include the pet's name, your name, a destination address, or a friend or relative's contact information. Refer to the car travel checklist for additional tips.

A visit to the vet

Before you begin any journey, it's wise to make an appointment with your veterinarian for a general checkup. Be sure to:

Obtain your pet's medical records
Secure health certificates
Apply for entry permits, if needed
Ask for a reference for a veterinarian in your new city
Consult about mild sedation for your pet during the trip

Entry requirements

Nearly every state has laws on the entry of animals, with the exception of tropical fish. For more information, call or write the state veterinarian, state department of animal husbandry, or appropriate authority.

Health certificates must accompany dogs and horses entering nearly all states, and nearly half of the states have the same requirements for other pets. In some cases, this certificate must be in the hands of the state regulatory agency in advance of entry.

Most states require an up-to-date rabies inoculation for dogs, and many require it for cats as well. The rabies tag must be securely attached to the pet's collar. Hawaii requires that cats and dogs be quarantined for 120 days.

Before you settle on a new neighborhood, check with the city clerk or town hall for specific pet control and licensing ordinances.

If you are relocating internationally, consider working with a pet relocation company like Animal Land. Advanced planning and follow up are crucial to ensure your pet is not refused entry into the country or quarantined for an extensive period of time.

Pets traveling by air

All pets fly on commercial and cargo airlines ? there are no pet-only airlines. If your pet is placed in the cargo hold, you can rest assured that this area is the same temperature and pressure as the cabin. The air is the same air circulated throughout the entire aircraft.

While the holds are temperature-controlled, many airlines will not allow pets to fly if the outside temperature is above 85 degrees. By booking late night and early morning flights, you can usually get your pet where it needs to go. Additionally, pets can safely fly in the winter when the temperature is above 20 degrees.

Consider sending smaller pets such as birds, hamsters, gerbils, and tropical fish by air express. Airline freight departments, pet stores, or department stores can supply shipping containers. Tropical fish should be packed by a local pet shop specializing in the service.

Visit the pet relocation experts, Animal Land, for the latest information on airline policies for traveling pets. To prepare your pet for a flight, refer to the air travel checklist.

Not your average, every day pet

You can transport your unusual and exotic pets such as monkeys, snakes, lizards, alligators, and skunks by air (as long as you adhere to the airline crating requirements) or in your car. But keep in mind many states have specific "wild animal" entry requirements. Check with the state regulatory agency to determine if your pet is allowed.

Car travel checklist

If your dog or cat is not used to traveling by car, make short trips with the pet a week or two prior to the trip to accustom it to motion and to teach it how to behave.
Dogs should be taught to lie quietly, keep their heads inside, and not annoy the driver or passengers. To avoid irritated eyes and problems, don't let your dog stick its head in the wind.
Cats are often frightened of car travel, but they adjust quickly. Some people allow the cat to find its own place in the car; others feel it's best to confine a cat to its own carrier.
Folding kennels or crates can be most useful for dogs and cats.
Accustom your pet to being on a leash and always use it when traveling.
If you must stop overnight, check in advance to find a hotel that will allows pets.
Be sure your pet is properly restrained and its rabies tag is firmly attached.
Put together a travel kit that includes:
- Pet food
- Food and water dishes
- A can opener (if needed)
- A few treats
- A favorite toy
- A blanket
- A comb or brush
- A sedative (if prescribed by your vet)
- Paper towels and cleaning supplies
- A scooper and plastic bags to clean up after your pet

Air travel checklist

Make reservations well in advance and follow airline instructions. Many airlines have restrictions as to the number of pets that can travel on a given flight, as well as the time of year that pets can travel as excess baggage. If you have a large dog, keep in mind that these pets can only fit on a few types of aircraft. Call the cargo department of your airline ? not the telephone number for passenger reservations ? for restrictions and requirements.
Check the airline's requirements to see whether your pet can travel in a carrier that can be kept under a seat in the cabin or must travel as airfreight. At the airline's discretion, pets that weigh up to 15 pounds and can fit under the seat may be allowed to travel in the cabin.
Obtain a shipping container a week or two in advance. Familiarize your pet with it by encouraging your pet to get inside. Gradually lengthen the time the pet is inside.
Carefully schedule boarding and shipping arrangements for your pet to ensure it is well cared for until you are able to receive it at your new home.
Feed the pet no less than five or six hours before flight time and give it a drink of water no less than two hours before flight. Freezing water in the pet carrier's water dish can help satisfy thirst during the trip.
Get the pet to the air/freight terminal in time ? one hour early if your pet is accompanying you and two hours if you are shipping the pet.
Be certain names, addresses, and telephone numbers of persons responsible for the pet at the point of origination and destination are clearly marked on the container and on the pet's ID tag.
Notify the person receiving the pet that it is on the way. Give him/her the flight and waybill numbers.
Verify changing regulations.
Pets can usually be picked up within 90 minutes of flight arrival. Use the air waybill number when making inquiries.
Download a free guide to moving your pets from Animal Land.

Plants feel the stress of a move, too

Relocating your houseplants to a brand new home requires pre-planning and some extra special handling.

Houseplants. They've added beauty to your home, helped reduce indoor air pollution, and earned a place of honor on your table, shelf, or counter. And frankly, you've grown more than a little attached to your flora collection.

But now that you're moving, you have some serious considerations to make regarding your plants. Relocating your plants to a new home is highly stressful for them. You may want to consider giving your plants to friends, hospitals, and nursing homes, or even selling them at a garage sale.

If you decide you can't leave them behind, you'll want to keep these guidelines in mind.

Some houseplants are susceptible to shock when moving. The longer distance you travel or the time-in-transit doesn't increase the level of shock ? it just increases the plant's recovery time.

According to federal moving regulations, moving companies can only move plants if the distance is less than 150 miles and/or delivery is completed within 24 hours of loading and no storage, en route servicing, or watering is required. However, your driver will decide whether he/she will move your plants, and moving companies will not assume liability for plants.

With these restrictions in mind, you may find it easier ? and in the best interest of your plants ? to move them yourself. Here are some important tips:

Plants should be moist when prepared for the move. Many can survive up to 10 days without watering and suffer little permanent harm.
If you plan to relocate houseplants across state lines, check federal and state regulations. Plant quarantines may be in effect in certain areas to restrict movement of plants that may harbor destructive pests.
When moving houseplants, the most critical factor to consider is temperature. Temperatures below 35? F or above 95-100? F that last for over an hour can be fatal. Plants in wrapped cartons will withstand a wider temperature variation.
If all other conditions are favorable, houseplants can tolerate darkness for up to a week. But plants left in darkness too long "etiolate," start to put out abnormal growth that is more susceptible to disease. When first exposing plants to light after a lengthy period in darkness, limit sun exposure for the first few days.

Have an error-free move with your computer and electronics

Pack and move your computer and electronics smoothly and safely by following these packing and moving tips.

Technology plays a huge role in our lives today. From storing important data to providing the ultimate entertainment experience, our computers and electronics are important ? and expensive ? assets. Therefore, you need to give extra attention and care to properly packing and moving these delicate items.

Packing and moving your computer.

Before you disconnect your computer system, remember to back up all data. If the hard drive is damaged during transport, your important data could be lost. But if you've backed up your hard drive, the lost or damaged data can be replaced. Several back-up methods are available, including copying files to CDs or DVDs or uploading your data to an Internet storage provider.

To protect your computer system from mechanical failure or damage due to the normal physical shock that can occur during moving, you must follow certain procedures. The American Moving and Storage Association has provided the following guidelines to help you ensure your computer is ready for packing:

Remove any inserted disks and CDs from the disk drives and CD-ROM drives. These drives should be left empty.
Before packing, follow the hard drive moving instructions for your specific operating system.
- Prior to Windows 95?, contact the manufacturer's technical support for specific shipping instructions. These systems may need to "park and lock" their recording heads prior to moving to prevent hard drive disk damage.
- For Windows 95? or newer, "park and lock" is completed automatically when the system is shut down.
- For Apple computers, review the owner's manual or contact technical support for shipping preparation and instructions.
Properly shut down the computer.
Before unplugging any cables, label each cord and its corresponding port with color-coded stickers. This will allow for faster, easier reassembly at your new home.
Pack your system in the original packing carton if possible. If not, ask your moving company to provide packing materials with ample protection capabilities.
When preparing a printer, copier, or fax machine for the move, first remove all paper to prevent paper jams in the equipment's components during transport. Then remove all ink and toner cartridges to prevent spills and damage during the move.
For other computer system equipment (i.e., speakers, scanners, external drives, etc.), use the original shipping containers if possible. Refer to your owner's manuals for special packing and moving instructions.

Packing and moving your electronics.

Whenever possible, it's best to pack your electronics in their original boxes. Refer to the owner's manuals for special moving instructions.

CD/DVD players - To prevent transit damage from vibration, remove all discs from the player and lock the unit prior to packing. Most players have a lock underneath the unit. Pack the player flat, not on its side.
Television sets - Remove antennas and small dishes from your roof and disassemble if necessary. Some television sets require servicing before and after the move. Refer to your owner's manual for specific moving instructions.
VCRs - Remove all tapes and close player doors. Pack the unit flat, not on its side.
Satellite dishes - Check with your satellite dish service provider. Some providers will provide a free dish at your home as long as you leave the existing one intact at your current residence.
Home theaters - Mark all cables and corresponding ports with colored stickers to make reassembly quick and easy.

Discover which schools have the passing grade

Make an informed decision about moving to a new school district with free school reports.

Moving your children to a new school isn't an easy decision to make. By using these free school reports, you can ensure your decision is an informed one. View School Profile Report

Find the city that's right for you

When moving or relocating, an important first step is finding a city that will make you feel at home.

Before you finalize your moving plans, you should compare and contrast the cities you're considering moving to. Use the city profile report provided below to get a closer look at your potential new home town. View City Profile Report

Partner with the right real estate agent

Purchasing a home is one of the largest financial investments you will make in your life. With the right real estate agent on your side, buying or selling your home can be an easier, less stressful experience.

If you're buying or selling a house, you don't have to do it alone. By hiring a real estate agent, you'll have someone in your corner with the expertise to help you throughout the entire process ? from reviewing listings to reaching the closing table.

What is a REALTOR??

After receiving a real estate license from their state, real estate agents can join the National Association of REALTORS? (NAR), the world's largest real estate trade organization. Members must abide by a strict Code of Ethics, which in many cases goes above and beyond state law. Only those agents who belong to NAR can be called a REALTOR?.

Where do you find the right real estate agent?

A great starting point for your real estate agent search is friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. But don't stop there. Real estate agents have different levels of experience. Some are better at helping sellers, while others focus on assisting buyers. Plus, agents offer different expertise in types of homes (single-family, condominiums, etc.), price ranges, and neighborhoods. You'll want to select the real estate agent whose experience best matches your individual needs.

If your relocation is covered under your employer's benefit package, be sure to first check with your consultant at Graebel Relocation Services Worldwide. Your consultant will provide details and requirements to ensure you select the proper agent and complete the required paperwork.

Interview potential agents.

Unless you have a successful track record with an agent, you should interview more than one real estate agent to identify the right person for your situation. To assess an agent's qualifications, NAR recommends asking the following questions

Are you a REALTOR??
Is your real estate license in good standing? (You can also check with your state's real estate governing agency.)
Do you work as a real estate agent full time?
Do you belong to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) or a reliable online homebuyer's search service?
What professional designations do you hold?
What will you do to help me find a home that fits my criteria? Or how will you help me sell my existing home

How much do you know about mortgages?

Buying a home is a major financial decision. Before you apply for a mortgage, consider this important mortgage advice.

Know where you stand.

Before you start looking for a home, you need to know your maximum housing price. By calculating this early in the process, you won't waste time looking at houses out of your price range or get your heart set on a home you can't afford. To do this, you need to calculate your debt-to-income ratio by comparing your gross monthly income to your monthly debts.

As a rule of thumb, mortgage lenders typically use 36-percent as the guideline for how high your debt-to-income ratio should be. Another guideline is to limit housing expenses to 28-percent of your gross monthly income.

Consider getting pre-qualified before you begin shopping. By providing basic financial information to a mortgage lender, you'll receive an idea of the mortgage amount for which you qualify. You can use this information to narrow down your home search and show sellers you're a serious buyer. However, this is not a guarantee of a loan, as it does not take into account your entire financial situation.

Choose the mortgage that best meets your individual situation.

Now that you know how much you can afford, it's time to start thinking about the type of mortgage that will meet your risk tolerance and financial situation. The two most popular mortgages available are fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). Each one has its advantages.

Fixed-rate mortgages
- Are ideal if you plan to live in your home for a number of years
- Provide consistent payments and unchanging interest rates
- May be a wise choice if interest rates are expected to rise
ARMs
- Are ideal if you plan to live in your home for less than three years
- May be a wise choice if interest rates are expected to go down
- May be less expensive than a fixed-rate mortgage over time, if interest rates remain steady or decrease

Shop around for the best mortgage.

Once you've identified the type of mortgage that's right for you, you'll need to look at the loan's interest rate. The lower the interest rate, the less money you'll pay over the life of the loan. With this in mind, even the smallest difference in rates can have a huge impact on your pocketbook.

But interest rates aren't the only numbers to look at. The loan's annual percentage rate (APR) includes the interest costs and other fees charged by your lender. Request an itemized APR from each lender, so you can make properly compare your loan options.

Also, look at the features of your loan ? caps, prepayment penalties, and lock-in terms ? and be sure to pick a lender who is responsive to your questions.

After you've selected your lender, you'll want to get pre-approved to demonstrate to sellers that you're ready and able to make a purchase. This process is much more thorough than the pre-qualification process and involves completing a good portion of the loan paperwork.

Lock in the best interest rate.

You've settled on a mortgage, a lender, and you've found the house of your dreams. Now what? Because it can take awhile to close on your new home, you should consider locking in your interest rate. With a rate lock, your lender guarantees a specific interest rate for a specific period of time, generally 30 days (though locks are also available for 15, 45, or 60 days).

Close on your new home.

When closing time arrives, you should be ready for an avalanche of paperwork. Ask your mortgage lender for a copy of the HUD1 Settlement Statement before you close and review the document carefully. If there are any significant discrepancies between the Settlement Statement and your Good Faith Estimate, ask your lender for an explanation.

Be sure to bring a check to the closing table to cover your closing costs, sign all the proper paperwork, and get ready to move in.

Keep your eye on your mortgage.

Stay abreast of interest rates even after you close on your home. Changes in your financial situation may allow you to pay off your loan faster or you may wish to refinance your mortgage to take advantage of lower interest rates. Additionally, if you have an ARM and interest rates have increased, you may want to refinance to a fixed-rate mortgage and reduce your payment.

Improve your relocation with valuable home improvement tips

Before you move, consider making a few improvements to your old home to boost its appeal to buyers - and give your new home a few upgrades to help you feel more comfortable much faster.

Home improvement tips for your old home.

By completing a few home improvement projects, you can increase its value and appeal to prospective buyers. Some of the home improvements you may wish to make on your home before you put it on the market include:

Remove clutter and organize your rooms.
Repaint your walls and ceilings in a neutral color. Patch any cracks, chips, and holes.
Repair any defective electrical components and replace burnt-out light bulbs.
Fix any leaky faucets or other plumbing issues.
Apply fresh caulk and redo grout in countertops, sinks, showers, and bathtubs.
Shampoo lightly soiled carpets. If carpets are faded, stained, or smelly, replace with a neutral color.
Paint the exterior of your house if it is an odd color or if paint is peeling.
Maintain your yard by trimming overgrown areas, mowing the lawn, planting additional flowers or shrubs, raking leaves, and shoveling snow.
Talk to your real estate agent for additional suggestions for boosting your home's resale value.

Remember, most buyers are looking for a home that has no deferred maintenance. While some buyers may be willing to accept a discount in the sales price to make necessary repairs, most buyers recognize the value of a house that doesn't require any repairs.

Home improvement tips for your new home.

Before you move everything into your new home, you may want to consider completing some home improvement projects. Doing these projects now may save you time and hassle later:

Replace carpets or install hardwood and tile floors to save you from having to move your furniture twice. If you decide to do this before you move in, remember to have the flooring ordered in time to install it a day or two before the moving truck arrives.
Paint your walls without the hassle of moving furniture, fixtures, drapes, and pictures.
Change the locks on your house. You'll receive peace of mind by knowing that no unauthorized person will have access to your home.
Organize your closets with a complete closet system. Then, when you're ready to unpack, you can find the perfect location for your wardrobe ? and not have to live out of a suitcase until the system is installed.
Put your garage in tip-top shape by painting the floor with an epoxy coating, installing a workbench, or hanging storage shelves. All of these projects are easier to complete when you don't have to work around your vehicles or boxes stacked to the ceiling.

Home improvement resources.

If you're looking for specific decorating suggestions or how-to tips for improving your home ? either before you move or after ? visit these informative web sites:

Energy-efficiency and eco-friendly tips.

Sharing responsibility in protecting the environment is quickly becoming a way of life and business. Learn how you can become more energy-efficient at home and at work by visiting these helpful web sites:

Say goodbye to clutter - and hello to organization

It's a fresh start to your new home. By organizing your new home with these helpful organization tips, you'll decrease the time spent on household chores and increase the time spent on important things like family.

Organizing closets

Don't spend another wasted minute searching for your favorite shirt or your shoe's missing mate. Whip your closets into tip-top, organized shape.

Rid your closet of unwanted clothing. Donate or discard items that you haven't worn in two years or items that are stained or torn beyond repair.
Use hangers ? wooden or plastic ? that won't misshape your clothes or get tangled up in the closet.
Assemble complete outfits on one hanger.
Group like garments together.
Identify and remove items that are best stored elsewhere.
Utilize the back of the door for extra space.
Select the form of shoe organizer ? over-the-door, shelves, or shoe bags ? that will accommodate the number of shoes, their styles, and their usage frequency.
Keep out-of-season clothing in garment bags, storage chests, or clear bins and store them in out-of-the-way places.

Organizing the bathroom

An organized bathroom can reduce the stress of the morning rush and decrease the time it takes family members to get ready.

Clean out your drawers and cabinets. Throw away items you don't use or need anymore. Pay special attention to duplicate items, as this will save you time and money.
Save space by using over-the-door racks to hang robes and towels.
Decrease clutter in the shower and bathtubs with wall-mounted or bathtub caddies.
Add a stacked cabinet over the toilet to hold towels and toiletries.
Use drawer organizer trays to keep your drawers neat and tidy.
Consider decorative containers for holding small items you use on a daily basis and keeping your counters and shelves looking their best.
Clean out your medicine cabinet once a year and throw out old and expired medications.

Organizing the garage

The garage is usually the catch-all location for items that don't have a place in the home. Give your garage a serious overhaul and reclaim this valuable space for your cars.

Organize the garage after you've organized the rest of your house.
Discard or donate items that you don't use anymore.
Place items that you use regularly so they are easily within reach.
Sort items into categories first, and then purchase sturdy, properly sized containers.
Group like items together on shelves or in sections.
Make the most of vertical space with wall-mounted peg boards, tool holders, and hooks.
Use small, stackable containers to hold small hardware like screws, nails, and bolts.

Organizing the kitchen

The kitchen. It's the one room in your house where everyone goes ? to gather, to eat, and to socialize. Save time while you're cooking and make the room more pleasant for your family and guests with a little organization.

Store rarely used appliances out of the way and not on your countertops. Only necessary items that are used on a daily basis should be stored on your countertops.
Get rid of duplicate utensils, plastic containers, and dishes.
Use racks to store cookie sheets, cutting boards, and trays upright in your cabinets.
Sliding drawers and stacking shelves can ease accessibility and visibility within your cabinets.
Add expandable or modular organizers to reduce clutter in your drawers.
Group like items together.
Keep your commonly used plates, cups, and utensils close to the dishwasher for quick and easy clean-up.

Storage tips

Before you pack away your valuable family heirlooms, be sure you're choosing the right container. Ultraviolet rays and acids can destroy your irreplaceable printed materials, photographs, and textiles; therefore, the storage containers you select should resist dust, dirt, and light infiltration, as well as resist crushing when stacked.

If you need to wrap or separate any of your items, select an acid-free tissue paper, as regular cardboard and newsprint can cause your items to yellow from acid-related damage.

Finally, have your garments and textiles professionally dry cleaned or laundered before you store the items. Untreated stains could attract insects and cause fibers to deteriorate.

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