If you’re like me, moving is one of those things in life you dread, almost as much as death and taxes. Take heart, dear friend. It doesn’t have to be quite so bad after all. I have learned a few things about moving over the years that will lighten your load, both literally and figuratively. Allow me to share them with you. Here then are 10 tips to make your move easier:

1. Condense all of your packing into one or two rooms, rather than having boxes spread out all over the house. Reducing the sense of scale for the move goes a long way in reducing stress.
2. Start early. Don’t wait for the house to sell and you’re rushed. Pack things like seasonal clothing and holiday decorations right away. The more time you have to prepare, the less frantic your move will be.
3. Label boxes clearly. List contents whenever feasible and designate their destination on the other end. It will make unpacking a whole lot easier. The labeling will also allow friends and family to be more helpful should they choose to volunteer their services for packing or unpacking.
4. Pack light. It’s tempting to use fewer boxes in an effort to save space and trips. It will be a lot less work in the long run, though, if you keep the size and weight of each box to a minimum.
5. When moving dressers, trunks or armoires, pack clothing back into them to conserve space. You can tape over the drawers and carry them separately on and off the truck.
6. Use towels,and wash rags as padding for wrapping fragile goods. Place pillows and blankets around furniture and boxes of fragile items to keep them protected in the moving van.
7. Make a list of all contacts you will need to send a change of address, and fill out a change of address form with the post office at least 2 weeks prior to your move date. Specify what date you wish to begin having your mail delivered to the new address.
8. Pack an overnight bag. In the rush to get packed, it’s easy to forget those items you’ll be needing right away in your new home. Don’t forget necessities like a roll of toilet paper for your first night in the new house.
9. Contact utilities ahead of time to advise of shut-off and turn-on dates for each home. Allow yourself enough time in the old home for cleaning before shutting off the water and power.
10. Prepare maps and have 2-way radios or cellphones for all parties, when making a move in more than one vehicle. It ensures that everyone knows where they’re going, and can communicate during the transport phase of your move.

Of course, the less you have to move the better. Having a moving sale to eliminate some of the things that you really don’t need or want to move to another location can help decrease the amount of possessions that travel with you to the new home. A little preparation and planning goes a long way in making your move go smoothly.

Grass requires plenty of water to keep it green and growing. Long periods without rain can mean that you end up with a dry brown yard. Here are ten ways to save your yard during drought conditions.

1. Water deeply – When you do water your lawn (drought or no drought), give it plenty of water at once. This allows the water to seep further down into the soil and encourages the grass to grow deeper roots.
2. Space out your watering – Since you are applying lots of water, space out your waterings. This will also encourage those grass roots to  reach down for the water instead of just accessing what is available near the surface.
3. Apply wetting agents – Golf courses and other commercial greens apply wetting agents to help keep their grass green and healthy. This should be done by a professional and can be costly, however.
4. Pre-condition the lawn – If a time of drought is expected, begin preparing your lawn by spreading out your waterings further ahead of time, rather than suddenly ending the watering.
5. Avoid fertilizers – Don’t apply fertilizers to your lawn during a season of drought. This could actually be harmful to your lawn.
6. Raise the mower height – By raising the cutting height on your mower, you will be encouraging root growth in your grasses. This will help the grass stay greener longer during a drought season.
7. Increase potassium – Prior to a drought season, change your fertilizer to one that contains a higher level of potassium. Potassium may encourage root growth in your grasses.
8. Decrease nitrogen – In your fertilizer used prior to drought, use one with less nitrogen. Nitrogen encourages the blade growth of the grass. The focus should be on the roots prior to a dry season.
9. Change grass types – Fescue type turf grasses will maintain their green qualities longer during a drought than Kentucky or rye grasses. If drought is a frequent problem, you may want to consider increasing these types of grasses in your lawn mixture.
10. Natural dormancy – Grasses that turn brown and dry during a drought have actually gone dormant and will revive again quickly when water levels return to the soil. Your lawn is not actually being damaged by the drought season, it simply doesn’t look as nice.

As you can see there are things you can do to help keep your lawn greener, longer, during a drought period. Just remember, that if you can water, watering longer and less often will be better for your grass that small amounts every day.

Most of us probably won’t have a reason to look for a plumber unless we have an emergency. If we have a broken pipe or other problem we will not have time to spend checking out their qualifications. Our priority is getting the repair done. In those situations, we may call someone we have already used, or a referral by a family member, friend or neighbor. When you do have the time to look for a plumber for a possible future job, or a repair which isn’t an emergency, here are some tips for choosing a good plumber.

1. Internet. Visit the Plumbers.Networx.comweb site. They maintain a directory of licensed plumbers that is searchable by zip code. Contractors can have no negative feedback from site users if they are to remain listed on the site. Another good internet source is Angie’s List. This site will provide you true customer feedback on plumbers in your area.
2. Length Of Business and Location. A plumber with a location you can visit ,and years of experience in business, is more likely to be dependable in repairs and to actually finish the work. They may also be expected to be available if you need them in the future.
3. References. If they have done quality work in the past they should be able to provide you references of satisfied clients. Any contractor who takes offense at this request, or is unable to provide customer references, should not be a candidate for your project.
4. Insurance. Do they carry any liability insurance that will cover you if something goes wrong? Plumbers are required to carry this insurance and provide you with a certificate showing coverage for your specific project, should you request it.
5. Member Of A Trade Group. Are they part of the Association of Plumbers and Heating Contractors (APHC)? Those who are part of this group adhere to code standards that meet building code requirements. You can contact the association to confirm if they are registered. Also ask about their affiliation with local trade groups for the construction industry.
6. Is Work Guaranteed? Anyone who is a professional, and intends on doing the work correctly, will be able to provide you some guarantees. These guarantees should be included in your written contract for the work, and not just given to you verbally.
7. Price Agreed Before Work Starts. Does the plumber provide you a quoted price in writing before work starts? The experienced plumber should provide you with a quoted price that also lists out all the work that is included or excluded from that price.
8. Get More Than One Bid. It is best to check with more than one plumber for a bid. There can be big differences in their quotes. The one with the lowest bid isn’t always the best. Make sure to compare their other qualifications, and to ask questions about any extras charges that might be incurred after the project begins.
9. Check Their License. If the plumber has a general contractor’s license number it can be checked out with the state to find out if they have any complaints filed on that number. You can also confirm that their license is valid and up to date.
10. Check With The Better Business Bureau. Have any complaints been filed against the plumber or his company? Give a call to the city where the plumber does business to see what is on file about the plumber’s services. That can sometimes reveal information you might not otherwise find out.

A few minutes of asking the right questions, and checking on resources when time allows, can spare you problems later when dealing with a plumber. It can also make the difference on whether the work gets done and done right.