1. Put hanging clothes in wardrobe boxes.
2. Place shoes in medium size boxes. Use paper to protect and keep pairs separated.
3. Place non hanging clothes in medium size/linen size boxes.

1. Use double corrugated boxes.
2. Cushion the bottom with rolled up paper.
3. Wrap each piece individually.
4. Bundle flatware in groups of three and wrap the bundle.
5. Don’t place one layer of dishware directly on top of another; separate with a layer of stuffed paper.
6. Cushion the top and sides with paper to prevent shifting. The steadier the contents, the less the chance of damages is.

1. Tape the bottom of every box; tape the top closed tightly when full. Run two strips of tape along the side and one strip down the center. (If the box is still not strong enough, apply more tape on the sides.)
2. Use small boxes for heavier items; larger boxes for light weight, bulky items.
3. Wrap small and/or fragile items individually.
4. Stuff the top, bottom and sides of boxes with paper. This helps prevent shifting, rubbing and possible breakage.
5. Stack boxes to the top to prevent them from being crushed. But don’t pack fragile items too tightly. Stuff with paper.
6. Label the contents of every box and the room where it belongs. Group boxes together that belong in the same room. Label any boxes/items “STORAGE” that will be stored for you.

There is a lot to consider when purchasing a new home. A home warranty is one more decision to make—and it can be difficult to determine whether a home warranty will help protect your investment and ultimately save you money.

home warranty is a protection plan that covers the repair of large appliances and other major items in your home. It can be helpful to think of a home warranty as a service contract, rather than an insurance policy.

Plans cover repairs on a wide range of items, including:

• Air conditioners
• Washer and dryer
• Water heater
• Doorbell
• Kitchen appliances including refrigerator, oven and range, dishwasher, garbage disposal
• Roof leaks
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• Heating and duct work

Every home warranty is different. Your coverage will depend on the provider and the particular plan you select. If you’re looking for more from a home warranty, you may be able to purchase additional coverage that extends to items such as a pool or spa, the septic pump, or well pump.

When using your home warranty plan to pay for a repair, you may be required to use a contractor or professional who is approved by the home warranty provider.

Read the terms of your plan carefully to understand everything it covers, what the limits and exclusions are, and what you might be responsible for as the homeowner. A Consumer Reports analysis of available home warranties found that coverage varied widely. In some cases, for example, warranties covered the refrigerator but not the ice maker that came with it. Other policies covered the hot water heater but not the water tank itself.

There are many other reasons that repairs could not be covered under a home warranty:

• An appliance breaks under certain circumstances, such as a power surge.
• Your appliances could be too heavily worn or deemed to have too much “wear and tear.”
• Some repairs may instead be covered by homeowner’s or hazard insurance, or by the manufacturer’s warranties on the appliances.

Appliance repairs can be expensive. If your home warranty covers one or more necessary, major repairs, a home warranty could save you money. And because these plans tend to cover a range of problems that homeowner’s insurance does not, a warranty can fill the “gaps” in coverage and provide you with additional peace of mind.

It’s difficult to know if a home warranty will actually save you money in the long run, but purchasing one may be a good choice if

• You’re a first-time homebuyer
• You’re inexperienced with repairs
• You are purchasing an older home
• Your new home has appliances that are not covered under manufacturer’s warranties
• You are concerned about being able to pay for repairs if and when they come up.

Home warranties are typically purchased during the sale of a property. However, you can purchase a home warranty at any time—not just when you’re buying a new home.

In some cases, a home warranty will be paid for by the seller. If you’re interested in purchasing one and the seller has not included it, discuss it with your realtor: A warranty could become a part of your negotiation.

Utility bills are constant expenses that you can’t really get rid of. Still, you can lower them by following a few simple tips, such as these for saving water:

• Turn off the shower while you soap-up your body.
• Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth.
• Use a cup of hot water to shave instead of a constantly-running shower or faucet.
• Run the dishwasher only when it’s full.
• Wash clothes when your washing machine is full.
• Look for and fix water leaks in your garden hose or any other spots in the house.

Here are similar tips that will help you save electricity to keep those monthly utility costs as low as possible:

• Turn off the lights when you leave the house, or they’re not actively used by anyone.
• Unplug appliances that can use electricity even when they’re not turned on.
• Use a fan to stay cool and turn up your AC a little higher since fans cost less to operate.
• Turn down the AC a few degrees when you’re not home. Don’t turn it off, however, since it takes more electricity to crank up and cool.
• Buy a programmable thermostat to make the above tip much easier to complete and remember when you’re away.
• Keep your AC vents and filters clean, so they don’t have to work as hard to function.