Growing up in Brazil I remember watching an American adventure TV series of a hero guy called MacGyver. Did you ever watch it? He could solve any world problem in the nick of time with a stroke of imagination and a couple of simple things at hand. I always wished I could be as resourceful as him.
Well, when relocating, no matter how prepared you are, if you are not the MacGyver type it takes a huge adjustment.
Since each one of us has a different story and needs, there is no guaranteed formula for a smooth and easy adjustment after moving. There are many functional challenges that can seem overwhelming (even more so if your new address is not exactly a new property). But some of them can easily be solved with the right tools.
As soon as you step inside your new address the adjustment period starts. And the sooner you manage to make the new place feel like home, the faster you’ll go through the new home adjustment period. So, my main advice to you is to roll up your sleeves as soon as the moving truck is gone and work on whatever needs a quick fixing right away.
There are many products out there that can help us with most of these practical challenges that a new home can present. I am sure you can find similar ones wherever you are moving. Here are some of the best ones I found so far:
1) Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer
Does your new kitchen look worn out? This cabinet and furniture restorer can help bring back to life any wood cabinet. With only one application the cabinetry looks shiny and new.
2) Repair wood furniture and floor
If your wood pieces are not simply worn out but they also have scratches, you can also solve it without pricey solutions. You can easily fill scratches with these magical repair markers. They come in 6 different colors and work on many wood surfaces, including hardwood, laminate floors, furniture, and cabinets.
3) Motion-Sensor Lights with Multiple Brightness Settings
LED motion-sensor lights can be perfect to brighten closets, hallways, under cabinets, and any other areas where you need extra light. These, in particular, turn on automatically when motion is detected within 10 feet, and they attach easily to almost any surface with included double-sided adhesive. They are rechargeable and no tools or wiring are required.
4) Leather Cleaner for sofa, chairs and even Jackets
Even though leather is usually relatively stain resistant, years with kids, pets, spouses, or just our own messy selves eventually take their toll. This cleaner will basically give your leather pieces a real second chance.
5) A small hole magic repair
This 3M High Strength Small Hole Repair is ideal for repairing small holes, cracks, and damaged surfaces. Works on drywall, plaster, stucco, and wood. And the best thing: the product comes with a putty knife, primer enhanced spackle, and sanding pad all in one convenient tool. Anyone can do it!
6) A Touch-Up Paint Pen
Once you patched any small holes you have, this touch-up paint pen that comes with a precision brush-tip, will leave your wall and trims looking like new! And once again, you totally do not need to be a professional painter to do it
7) Ultra-thin Electrical Outlet
Have you ever found yourself with the problem that a piece of furniture goes exactly where the electric socket is? Well, this is definitely one of my favorite genius products. This super slim outlet can help conceal cords and cables in the entire place. It totally blends with the wall, and it is the perfect solution when you need to place a piece of furniture in front of the outlet.
8) A Sleek Storage Box That Keeps All Your Cords Hidden
This sleek cable box can be a great quick solution to hide that tangle of cords and chargers that I am sure you have under your desk. The box features a slot to thread your cords through and minimalist design blends in with most of design styles. Though this is a very specific product, I have found it easy to make something similar with cute baskets with cut out handles that can hide the cables inside.
9) Smart outlet plugs
These smart plugs work with Alexa and Google Home Assistant, giving you the possibility to voice control any electronic appliance in your home. You can also turn electronics on and off from anywhere with your smartphone using the app and finally, you can use timer or countdown schedules to set your wifi smart plug to automatically turn on and off any home electronic appliances such as lamps, fan, humidifier, etc. How cool is that?
10) Privacy film
If you have any window at your home that makes you feel exposed, window films for privacy are a very simple solution. Top-rated options offer the level of privacy you need while letting in your desired amount of light. Whatever option you choose, you can also decide how you wish to adhere your film to the window, it can be a renter-friendly static cling or more permanent adhesive.
11) Trimmable liner to keep your drawers and shelves neat
Place these thick non-adhesive drawer liners in your cabinets, shelves, and drawers to prevent items from slipping, so those typically messy spaces always stay neat and tidy. These best-selling liners come in tons of colors and some cool patterns, which can also elevate the look of your shelves and drawers.
12) For all hanging purposes: Scotch Extreme Interlocking Fasteners
Achieve permanency and strength of a screw without damaging the wall with these extremely strong Velcro from 3M. They are ideal for use in both indoor and outdoor surroundings, this heavy-duty, UV-resistant, reusable fastener stays firmly attached when wet or dry. It works well on varnished or sealed surfaces including metal, wood, drywall, plastics, and bare metal. Quick and easy to use, this dual lock fastener has a holding capacity of up to eight pounds.
All products shown here are affordable and conveniently sold on Amazon US, and best of all, they can be installed/used by anyone, whether you’re handy around the house or a total beginner at the home improvement world. If any of the brands is not available in your area, hopefully you can something similar.
I honestly don’t know if MacGyver himself would approve of this list, but hopefully this “practical kit for an easy move” may save the day, helping you to feel at home as fast as possible giving you the strength you need to adapt to your new surroundings. As soon as you feel your place is already a home, your batteries will be fully charged to face the biggest challenges of a move.
