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Unpack and Settle In To Your New Home With… Mobile Apps?
By Diane Kuehl
Everyone hates moving. Getting moving boxes or picking a moving service is always an “I’d rather be…” moment. We may not hate the actual changing of place or the new, exciting things that come with picking up and going, but let’s be honest – packing, boxing, wrapping, shipping (aka moving) – is at the very bottom of the ‘Like’ list.
So you’re in your new city. You’ve got your boxes in the house. Now what? For my husband and I on our most recent move, the answer lie in a few handy little mobile apps that helped us not only move in and get situated quickly, but helped us learn a little bit about our new area too.
Happy Measure (Android – Free)
My husband had a blast with this one. Happy Measure allows you to capture the visual appearance of any object, measure it, and virtually place that object anywhere in your new home to see if it fits. We used this app to build out our entire downstairs and our bedroom. Quick anecdote: When we moved in, my husband took a picture of a statue that our next door neighbors have in their yard (now lost due to an unfortunate accident with the couch), and then tried to fit it into our house using the app. Seeing as how the statue was taller than our ceilings, he enjoyed trying to make it fit.
ColorSmart by BEHR Mobile (Android and iOS – Free)
I had a blast with this one. Sometimes we get to our new home and decide that those walls we thought had an “OK” color just aren’t going to cut it. ColorSmart by BEHR allows you to snap a pic of the room in question and find a color that more suits your mood. You can also redesign a pre-designed room in the app with different colors with the tap of a finger. This is also good for looking at colors you’d never want to see in your house – in anyone’s house, for that matter.
iHandy Level Free (Android and iOS – Free)
Hanging all those pictures you boxed up can be a daunting task, especially if you can’t find your level. But mobile phones are getting really slick, and of course there’s an app that acts as a level. iHandy Level Free allows you to make accurate, precise measurements when hanging anything on a wall. With many different views, hanging a picture at any angle is no problem. You can check any surface, as well, which is especially handy if you want to catch that real estate agent in a lie.
Feng Shui Bagua Map (iOS – $1.99)
We’ve all heard of feng shui, but do we actually know what it’s all about? Feng Shui Bagua Map teaches you how to feng shui-up your new home with emphasis on enhancing your living space. My husband and I superimposed a photo of our bedroom, as well as our kids’ rooms, to give us the best chance for home peace and prosperity.
Localicious (Android – Free)
Everyone’s gotta eat, right? Or maybe you need a mechanic because your car started smoking as you pulled into your new driveway. Finding new places in a new neighborhood can take time and a little effort, but with Localicious, take all the guesswork (and legwork) out of finding helpful businesses in your area. This app finds the best local businesses (as well as chains), gives tips and trends for the area, and gives you a good idea of where you’re going.
Diane Kuehl is a freelance writer, author of DIY Mother and DiY/home improvement enthusiast. She lives in Springfield, Illinois with her husband.
