Moving Tips
Moving Done Right
Do you know your rights as a tenant? Do you know how much money you should save up before you move out? Well to help you with any questions you might have about your move we've compiled a list of tips.
Apartment Questions
What should I know before signing a lease?
- 1. Don't be afraid to read the lease word for word before you sign it. You're agreeing to what you sign so don't go into it blindly.
- 2. Pay attention to the sections on guests, parking and pet.
- 3. Make sure the dates you agreed upon are correctly stated on the lease agreement.
- 4. Know what your options are when the lease is up. Can you renew? Does it automatically go month-to-month?
- 5. Read the policy for eviction section.
- 6. Pay close attention to the part about getting out of your lease early.
- 7. Make sure the rent amount and any security deposits are stated correctly on the lease agreement.
- 8. Be sure you know by what date the rent is due and what happens if you are late.
- 9. Pay close attention to the utilities part so you know what if any your landlord will pay for and which ones you are responsible for.
- 10. Know if and when your landlord will have the permission to enter your apartment.
- 11. Inspect the unit and write down any damages before you sign the lease.
What are the grounds for eviction?
Terms for evictions should be stated in each lease agreement as they vary from state to state, but below are some general points as to why you can get evicted.
- Expiration of lease
- Not paying the rent
- Excessive complaints against you
- If you are month-to-month a landlord can evict you Using the unit for illegal activity
How do deal with roommate issues?
- Set up a time to talk over the issue when both of you are calm and level headed
- Restrain from raising your voice or yelling
- Don't put the other person on the defensive
- Be polite and diplomatic in your discussion
- Try to calm the other person down if they are getting too upset
- If things start to get out of hand stop the discussion and ask to set another time when both of you are not so angry
- You can ask an impartial friend to be a mediator in the discussion to keep things at ease and on the right path
- Say your peace but also be willing to listen openly
Moving Questions
What should I be thinking about before I move?
- Before you move out try to save about $3,000. This should be enough for things like the apartment security deposit, first and last months rent, a few second-hand furniture items, groceries, kitchenware and any deposits you might have to pay on connecting your utilities.
- Make a budget so you know how much rent you can afford on an apartment.
- Things to account for in your budget: apartment rent, utilities, monthly gasoline expense, groceries, any credit cards you might have, car and insurance payments and spending money (no one wants to spend all their time at home).
- Start looking with plenty of time, like a month or two ahead, so you can go view lots of apartments to get a good feel of what is out there in your price range.
- Think about getting renter's insurance so incase of a fire or natural disaster your belongings will be covered.
- Ask family and friends for any household items like furniture, dishes, lamps, etc., that they may want to donate to furnish your apartment.
How early do I begin planning for a move?
You should begin planning about 3 months ahead of time when moving. That gives you plenty of time to look for a place without pressure, get an apartment locator or realtor, save money, schedule movers or a moving truck, acquire furniture and get moving supplies.
How do I go about finding an apartment or rent house?
Live is too short to waste driving around the city trying to find just the right place to live with the best location for the money you will spend. The easy solution is to go with an apartment locator or realtor. Their services are usually free and they provide a wealth of information that would normally be difficult to access. You tell them what you want, how much you want to spend and the area you want to live in, and they'll find you several places to view at your convenience.
How should I organize my boxes to make my above easier?
The best thing to do is get different color stickers to put on the boxes that will correspond to each room in your new home. For example designate the kitchen to be yellow. Place a yellow sticker on all boxes that contain kitchen items. Make several lists to give to the movers or who ever is helping you move so they know which color corresponds to which room. At the end of the day all boxes with yellow stickers should be in the kitchen ready for you to unpack.
