Renter’s Advice and Resources

Moving across town can be a hassle, but moving overseas can be a stress-inducing nightmare if you don’t know how to prepare. Follow a few simple tips to make the process easier. Find an Apartment If you have relocated overseas but still need to find an apartment, wor with an information center set up for […]

We often decide to move apartments to help improve our financial situation: for a better job or more affordable housing. Unfortunately, the process of moving always seems to be more expensive than we anticipate. The little costs we don’t think about can really add up. If you want to avoid that unexpectedly low checking-account balance, it helps to make a budget as soon as you decide to move.

If you don’t have much to spend on your upcoming move, you’ve probably ruled out the possibility of hiring a moving company. It’s common sense: your move will be much cheaper if you find a cheap rental truck, even when you factor in the cost of gas, tolls, food, and lodging throughout your trip. Your moving truck rental will probably be your most significant cost. If you’re on a tight budget, is it possible to negotiate a better price and score a cheap moving truck? Depending on how flexible you are, the answer is probably yes.

Moving to a new apartment can be expensive. After paying for your first month’s rent up front, a security deposit, movers’ fees and any items you need for your new apartment, the total bill may be daunting. The last thing you need is to spend even more money on moving supplies. Fortunately, this is one expense that you can cut down on significantly, by thinking ahead and employing some creativity. You’ll need certain basics no matter what you own or how far you have to travel. These include packing boxes, packing tape and cushioning material to prevent breakage.

Renting a new apartment can be a financially draining experience. Referral fees, moving costs (boxes, moving truck), furniture and decorations all add to the cost of the move. However, some states offer a way to reduce those costs in the form a surety bond. A surety bond is an alternative to a security deposit — you pay a small upfront premium, often as little 10-15% of an equivalent security deposit. Depending on your financial resources, these bonds may be a good solution for you. Here are some ways to determine if they’re right for you.

You may think your apartment is small, but once you need to move you’ll discover how much stuff you were able to fit in it- a lot! While packing an apartment may not be fun, it doesn’t have to be difficult. These tips for packing will help make your move as smooth as possible.

Moving with kids can be tough. Beyond the psychological resistance to moving that they may display—being reluctant to leave cherished friends and familiar surroundings for scary new experiences—there are practical concerns as well, such as how best to involve kids in the moving process or keep them entertained during a long car or plane ride. Knowing what to do with the kids at all times can be tough, but many other people have lived through it and emerged with ideas about how best to handle the process. Read on for suggestions on how to keep yourself sane and the kids busy while you’re moving.

Renting a moving truck can be a complicated and confusing—not to mention expensive—experience. Read on for some terrific tips that will make your moving truck rental experience easier, if not completely perfect.

They’re bold, they’re shameless, they’re misleading, and they’re everywhere—they’re the people who create and perpetuate moving scams. Disreputable movers and their representatives can rip you off for big bucks at a time in your life when you’re really not prepared to absorb the unanticipated expense. Here are the top five most common malicious moving scams and the best ways to avoid falling for them: