Renter’s Advice and Resources

In the spirit of loving the earth, let’s explore eco-friendly moving. Please utilize the blog feedback form below to open discussion and share your own ideas on moving without hurting the Earth. You never know who will be reading this! I would hate for you to pass up the opportunity to highlight your brilliant ideas to Oprah’s producers or such who may be reading this as research for the next big show on Earth Day and is looking for guest speakers.

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.

For most people, it would be unthinkable to buy a car without negotiating at the dealership. Why, then, do so few people bother to negotiate their rent? Perhaps it’s because we think of our apartment rent in the same way we think of dinner out at a restaurant — the price is simply non-negotiable. Except sometimes, rent is negotiable … the trick is negotiating in the right way. But what’s the best way to go about it?

When you first move into a new apartment, its bare walls and empty rooms may feel like the farthest thing from home. However, with a little creativity and hard work, you can turn this sterile space into a cozy home. Read on for tips to make your apartment the place you look forward to coming home to at the end of the day.

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.

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.

A number of formal complaints have been lodged against the White GloveMoving & Storage Company, located in Jersey City, New Jersey. Most of the cases involve issues with the company raising the price of the move after providing an estimate or failing to pick up or deliver items on time. While the company has a clean record with the Better Business Bureau, several individuals have reported significant discrepancies between what White Glove initially told them and the charges demanded or services provided by the company in the end. Here are a few of the problems that some customers encountered, and what we can learn from these negative experiences.

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: