Your New Place
When considering where to live--whether it’s a house, condo, or apartment you’re looking for--plenty of factors can make your home life really comfortable or really awkward; and it’s a good idea to make yourself a housing checklist in advance, depending on which amenities suit your style. Read more below ...
Before You Move In ...
If you’re looking to rent, who is your landlord? Will they be around to fix your furnace when it breaks down? Maybe they’ve hired a property manager to deal with dishwasher trouble. Read over the terms of the lease carefully. Does it meet your needs as a tenant? 6-month leases are the norm. But month-by-month arrangements can be made too. Ask for a rental discount on the first month! How big a deposit do you have to pay? When can you move in? What if you need to move out early? Can you break your lease? Can you still afford the place if your room-mate(s) move out? If you think you’ll need to put up the place for rent, is a sublease allowed?
What utilities are covered? You might be on the hook for electricity, water, sewage, and gas! What about the kitchen? Do you prefer a gas range, or do you require that microwave oven? If you’re in town that gets cold in Winter or hot in Summer, you’ll probably want central heating and air conditioning--or at the very least a fire place and/or ceiling fan!
Got a car? What’s the parking situation? If you don’t have a secure garage, covered parking is better than uncovered, since it protects your vehicle from the elements. How many parking spaces do you need when guests visit? If you’re without wheels, find out how close the place you’ll be living is to public transportation (bus routes), public parks, downtown, the grocery store ...
Do you live a spartan life, or are you in the market for a lot of luxurious amenities like a spa, swimming pool, basketball court, fitness center, bbq and picnic area? If you’re the average American--addicted to TV and web--then you’ll want a modern crib that’s cable-ready and is provided with high-speed internet access already. Otherwise tack that on to your monthly rent!
Thinking about a duplex? Are your neighbors noisy students who party loud at 3 a.m. each Wednesday? If you love your dog or cat, better find out if your rental is pet-friendly.
Well, unless you travel light and have found a furnished apartment, it’s time to hire a mover!
What utilities are covered? You might be on the hook for electricity, water, sewage, and gas! What about the kitchen? Do you prefer a gas range, or do you require that microwave oven? If you’re in town that gets cold in Winter or hot in Summer, you’ll probably want central heating and air conditioning--or at the very least a fire place and/or ceiling fan!
Got a car? What’s the parking situation? If you don’t have a secure garage, covered parking is better than uncovered, since it protects your vehicle from the elements. How many parking spaces do you need when guests visit? If you’re without wheels, find out how close the place you’ll be living is to public transportation (bus routes), public parks, downtown, the grocery store ...
Do you live a spartan life, or are you in the market for a lot of luxurious amenities like a spa, swimming pool, basketball court, fitness center, bbq and picnic area? If you’re the average American--addicted to TV and web--then you’ll want a modern crib that’s cable-ready and is provided with high-speed internet access already. Otherwise tack that on to your monthly rent!
Thinking about a duplex? Are your neighbors noisy students who party loud at 3 a.m. each Wednesday? If you love your dog or cat, better find out if your rental is pet-friendly.
Well, unless you travel light and have found a furnished apartment, it’s time to hire a mover!
Buying a House or Condo?
Maybe you’re ready to own a house or condo and have engaged the services of a professional realtor. Some of the renter tips above apply to you too, but now you’ve got the extra responsibility of a mortgage and HOA dues. (Don’t forget to talk to the home-owner’s association because those HOA payments can be a surprise and run you hundreds of dollars a month!)
Now your real estate agent should know all the in’s and out’s and be drilling you about dining rooms, kitchens with granite counter tops, roof repairs, storage space, walk-in closets, the peeling paint on your balcony or deck, the sliding door that sticks on the way out onto the patio. But don’t forget the basics. If you intend to keep your clothes fresh-smelling, ask about laundry--you know, washer/dryer or washer/dryer hookups.
Got a family? Not yet but think you might stay in the area for awhile? Kids have a way of, well, happening. So maybe a 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom (or 4 bedroom?!?!) would be more prudent than that single-bedroom bachelor pad for two that looks like your old dorm room. If you DO have kids, ask about the local school, bus routes, neighborhood crime rate, public parks, playground, and so forth. If the neighbors have bars on their windows, perhaps you should consider a gated community.
The floor pan isn’t everything! What about a yard? If you’re not a gardener, those azaleas that look so wonderful today might deteriorate under all your not-so-green thumbs!
Answered all these questions? Great! Now ... after your mega-king-size water bed is installed, will the master bedroom have enough square feet left over for you to GET to that walk-in closet?
Now your real estate agent should know all the in’s and out’s and be drilling you about dining rooms, kitchens with granite counter tops, roof repairs, storage space, walk-in closets, the peeling paint on your balcony or deck, the sliding door that sticks on the way out onto the patio. But don’t forget the basics. If you intend to keep your clothes fresh-smelling, ask about laundry--you know, washer/dryer or washer/dryer hookups.
Got a family? Not yet but think you might stay in the area for awhile? Kids have a way of, well, happening. So maybe a 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom (or 4 bedroom?!?!) would be more prudent than that single-bedroom bachelor pad for two that looks like your old dorm room. If you DO have kids, ask about the local school, bus routes, neighborhood crime rate, public parks, playground, and so forth. If the neighbors have bars on their windows, perhaps you should consider a gated community.
The floor pan isn’t everything! What about a yard? If you’re not a gardener, those azaleas that look so wonderful today might deteriorate under all your not-so-green thumbs!
Answered all these questions? Great! Now ... after your mega-king-size water bed is installed, will the master bedroom have enough square feet left over for you to GET to that walk-in closet?
How to Move Yourself
Personally, I’ve moved myself a dozen times; and it can be tough! Hiring movers can be less work, but stuff gets broken and goes missing sometimes. I’ve moved a block away, and I’ve moved coast-to-coast twice in the military. The more you know, the less it hurts. These articles at about.com can be useful to help you decide what works best for you.
How Do I Report Bad Landlords?
Everybody's been a tenant. If you're having landlord trouble, you might see if this site has anything to offer. They call themselves ShadyLandlords.com, "an online community and information resource for tenants with bad landlords."
How to Move
See if these articles on about.com help:
This is a question that plagues all people on the move. And like most decisions, the answer is different for everyone depending on factors such as time, money, difficulty and complexity of the move. If you're moving across town, a self-move may make more sense than if you're moving across the country. Still, to ensure you're making the best decision, it's a good idea to weigh all options.
If you want to save money on your move, but aren't too excited about moving yourself, especially driving that big rental truck over a long distance or through a major city, then self-service moving might just be your best option.
The first step in renting a moving truck is to determine how far you're moving and what size of truck you need. Some rental agencies will charge a flat daily rate, including a determined amount of miles, while others will charge an inclusive rate. Know your mileage and size of truck you'll need before you start your research so you can shop around and compare prices.
If you're thinking of moving yourself, whether it's across town, across the state or across the country, you'll need to rent a moving van, truck, or trailer, depending on how much stuff you have. Keep these points in mind when you start your research, including size, gas consumption and booking proceedures.
You've booked your moving truck and packed your belongings, now it's time to think about moving day. If you're like my husband, then you'll want to plan how the truck should be loaded. I have to admit, I'm not the most patient mover. I tend to want to just get it done; hopefully, my husband will never read this since I'm about to admit that advance planning on how to load the truck is a good idea. But that's between you and me...
Every household has at least one thing that's hard to move. Maybe it's a sofa that won't squeeze through the door or a big screen television that is not only heavy to lift but is fragile, too. Find out how to move your awkward items with these moving guides.
More questions 4 Housing in your area? Just ask!
More questions 4 Housing in your area? Just ask!
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