Follow these easy suggestions to show the proper appreciation to your apartment movers.
You will likely want to tip the professional movers who bring the contents of an entire apartment to your new home.
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But tipping movers can be tricky: how much should you tip, and how should you deliver the thank-you reward?
You might consider the findings of our tipping survey. Follow this guide to show the proper appreciation for their big part in your apartment move.
Congrats on your new digs! Keep these four important points in mind as you move in.
Moving into your first apartment?
Congratulations!
Having a place all your own is very exciting, but it’s also a big responsibility.
Here’s what you need to know to be truly ready for moving day.
Click the image to view the full infographic.
Feeling stressed about packing, moving and the expenses involved? Have no fear, Apartment Guide is here with fun facts from a recent survey about moving etiquette.
Some things to consider are providing some type of refreshment for the movers and tipping the movers for the heavy lifting. What would you recommend?
More Moving Tips
7 Tips for Easy Moving
Top 5 Apps to Help You Move
What to Do Before Moving In (Infographic)
With some smart organizing, you can make an easy exit — and your next move will be a breeze!
Are you a frequent mover or anticipating a move in the near future? You can make the next move easier by preparing a strategy to pre-pack and organize stuff you want to take — and toss what you’d rather leave behind!
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With some smart organizing, you can make an easy exit — and your next move will be a breeze!
Here are 7 tips to keep you nimble.
Preparing for a move? These mobile apps can do the work for you.
There’s no doubt about it – moving can be a stressful, time-consuming process.
If you aren’t adequately prepared for it, you can end up dealing with a disorganized mess. Luckily, all the help you need is available right at your fingertips. From finding a place to live to decorating in your new apartment, let these five mobile apps do the heavy lifting for you to help keep all steps of the moving process organized and stress-free.
Apartment Guide Mobile
Why: Before you move, scroll through thousands of apartment listings near you, available either in list or interactive map views, using the GPS feature. See full property details, view photos and floor plans and select amenities to help you find the perfect place to live.
Best feature: Save apartments to your favorites list and call or email properties, all from your phone.
For: iPhone and Android
Cost: Free
Make your move from the familiar to the new more enjoyable with these tips!
Relocating can be a stressful time for a family, so make a point to plan a fun move for your brood. With the right attitude and energizing tools, you and the members of your family can actually enjoy the adventure of moving to a new home.
Read on for moving advice on how to keep the energy level up, even when spirits might be down.
Downsizing to an apartment? Don’t raise the white flag. Use our tips to stay sane.
Whether you’re leaving home to find your first apartment or just want to save some money, downsizing from a house to an apartment can be overwhelming if you aren’t prepared.
You may find that you have many items that you no longer need or want in your new space, and it will help to do a little research before moving in. Does your new apartment allow pets? Will your unit come with a garage or storage space?
By finding the right information before hand and devising a game plan to deal with your accumulated belongings, you can stay sane while downsizing. Here’s how.
Search Smart
Ask lots of questions while searching for your new apartment and measure the size of bedrooms and living areas to see how much of your furniture will fit. Check for ample cabinet and closet space. It may be possible to store larger items like outdoor furniture or a grill on your porch, but some apartments have regulations on what can be stored or displayed on porches. If you will have a storage unit, consider how many of your larger or rarely used items could fit here. You’ll likely not need a lawnmower or leaf blower while living in an apartment, so think about how to sell or store these kinds of items.
Click the image to view the full infographic.
Now before you unpack the boxes, click on the infographic to check out our suggestions of things to do before getting settled into your new apartment.
And remember to inform these contacts of your new address.
Let all these people and places know your new address after your move.
You’re excited about your new apartment, so naturally you’re going to want to let everybody know your new address.
Here is a rundown of important contacts to notify about your move.
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The post office
The first organization you should update your contact information with is the post office. They will forward mail to your new apartment while you are in the process of changing your address with individual organizations and companies. (Update your address with the post office online here.)
Ensure you’re not hung out to dry on your move! Keep these common moving expenses in mind.
There are many items to remember as you create a budget for your move. Using this five-step guide, consider possible line items for your moving budget — and help ensure no important details fall through the cracks!
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Find funds for a move
No matter what budget template you use, start by calculating how much money you can spend on your move. Sure, you’ve got your monthly salary to consider, but you may have other sources of cash available, as well.
You might figure in funds from endeavors like these:
• Profits from the sale of a home
• Savings account funds
• Relocation allowance from your employer
• Money made on a garage sale
• The sale of spare possessions, such as electronics or furniture, through online classifieds
If you’re looking to pare down before a move, you could make money to add to your moving budget by selling items you were going to get rid of anyway. (And keep in mind that the fewer possessions you take, the cheaper the move!)
Total anticipated costs of leaving and moving
Once you know how much you can afford to spend on a move, focus on the expenses related specifically to moving out and moving in, considering:
• Cleaning and repairs
• Final utility bills
• Utility deposits and turn-on (application) fees for your new apartment
• Pet and security deposits
• Parking or amenity fees
• The cost of transportation (flights or gas), meals and lodging on the way to your new apartment
Many costs like these simply cannot be avoided when you move. Include them in your moving budget so you get a clear picture of what your move will actually cost.
Decide whether to go pro or DIY
With a good idea of how big your budget is and what costs you absolutely cannot avoid, it’s time to decide if you’ll have enough cash budgeted either to hire professional movers or, if you’d prefer, to rent a moving truck and do the work yourself.
Calculate storage and packing costs
If you’re hiring professional movers, the cost of packing supplies may be included in your move. If not, you’ll need to consider supplies as another expense in your moving budget. Don’t forget to think about dollies, furniture pads, plastic wrap and other essential packing materials like bubble wrap, newspaper, tape and markers.
Trying to move on the cheap? Consider trimming some of these costs by using recycled moving boxes. You may be able to pick up free boxes from a grocery store, for instance. Sites like UsedMovingBoxes.com also offer lower-cost alternatives to buying new supplies, as well.
If you’ll need to store your belongings for a few days or months in between moving from an old to a new apartment, don’t forget to calculate the expense of transporting your belongings to a facility and paying a deposit plus monthly storage unit rental fees.
Account for your first month of living expenses at your new place
One last step in planning a thorough moving budget involves thinking ahead about your first month of expenses at your new apartment. If you’re using funds from your regular salary to pay for the move, it may be a few weeks before you get paid again. You want to be sure you’re covered during that time.
Consider the costs of rent, transportation, cleaning supplies and even food — all the basics you need to survive. Taking a moment to think ahead can help you avoid a cash flow emergency later.
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