Moving in an Organized Fashion

Moving is one of the more stressful life events we all go through.  Even if you are excited and can't wait to be in your new place, the actual work of getting there can make you tear your hair out.  Luckily, Apartment Therapy is looking out for you and wants to put the fun back in moving.  (Okay, maybe not fun.  Let's try sanity.)

Write it down!  Write down a list of everything that has to be done until you have to move.  That way, it won't be floating around your head at night and keeping you awake so in the morning you can take that list and move part of it into your to-do list each day.

There is nothing that says you have to wait until the last minute to start packing. Go ahead and pack the stuff you won't need until you get to your new place.  Do a little each night and cut down on the helplessness that comes from being overwhelmed by having to do it all at once.

When it's time to change your phone number and address with your credit cards, utilities, doctors, etc, do it all at once.  Just sit down at the phone and schedule an hour to call everyone.  That way you get a painful activity over quickly and you'll be done before you know it.

Set-up boxes designated as "donate", "trash" and "sell" as you pack.  That way you can throw unwanted items in the box as you go.  Getting rid of all that extra stuff now will make your move a lot lighter, especially if you are paying movers by the weight of your belongings!

Make sure you choose a color for each of your rooms and put the corresponding color on the boxes that go on in that room.  Also, take a little bit of time to write exactly what is in each box so you can find what you need quickly once you get to the new space.

Finally, try to keep your wits about you and stay relaxed.  It is so easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work involved in a move, but if you keep telling yourself you have done this before and can do it again, you'll be settling into your fantastic new apartment enjoying a celebratory glass of champagne before you know it!

Pumped about moving and now you just need to find a new #apartment?  Give Apartment Experts South a call today at 512-416-8100!

Moving Tips

Moving is always a stressful, difficult process, whether you're a seasoned pro or this is your first move.  With About.com's tips, you can ensure you have the smoothest move possible!

Make a master list of everything in every box.  Number the box, then put that number and its contents on your master list.  Keep your list in a place you'll designate "Packing Central".  This is where all your supplies will live.  

Speaking of supplies, make sure to have plenty on hand. Get more boxes than you think you'll need and make sure to have about ten boxes you keep just for last minute items that need to be packed on moving day. You also need strong packing tape, packing paper, bubble wrap, and markers to label everything.

Wardrobe boxes are great for storing not only clothes, but big stuff that doesn't weigh much like comforters, pillows, blankets, etc.  You can even use them for closet storage boxes, shoe boxes, and other bulky stuff like fabric bolts, large baskets, or rolls of gift wrap.  Just make sure the boxes remain light enough to lift!

Assign a color to each room of your new home, then label the boxes accordingly with colored stickers.  Place a matching sticker on the door to each corresponding room in the new house.  That way the movers will know where everything goes.  It's also a great idea to tack up a sign that says "Boxes here please" on the wall where you want boxes stacked so they won't impede traffic flow.

Keep light things together so you can find stuff easily in your new place. Also, pack ahead of time everything you don't need as you count down to moving day.  Another thing you can do in advance is clean your old place as you go.  Make sure to keep a kit of cleaning supplies easily accessible so you can still clean after everything is moved out.

Pack your luggage full of stuff like clothing, sheets, towels and paper goods.  When it comes to valuable items, try to keep them with you.  If that's not an option because you are moving a long way, put the items deep in a box that is labelled with a really unappealing tag like "miscellaneous kitchen items".  No matter what, you should check your homeowner's or renter's insurance to see what your coverage is during your move and whether you need to buy more insurance from your mover.  Make sure you research what paperwork you'll need to file a claim if something is lost or damaged.

Keep important papers like birth certificates, school records, etc, with you and don't hand them over to your mover.  Use storage tote boxes in different colors and assign one to each member of the family. Have them fill them with things they'll want as soon as you arrive at your new pad.  This might include sheets, a towel, extension cords, phone, nightlights, etc.

Looking for a great apartment to make your move to?  Apartment Experts North can help!  Give us a call today at 512-339-4411!

Considering Moving?

If you are considering a move, read this valuable article from the Texas Apartment Association.

"Cost of Moving

I need to move. What's it going to cost?

Whatever your reason for thinking about making a move, you need to keep in mind the costs you're likely to have. Factor these costs into any decision you make about moving.

• Have you fulfilled the terms of your lease?
  • If you move out early, you'll probably be responsible for various charges described in your lease, and any damages to the property.
  • These may include a reletting fee (a charge to compensate the property for costs it will incur in trying to lease your apartment to someone else) and the full amount of rent due during the remainder of your lease term. (If your apartment is rented to someone else, you'll get credit for any rent paid that would have been due during your initial lease term.)
• Have you considered costs you'll incur for new deposits?
  • If you'll be renting somewhere else, you'll need to pay another security deposit, and any animal deposit if the property allows animals and you have a pet.
  • You may also have to pay deposits for utilities if you are moving to a new town or changing providers.
• Have you factored in costs for transferring your existing utilities and services?
  • If you are moving within the same utility service area, you may still have to pay a fee to transfer your service or establish service at your new location.
• Have you added up the hard costs of moving?
  • You may need to hire movers or rent a truck or other equipment to make your move.
  • You may also need to buy boxes, packing materials, tape, and other supplies, or offer food and drink to friends you enlist to help you.
• Have you considered other costs you may incur?
  • Will you need to kennel a pet during the move, or stay in a hotel while you look for a place to live or wait for movers to arrive with your belongings?
  • Will you spend money on meals, phone calls, or other items while you wait to complete the move?
• How much time will you invest in moving?
  • Will you need to use vacation time or sick days to make the move, pack, and unpack?
  • If you are self-employed or don't have paid vacation or sick leave, can you afford to miss work?"

We are also happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have. Check out our website and leave the hassle of locating to us!

Tips for Packing your Apartment - How to Save Money on Moving

Apartment Packing Tips

One really good strategy to spend less money is to avoid paying movers. Based on the overall size of your apartment, movers could charge from around a couple hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars. While you probably can't keep from renting a moving truck, you can certainly pack your stuff and load and unload yourself. In this article are a variety of strategies on how to pack any time you are moving to a new apartment.

The correct way to Pack Furniture:

Disassemble household furniture if feasible and cover
Cover table legs individually
Set down cushioning between your pieces of furniture and the bottom of the moving truck
Place tables together with legs gathered top down on flooring with legs up
Stack chairs seat to seat

Packing China:

Work with special "dishpak" packing containers
Cover dishes, saucers, and soup bowls one at a time using quite a few sheets of paper each
Begin from the corner, covering diagonally, continually tucking in ends
After covering independently, wrap 4-6 items in a pack with a double covering of newspaper
Set padding material inside bottom of carton
Set level, heavier items such as platters, dishes on bottom
Set bundled items in a carton in a line on edge.
Encircle every bundle with crushed paper, being mindful to leave no unfilled areas.
Cups and glasses must be wrapped in a double covering of newspaper and inserted upside down on rims in a line on an top layer inside the container with all the handles facing the same direction.

Packing Clothes:

Shoes can be left in their boxes and inserted into sizeable packages.
Or, cover every shoe one at a time, then in pairs.
Footwear should be cushioned to avoid harm occurring to high heals or ornaments.
You should not store weighty items on shoes.
Clothes can be left on coat hangers and packed inside clothing cartons.
Light-weight garments such as hose, underwear and sweaters can be left inside dresser drawers.

Lights:

Remove the bulb.
Cover the base, harp and bulb separately in newspaper, and place together in a carton, stuffing gaps with crushed paper.
Do not ever cover the shade in newspaper.
Carefully wrap each shade in 3-4 sheets of fresh tissue papers, a pillow case or large lightweight towel.

Pictures and Glass:

Make use of a standard picture box or protect both sides of the picture with cardboard.
Place packaging paper along the side panels and edges of the photograph to stop it from shifting inside the box.
Place not more than 3 or 4 pictures in one container.
Keep the box right side up always.

What NOT to Pack:

Heat from the sun can increase temperatures inside a closed moving van to more than 150 degrees. Even in the middle of winter, heat accumulates inside. Quite a few common items, including aerosol hairspray or cleaning solutions, can set off an explosion or fire that could damage your belongings when packed inside a van.
For your personal safety, make sure that no member of your family packs these products in a box to be moved in the back of the moving truck. Replacing a can of hairspray is much simpler than replacing all of your possessions.
We want you to have a satisfying move. For the safety of your belongings, evaluate the list below and get rid of all dangerous products before packing:

Hairspray
Cleaning products
Shaving cream
Spray starch
Deodorants
Pesticides
Spray paint
Oil-based paints
Bleach
Fuel
Muriatic acid
Kerosene
Auto batteries
Naptha
Propane in tanks*
Tar residue removers
Air in tanks
Paint thinners
Lighter fluid
Turpentine
Matches
Lacquer cleaner
Bullets
Mineral spirits
Chlorine granules or powder
Any other type of combustible