Tag: moving tips

hendersoncj Moving

How to Plan An Accurate Moving Budget

Whenever you are planning a move, the first thing you should do is create a moving budget. Most people who move feel they do not have time to set up a budget. However, not being prepared could cost you more in the long run. Small items like new bed sheets or a shower curtain may not seem like all that much but the total bill of buying brand new items for the house can deplete your resources quickly. So before you do anything else regarding the move, it’s best that you first set a budget.

So what are the things that you should include in your budget? Let’s take a look:

1) The Cost of Hiring a Moving Company

Unless you’re planning on overseeing and executing the move by yourself, then hiring a dependable and trustworthy moving company is one of the first things you should allocate money for. Having the professionals handle your move will take a lot off of your shoulders and will help make the process go a lot smoother.

However, there are costs that you need to consider such as the moving fee that includes fuel charges and the labor cost. You should also think about getting insurance for your belongings especially if you have any antiques or heirlooms. As these Henderson movers indicate, some companies may also charge extra for handling and moving heavy furniture.

2) Moving on Your Own

If you elect to move on your own, there is a different set of charges that you have to think of. This includes the truck rental cost, which may vary depending on the size of the truck you are renting, and whether you are driving one-way or returning the vehicle yourself. Also, you have to allot money for the gas. You can ask the rental agency how fuel-efficient their trucks are so that you can budget your gas money accordingly.

Since you are doing the move yourself, you may need to use equipment like a dolly, a loading ramp, furniture covers, and so on, so prepare the money to rent these out.

3) Making a Road Trip to Your New Home

If you are driving your vehicle along with the moving truck, then you must also factor in fuel cost, lodging expenses, meals along the way and so much more. If you are making a cross-country trip, you should get your vehicle thoroughly checked to avoid any mishaps out on the road. This means having its oil, tires, engine and other parts carefully checked by a professional to ensure it can endure a long road trip.

Unless you plan on driving all through the night, you will have to make a stop at a lodge to get some rest. Before making the trip, you should take a look at the options available on the route you’ll be taking and then book using a tool like Expedia to get cheaper rates.

4) Packing Supply Costs

While it’s difficult to estimate just how many boxes or packing tape you’ll need to store and secure all your belongings, you still need to add the cost of packing supplies to the budget. You can try to get boxes for free at grocery or liquor stores or from the moving company, who can provide these for you. You also need to add in wrapping and packing materials such as bubble wrap to protect your breakables. You’ll also need markers and labels so you can easily keep track of what’s inside a box.

If you need storage space at any point during the move, there are plenty of storage companies that you can get in touch with. You can ask for their rates and decide on which one fits your budget like a glove.…

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Cleaning Up from Your Move: Best Tips for Getting Back Your Apartment Deposit

Here is an example of a recent blog post I produced for movers in San Antonio. My standard blog post is about 500 words, and I usually charge $.10/word, though I can do shorter or longer posts for your site depending on your needs. My fee includes writing and posting the blog along with applicable pictures and links.

Cleaning Up from Your Move: Best Tips for Getting Back Your Deposit

Summer is finally upon us, which means that the busy moving season has begun, as many people take advantage of warmer weather and a break from school. While Apple Moving can help you handle the logistics of moving your household to your new home, there are several other moving to-dos to consider before you can say your move is complete.

If you’re a renter, make sure you add giving your apartment or house a thorough cleaning to the list. Many people miss out on getting their deposits back, simply because they fail to clean their rental unit! Getting a month’s worth of rent back would likely completely offset the cost of your move. We got together with our friends at local cleaning service, Veronica’s Maid Services, to give you some tips on getting your old place spic and span so it passes inspection. While Veronica does offer deep cleaning service, putting in a little elbow grease yourself can have a big payoff.

1. Dusting

When your landlord does their final walkthrough, one of the things they’ll be looking for is clean surfaces. Make sure you don’t forget to vacuum off those floorboards that were likely forgotten in your weekly cleanings. Pristine floorboards go a long way in making your apartment shine and sparkle. Also make sure to vacuum off hard to reach places, like the top of ceiling fans and dust blinds and windowsills, where bugs can sometimes accumulate.

2. Stove

This one is a biggie. Most leases specify that the tenant is responsible for cleaning the oven. Most moms recommend making a small investment in Easy Off, an oven cleaner that takes a lot of the hard work out of cleaning your oven. You simply spray on, put your oven on the self-cleaning cycle, and wipe down for a shiny, clean oven. Additionally, you’ll want to assess the cleanliness of the stovetop burner plates. If you’re a messy cook, these probably have lots of baked on grit and grime. Sometimes soaking them overnight in the sink will help you restore these bad boys, but if not, you can order new ones for cheap on Amazon or pick some up at a restaurant supply store like Ace Mart. Spending a little to get the kitchen in good shape will likely save you from getting a ding on your deposit refund.

3. Carpet

Though most apartments will hire a professional carpet cleaner to come behind you and clean, it’s wise to take a stab at cleaning up any stains you may have behind, especially if you have a pet. Use a stain lifter like Resolve, or an equivalent generic brand. Just spray on, let it sit for 15 or so minutes, and then vacuum up. If that doesn’t work, you can rent a small carpet cleaning machine from your local grocer or hardware store.

4. Sinks, Tubs & Toilets

Our gals at Veronica’s recommend giving your faucet handles a nice final scrub down with vinegar and baking soda. This will make your bathroom fixtures sparkles like new. If you weren’t diligent about keeping your tub or shower clean, you might need to roll up those sleeves and bust out some Scrubbing Bubbles or bleach to get the pink mold and mildew out of the shower. An icky bathroom is one of the top reasons landlords take a deduction from your deposit.

5. Walls

Did you hang pictures or do some painting over the course of your lease? If so, check your lease agreement and see what it says. Many apartment complexes will require that you spackle over holes in the wall and repaint the walls a neutral color if you want your deposit back. Spackle is cheap and easy to apply, so there’s really no excuse for not at least patching up all those holes you put in the dry wall. Here’s a helpful how-to video:

So pullout those vacuums, dust rags, and cleaning supplies and to scrubbing! You’ll be relieved that you can put that deposit refund towards your move or something in your new home.…