| Moving yourself or hire a company | | | | lives in your unit. |
| The first item to decide is whether you will move by | | | | Costs of Moving |
| yourself or hire a moving company. There are various | | | | If moving to a new area, you may need to open a |
| issues concern decision such as: | | | | new bank account. |
| - Your age and physical ability | | | | Always pay your rent on time or early. Get in the |
| - Distance of move (long or short distance) | | | | habit of paying it on time the 1st few months and |
| - Availability of friends/relatives to help | | | | then it will be easy. This one tip has the potential to |
| Start out obtaining a free moving quote from several | | | | help your future more then any other. Landlords |
| moving companies. If the price is not restrictive, this | | | | often report late rent payments to credit companies |
| may be the most convenient way to move. Doing it | | | | which will damage your credity history. |
| alone, you may end up breaking valuable or may take | | | | Even if you are not thinking about a home now, |
| you a lot longer than you think. | | | | through out your life your credit rating effects |
| Consequently, you can always ask for help from | | | | everything you do: from buying new furniture or |
| friends and relatives to decrease the cost of the | | | | appliances, cars and eventually your own home. Build |
| move. | | | | your credit now while it is easy. |
| Packing | | | | When leaving for a vacation or holiday make sure |
| Collect boxes in advance. Boxes stack very well and | | | | you arrange payment of rent while you are gone to |
| can be found at local department stores, | | | | avoid late fees and fines. If you won't be around, let |
| supermarkets etc. Avoid stuffing clothes in plastic | | | | your landlord know. Many landlords will have someone |
| bags as they don't stack well and if your belongings | | | | check your unit while you are away for security |
| are to be stored for any length of time, they may | | | | purposes. Likewise, if you have some watching your |
| collect mold and mildew. | | | | home, let the landlord know! |
| Start filling boxes with things you won't need right | | | | If you rent on a short term basis from colder |
| away like winter clothes. Think about what you are | | | | climates during winter months, lower the heat to |
| going to need first when packing. Always pack first | | | | avoid wasting money. Avoid turning off the heat |
| in, last out. | | | | altogether or your pipes may freeze. |
| Label all boxes. Write what room the box belongs in | | | | Ask the landlord for information on the average utility |
| and any special contents. | | | | costs. Expect to pay a little more until you have lived |
| Decide where boxes furniture and boxes will be | | | | there for a few months and have adjusted to your |
| placed before you move items in. This saves time | | | | new surrounding. |
| and less of your posessions will get broken during the | | | | Responsibility |
| move. | | | | When you report a problem to the landlord, do so in |
| Cleaning | | | | a timely manner. Failure to report a small problem can |
| Leave plenty of time to clean your old place. Leaving | | | | often escalate into a major disaster if left unrepaired. |
| a vacated home clean and ready to rent will provide | | | | This may place you as the responsible party for |
| you several long term benefits: | | | | failure to report a repair and can get very expensive! |
| - If you leave a place ready to rent and the landlord | | | | When reporting repairs, depending on the severity of |
| does not have to clean, you are assured of getting | | | | the repair; landlords may not be able to respond the |
| the maximum return on your security deposit. | | | | same day. However, emergency repairs such as |
| - Leaving a place ready to rent also provides for | | | | water leaks, A/C (in warm climates) and heat (cold |
| good landlord/tenant relationships. Landlords with | | | | climates) will most likely be addressed rapidly. |
| tenants who leave a place ready to rent are much | | | | Obtain a list in advance of items you will be |
| more inclined to offer a testimonial to your new | | | | responsible for repairing. Items such as light bulbs, |
| landlord. Not to mention if you ever decide to | | | | broken windows, holes in walls are typically tenant |
| purchase a home, many lenders will contact your | | | | costs. With your landlords permission and if you are |
| previous landlords to find out what kind of tenant | | | | capable, try to do some of the repairs yourself to |
| you were: did the pay on time, was the unit kept | | | | save money. |
| clean and free of debris etc. | | | | Obtain local information from your landlord regarding: |
| Expect to do some cleaning in the new unit to the | | | | utilities, phones, internet connection, cable/satellite TV |
| point you are comfortable. Even if a landlord hires a | | | | etc. in advance so you can have all your utilities |
| cleaning company when a tenant vacates, it doesn't | | | | established when you move in. |
| necessarily mean it will be 'clean enough' for you. | | | | Other household tips |
| Painting | | | | Place a basket or table near your entrance for mail, |
| Expect to do some minor repairs & painting in | | | | keys etc. to avoid losing or misplacing items. Specially |
| your new place. Ask the landlord if it is ok to paint | | | | if you have roommates. |
| rooms in your new house or apartment. Many times | | | | Never mislead your landlord on how many people are |
| there is no time between tenants that it becomes | | | | living in the home. City inspectors typically inspect |
| difficult to paint a unit. | | | | rental properties and will evict residents if there are |
| Most landlords will paint a unit between tenants white | | | | too many people for the property. Likewise, trying to |
| due to budget and viewability. If you want to change | | | | deceive a landlord will not help your long term goals |
| the color to something more personally appealing, try | | | | for referrals. |
| negotiating with the landlord by agreeing to paint if | | | | Put out the garbage and recycling on the correct |
| the landlord buys the paint. | | | | days. Don't stockpile them or you will get rodents, |
| Often landlords will permit this if they can approve | | | | insects and other nastiness. The landlord should have |
| the colors before hand and the selected colors are | | | | a schedule for when trash is picked up or you can call |
| neutral. If you think a landlord is going to allow you to | | | | the local waste management company. |
| paint walls bright or dark colors, expect to have | | | | If your garbage or recycling is not picked up, bring it |
| trouble with your landlord. | | | | back to the house. Cities and towns often ticket for |
| Bright/dark colors are very difficult to cover and take | | | | garbage out on a non-collection day. |
| several coats of paint. However, if must have bright | | | | Renters insurance |
| dark colors negotiate with your new landlord by | | | | An often overlooked and misunderstood item by |
| offering an increased security deposit and agreeing in | | | | renters is renters insurance. The perception is that: |
| writing to paint the unit back to its original color. This | | | | it's too expensive and the landlords insurance will |
| may sway the landlord to permit extreme colors, but | | | | cover your personal property. |
| I wouldn't count on it. | | | | This could not be further from the truth. |
| Moving in | | | | Renters insurance is actually one of the least |
| Prior to moving in and usually at lease signing, it is | | | | expensive ways to protect your belongings and |
| advised you do a thorough walkthrough of the | | | | personal property. Rates can be as low as $100.00 |
| property. | | | | per year (depending on the amount of coverage). |
| All problems or issues should be in writing and | | | | Landlords insurance only protects the structure and |
| presented to the landlord. Keep a copy for yourself | | | | the landlord. Example: If you have a water leak and |
| until you move out. | | | | water damages the unit as well as your personal |
| Consult with your landlord whether there is storage | | | | property, the insurance will only cover the unit for |
| for your extra belongings. If not, you may need to | | | | the landlord. Your property will have to be replaced |
| rent a temporary storage unit nearby. | | | | repaired as an expense to you! |
| Fill out a change of address at your post office to | | | | Play it safe and obtain affordable renters insurance |
| ensure all mail is forwarded to your new address. | | | | for your personal property. It will provide you peace |
| Many renters fail to follow through with this simple | | | | of mind knowing you are protected from unforeseen |
| step and often times miss important bills or other | | | | issues that may arise. |
| correspondence. | | | | © Copyright 2009 Best Panama City Rentals, |
| Check with your landlord regarding placing your | | | | LLC. All Rights Reserved. |
| name(s) on the mailbox so the mailman knows who | | | | |