Review Your Lease Before You Sign – A Quick Checklist

You’ll probably have a million things on your mind when you’re moving into your new place. Probably one of the most important things you need to do, and one that gets lost in the shuffle, or just gets rushed, is to thoroughly read through your lease before you sign it.

Here we’ve provided you a quick checklist to print off and take with you when you review your lease. Make sure you review all these items to ensure a happy and stress-free stay in your new place.

·Check to see when the rent is due.
·Find out where to go to pay your rent, who it should be given to, or where it should be sent.
·That are the late charges for rent not paid on time? -When do these charges begin?
·Exact amount of deposit needed.

·When is this deposit returned?

·How can you lose this deposit?

·Is there a pet deposit? If so, how much is it? When can it get refunded? Can you get this deposit back if you no longer have your pet?

·How soon after you move out is the deposit returned?

·Can you have roommates and what is the building’s policy on adding someone to the lease if necessary?

·What exactly does the rent include?

·Does the rent include any utilities? If so which ones?

·What appliances and/or furniture, if any, are included in the apartment rental fees?

·Is parking included in the apartment rental or is there an additional charge?

·Are there any additional charges for the use of any building amenities such as the gym or community center? If there are additional fees, what are they and if you don’t use the amenities will you still be responsible for those fees?

·What repairs are covered within the lease? If something happens and repairs need to be made by building management, who needs to be called? Are there any charges for repairs not covered in the lease? If so, what are those costs? How quick is the turn around for something to be fixed that is covered in the lease?

Renter Rights – Things to do to Protect Yourself

It’s your first apartment and although you’re looking forward to this more than anything else, you still want to make sure that you protect yourself from any bad business practices or situations. Here are a few things to keep in mind for your first, or fiftieth, time on your own.

·Before you move in to your new place, make sure that you walk through the exact apartment that you’re going to move into, NOT a model. If there are any things that are wrong with the apartment make sure you tell the landlord what they are, and that you want them fixed, before you move in.

·If, for any reason, these items are not fixed by the time that you move in, document the things that need to be repaired or replaced in writing and with photographs. Send a copy to your landlord and keep a copy for yourself. These things should include any chips in the walls, broken appliances and anything in the apartment that looks worn or deteriorated. In the event that your security deposit is held for any of these items, you now have proof that they were in existence before you moved in.

·Make sure that the locks are changed before you move into your new apartment. Ask the landlord to tell you who has copies of the keys. Usually, the only other people that should have access to your apartment is the building management.

·Purchase renters insurance. You might not think that you have a great deal of stuff to cover but when you start to add it all up it will probably amount to more that you thought. Depending on the terms of the policy that you purchase, renters insurance will protect you from fire, break-ins or other disasters at a low cost.

·Landlords MUST fix major problems in the unit. It is their responsibility to keep the apartment livable and in good condition. If you signed a lease for an apartment with air conditioning, the landlord must keep the air conditioning working in the unit. If the water is shut off (and you’ve paid your bills), the landlord must fix any problem in a reasonable timeframe.

·Depending on your lease, your landlord may or may not be responsible for minor problems like leaky faucets or problems with appliances. (Make sure you ask about this before you sign the lease.) If it states in the lease that you are responsible for issues of this nature, building maintenance may be able to fix the problem but don’t be surprised if you end up with a bill for the repairs. Another good reason to make sure you document any problems before you move into the apartment.

If your landlord is not receptive to repairing major problems or is hesitant to meet with you for any other major dispute after you’ve moved in make sure you take the following steps, and take them exactly in this order:

·Submit a repair request through building maintenance.

What to Look for Before You Move In

It is imperative to walk through your potential new apartment before you move in. Insist to the landlord that you see the actual apartment that you will be renting and not a model. For your convenience,
Keep It Movin’ and Storage has compiled this checklist for you to use as you complete your unit tour. If there are any items that need to be repaired or replaced, make sure the landlord does this before you move in. If there are many things wrong with the apartment, you might just want to pass. Look for:

· Sufficient safety features, including smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors, should be in place. Look inside the apartment as well as in the hallways and in other common areas.

· Check out faucets, toilets and the pipes under kitchen cabinets for potential leaks in plumbing.



· Check the water pressure in the unit. Also check the water temperature. Turn on the water in


the shower when you walk into the unit and see how long it takes to get warm or hot (your bathing preference). Keep the shower on while you complete the rest of your walk through. The temperature should remain comfortable by the time you leave the unit. If the water is cold by the time that you leave, there’s a good chance that you could run out of hot water in the mornings.



· Find out if there is an in-unit water heater or if there is one that is shared by multiple units. This will also affect the amount of hot water that runs to the apartment.



· Even though the water heater might be large enough, if it is shared, your neighbor upstairs might like to take early morning, hot showers that last an hour. Regardless of the size of the heater, if you shower after your neighbor, you’ll be cold.



· Check the water heater and furnace to make sure they are free of rust. Look for rocks, stones or other debris on the outside of the heater or furnace. This debris or chipping may indicate leaks. These leaks could possibly indicate carbon monoxide problems.



· Make sure that all appliances in the unit work properly and are not damaged. If there is not a washer or dryer in the unit, ask to see the common laundry area. Make sure the common area is well maintained and is well lit. Make sure that access to the common laundry area is limited to residents only.



· Look for any evidence of insects or rodents, both on the floor in visible areas as well as inside cabinets, drawers and closets.



· Run your hand along the outside of the window to check for drafts.



· Look up at the ceiling for any water damage. This may indicate either a leak from outside or very careless upstairs neighbors. If there is discoloration, it may be a sign of mold.



· Check to see if there is any peeling paint or wallpaper, or if any of the walls show signs of cracking or repairs. This may also indicate water seepage problems or may indicate a breech in the building foundation.



· Locks should be sturdy and not wobbly.



· Doors should open and close easily and fit well within the doorframe. The hinges should be sturdy. This is of superior importance when inspecting doors that lead to the outside. The apartment should have a deadbolt on all outside doors.



· Turn off and on all lighting inside the apartment to check for electrical shortages.



· Bring a small electrical appliance (like a radio or clock) with you. Check the outlets in the apartment to make sure that they all work properly and there are no electrical problems.



· Don’t rush through your inspection of your potential new apartment. Be thorough and take your time. After all, it will be your home for at least the next year, make sure you choose a place that you know you’ll be happy with.

Keep It Movin' And Storage Commerical

How To Move Your Antiques,Electronics and Collectibles

Keep it Movin' cares about the safety of your belongings and wants to ensure they reach your destination in perfect condition — especially those requiring special care like your antiques, electronics and collectibles. This page explains how to prepare them for a safe relocation.

Let Keep it Movin' Help
When the Keep it Movin' Representative comes to your home for the first time, point out items that may require special attention. Such items may include fragile porcelains, family heirlooms,valuable antiques and electronics. Decide which items you will pack and which you would like Keep it Movin'to pack.

Our Keep it Movin' representative is knowledgeable about how each piece should be prepared and can instruct you on what needs to be done for the relocation. If you decide to pack some things yourself, we recommend you use the same materials that our packing crews use to ensure maximum protection. These materials include double- and triple-walled cartons, stretch/cushioning wraps, packing tape, fine tissue and kraft paper. These materials can be purchased from our Keep it Movin' at affordable prices.

Keep it Movin' also provides carton labels such as, "Do Not Load," "Load Last/Unload First," "Do Not Pack," "Parts Box" and "Fragile."

If you prefer Keep it Movin' to pack your valuables, our Keep it Movin' crew will arrive with the necessary packing materials. Your relocation services will be scheduled to allow adequate time to pack these special items properly.

What You Should Transport Yourself
We recommends that you transport the following items instead of including them in your shipment, as they are not easily replaceable:

•Fine jewelry (except for minor-value costume jewelry)
•Coins, currency and any other negotiable paper (stock certificates, bonds, notes, etc.)
•Important papers, deeds, titles, bank books, tax forms and similar documents
•Prescriptions and medical/dental records
Larger collections can be safely transported along with your other possessions.

Antiques
Keep it Movin' handles valuable and rare antiques with the utmost care. Here are a few things to keep in mind while Atlas is packing your antiques:

•You have the option of having your antiques crated rather than simply wrapped. Keep it Movin' generally uses wooden crates for delicate pieces such as crystal chandeliers, pool table slates and antiques.
•A custom crate can be built around the piece to ensure correct fit and proper protection.
•Antique pieces can be packed in cartons with padding, stretch wrap and, if necessary, decking in the truck so they are not in contact with other items.
To prepare other items for the packers:

•It is best to secure loose parts of furniture and removable pieces before packing, or make this request of the packers.
•Doors may be secured with rubber straps or strings.
•You may remove delicate handles and tape them inside drawers for safe moving, or ask the packers to do so.
•Glass panels or mirrors can be removed or taped and secured with padding and stretch wrap.
•Any hardware, attachments or components should be placed in plastic bags and labeled with their corresponding pieces. All bags should then be placed in a designated "Parts Box."
Collectibles
Atlas recommends packing delicate collectibles in their original cartons, if possible, for the best protection. However, if these are not available,Keep it Movin' can pack the collectibles in secure boxes and cushion them in bubble wrap or Styrofoam peanuts.

Here are a few things to remember when packing your collectibles:

•Pack small collectible items like coins, stamps, etc. and transport them with you.
•China, crystal and delicate porcelain should be individually wrapped in fine tissue and placed in specially designed compartment containers with plates standing on edge and stemware in individual corrugated cylinders.
•Pack dolls, figurines, and sculptures as you would any other breakable goods. Wrap them individually in soft tissue or padding and pack in bubble wrap or Styrofoam peanuts. If necessary, use double-walled cartons.
•Ask your sales representative about packing wine or other perishable collections. Special arrangements may be needed to assure the utmost care while in transit.
•Label all cartons containing glassware and breakables with "Fragile" labels supplied by our representative.
•Anything Keep it Movin' is to pack should be left in its place; it's safer and easier.
•Ask our representative about unusual or hard-to-move collections.
•Prepare a list of your collectibles for your homeowner's insurance policy if you have not already done so.

Electronics
Keep it Movin' can move all your electronic equipment including personal computers and components, big screen TVs, surround sound systems, DVD players, VCRs and stereo equipment. Consult your owner's manual for specific instructions regarding transporting these items. Keep it Movin' recommends you use a qualified service provider to properly prepare a plasma TV for transport. our representative can recommend a reputable provider in your area.

The preferred way to move electronics is in their original cartons with the original packing materials. If you don't have the original cartons, pack items in standard boxes that best fit them. Secure items with bubble wrap, paper padding or Styrofoam peanuts.

Before moving your electronics:

•Back up all software used on computers. Older computers may require you to "park" the hard drive as well.
•Disconnect all wiring and cables before our moving crew arrives.
•Draw a simple diagram or color-code wires before disconnecting to make reconnecting much easier.
•Keep all components together and their boxes clearly labeled.
•Pack all wires and cables with their corresponding electronic unit.
•Pack small or loose accessories, like remote controls, with each component or place them in the designated "Parts Box." Indicate this on the inventory list so small parts are not misplaced.
•Complete a list of all electronic components and computer equipment (with serial numbers) prior to moving them, and submit it to your homeowner's insurance company.
•Keep it Movin' is not permitted to take down TV antennas or satellite dishes, but we can arrange to have it done if you wish.

How To Move An Aquarium

The best word on moving fish (and in this discussion, fish includes all aquarium animal life) beyond very short distances, is DON'T. Travel is very stressful on fish, and even with the best precautions, you should expect to lose several. Given this is true, you may want to seriously consider selling off your stock and getting new fish at your destination.

If, given the above, you still want to try to move fish, then the following may help to minimize the pain and loss of fish.

The task of moving fish basically splits into two tasks: moving the tank, and then (later) moving the fish. Do not attempt to move the fish in their tank.

Moving the tank
The main problem in moving the tank is the filtration system. After a very few hours (less than a day) without a flow of oxygen-laden water, aerobic bacteria start to die. This means that if you are moving a short distance (an hour drive or so), it may be possible to preserve your bacteria colony. But beyond that, you'll need to restart the bacteria. (No, bacteria don't die after an hour, but you need to account for tear down, packing, unpacking and setup time — totaling only a few hours.) This leads to the following process:

1.Put your fish in a holding container. (more on that below)
2.Drain your tank. If the move is going to be short, preserve some of the water to help preserve the bacteria colony.
3.Disassemble your tank. Aquarium plants will survive a fair amount of time if their roots are kept wet, so it should be possible to bag them with some water and set them aside for hand-moving. If the move is going to be short, put your filter medium in a sealed container (preferably a never-used pail or other chemical-free hard-sided container) without cleaning it. For long moves, either clean or discard your filter media. Pumps, heaters, etc. can be packed like any fragile appliance.
4.Move your tank. Don't use a moving company or professional packers unless you have absolutely no choice AND you can supervise them packing the tank and loading it in the truck. It's far better to move it yourself.
5.Reassemble your tank at your destination. If you're doing a short move, you should have enough dechlorinated/treated water available on arrival to fill your tank and get water moving through your filter. If you're doing a long move, then set your tank up as if it were a new tank, including a week-long delay before putting fish in the tank. Initially, put in a few hardy fish to get the nitrate cycle established. After the tank is stable, put the fish from your old home back in.
Moving the fish
There are three basic problems in moving the fish:

•Where do you put them while you're moving the tank (a week+)?•How do you pack them?
•How do you support them while they're being moved?
Where do you put them?

Two basic options:

•A friend's tank
•A pet store tank
Some pet stores will, for a fee, board fish during a move. A signed contract, detailing what responsibilities the pet store is assuming, is a very good idea. Some pet stores, for a further fee, will pack and air-ship the fish to you on request. This isn't cheap.

Bear in mind that you'll be leaving the fish there for at least a couple of weeks.

How do you pack them?
For short periods of time (a couple of hours, tops) you can put the fish in sealed bags, half-filled with air. This time-span can be stretched somewhat by filling the bags with oxygen, rather than air. Put the bags in a padded, compartmentalized container, and ship by air. (This is basically how pet stores receive their fish). For larger fish, or longer trips, one can use a sealed bucket for each fish, rather than a bag.

How do you support them on the move?
Fish basically won't eat during the move. They're too stressed. You also don't want to degrade the water quality with the food. Fish can survive a week or so without food if they've been previously well fed.

Try to maintain an even temperature, perhaps by placing the fish in a sealed cooler, or compartmentalized cooler.

For long trips, particularly by car, a battery-powered airpump and airstone is a good idea (if not a must).

After the move, slowly condition the fish to the new tank location, as you would in adding new fish to a tank.

How To Move House Plants

No matter how green your thumb, Keep It Movin' & Storage understands you have worked hard to cultivate your indoor plants. To keep them healthy during your relocation, refer to the tips below and talk to your Sales Representative concerning the best way to transport your plants.

Long-Distance Moves
Like any living thing, plants require special attention. If you are involved in a long-distance move, you will want to transport your plants in a temperature-controlled environment, such as your car. Extreme temperatures and lack of fresh air in a moving van can be fatal to plants.

According to the "Household Goods Carriers' Bureau Tariff," a carrier is not allowed to accept a shipment containing perishable items, including plants, except when a shipment is moving less than 150 miles and/or delivery will be made within 24 hours. Consult with our Representative before deciding on the best and safest means of transportation.

Trust Our Expertise
When our Representative surveys your overall moving requirements, let him or her know that you will be moving your own plants. Packing materials are available for purchase from our Agent.

If you have questions about the specific care of your plants, refer to the chart on this page to view the 10 most common houseplants. You can also consult a reputable plant publication or your local U.S. Department of Agriculture office.

State Regulations
Some states regulate transportation of certain plants and require a Gypsy Moth Inspection Certificate. Traditionally, California, Arizona and Florida have the most rigid restrictions on bringing plants into the state. Your state's department of natural resources can provide current information about your destination state.

As a general rule, most states require transported plants to be grown indoors in sterilized potting soil — not soil taken from outdoors. You may purchase sterilized soil at your local lawn and garden shop. Read the label carefully to make sure the soil contains the right mixture of loam, peat or sand needed for your particular plants.

If you cannot take your plants along, consider taking cuttings. Simply wrap the cuttings in wet moss and newspaper and place them in unsealed bags. Place bags in a carton and fill in around them with light packing material. The cuttings should survive several days' travel and be ready to take root in your new home.

Preparing For The Move
Now that you've decided which plants will accompany you to your new home, take precautions to help them survive the trip.

Three weeks before moving day:
•Repot plants that are in clay pots into unbreakable plastic containers of the same size; changing pot sizes can be detrimental to some plants.


Two weeks before moving day: •Prune larger plants for better packing and to produce healthy, bushy, compact plants that are more attractive.
•To prune, simply pinch back newer growth with your thumb and forefinger.
•Succulents (e.g., cacti, jade plants) and ferns do not respond well to pruning.


One week before moving day: •Check plants for insects and/or parasites.
•If you use insecticides on your plants, use them with extreme caution and follow label directions.


Two days before the move: •Water your plants normally. In winter months, over-watering may cause plants to freeze. In warmer weather, over-watered plants are subject to fungus growth during transit.


Moving day:
•Pack your plants in the morning or the night before.
•Wrap your large houseplants with an old sheet or tissue paper to prevent branches from breaking.
•Place the pot in a box, making sure it fits snugly at the bottom. You may use conventional packing cartons, like dish packs, available from our Representative.
•If necessary, use paper around the base to hold the pot in place.
•Punch air holes in the sides of the box and loosely fasten the lid so plants can breathe.
•Set the boxes upright and clearly mark the lids. This will help you avoid loading them by mistake into the moving van.
•If you follow this procedure, your plants will be ready to travel up to three days before requiring further attention.


On the road:
•Load plants as close to your departure time as possible.
•Avoid putting plants in the trunk of your car, if possible, since heat, cold and lack of fresh air can damage the plant.
•In warm weather, make periodic stops in shaded areas and crack a window. Avoid exposing the plants to direct sunlight at all times.
•In cold weather, avoid letting the temperature inside your car become hazardous to your plants. If needed, wrap plants thoroughly with newspaper or paper bags.
•You probably will not have to water your plants during transit. If they seem unusually dry, water them at first opportunity; otherwise, postpone watering until you have arrived at your new home.
•If you're on the road for more than three days, your plants may require light. When staying overnight, it is a good idea to bring plants indoors and open cartons to expose plants to the light.
Arriving At Your New Home
Upon arrival at your new home, unpack your plants as soon as possible. Remove them through the bottom of the box to avoid breaking leaves and branches. Try not to move them around too much until they become acclimated to the surroundings.

With the proper attention and care, your plants will flourish in their new home. And you can settle in more comfortably with your favorite plants around to admire and enjoy.