Tips for Making the Move to Your New Apartment an Easy One

Summer is right around the corner and so is moving season. Moving season? Yes, you might be surprised to discover that summer is the prime time the majority of people move. This season takes place from May 15th to August 31st and more than 65% off all moves occur during this period. What does this mean for you? Well, moving at any time requires prior planning and moving during the prime months of the season can be a breeze as long as you have a timeline, strategy and well-thought-out plan for getting yourself on track.

Hire a Moving Company Early

With so many people packing up and heading to their new homes it’s important to book your moving company as soon as you can. If you wait until the final week or two prior to your move-in date, you will have fewer options to choose from and might end up with a company that is not the best value.

Develop a Realistic Budget

Moving during the peak months will naturally mean that costs will be higher. No one likes to hear it, but if you accept this and plan a realistic budget to allow for these slightly inflated prices, you will be much more relaxed during the move itself with no unexpected added costs popping up.

Don’t Take the Online Price Quote as a Definitive Amount

Some companies will offer online price quotes. This can help you get a ballpark idea but the more realistic quote will come from having the mover come see the space in person. Once this is done, you can get a written estimate that will be on par with what you can actually expect it to cost.

Consolidate Your Belongings

More “stuff” equals more boxes and additional moving costs for time. Moving in to your new apartment really gives you the chance to evaluate your current belongings so that you can only take those that you still need. If you have clothing that you haven’t worn for years or furniture that you are sick of looking at, why bring it along? Separate the things you must take with you from the things you no longer need and then donate those falling in to the second category. Not only are you helping others out but these donations are also tax deductible.

Create a List

Moving is a really exciting time and when you have so much on your mind, it’s easy to get overwhelmed or forget important things you need to do. Take a load off your mind by writing all this in list form. Whether you are the old fashioned pen and paper list type or more of the Excel spreadsheet addict, getting all that you need to do out of your mind and on to a solid list that you can continue to check back on will help keep you moving on the right track.

Plan What Your Furniture Needs Will Be

The great thing about moving in to an apartment is that you will have easy access to your floor plan. In fact, most are posted online. This is a great way to visually plan out what furniture you will need and where to place it. If your current furniture isn’t going to fit the floor plan or design, you might want to consider selling it prior to your move. Not only will this save you money when it comes to moving time, but it will also allow you to use this money toward paying your movers. When you are ready to get new furniture, many businesses offer free delivery! Yet another great way to save!

Check in With Your Mover a Week Prior to Your Moving Date

Moving during the peak of the season doesn’t need to be aggravating. Even though you may have reserved your mover months in advance, it’s wise to check in a week prior to moving to make sure your schedule is still on the books. Sometimes the large amount of bookings the company receives in peak season can leave some customers lost in the shuffle. A simple call to check-in can help eliminate this concern.

How to Save Money On Utility Bills

During these tough economic times many people are finding interesting ways on how to save money on utility bills. Whether it’s at the grocery store or at the gas pump; people are looking for ways to save. During the summer months, as the temperature rises, so does the utility bill. Water and electricity usage are two of the best places to look when attempting to lower the utility bills. Below is a list of tips to help reduce utility bills and save some extra money.

Start using a ceiling fan instead of the air conditioner to stay cool. The air created by the fan should be more than enough to cool off any room. It is important to remember that in order to receive the best result; the blades on the fan need to rotate backwards or counterclockwise. Using the fan to stay cool will allow you to keep the thermostat around 78 degrees. This will certainly lower the utility bill by reducing the amount of energy used.

Using high efficiency bulbs instead of ordinary light bulbs can help decrease electricity usage. High efficiency light bulbs use far less energy and can cut usage by ¼. It is important to remember to turn off lights when exiting a room. More importantly, turn off any lights that are not in use. This will help reduce electricity usage as well. LED bulbs are a perfect solution for high efficiency lightening. Recently, these bulbs have witnessed a significant price drop.

In some cases, the inside of a room can be made cooler using window treatments. Hanging shades, blinds, and curtains can help keep heat from entering the room. This will help keep the use of fans and air conditioners to a minimum; which in turn reduces energy usage.

Refrigerators work best when there are items inside. Keep the refrigerator full, but not overcrowded. This can help keep the items inside colder. Keeping the refrigerator coils clean also helps the fridge retain coldness. It is also a good idea to upgrade older refrigerators. Older models consume tons of energy and can significantly increase utility bills.

When using the oven to cook, never open the door to look inside. Looking inside can waste a ton of energy and delay the cooking process. When checking the contents of the oven, it is best to use the light switch on the stove.

Use the dishwasher instead of hand washing dishes. It is important to use a short cycle when possible to save energy. Dishwashers are far more effective than hand washing and these appliances use less water. Whenever the dishwasher is running, ensure the appliance is full in order to get the most use out of a single cycle.

Leaky shower heads and faucets should be fixed as soon as possible. Fixing the leak can significantly reduce water usage. In some cases, replacing the shower head or faucet entirely is the best option. Although this is an additional cost, you will save money over the course of time. Newer faucets and shower heads typically use 25 to 60 percent less water.

It is important to stop using electricity when you’re not actually using it. Most people keep devices and equipment plugged in when they are not actually using them. These devices can include TVs, gaming consoles, computers, DVD players, air conditioners, DVRs, fans, and even toaster ovens. Most DVRs and gaming consoles use far more energy than other devices. Although these items may not be in use, as long as they remain plugged in, they are using electricity. Merely unplug these devices when they are not in use and this can significantly reduce a utility bill.

No one can predict what the future will hold, but saving money is a great way to prepare for it. Reducing a utility bill is a good way to start saving money and conserving energy. Implementing the tips above is a good place to start.

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