Home| Renter| Manager Login

List a Property Search:
( city, city & state, or zip)

Renters

Guide for Tenantas
Here are some great tips from experienced renters that will help make your experience more enjoyable.

Moving Tips

Rental Inspection Form
Renters Guide
Subleasing
Roommates
Search Rentals
Rent Your Place
Finding an Apartment
Renters Insurance
Moving Services
All About Leases
Safety
Renter Tips & Traps
All About a Sublease










 Print    Add to Favorites

Moving tips


Get Free Moving Quotes from several Moving Companies.


Be sure you have a new apartment lined up. Check our apartment and housing rental listings for your new location.

Get help with your Move

  • Make sure you ask friends and family to help you with your move. If you try to do it alone, you may end up breaking something or it may take you a lot longer than you think.
  • Collect boxes ahead of time. Stuffing your clothes in plastic bags does not work. Ask friends and family to save any boxes they have 4-5 weeks before you move. Start filling them with things you won't need right away like winter clothes.
  • Label you boxes with a magic marker. Write what is in the box and where it will go in your new home.
  • Leave time to clean your new place. Even though it may be empty, most tenants try to move in the first day they can. That leaves the landlord little time to do a thorough cleaning if the place was rented until the day you move in.
  • Expect to do some cleaning to the point you are comfortable.
  • Expect to do some repairs & painting in your new place. Ask the landlord if it is ok to paint rooms in your house or apartment. Many times there is no time between tenants switching that it is difficult to paint every year, and if it is painted the color may not be what you like. Try agreeing to paint if the landlord buys the paint, you will likely get permission.
  • Figure out where you want your belongings before you move them in. This will save time rearranging things later, and less things will get broken.
  • Do a walkthrough of the property before you move in. Put any problems in writing and present them to the landlord. Make sure you keep a copy until you move out.
  • Put your name(s) on the mailbox so the mailman knows who lives in your rental. Make sure you check with your landlord first.
  • Ask your landlord ahead of time about where you are allowed to store your belongings.


Costs of Moving

  • Landlords typically will hold your security deposit until after you have moved out. Make arrangements with friends or your new landlord to store your belongings if you don't have enough money to cover the new security
  • Expect to pay up to 1 1/2 months rent for your security deposit. Keep your place in good shape if you expect to keep it. Ask the landlord for the interest on that money when you move out.
  • Have one person collect money and pay bills for the house. Remind roommates ahead of time that money is due. This person should also get the full security deposit returned in order to pay any unpaid bills.
  • Expect to open a new bank account in the local area in order to pay all your bills. If you are sharing a house, it will be easier to collect all of the checks for rent and utilities so you can make the payments with one check.
  • Pay your rent on time or early. Get in the habit of paying it on time the 1st few months and then it will be easy.
  • If you go away for the holiday's make sure you arrange payment of rent while you are gone to avoid fines. If you won't be around, let you landlord know.
  • When you go away during winter months, make sure you lower the heat to avoid wasting money. Do not turn it off altogether or your pipes will freeze. Let your landlord know if your will be gone
  • Ask the landlord for information on the average utility costs. Expect to pay a little more until you have lived there for a few months.


Responsibility

  • Divide responsibilities among roommates before you move in. Each person can have one or two chores like taking out the garbage, cleaning the bathrooms or paying the bills. Switch duties every few months.
  • When you report a problem to the landlord, make sure you understand when it will be fixed and if you need to be home. Often landlords can not respond same day but if you agree on a time they will likely be more responsive.
  • Be aware of what items you are responsible for repairing. Items such as light bulbs, broken windows, holes in walls are usually tenant costs once you moved in. Try to do some of the repairs yourself to save money.
  • =ecide how many phones you will have and where they will be. Many times a house will only have one or two lines, but 5 or 6 people.


Getting Along

Get a basket or table for your mail or it may get lost if you have roommates.

If you are not sure that your living quarters are legal, make sure you discuss this with your landlord before you move in. You do not want to be evicted by the city after you have made it your home.

Do not mislead your landlord on how many people are living in the home. City inspectors typically inspect rental properties and will evict residents if there are too many people for the property.


Safety

Don't store mattresses in the basement or attic. This may result in a fine to your landlord that you will be responsible for.

Put out the garbage and recycling on the right days. Don't stockpile them or you will get rodents.

If your garbage or recycling is not picked up, bring it back to the house. Cities and towns often ticket for garbage out on a non-collection day.

Have your mail on hold when you go away.

Owners & Managers

Owners of Home Rentals can list rental property on RentalsOnline.com     List your Rental
Owners of Home Rentals can list rental property on RentalsOnline.com     Edit a Listing
Owners of Home Rentals can list rental property on RentalsOnline.com     Find out More

Moving Resources

Free Moving Estimate
Truck Rental
Rental Forms
Check your Credit


Guide Sponsors

Roommates.com