8 Tips for Single Female Homebuyers

Don't Push Your Limits

“Just because you are pre-approved to buy a house at the top end of your range, doesn't mean you should,” advises TJ Freeborn of Discover Home Loans, pictured here with her son Jack in front of the Elmhurst, Illinois, home she bought. “Single women have only one income to rely on for household expenses. It's smart to make sure that your monthly mortgage payment is an amount that you are comfortable with. Then, if unexpected expenses arise, your ability to pay your mortgage and maintain your lifestyle isn't compromised.”

15 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Lease

When you’re finally ready to sign the lease on an apartment, chances are you’ve already gotten answers to most of your major rent-related questions. Cost per month, location, and included utilities are all things you’d want to know before you get down to the paperwork, but what about the less obvious questions? While renting an apartment isn’t quite as big a process as buying a home is, it is legally binding, and there are still some really important questions you’ll want to have answered before putting your name on the dotted line. Here are 15 questions to ask before signing a lease so you can make sure you’re prepared.

#1 What are the lease terms?

Even if you and your prospective landlord have previously discussed that your lease will be a year long or month-to-month, make sure the lease term you’re expecting is the one that’s indicated on the lease itself. Whatever the terms are on the lease are the ones that you’re formally agreeing to, so you’re going to want more than just verbal confirmation.

#2 If the lease doesn’t start on the first of the month, is the rent pro-rated?

Many lease terms dictate the first of the month as the day rent is due, but what if you’re moving in on another date? Most of the time, your rent will be pro-rated for that first month, meaning that you’ll only pay for the days you’re going to be there. The same goes for the end of the term if your lease ends on any day other than the first. It’s pretty standard to offer pro-rated rent for the first and last month in these circumstances, so make sure it’s spelled out on the lease. If it’s not, request that your rent is pro-rated for these periods.

#3 What are the policies around breaking the lease early?

Obviously you’re not renting an apartment with the expectation that you’ll need to break your lease early, but life doesn’t always go exactly as planned and it’s possible that you will need to move out before the end of your lease term. Just in case, make sure you know what the policies around breaking a lease early are before you sign, particularly whether it is allowed and what the penalties are. While many landlords do allow early release of the lease if necessary, there may be a fine attached or you may be required to forfeit your security deposit.

#4 What are the rules for non-tenant access?

Sometimes your landlord or a maintenance professional will need to access your unit, but that doesn’t mean they should be able to come and go as they please. Verify that your lease dictates that a certain amount of notice is required before they may access your apartment (for example, 24 hours). Most states have specific laws about how much notice is required, so check the laws in your state and make sure the lease has the correct terms.

#5 Are there any rules about guests?

Speaking of non-tenants, check the lease to see if it has any specific rules around guests. Some leases don’t allow guests to stay overnight or for more than a set amount of time. Instead of risking possible penalties for breaking what may not be an obvious guest policy, read up on any guest rules in the lease before signing.

#6 How is rent payed?

Every landlord or management company has their own way of accepting rent payments. While in an ideal world you’d be able to just easily pay your rent online every month, it’s possible that you’ll need to drop off a check somewhere or mail it to a specific location.

#7 When is rent due?

Most rents are due on the first of every month, but according to what it says in your lease, you may have some flexibility, especially if you have to mail a check somewhere. See if there’s a grace period on rent payments, such as three or five days from the first of the month. While chances are it will just be due on the first, it doesn’t hurt to find out if there’s a little wiggle room.

#8 Is renters insurance required?

Renters insurance is a good thing to have whether your landlord requires it or not, but check to see if the lease states that you absolutely must have it. If it does, you’ll usually have to show proof that you’ve acquired it prior to actually moving in. Fortunately, it’s usually pretty inexpensive.

#9 What are the move-in fees?

In addition to your first month’s rent, you may have other required fees due prior to move-in, including last month’s rent, a security deposit, administrative fees, elevator rental fees, or other specific move-in related costs. Check on what these are so that you can make sure you’re not hit with any surprises when moving day comes around.

#10 To what extent can the unit be personalized?

One of the downfalls of apartment living is that you can’t always personalize the space as much as you’d like to. To cover your bases, check with both the lease and the landlord about the policies regarding tenant decorating and personalization to find out what you can and cannot do in regards to things like painting and hanging art or shelving. Some policies are stricter than others and there may be penalties for breaking them, so you’ll want to know this before hammering any nails into the walls. When in doubt, check with your landlord or management company before making any changes to the unit.

#11 Is the security deposit refundable?

Most of the time, security deposits are returned to tenants upon move out, provided there isn’t any major damage or mess left behind. See what the terms are so that you can be sure you maintain the apartment in such a way that you can get your security deposit back when the lease is over. To be safe, you may want to specifically ask about specific situations that would result in you not getting the deposit back. Read up on the general rules of security deposits so you know what you can expect regarding how the deposit will be used and how to make sure you get it back.

#12 How are maintenance requests handled?

Whether your building offers maintenance 24/7 or just upon request, find out what the policies are so that you know what to do if any maintenance issues arise. You don’t want to be scrambling to figure out next steps if your sink starts to leak or your central air stops working in the heat of summer. There may be different policies around general repairs and emergency repairs, and it’s important to know both.

#13 Does the unit currently have any damage?

Don’t risk getting penalized for damage to the apartment that was there before you moved in. Make sure to ask the landlord about any existing damage such as worn floors or cracked windows before you move in and do a walk through before bringing in any of your belongings, taking pictures of any damage that you find. That way, if you get blamed for that damage later on you can show that it was there before you were.

#14 What is the pet policy (if applicable)?

If you have a pet, you’ve obviously already made sure they’re allowed to live in the apartment with you. But what about other pet-specific policies, like added fees or rules around where your pet is and isn’t allowed on the general property? Pets can become a point of contention between tenants and landlords, so learn everything you might need to know about your building’s pet policy right from the beginning.

#15 What is the renewal process?

Some landlords have rules regarding how much notice you’ll have to give if you want to renew the lease after your initial term. You can’t always count on them getting in touch and reminding you when it’s time to notify about a possible renewal, so ask about the process early on so you don’t miss out on leasing the unit again if it’s something you’re interested in doing.

The more you know about questions to ask before signing a lease, the better protected you’ll be against any surprises or upsets once the lease starts. You’ll have little recourse to argue against the things you formally signed off on in the lease, so it’s critical that you get all of your questions answered before agreeing to the terms. Hopefully, by asking the questions above you’ll get a good idea of what you’re getting into and will have a stress-free rental experience.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire Movers?

You are about to move to another home and you don’t know what to expect in terms of pricing? This can be really frustrating because when you are unsure about the cost to hire professional movers, then you won’t be able to set up your moving budget accordingly. Even worse, you don’t even know if the money you have saved up will be sufficient to cover the inevitable moving expenses.

There are just too many unanswered questions in your head that won’t let you focus on the myriad of moving tasks ahead of you. How much does it cost to hire movers? What is cheap and what is expensive? What is normal for professional movers?

You do need a good comparison base in order to know what your viable options are when seeking professional moving assistance. Finding and hiring reputable professional movers is not an easy task – most of the moving companies provide free moving quotes, but what does the final amount tell us? Understand how the moving price is formed and you’ll be able to save big on your move as well!

How much do movers charge? In most cases, your house move will fall into one of the two main pricing categories – Local Movers or Interstate Movers. Read on to learn the estimated cost to hire movers so that you are truly prepared for the financial side of your upcoming residential move.

Local Movers Cost

Local movers charge by the hour – this is the very first thing you need to remember if you’re moving locally. But what does that mean for you and your budget? It means that the price estimate you should receive by local moving companies should be based on an hourly cost and estimated hours to complete the move.

How much does it cost to hire movers for a local move?

• The average cost to hire movers for a local move is $40-$50 / hour per mover but the precise hourly charge will depend on your exact location in the country, the season and day of the month you’re moving home, and the local moving company you’ve decided to use.
• For hiring 2 men and a truck, you should expect to be charged from $85-$90 / hour to $95-$100 / hour. As mentioned above, the exact date of your move will have a considerable influence over the professional local movers rates. Busy dates are the more expensive ones – move-out dates that fall at the beginning and end of the month, especially during the summer.
• Sometimes local movers charge additional fees and you should ask in advance about them to make sure the estimate you get is as close to the final movers cost as possible. An example for such an extra charge is the travel fee – the time the movers require to get to your location and back to their base of operation. That fee is often charged as 1 additional hour of labor.
• How much does it cost to hire movers locally? A mini move (for example, moving out of a studio) that takes about 3 hours will cost you approximately 3 hours + 1 hour travel time = 4 hours x $85 comes to a total of $340 in the best case scenario.
• When moving out of a 2-bedroom home, you should be ready to shell out more. Let’s assume that 2 movers work for hours to get the job done, then that’s roughly 6 hours + 1 hour travel time = 7 hours x $85 comes to a total of $595in the best case scenario. Oftentimes, an extra mover will be required for working on 2+ bedroom homes, so the price can go even higher.
• Most local movers will ask for a deposit when scheduling the move so that they can reserve the date for you. Contact your local moving company to learn more about their deposit policy.

Keep in mind that it’s important in advance to know how much local movers charge. Click here to have a free moving cost estimate by professional local movers.

What are the price factors when moving across the country?

If you’re moving to another state, be it a neighboring one, then you’re about to complete an interstate household move. And, because of that, the first thing you should know is that the price of your cross country move will be calculated rather differently than moving locally – it’s all about the price factors and how they will influence that final moving bill.

And more importantly – why should you care? Well, the good news is that once you’re familiar with how your interstate moving cost is formed through the interconnection of the various long distance price factors, then you will be able to find and use good cost-saving techniques to your advantage.

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  Moving across the country is no joke, and neither is the price.
  Home size + shipment weight. Generally speaking, the larger your home is, the more items it will hold, and therefore – the heavier the shipment will become. In contrast to the local movers price /calculated on an hour basis/, the cost of all interstate moves /state to state moves/ are determined by the weight of the items to be shipped.
• Special items. The general cost to hire movers will suddenly go up if you own an upright piano, for example, and you decide to take it with you. The same is true for other types of specialty items as well – a pool table, a hot tub, a big metal safe, antique furniture, and so on. Make sure you show to your moving company everything that you plan to move to the new house or apartment.
• Extra services. In order to have your price calculated with any good degree of accuracy, you will need to inform beforehand your cross country mover whether you will require any additional moving services – packing, unpacking, temporary storage, disassembly and reassembly of furniture, custom crating for extremely valuable items, and so on. Only then will your long distance moving company be able to give you an accurate price estimate. And only then will you have the peace of mind that you won’t run into any bad surprises when it’s time to pay the company at the end of the move itself.
• Move distance. Of course, the actual distance between the two homes will affect the cross country moving cost. However, that factor is not something you should really worry about because you don’t have any direct control over it.

Interstate Movers Cost

As already mentioned above, the cost to hire movers in town and the cost to hire movers out of state will be rather different. And because of the numerous price factors that influence a house move across the country, it’s virtually impossible to calculate on your own the cost to hire movers for an interstate move.

Request cost estimates from various cross country movers and have the company representatives visit your home so that they can provide you with accurate moving quotes that will reflect the amount you will pay after your household items are delivered to the new home.

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Use the moving cost estimator at the top of the page to get accurate price quotes from top-rated cross country movers.

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How much does it cost to hire movers across country?

Use the following average costs to hire movers for cross country only for referential purposes.  Do yourself a favor and ask reputable cross country moving companies for in-house surveys, followed by the issuance of precise quotes.

• If you are moving out of a 1-bedroom apartment, your household items will most likely weigh around 3500 pounds. Expect to pay approximately $2500 for a move distance of 1000 miles with no extra services included.
• If you are moving out of a 2-bedroom home (plus a garage and a basement), your stuff will usually weigh about 5000-6000 pounds. If you move it to about 1000 miles away, the cross country move will cost you about $3500-$4000 for the complete move.

Should you happen to receive a moving quote for a lot less than those amounts, you may be dealing with non-professionals have deliberately lowered the costs just to book your move. And if that is the case, then you could be asked for more money once they have picked your stuff, right before the delivery.

Click here for a complete Interstate move estimate to know how much it costs to hire movers cross country.

How much does it cost to hire movers? The extra charges explained.

As you can see from the example moving company costs above, this question can have very different answers depending on your move locations, type of move (local or interstate), and the professional moving company itself.

Here are some additional and often unexpected fees and charges that come into play when calculating the average cost to hire movers:

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  Expect to be charged extra if the professional movers are unable to use an elevator on moving day.
  Charges for handling bulky items – this category includes pianos, organs, canoes and other items with either extraordinary proportions that take a lot of space or very heavy items (that weigh more than most items for the same volume. Some companies have a flat fee for moving pianos and organs. It is very important that the company knows about these items in advance as the movers may be unable to move them if they come unprepared on moving day.
• Long carry fee usually applies due to the impossibility to park near the door to your building or because the walking distance from your apartment to the moving truck is very long. Having too much distance will prolong the move significantly and movers may change more. If possible, try to reserve a parking spot or to arrange a parking permit and reserve the best parking spot prior your move.
• Cancellation fees might be charged if you cancel your move after previously booking it. Sometimes that could apply also when you want to change the moving date and the mover cannot accommodate you on that new date. This fee is usually equal or less than the deposit amount you have with your mover to book the date.
• Storage fees usually apply when you request delayed delivery of your items. In those cases moving companies will have to store your belongings. Depending on the moving company, this fee could be a significant charge.

There are also some uncommon charges that you should be aware of. Best practice would be to ask your moving company about these and try to negotiate better terms in advance.

• Express delivery charge or Exact delivery date charge – this usually applies when you want a fast delivery with a state to state move or when you request an exact delivery date for your cross country move.
• Disposal fees (environmental charges) usually apply when you request unpacking of your belongings and the moving company will have to dispose of the used moving boxes and additional packing materials left from the relocation.
• Extra stop charge usually occurs with local moves, when you pick up or drop off furniture from multiple locations. This will cause the movers to drive additional distance and spend more time.

This is why you are strongly advised to get estimates from multiple moving companies as every company has its own set of parameters when estimating the move cost. Also, negotiating a discount in advance is another option worth exploring.

Comparing Moving Container Companies

Moving containers have become a popular way to move possessions.

How Moving Containers Work

It’s easy to have the container delivered straight to your home and have it placed on the street or driveway outside. With a container, you can take as much time as you need to load your belongings. When you’re done packing, the container company comes out and puts the container on a truck and either takes it to a storage unit or delivers it to your new home.

Different Types of Moving Containers & Companies

However, with many different companies to choose from and each one offering different services, pricing and sizes, it can be difficult to pinpoint the one that’s right for you. Comparing your portable moving options will ensure you choose the company and service best suited to your needs.

U-Haul U-Boxes

U-Boxes from U-Haul come in a single size: 7 feet 6 inches high, 5 feet wide and 8 feet long. Each container holds about a room-and-a-half of your stuff, up to 2,000 pounds. The containers are made out of heavy-duty plywood and covered with a weather-resistant cover to keep your possessions safe from the elements. U-Haul also allows you to transport U-Boxes yourself if you have a vehicle with towing capability.

PODS

PODS containers come in three sizes: The smallest is 7 feet long, 7 feet wide and 8 feet high; the two larger sizes are 8 feet high and wide, and either 12 feet or 16 feet long.

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Where are you moving from?

The smallest container holds about a room’s worth of stuff, while the largest size will hold items from about three or four rooms. Each container has a steel frame with an aluminum skin with a lightweight steel roll-up door. You pack up the container at your place and use your own lock for security.

U-Pack Moving’s ReloCube

The ReloCube measures 8 feet 4 inches high, 7 feet wide and 6 feet 3 inches long and holds about one room’s worth of stuff. The container is weatherproof, with steel framing and aluminum side panels, and fits into a standard parking space. Customers can use their own padlocks on the containers for added security.

1-800-PACK-RAT

1-800-PACK-RAT containers are available in two sizes–12 feet long and 16 feet long, both of which are 8 feet high and wide. The 12-foot container holds between one and two rooms while the 16-foot container can hold between three and four rooms.

PACK-RAT moving containers are made from steel components, including the frame, walls and door. They have embedded metal skids which provide 6 inches of ground clearance to ensure your items remain dry at all times.

Door-To-Door Storage

Door-To-Door Storage offers one size of moving container that is 7 feet high, 5 feet wide and 8 feet long. Each container holds about 40 to 50 medium-sized boxes—enough space to pack a single room.

The moving containers are made of construction-grade wood. The floor is raised 4 inches from ground level for easy loading and to keep your items protected from water damage. While the storage container is located outside, it’s covered by a weather-resistant cover.

United Mayflower

United Mayflower offers a single storage-container size that is 16 feet long and 8 feet high and wide, which the company says provides enough space to fit the entire contents of a 1,500-square-foot home. The container is constructed of an all-steel frame with aluminum side panels and roll-up door. It is waterproof and it comes with tie-down rings for keeping your articles safe and secure.

SmartBox

SmartBox containers are available in one size that is 7 feet high, 5 feet wide and 8 feet long, which are capable of holding about a room to a room-and-a-half of furniture and goods, up to 2,000 pounds.

4 Tips For Keeping In Touch After A Long Distance Move

One of the hardest aspects of moving isn’t packing up, it’s saying goodbye. Especially if you have lived in one spot for decades, the house has become home and the friends have become family. Whether you are moving across the state or the country, the distance is scary. If you have kids, your kids may have even more difficulty with the goodbye than you do.

As Dallas long distance movers, the professionals at Black Tie Moving know what you’re going through. We have moved hundreds of families across the country and have seen the angst in saying goodbye. While it may be intimidating, there are ways to manage the distance so you can enjoy the new chapter.

• Make Plans- A great to help ease the pain of goodbye is to know there will be a next time. Before you leave, make plans to visit friends, family, or even a special place again. Even if it’s a year down the road, the concrete date will give you and your family something to look forward to.
• Technology- Technological advancements are great for keeping in touch despite the distance. Calls, video chats, and social media enable you to communicate with your friends and family as often as you want.
• Say See You Later- Make plans to say goodbye to some of your favorite local haunts and loved ones before you head out. Soak up the experiences and cherish the memories. Make the most of each moment and remember to say see you later.
• Get Excited- Whether you are initially excited about the move or not, look for the exciting aspects. Whether it’s local attractions, trying new restaurants, or decorating the new home, find something you can get excited about at the new place. This will give you something to look forward after the last box is loaded and goodbyes are over.

While uprooting your life isn’t easy, these tips will help make the transition a little easier. Be sure to use these tips to help say goodbye. Make your move a little easier on you by choosing movers of the highest caliber. Call the long distance moving experts at Black Tie Moving. We provide moving services that go above and beyond to ensure you have a red carpet experience. Call today!

Tips for Moving in the Summer: How to Survive Your Summer Move

Summer is the most popular season to move house because of the great number of advantages that a summer move has to offer. Statistical data show that for millions of Americans, summer is the best time to move to a new home: kids are out of school, the weather is nice, and the home buying season is at its peak.

However, moving during the peak moving season isn’t a walk in the park by any means, and you will still need to achieve perfect or close-to-perfect organization in order to crown your relocation efforts with success.

Pay attention to the following summer moving tips as guidance when preparing and planning your summer move.

1. Start the summer move preparation ASAP
As Soon As Possible sounds like the perfect time to start preparing for your summer move. Gift yourself a good head start – for example, if you’re moving in July, start your preparations in May, or even in April.

The great thing about planning your relocation as far ahead as possible is that you’ll have a much higher chance of being 100% ready for your Moving day. But that’s not all. Planning your summer move early will

keep your stress levels within reasonable values because the more tasks you’ve completed, the less worried you will be that you won’t finish the preparation on time;
give you a fighting chance to tackle the laborious and time-consuming task of packing your home for a move;
give you much better options to select a top-rated moving company to handle the most difficult aspects of your move (see below for more info);
compensate for any moving mistakes you may have made due to inexperience or unawareness.
How to prepare for a summer move? It’s strongly recommendable that you follow a good moving checklist – a detailed to-do list that will guide you from the first day of your summer move until the very last one, or even beyond that.

2. Combat the higher demand for movers
Tips for moving during peak season
The increased demand for good movers in the summer will make your hunt for a reputable, reliable and affordable moving company a bit more challenging.

Thanks to the benefits of moving in the summer – nice weather, summer break, time off work, peak home-buying season – summer is the busiest period of the moving industry. About 70% of all residential moves take place between May and September (the official peak season is said to be between May 15 and August 31), which automatically means that the best moving companies will be in great demand during that period.

How these relocation statistics relate to you and your home move, you may ask? The high demand for movers in the summer means that if you fail to secure a top-rated moving company in advance, you may have to settle for a less reputable one. While not necessarily a bad mover, a mediocre moving company will hardly offer the quality services you need and expect for a problem-free move.

Do yourself a favor – book a trustworthy mover well in advance, preferably as soon as your home move is confirmed. Oftentimes, early booking may prompt a welcoming discount from the mover’s price.

3. Manage the higher moving costs
Is it more expensive to move in the summer? Unfortunately, it is.

The increased demand for professional moving companies during the summer period will usually mean higher moving company rates too. As a result, you may be forced to pay more for the same moving services and conditions than you would during the off-peak season.

One good way to make up for the higher movers rates in the summer is to manage to find an affordable moving company that still offers high-quality services. This is not an easy thing to do, but it’s perfectly achievable as long as you know the steps.

Another proven way to move in the summer while still keeping within your budget is to cut your moving costs and expenses with the help of special cost reduction techniques. Here are the top 3 ways to make your summer move cheaper:

Move only the items you really intend to use in the future. Fewer items = lower transportation cost;
Sell online or at a garage sale all the stuff you’re not taking with you. Add the earned money to your budget;
Pack up whatever you can by yourself and leave to professional packers only the special items you own, if any.
13 tips for saving money when moving

4. Be smart when choosing your move-out date
How to move in the summer
Choosing a weekday for your move-out date should give you an advantage.

Moving in summer – the busiest period of the relocation industry – will require careful scheduling on your part. It’s easy to guess that booking your move-out day during Memorial Day weekend or the last weekend in July will cost you even more money and the chance of securing a good mover in that time frame is minimal.

Be prudent – avoid booking your move at the beginning and the end of the summer months as well, including the weekends. That’s not always possible, but it’s good to keep it in mind as a bonus cost-saving technique. Ideally, you’ll want to schedule your summer move on a weekday roughly in the middle of a month.

If you have school-age children, then it’s important to take into consideration the best time to move in relation to their school year. One of the pros of moving in the summer is that students don’t go to school during the summer break, so you should be able to complete the move with minimal disruption of their academic year.

Things to know when deciding on a moving date

5. Take control of your summer packing
Considering the importance of packing as the major task in your moving checklist, our tips for moving in the summer continue with a few pieces of summer packing advice.

Be realistic about packing in the summer. Do not underestimate the time you’ll need to complete the packing project – after all, that task is labeled as the most time-consuming one for a good reason. Inventory your entire home and start packing your things little by little from Day 1 of your preparation.
Make sure you secure all the required packing materials early enough as packing supplies are also in high demand during the peak moving season. If you’ve hired full-service movers and you’re paying them to take care of the packing job for you, then you have little to worry about. But if you’re packing on your own, then one of your biggest worries will be where to find free moving boxes.
Avoid the most common packing mistakes – costly errors that can slow down or even halt temporarily your packing inertia. As a rule of thumb, as long as you follow a good packing timeline, you should be able to tackle the toughest moving task with great success.
The best packing tips for moving

6. Be careful when packing and moving heat sensitive items
Moving during the peak moving season will often mean that you’re going to have to battle your way through the very high temperatures outside.

Our tips for moving house in the summer continue with practical advice on how to protect any heat sensitive items from the summer heat – after all, there are specific items that won’t fare well in the extreme temperature inside a moving truck.

Safety tips for moving in summer
The summer heat may damage some of your heat sensitive items, so make sure you protect them properly.

Sensitive electronics. It’s best to transport relatively small electronic devices (stereos, laptops, tablets, smartphones, or even more compact TVs) in your own personal vehicle where you can have a much higher control over the temperature. Remember that the temperatures inside a moving truck can reach extreme values pretty quickly. Whenever possible, pack the electronic equipment in its original packaging for best protection and air circulation.

Blu-ray disks, DVDs, CDs. Media disks just can’t handle the summer heat so well, so it’s best to keep them in their original plastic cases. Place any disks that are particularly important inside travel (storage) CD cases equipped with individual vinyl sleeves for extra protection. Backup the information, either online or on an external hard drive, of any computer disks that contain really valuable information.
Candles. If possible, do not take with you any items that will most certainly melt during the summer move, for example – wax candles.
Perishable food. Perishable food is forbidden for transport during any season, not just in the summer. Use up or give away your remaining food supplies.
Plants. Moving companies will not agree to move your plants because the latter won’t likely survive the summer move. Click here to learn how you can move plants to a new home on your own.
How to pack for a move like a professional

7. Stay safe in the summer heat
Moving to a new home in the summer can be a bit tricky and even dangerous because of the intensive sunshine and the resulted heat. To stay safe when moving during the hottest season of the year, here are some pieces of advice on how to beat the summer heat:

Schedule an early start. If you live in a city with a particularly hot climate, then you must start your move very early in the morning. Avoid moving out anywhere between 11 am and 4 pm when the intensity of the sun is the strongest. Select a mover that will be willing to accommodate a morning move.
Stay hydrated. The extra summer heat and your extra efforts on Moving day mean that your organism will need much more water to stay properly hydrated. Make sure you replenish the expelled fluids in your body (expelled by sweating) by drinking enough liquids (water’s your best choice, of course) in order to avoid any undesirable symptoms of dehydration. So, when moving in summer, provide plenty of bottled water for you and your movers alike.
Turn on the air–conditioner. If you have air-conditioning in your home, turn it on. Keeping the air cool inside will prevent you and your movers from overheating and/or sweating too much. If you don’t have an air-conditioner, then position a few portable electric fans on strategic spots to keep things cool.
Wear suitable clothes. Our tips for moving in summer remind that it’s your top priority to maintain a high level of safety. And to do just that, you will have to wear clothes that are fitted for a summer move. Wear lightweight clothes that are made of breathable and loose-fitting fabrics. Opt for light-colored clothing that will help you stay cooler. Also, a hat and sunglasses will help you stay protected from the strong summer sun rays.
Apply sunscreen. While working outside under the intensive sunshine, protect your skin by applying sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. The parts of your body that are the most susceptible to sunburn are your face, neck, ears, and shoulders. Apply the sunscreen around 10 minutes before going out in the sun, and re-apply it every hour to remain protected.
Serious moving day mistakes to avoid

8. Be on the lookout for rogue movers
Rogue movers are known to take advantage of the intensified demand for movers during the height of the relocation industry. Such dishonest moving companies will often use fraudulent tactics to scam the people who are getting ready to move to another home.

Check out the most common moving scams used by rogue moving companies so that you can stay protected during your summer move. Remember that prevention is still the best medicine.

Tips for moving in summer
Keep things safe and enjoy your summer move!

Low-ball estimates. Dishonest movers will frequently give unrealistically low-cost estimates to their potential customers to hook them. If you do happen to get a moving quote that is too good to be true, then you need to be extra cautious how you proceed.

Large deposits. Moving deposits are normal during the peak moving season because moving companies want to make sure they will be protected in case some of their customers back out from their scheduled moves at the last minute. Nevertheless, moving deposits should not be more than around 20% of the estimated sum. So, stay away from companies that demand much larger deposits in cash. ALWAYS pay the deposit with a credit card or a debit card (easier to despite the payment in case of fraud), and select a refundable deposit, whenever applicable.
Suspicious paperwork. Every single agreement between you and the moving company should be laid out in writing, in a clear and unambiguous way. Request your moving contract in advance and read it thoroughly to check for any tricky clauses. Dishonest movers rely on the assumption that customers won’t make the effort to read the entire moving documentation. Discuss with the movers anything that doesn’t feel right, and NEVER sign blank documents.
Must-read: Protect your move: How to avoid moving scams

HOW TO HELP CHILDREN ADAPT AFTER A LOS ANGELES MOVE

As you are in the process of preparing for a Los Angeles move, you have begun to question how you can help your children acclimate to their new environment. You begin to wonder if they will make friends at school, if there are any nearby playgrounds, and you worry your children will miss their old home.

If you need assistance in helping your children adapt in a time of transition, here are a few tips that you can learn from.

Walk the line between providing dependence and independence. As you ponder how you should interact with your children after you move into your new home, one of the most important practices is to be there for them while also providing necessary space. Whether they understand it or not, children will usually be upset at their parents for a move. Children thrive on familiarity; regardless of why the move happened, kids will feel that their parents were somewhat responsible for a change in their life. Therefore, they may be unknowingly upset and want to be distanced from parents for a little while. For this reason, it is important that you give your kids space when they need it and comfort them when they ask. Let their room be a private place where they can deal with their emotions. Allow your kids to make minor decisions regarding the décor or layout of their rooms. This can help them feel like they are in charge of their new space which creates a sense of comfortability in a time of transition.

Let your kids feel their emotions, but stay positive for them. Moving is not easy, and children cannot always comprehend how they feel. They may be upset, they may lash out at you, but it is important that you support them throughout their emotional states. It is good to be real with your children, but it is also important that you show positivity throughout the process. You can say that things are hard, you can commiserate with their sadness, but always come out on the other side as a positive leader. Being a positive role model accomplishes two purposes for your children.

First, it gives your children the ability to be upset. When a parent is upset about something, children will unknowingly hide their emotions to try to help their parent. However, this is unhealthy for kids because they are unable to comprehend why they are swallowing their emotions and they may internalize the negativity. By being positive throughout the process, you are giving your children the ability to show their full emotions and deal with the transition in a healthy manner.

Second, positivity helps your children acclimate more quickly. There is a reason why many kids cannot help but smile when a parent is being silly with them. Children are heavily influenced by their parents’ emotions. This means that a parent’s ability to normalize the new environment will help children normalize the situation as well. You are their rock and their stability, and your positivity will guide them through their difficult time in facing the unknown.

Finish the moving process completely. One of the worst things a recently moved family can do is leave things packed for the next couple of months. Children are highly sensitive to their surrounding environments. This is due to the fact that children have a hard time understanding and waiting for “the future.” On average, kids are much more “in the moment” than adults. So, when a child sees a box of belongings, they do not see the end result of those belongings becoming items in the living room. What they see is uncertainty and hesitation of the moving process, and they will react accordingly. When boxes are left packed for weeks or months, kids will have a hard time trusting their new home is their long-term place of residence. Children need tangible examples of permanence. One of those examples is the unpacking of all the items.

HELPING CHILDREN ACCLIMATE IN THEIR LOS ANGELES MOVES

Between jobs, kids, and the stress of moving, it is rare to see a family complete a move in a suitable, healthy manner. Giving your kids the tools they need to acclimate to their new environment necessitates your energy and time, which you may not have if you move on your own. At Affordable Quality Moving Services, our goal is to quickly and efficiently perform your Los Angeles move at an affordable price. We free up your time and energy so you can help your kids get familiarized with their new surroundings. This is why AQMS exists: to take care of your Los Angeles move so you can take care of your family.

Reach out to us for a free estimate of our services by calling (818) 960-1988. We give in-home estimates so we can walk you through our process with your items.