As you prepare to move home for the summer or into a different residence, follow this advice to protect your stuff and your wallet.

Pack it good

1.

Don’t pack anything you can’t lift yourself.

2.

Put heavier things in a smaller box. This way you avoid packing a large box with 200 pounds worth of books.

3.

To prevent boxes from caving in, don’t stack anything on top of boxes with extra room or packing materials in them.

4.

Fill all your boxes to the top. Don’t have any dead weight.

5.

Clothes can be packed in wardrobe boxes that will protect them during moving.

6.

If you hire a moving crew, make sure you aren’t still packing when they arrive. If everything is ready to go, they can get in and out faster and your wallet will thank you for it.

7.

Keep a record of everything you give the moving crew to ensure nothing was misplaced during the move-in.

8.

Plan ahead. Don’t wait till the week of move-out to reserve your truck. You will be the last in line and unfortunately get the worst service. Also, you might not be able to reserve your truck in time.

9.

Pick boxes that are appropriate for the size of each item. For example, put small items in a smaller box.

10.

When hiring a moving crew, mark what room you want each box to go so the crew doesn’t have to move everything again when you get there.

11.

Clean off all furniture before a moving crew arrives. This way, you won’t be charged for the time it takes to clear it off.

12.

When moving yourself, pack a truck with boxes toward the front of the vehicle, along with dressers and other large items. Top it off with miscellaneous items.

13.

Make sure there are only a few people in your residence on moving day. There is a bigger risk of things getting damaged in the moving process when more people are around.

14.

If you are the only person at your home who is moving out, make sure your belongings are clearly separated from your roommates’. This will make the process faster and save you money if you’ve hired an hourly moving crew.

15.

It is helpful to have someone at the location you’re moving to when the movers arrive. This person can direct movers where to place furniture and miscellaneous items.

16.

Save spots for the moving truck outside of your home. Try to park in the location closest to your door, so you can give them your spot once they arrive.

17.

A box is not packed properly if you can shake it and things fly around. If anything, fill the extra space with paper.

18.

To wrap fragile things such as dishes or collectables, line the bottom of a box with towels and wrap everything with tissue paper. Make sure to mark the box as fragile.

19.

Don’t collect random boxes for moving day. Buy all your boxes at the same retailer so that they are a consistent size and easier to stack.

20.

It helps the moving crew if all boxes are already positioned by the front door. This gives easy access and saves time.

Reclaim your deposit

21.

Make sure your apartment is in the same condition as it was given to you.

22.

Make a copy of your check-in inspection so you will remember what you are and are not responsible for.

23.

If at all possible, fix everything yourself. Just remember though, if it is not properly done, you will still be charged for it.

24.

Ask your apartment complex or dorm if they will provide free touch up paint. That way, if you try to re-paint something it will not be in a different color.

25.

Ask your apartment complex or dorm if they expect you to clean the carpets.

26.

If you have planted a garden outside your apartment, check with the complex to see if it needs to be taken out before you move out.

27.

After doing a final cleaning, have a friend look over your work to see if they catch something you didn’t notice.

28.

Once you move into your new place, you will have approximately 48 hours to make sure you’ve written down everything you could be charged for later. Be very descriptive so that once you move out, you won’t be given a huge bill for repairs.

29.

Upon moving out, don’t forget to sweep your deck.

30.

If you have painted your apartment walls, they will most likely need to be painted back to white before moving out. Check with your complex for the proper colors and remember, if you do a poor job, you’ll be charged to have it re-done.

31.

Replacing simple things like light bulbs and oven drip pans for a few dollars a piece before the apartment does their inspections will save you money. Several complexes will charge as much as $20 for these small tasks.

32.

Don’t forget to clean out your oven. Sometimes it’s as simple as turning on the self-cleaner button. If the oven is neglected, residents can be charged as much as $50.

33.

Clean your blinds. Windex usually does the trick. Just spray and wipe down.

34.

Take your time to ensure everything is clean. Don’t rush or you may have an expensive bill on your hands.

35.

Finally, clean behind appliances even if the area is not visible.

Sources: Bobby Jones of Professional Moving and Storage; Tom Van Holt, Owner of Starving Artists Moving; Chad La Fever, Operations Chief of Starving Artists Moving; Cara Heck, Property Manager of Parkway Commons Apartment Complex; Amanda Bearly, Leasing Agent at Parkway Commons Apartment Complex