How to Make Your Move Into a New Apartment Easier

       So you’ve searched the apartment listings, found the one you want with Tonti Management in the Greater New Orleans area, paid all of your deposits, and signed all of the paperwork. The only thing left is to pick up all of your stuff and take it to the new apartment. Sounds pretty straight forward, right? Not quite. A move requires a lot of planning, careful organization and perhaps even a little bit of luck to make sure the transition goes as smoothly as possible.

       Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned professional, here are six tips to help make your move a little easier.These tips should help your move go as smoothly as possible – but like anything in life, you should always expect for the unexpected. But as long you’ve prepared as much as you can in advance, you should be resting comfortably in your new apartment.

1.  Be Organized - A move isn’t something you can simply prepare for over a weekend. Always plan ahead and never, ever, start packing the day before, as you’ll find that you have a lot more stuff than you initially thought. Make sure all of your boxes are labelled appropriately – it will save you a lot of hassle when you’re unpacking if you know what box goes in what room.

2.  Donate Your Old Junk - In the process of packing, you might discover that you no longer need, like, or have room for old clothes, furniture and knick-knacks. Don’t toss that stuff away, though – donate it to a worthy cause, such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army. It’s a win-win situation – you’ll have fewer things to haul over to your new apartment and you get to help a charitable organization in the process. Plus, you might get a receipt for your donation, which you can use to lower the amount of taxable income you have to claim on your next tax return.

3.  Van and Truck Rentals - A nice, empty apartment awaits you, but there’s just one problem – you still have to get all of your stuff over there. Unless you have friends or family with large vans or trucks who are willing to help out, chances are you’re going to have to rent one from a truck rental company. Demand for these vehicles is always high, especially between April and October, so it’s always a good idea to book out a van or truck several weeks in advance. Wait until the last minute and you might discover they don’t have any trucks available, and if they do, they might not be available during the time you had hoped to make the move.
 
4.  Get Some Help - Ideally, you should recruit a personal army of friends and family to help you move, as the only cost you’ll have to pay might be pitching in for a pizza after everything is done. However, what do you do if all of your friends are busy or out of town? Unless your idea of a fun weekend is hauling box after box into your new apartment all by yourself, perhaps it’s best to hire the services of a moving company. Whether you need them to do the entire move for you, or you just need them to help you load up the truck, a moving company has well-trained staff and all of the necessary equipment that will keep your valuables intact and make your move fast and hassle-free. Be sure to check the insurance policies of the moving company you hire – some offer different levels of coverage than others. You may want to invest in some form of moving insurance, especially if you have lots of rare and breakable items that could get damaged during a move.

5.  Forward Your Mail - Try as you might, there’s bound to be somebody that you forgot to tell about your change of address. Make sure that you file a change of address with your current post office so that all of your mail will be forwarded to your new apartment address with Tonti Management.

6.  Transfer Your Services - Apart from your mail, it’s important to have any monthly services, such as existing cable/satellite, phone and Internet accounts, transferred over to your new address (or cancelled at your old place, if you won’t need them anymore). This can be extremely important, especially if you’re the type that depends on things such as the Internet for work or school.


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Survey Reveals Majority of Apartment Dwellers Living without Renters Insurance
 

       Renters are 50% more likely to experience theft than those who own homes, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Despite these risks, most apartment dwellers are still living without renters insurance.

       According to a recent Apartments.com survey of nearly 1,400 apartment hunters around the country, 67% said they do not have renters insurance. The top reason survey respondents gave for not being covered is that they cannot afford it, followed closely by many who claim they did not know this type of insurance existed. Other respondents believe they do not need renters insurance because their possessions are not valuable enough to make the investment worthwhile and nothing bad has ever happened to them.

       Nearly a quarter of apartment seekers surveyed are under the assumption that renters insurance is too rich for their blood, yet the average premium is under $200 a year, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The majority of Apartments.com survey respondents who choose to protect themselves with renters insurance said they pay on average $12.50 a month or less and one out of 10 renters said they have had to use their insurance at one time or another.

       The two most common components of renters insurance include protection against theft and destruction to personal belongings, including televisions and computers, and liability, which defends renters from judgments that go against them in the event that someone is injured on their property. While a large percentage of apartment dwellers are not carrying renters insurance, 33% of survey respondents said they are covered and list the most compelling reasons for purchasing renters insurance as protection against:

-Theft – 79%
-Fire/Lightening – 70.7%
-Water Damage – 52.3%
-Weather (e.g. Hail, Windstorm) – 40.5%
-Smoke Damage – 40.6%

       Management companies and landlords also understand the value of renters insurance. While most would likely prefer residents to carry renters insurance, nearly 20% of survey respondents said it is mandatory at their apartment community.

       Renters may not want to think about what could go wrong at their apartment including the possible threat of a fire or burglary, yet apartment dwellers are encouraged to protect themselves from these potential perils by following these tips from Apartments.com.

Talk to Your Auto Insurance Provider: A good place to start looking for coverage is with your current auto insurance provider as your rate will often improve if you have multiple policies with one carrier. However, many of these same providers offer separate policies for renters insurance if you do not own a car. Decide how much coverage you want. Typically, you can purchase a policy that covers $15,000 in personal belongings and several hundred thousand in liability for a couple hundred dollars a year.

Keep Detailed Records: Take inventory of all the items in your apartment. Insurers state that most people underestimate the value of their possessions, and therefore, do not have enough personal property coverage. Keep detailed records of each item including its value, serial numbers and receipts of major purchases. Also, take photographs of each room, making sure all items of value are clearly visible. Store your documentation in a safe place such as a fireproof box, digital file with online access or in a bank safety deposit box to protect against a fire or natural disaster.

Tonti Mangement has a Renter's Insurance Policy Requirement for All of Its Renters.  For More Information, Contact Tonti Management Directly at 504-889-6800, Toll-Free at 1-800-315-3365 or via e-mail at info@tonti.net.



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More Americans Are Looking For Apartments
 

CHICAGO, IL - According to Apartments.com, more Americans are searching for apartments in 2010 than they have in previous years. Despite ongoing challenges facing the rental industry, Apartments.com and its sister website ApartmentHomeLiving.com marked the first half of the year with record growth. More telephone and email leads were generated during the second quarter of 2010 than any other quarter in the 12-year history of the company. Compared to the first half of 2009, Apartments.com has increased the number of renter email and telephone leads to its apartment community advertisers by 19 percent. In addition to the growing number of renters contacting the leasing office, Apartments.com family of websites have also seen a 14 percent uptick in traffic versus this same time last year.

       "The significant level of renter activity on our site throughout the first half of the year is a positive indicator of what's to come," said Kevin Doyle, senior vice president and general manager of Apartments.com. "Based on the growing number of renters engaging with the apartment communities on our site during these first few months of peak rental season, it's clear they are in need of an apartment and ready to rent. As we approach the height of peak rental season, it's important for apartment communities to be online and in front of renters where they are searching."

       In addition to searching online, it is apparent renters want easy access to listings on the go as Apartments.com has also seen record growth within its mobile sector. Compared to the first half of 2009, visits to Apartments.com via mobile devices increased 117 percent in 2010, and the number of consumers accessing apartment community information through text messages has increase by 250 percent. Apartments.com is also improving the mobile search experience by being the first Internet Listing Service to provide renters with convenient access to the "Check Availability" feature, allowing renters to view available apartments that they can reserve from the palm of their hand.

       While it is not certain that this year-over-year trend will continue, the data suggests consumers are in the market for a new apartment. This is further supported by national survey data fielded in December 2009 by Apartments.com, which revealed renters are planning to move earlier in the year. The survey reported a 15 percent increase in the number of renters saying they plan to move during the first half of 2010 over the same period in 2009, which is evidenced by the renter activity Apartments.com is currently experiencing on its website.


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For Those Who May Need a Moving Checklist…

        Tonti Management offers apartments for rent in Jefferson, Metairie, Kenner, and River Ridge, Louisiana.  We offer studio, one, two, and three bedroom apartments as well as some townhome floorplans in many different square footages and price ranges.  Please visit our Apartments Page or our Corporate Apartments page to find the perfect apartment for you.  If you can’t find the exact apartment that you are looking for, please Contact Us at 504-889-6800, toll-free at 1-800-315-3365, or info@tonti.net.

       Now that you have found the perfect website to rent a new apartment in the Greater New Orleans area, all you have to do is move in, right?  Sometimes it’s not as easy as it seems.  Some renters dread moving and some people who rent are old pro’s.  No matter in which category you fit, below are some tips for moving that will help the experienced and the amateurs in moving into a new apartment by Tonti Management. 

45 Days in Advance

Find a new school for the kids
Find a new daycare for the kids
Find a new babysitter for the kids
Start gathering moving supplies
Inventory your belongings
Change your address with the USPS
Make sure your children's vaccinations are up to date
Find a new vet and pet hospital (if applicable)
Go to current doctor and vet for check-ups and get medical records for family and pets transferred to new doctors' offices
Find new doctors for the family
Locate the nearest emergency centers and their numbers

30 Days in Advance

Request auto shipping estimates, if required
Order electricity service
Order natural gas service
Order home phone service
Order high-speed Internet service
Order TV service
Put in your 30 day notice, if required
Take donation items to designated organizations
Schedule charities to pick up donated items
Have a garage sale (if necessary)
Obtain copy of school, medical, vet, legal, and various other records
Notify subscription & prescription suppliers of address change
Get your car serviced
Organize closet & attic items for moving
Pack knickknacks and other non-essential items
Make a "Moving with Kids" kit
Rent a moving truck
Hire movers
Schedule professional cleaners
Book flights or hotels if your move requires it

2 Weeks in Advance

Make sure all home services and utilities have been ordered or transferred
Schedule babysitter and pet sitter for moving day (if applicable)
Update your driver's license & car registration
Schedule final walkthrough with landlord, if required
Pack all but essentials
Map the nearest grocery store and hardware store to your new home
Get any medications for family and pets
Get storage quotes
Book friends to help you move

The Week of Your Move

Last minute errands
Withdraw emergency moving money
Load your moving truck
Pack your plants
Plan or order meals for move day
Conduct final walkthrough
Pack essentials   
 

After Your Have Moved In

Unpack
Ensure your address has been updated
Sign up for renters insurance

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How to Keep the Apartment Spring Clean Year Round

Take solace in the fact a neat house is easier to keep clean

       If you've successfully begun – or better yet – completed your spring cleaning for your apartment…then congratulations, you're in the minority. If you can see the floor of your rented place, if you've actually thrown items away and/or given them to your local charity, and you have indeed achieved "the illusion of clean," you've accomplished quite a feat. Most of us dream of spring cleaning but never do it. Why upset the "order" of things? After all, that might look messy to everyone else, but there's a method to your madness. If you were to rearrange your possessions in your apartment, you'd never find anything again. Think of the time you'd waste just trying to find things afterward.

        Sooner or later, you've got to clean up the clutter where you rent, and you'll feel better for it. But how do you keep it clean after you've finished the job? The fact that your apartment becomes messy so soon after cleaning only provides the allowance to never really clean everything thoroughly. Do you have to lock your family or roommates out? Crack the whip? What does it take to keep your apartment in order for longer than 10 minutes?

        Getting from messy to neat is the hard part, maintenance of your apartment is a bit easier.  Whether the apartment you are renting has 3 bedrooms or you are living in a studio apartment, keeping things clean and organized in your space can change the way you view your life. 

Create Set Spaces for Your Clutter:
       We're really talking about a few lifestyle alterations here. If you come home each day after work and toss your keys, your briefcase and your coat on the sofa, you've started a precedent that your roommates will follow. Your kids will dump their backpacks on the sofa, your spouse will drop his or her coat and bag there, and the dog will park himself on top of the mountain. You've got to remind the kids or roommates and the spouse that each time they arrive home, they're to bypass the sofa and head to the hall closet or their bedroom closets. You could purchase a coat tree if you want your belongings on display at all times. Your chances of getting your family to cooperate with your requests are probably greater with a coat tree, which is closer to the door than the sofa in your apartment, anyway. The point is that you've got to create an easy drop-off spot for your clutter.

Organize Your Mail:
        We're all "spammed" with paper junk mail, especially in your apartment mailbox. If you can throw it away before you even enter your apartment, that's best. If not, head immediately to the garbage can upon your arrival. Too many of us let those paper sales pitches collect in haphazard piles throughout the house -- on the kitchen table, kitchen counters, coffee tables or side tables, even the floor. A week's worth of junk mail represents a tree; a month's worth, a forest.

Recycle Your Newspapers:
        If you're being an environmentally conscious renter, and you're making an effort to save your daily newspapers, purchase a similar large-size container that the city uses to recycle newspapers at your local grocery store or hardware store. Place it in a utility closet or other out-of-sight place, and establish a family rule that at the end of each day, all newspapers are to be placed in the bin, finished or not finished.

         If you can avoid excessive amounts of magazine subscriptions, do it. Those "12 issues for $12" offers are tempting, yes, but in case you hadn't noticed, your local public library has a periodical room that contains a wide assortment of magazines from this month. You can literally spend hours in that room perusing the latest titles and saving yourself money and clutter in the process.

Other Tips for Maintaining Order and Sanity in Your Apartment:
        Designate one kitchen drawer as your "junk" drawer. This drawer is the place to deposit odd items like stray rubber bands, twist ties, paper clips and even coupons. Parents may want to give each of their children a "junk" drawer in their respective bedrooms. It gives them some freedom within parameters.

       Purchase clothes hampers for your kids or ask your roommates to keep a laundry basket to keep clothes from accumulating around the apartment. Keep bags and purses out of sight by hanging them on hooks placed on the inside of closet doors.

Use common sense and think consolidation, and you will notice how much better your apartment will feel when it is constantly cleaned and maintained.

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Keep Pests Away With an Ounce of Clean Prevention

       Many people pay attention to mice, cockroaches, ants, and other pests only once they've become a problem. Pest control can be particularly challenging for people who live in apartment buildings, because there are so many kitchens, bathrooms, pantries, and other areas that pests find alluring.

       Rather than handle pest problems each time they arise, the better strategy is prevention. By adopting clean lifestyle habits, you can help keep unwanted critters and rodents out of your apartment for good.

Here's What You Can Do

Clean up!

Above all else, keep your apartment clean by following these tips:

•  Don't wait until tomorrow to pack up or discard food you enjoyed today.
•  Keep snack bags clipped shut or use Ziploc bags.
•  Promptly wipe up messes and spills on countertops and floors.
•  Consider hiring a cleaning service to visit at least every other week.
•  Keep garbage in sealed containers and dispose of your trash daily.
•  Clean up promptly after a party -- you'll go to sleep even happier.
•  Check for crumbs and wrappers that may get hidden under sofa cushions or bedspreads after snacking.
•  Clean out your fridge and freezer on a regular basis (once a week).

Declutter!

       You probably know that decluttering can do wonders for organizing your apartment and even getting a firm handle on your life. It's also a useful tool for keeping pests away. Piles of papers and other objects strewn about your apartment can provide food or shelter for pests, such as cockroaches.

Keep It Dry!

       Many insects thrive in wet environments, so keeping your apartment dry helps keep these tiny folks away. Make sure your bathroom has proper ventilation. If there's no exhaust fan in the upper wall or ceiling, open the window after showering and keep your bathroom door open to let the room air out.

As you can see, keeping pests away from your apartment doesn't require a certain expertise or even a serious time commitment. If you're proactive and consistent, you should be able to enjoy your apartment for years without the annoyance of a pest problem. Also, since these tips require you to adopt a clean and organized lifestyle, you'll feel healthier and happier to boot.




 

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