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If you are in a situation like this, you should determine whether you have any priorities when it comes to the dwelling itself. Do you need space for an entire family or would a studio or small apartment meet your needs? Are you willing to pay more for a larger space or would you prefer to save on rent so you can splurge on restaurants and other attractions in your temporary community?

Conversely, the community may be relatively unimportant for people who plan to use the time to reach a particular goal. For example, an author who plans to use the summer to complete a manuscript may be open to a variety of locales provided the temporary home has office space and plenty of peace and quiet.

For some people, the locale is chosen by the circumstances; perhaps parents seek summer housing near their children and grandchildren or a family chooses a town because it offers a range of summer recreational opportunities. In cases like these, the temporary housing may need to be large enough to entertain guests or to meet other specific needs.

Regardless of the situation, it is important to remember that rents may be higher in vacation destinations. Do your research to determine what is considered reasonable in your chosen community. Also, use your negotiation skills; a landlord may be willing to offer a deal if you plan to stay for the entire summer, especially because your long-term tenancy will eliminate the need for weekly cleanings between tenants and other costs associated with tenant turnover.

In some cases, it is possible to secure rent-free accommodations. If you are willing to work, you may be able to house sit, pet sit, or work as a nanny in exchange for a place to stay. Home exchange may also be an option to find rent-free lodging; as the name implies, you stay in someone’s home and they stay in yours.

In all cases, it is important to find out the exact terms and conditions. For example, if you are paying rent, does it cover everything or are utilities separate? If you are in a condo or townhouse community, are you responsible for HOA fees? In addition, keep in mind that some situations may include necessities such as linens and pots and pans, while others may not. Make sure you are aware of the specifics ahead of time so you do not receive an unpleasant surprise upon your arrival.

Regardless of your circumstances or needs, do the necessary research to ensure that the housing option is legitimate and not a scam of some sort. Finally, if you will be traveling to an unfamiliar community, make it a point to learn about local laws and any other important information so your stay can be a safe and happy one.

For many students, this is a milestone of independence. They prefer to search for off-campus housing without a parent present and make the decision alone or with future roommates. However, it is important for students to remember that parents can be valuable allies in this search. Based on experience with searching for homes or dealing with household issues, parents may be able to more easily spot potential problems, such as leaky ceilings, windows that do not close, or doors that do not lock. Although some issues may be minor, others could turn into major problems, especially if they are not detected ahead of time.

There are many considerations when seeking off-campus housing; some will be individual to the student. The following are general considerations that could apply in all situations:

• Is the living environment secure? If it is a single-family home, does it have solid doors with durable locks, windows that close and lock properly, and safe egress in the event of a fire? If it is a multiple dwelling, is it a secure building? Does each unit have a solid door with a durable lock? How do residents exit in the event of a fire? Given how many students may have had keys in prior semesters, you may want to install new locks on the doors.
• Is the proximity to school appropriate? If the student will have a vehicle on campus, this may be less of a consideration; however, if the student will be walking to and from school, the walk should be reasonable for the student’s comfort level. If the student will have a vehicle, is parking available?
• Is the landlord available and responsive? An absentee landlord can be a major problem, especially when something is broken. Students may want to talk with current or past tenants to find out if the landlord is appropriately responsive.
• What are the landlord’s rules and regulations? A complete lack of regulations may mean that the noise level is allowed to reach unbearable levels; this can be a particular concern when students are trying to study. Make sure the student understands any rules and is willing to abide by them prior to choosing the space.
• What is the rent? Is it reasonable for the area? Are utilities included? Are there any hidden costs, such as a garbage fee?
• How soon before the semester begins can the student move in? Even if a space is perfect in every way, it can be a difficult logistical situation if students cannot move in until the first day of the semester.

Finally, be patient. It may take some hunting to find the perfect off-campus home.

If your situation is particularly emotional, you may want to consider asking a friend or family member to help with the sorting and packing, but it is important to choose wisely. If you ask someone who is very sentimental and emotional, you may become overwhelmed and find it too difficult to divest yourself of any items. However, if you go too far in the other direction and ask someone who is too impersonal, you may find yourself feeling resentful of the person’s lack of feeling. Ask someone who is sensitive and caring, as well as organized and efficient.

Sorting is a very useful strategy in a situation like this. Sort items into three categories: definitely keep, not sure, and definitely donate or sell. At the beginning, you may find yourself placing everything on the “definitely keep” list; if that is the case, you may need to take a step back and begin again. After you have found a few items to donate or sell, the idea of letting things go will get a little easier. If you are having a hard time finding anything to donate or sell, start with something easy, such as the vase you’ve never liked, or a pair of shoes that pinch your toes. Even the easy items count, so why not start with them?

It may also help to view the “donate or sell” pile as the “help someone make a fresh start” pile. That little table under your window could e a treasure for a single mom who scouts thrift shops to furnish an apartment for herself and her children. Similarly, if you send your old clothes to a homeless shelter, they could keep someone warm during the winter.

Sentimental items can be the most difficult to deal with. However, with a little creativity, you can find ways to preserve memories without cluttering your new space. If your parents’ china is too dear to you, why not save a few select pieces as mementoes rather than saving the entire set in boxes? You could use a platter to hold keys on your hall table and a cup and saucer for your morning coffee. This would allow you to save space and actually see and enjoy these items every day.

When it comes to sentimental items, you should also think function and storage. An old, treasured armoire could be used as an entertainment center. A lovely dresser could serve as a dining room buffet. Repurposing items like these can be an excellent way to preserve memories while adding beauty and functionality to your new home.

Even if your move is the result of a life change you did not choose, you have the opportunity to make it as positive as you can. Bring the good memories with you and look at your new living space as a fresh start.

Thankfully my landlord understood the severity of the repairs and didn’t think twice about letting me out of my lease or refunding my security deposit. Here are a few tips when renting a new place to save you from what I had to go through:

1) If the home is older than 2000 ask for a list of repairs that have been done in the past 10-15 years
2) Go with your gut- If you see something wrong before you move in… the problem may not be that easy to fix
3) Don’t get blindsided by a deal. Yes, we all want the biggest bag for our buck but there might be a reason that your landlord is willing to lower the price.
4) Get to know your neighbors. Ask them questions about the unit or home that you’re renting and who lived there before you.
5) Google Me. Look up the address online. You never know what you may see.
6) Visit Tenants Direct.com for continued relocation tips and advice!

Happy Moving and Dream Home Finding to You All!

The reality, however, is that any season and any type of weather can pose challenges on moving day. Although no one has to be bundled in layers for a summer move, moving boxes and heavy furniture can be very difficult on hot or humid days. With a little extra planning, however, there are ways to ensure that everyone stays safe and healthy throughout the move.

Remember that hydration is extremely important. Make sure everyone has access to water; some people prefer sports drinks or other beverages that replace electrolytes. If the trek from the former residence to the moving vehicle or the vehicle to the new residence will be through sunny areas, it is also important to think about sunscreen. If people perspire or cool off under a hose, the sunscreen may need to be reapplied.

If you or your moving helpers will be collecting boxes from an attic or another hot and stuffy space, ventilation is important. If there are small windows, open them; if possible, place a fan in the room, as well. Heat rises; this means an attic can become dangerously hot. This can be especially problematic when people are already overheated from exerting themselves by climbing stairs and carrying boxes or furniture.

On very hot days, some people do not feel like eating; however, people burn a lot of calories when they are doing this kind of work. It is important to eat; it may be better to offer smaller, more frequent meals. This is helpful in another way: you can ensure that your moving helpers take breaks so they do not work to the point of physical exhaustion. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of heatstroke and other heat-induced conditions and keep an eye on your crew. Make sure someone is watching out for you in this regard, as well.

Sunglasses are not just cosmetic; they protect the eyes from the sun’s damaging rays. Just remind everyone to be careful when they go into the house from outside; the sudden darkness can be disorienting. While you are taking care of everyone, remember to take care of your pet. The stress of the move combined with extreme heat can be a lot for a dog, cat, or other animal to deal with. Be advised that even the friendliest animal may become rather testy under these conditions.

Finally, if you want to relieve everyone’s stress and provide them with an opportunity to cool off, invest in an inexpensive kiddie pool or a pile of water balloons – or just get the hose. Splash water from the kiddie pool or invite everyone to participate in a water balloon toss. The comic relief and the momentary cool will be worth it.

In the aftermath of waiting for the contractors to fix the roof and assess what was causing the new damage in the kitchen, it was discovered that the fridge was leaking and was ruining the floors. However, that wasn’t the worst of it, I then learned that there could very well be mold eating away at the surface of my dream home. I had some decisions to make about whether or not to stay. Whether or not my patience was being tested to make me a better person or if my sanity was being tested to see how crazy I’d be to keep living there.

So up came the floors while the roof was still coming down and all I could do was sit and wait while the damage was being assessed and hope that the mold wasn’t life threatening.

Stay tuned for Part III to see what decision I made about the rental.

For me, the nightmare rental started with something as simple as hearing squirrels outside the master bedroom window at night, during the day, in the evening… non-stop. I was living with aggressive country squirrels who didn’t care what time of day it was when they wanted to play outside my bedroom. Harmless enough… I was living in a wooded environment; I really couldn’t complain.

Then the roof started leaking. The leak was contained in the master bathroom and the landlord had a repair man on it right away… I was happy, who wouldn’t be with prompt action?

Then things started to get ugly… really ugly. The repair man said the damage was more extensive than he thought and more work had to be done to the roof. My landlord then went from friendly to annoyed and was hesitate to make the necessary repairs… so the leak happened again and again… until they let the repair man complete the repairs as necessary.

In between fighting for the necessary repairs, I learned that the repair man’s wife had “the gout”, he’d been on the run since he was fifteen from his past life and his trusty assistant had skipped town after he’d be paid the day before and because of that I may have to help and hold his ladder while he was on the roof. All of this was more than I needed to know and signed up for but I was thankful the repairs were getting done and if I had to act as Dr. Phil for a few days, then I was willing to put on a bald and slightly self-righteous mask to live in peace.

Once the repair man was on the roof things seemed to be looking up. He seemed hopeful, I seemed hopeful, the landlord seemed hopeful. The sun began to shine and all seemed right again with my dream home and the world. Then the storm came. Apparently the repair man who had been on the run since he was fifteen, whose wife had “the gout” and who told me all his troubles, left the roof open when it was sunny and didn’t think it would rain that night; but rain it did… and did… and did.

And so came the water. In the bedroom, in the closet, in the living room, down the stairs. Taking down drywall, paint and everything else in its way. I had to move my new flat screen tv, sofa, chairs, paintings and wedding gifts out of the way of this storm, coming down through my dream rental roof at 2 o’clock in the morning. I pulled all the trash cans and buckets I could find in the house, hoping to catch the water…praying to save my dream.

Coming Soon: Part II- The Aftermath, The Mold and The Kitchen

The increases may just be getting started according to industry insiders. Given the rising toll of natural disasters, including recent tornadoes and extreme weather in the U.S. and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March.

Before your rates go any higher assess your current plan and see if you can find a better one! Tenants Direct can help.

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