Cleaning Out Apartment

Guide for Cleaning Out Your Apartment When Moving to a New Home

It would seem that cleaning out your apartment when you’re moving to a new home would be a bit easier than if you were cleaning out a house. However, there are a few details that you want to pay attention to when you’re cleaning so that everything is in order for you to leave the unit as it was when you moved to the residence. Here are some tips from a Baltimore moving company to ensure you get your deposit back!

Follow the landlord’s moving out cleaning list

When you moved into the apartment, the landlord probably gave you a list of the things to clean if you planned to move out. You can use this list to go around your apartment to make sure everything is checked off.

If you abide by the regulations that are stated in your lease and you leave the apartment as it was when you moved in with little wear and tear, then you’ll usually get your security deposit back if you paid one.

Some of the things that are on a typical cleaning list include making sure the lights work and that the fixtures are clean and making sure the carpets are cleaned.

Make sure to repair what needs to be repaired

If there are any holes in the walls from hanging pictures, posters, or decorations, then you need to cover them so that they can’t be seen. You should also fix or replace blinds that are broken and paint that is chipped.

After you move everything from the rooms in your apartment, you need to do a thorough cleaning so that it’s like it was the first day you unpacked. It’s easier to start at the ceiling and work your way down to the floor.

Any dirt that falls from the ceiling and the upper areas of the walls will land on the floor and counters, making it easier to use a vacuum or a carpet shampooer to clean the floors and a cloth to clean the counters.

Try to clean one room at a time. Once each room is clean, close the door so that you don’t go back in there.

Declutter and toss out things you don’t need

When you’re packing your belongings, you should get rid of the things that are broken or that you don’t use so that you don’t take any unnecessary boxes with you to your new home. Don’t forget to clean out the refrigerator and freezer.

Make sure there is nothing left in the washing machine and dryer or the dishwasher. Wash the walls so that any streaks or smudges are removed. Consider getting the carpet professionally cleaned so that it’s in the best possible condition before you move out.

Clean the windows as well, especially if you were allowed to smoke in the apartment or if you have children or pets in the apartment. Counters should be wiped down and left clean along with the tub and shower and the toilet.

When you’re ready to leave the apartment, take the keys back to the office manager so that the apartment can be inspected.

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Renting U-Haul

Top Five Alternatives to Renting a U-Haul for Your Out-of-State Move

If you think like the majority of other individuals and have ever had to move out of state, you’ve probably considered renting a U-Haul (or a similar vehicle) to transport your belongings. Hopefully, you haven’t yet gone through with such a plan (and even if you have, the following information will come in handy), as there are an abundance of more affordable, convenient, and straightforward options to choose from.

Options that will save you valuable time and money.

To help make the moving process as stress-free as possible, let’s take a look at five viable alternative measures to renting a U-Haul!

1. Hire a Professional Mover

Professional movers might sound expensive, but in reality, they typically charge less than the cost of U-Haul rentals for their services. The main reason for this affordability is simple: professional movers drive all across the country transporting items. They often consolidate shipments to make the trip more efficent. Thus, when they’re getting paid to bring an item to a specific spot and plan to pick another item (or group of items) up from this destination, their profits quickly add –up, thereby allowing them to charge each customer less.

Benefits of hiring professional movers include peace of mind, lower chances of items breaking during transport, and unparalleled convenience. You can find affordable moving companies by requesting and comparing rates. Try using Great Guys Long Distance Movers (greatguyslongdistancemovers.com) to solicit quotes from multiple companies at one time.

2. Buy a Trailer

Trailers make the moving process much easier, and furthermore, they prove to be both valuable and useful after said moving process has concluded. Accordingly, if you’re planning on moving out of state, it’s worth considering buying a trailer. Safely packaging and driving your possessions will be straightforward, with a trailer, and as was mentioned, you can use or sell the (surprisingly affordable) vehicle attachment after you’ve finished moving, thereby saving on U-Haul rental fees, and if the market is right, turning a profit!

3. Rent from a Different Truck Company

U-Haul might be the first truck company that most individuals think of when they’re planning their out-of-state move, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the best company to rent from. On the contrary, there are plenty of other truck rental companies out there, many of which charge lower prices for their services than U-Haul. As you do your research, check out Penske, Budget, and others to find the best rates.

A little extra research can save movers a lot of cash.

4. Sell Everything

You read that correctly—sell everything you own. Go on, do it!

Alright, you shouldn’t sell all your belongings if you don’t want to. However, before the ever-daunting out-of-state move, a lot of individuals realize that they do want to sell everything, after some reflection. The reasons they want to do so are simple: they won’t have to pay transportation fees, they won’t have to pack, they don’t have to scrounge for free moving boxes, they’ll have a lot of extra money, and they’ll be free of headaches stemming from the transportation process. At the very least, try to declutter your home before you start packing.

5. Rent a Moving Container

Moving containers are massive and affordable—perks which make them ideal for individuals who’re planning to tackle an out-of-state move. Research local moving container companies to learn more, potentially saving a lot of time and money for your brief investment of research.

Moving to a different state isn’t fun, but these tips are sure to make the process as painless as can be. Thanks for reading and good luck!

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Bed Frame

How to Take Apart Your Bed Frame Before Moving Day

Moving can be an exciting but stressful time in your life. One of the most stressful things about moving is handling your larger furniture items. Your bed, in particular, can be notoriously difficult to disassemble and transport. Luckily for you, there are some easy-to-follow steps on how to take apart your bed and bed frame in time for moving day below.

1. Strip The Bed

The first step to preparing your bed for a move is to remove all bedding materials from the mattress properly. It will prove difficult to move your mattresses if they’re still covered in pillows, blankets, and sheets. The best way to protect your bedding items is to place them inside of plastic bags before placing them into boxes or totes. This will protect them from water and dirt.

2. Easing the Load

Before your bed frame can be taken apart, you must first lighten the load on the bed frame so that further tasks are made easier. You can lighten the load by removing the mattress and the box spring from the bed frame. Be sure to rest the mattress and box spring in a safe, dry area or move them into the back of the moving truck if you already have it. If your bed uses a series of bed slats for support, remove these bed slats as well and bundle them together with string and move them aside.

3. Disassembling the Headboard/Footboard

Most beds are constructed with more than just a metal frame. Most beds will have a decorative headboard and footboard attached to the frame. Before the bed frame can be disassembled, the headboard and footboard must be detached from the frame itself. The type of tools you will need to remove the headboard and footboard will depend on the bolts used to secure the headboard and footboard to the frame. Be sure to closely examine the bolts before beginning the disassembling project to ensure that you have the correct tools to unscrew the bolts.

Using a plastic sandwich bag, place all of the bolts and nuts into the bag to prevent losing them. You may have to use a hammer to loosen the bed frame from the notches in the headboard and footboard. Once they’re loose, remove the bed frame from the headboard and footboard. Before you load your headboard and footboard onto the moving truck, be sure to wrap them in a sheet or a moving blanket to prevent scratches, dents, and damages during the move.

4. Disassembling The Bed Frame Itself

We’ve come to the magnum opus of this tutorial – how to take apart the railings of the bed frame. For metal bed frame railings, you can either leave the railings attached and move the entire frame out as is or you can bend the horizontal railings to detach them from one another. This will separate the metal railings into two large railings with two smaller railing “arms” at each end. These small railings fold inward to compact the railing and make it easier to transport.

To ensure your mattress and box spring reach your new home in pristine condition, we suggest to consider purchasing a waterproof mattress cover or a protective box for each to protect them during the move.

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