Moving Guru Blog

What Is a Moving Agreement?

Agreement = Contract

This might not always be true, but for our purposes it is. If you’re hiring a moving company, then you are creating a contract with that moving company to move you. Likewise, you are coming to an agreement that they will move you.

Simply making an agreement is rarely enough, though. What’s important is what’s in that moving agreement.

You see, you can make a moving agreement with rips offs, scammers and incompetent movers. It’s very easy. And the reason why it happens is the moving agreement itself is poor, allowing the moving company to rip you off, hit you with hidden fees or worse. For example, does an agreement to move your stuff for $150/hr include driving time? Lunch breaks? What if the movers take 10 hours longer than they tell you?

You can avoid all of these issues by creating a strong moving agreement. Here are the basics:

  • Have all terms be in writing
  • Signed and dated by both parties
  • Establish a maximum price
  • Establish the dates of your move

Check out this link to learn about the terms to include in your moving contract

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How to Break My Lease

Breaking a lease is never a good thing to do. It opens you up to having to pay for a place where you aren’t living while simultaneously paying for a place where you are living. However, sometimes it just can’t be avoided. In that case, here’s what to do:

How to break my lease:

  • Read your lease – Know what your lease says. Maybe you don’t need to break your lease at all. Or maybe it has requirements for doing so. Also, if you’re breaking your lease because you feel as though you’re getting a bad deal (roof is leaking, etc.), you might have a legal reason to break it. Talk to an attorney or renter’s association.
  • Tell your landlord – Once you know you’re moving out, tell your landlord in writing that you’re doing so.
  • Find a substitute – If your lease allows subleasing, try to find a sublessee. If not, see if any friends are looking for a new place. The sooner someone takes over the place, the sooner you can stop paying rent.
  • Stay on top of your landlord – Your landlord has a duty to find a new tenant if you break your lease. Don’t let him or her sit back and charge you for rent while nobody is living there – make sure they find someone else by calling to check in for updates.

Learn how to ensure that you won’t have to break a lease by getting temporary housing.

Posted in Apartment and House Hunting, Moving Logistics | Leave a comment

How to Move to a New City

Moving to a new city is an exciting time. However, it’s a lot of work and stress, too, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. Not only will moving be more difficult, you might end up living in a bad neighborhood or missing the area best for you.

Fortunately, if you do the right research, you can ensure that moving to a new city that you end up where you want with little difficulty. And you can do it all from where you’re sitting!

Here are our five steps for how to move to a new city:

  1. Understand the city – First things first, read about your new city. Learn what it’s famous for, and what it’s infamous for. Know how it’s laid out, where the critically-acclaimed restaurants are, and where the city centers and other attractions are. We break down the pros and cons for the many cities listed below our moving map. Additionally, Wikipedia and City-Data are good websites to start at.
  2. Research neighborhoods –  Once you understand the city, start learning about the different neighborhoods. Print out a map of the city, then start searching for “city neighborhoods”. Mark down the areas on your map. Once you learn of a neighborhood, run a search on the neighborhood to get more information.
  3. Think about the commute – Does your city have public transportation options? If so, where? Also, how do you plan on getting to work? If you work on one end of the city, living on the other end is probably a time-wasting plan.
  4. Research pricing – When you settle on a neighborhood or three, start researching pricing. Craigslist is a great place to start. Also, renter’s associations, realtors and rental agencies are worth contacting. Remember: every neighborhood will have good and bad deals, but you’ll only know what they are once you know the (rough) average prices in the area.
  5. Check with locals – When you think you have a neighborhood you’ll like and a place you can afford, double check by calling some nearby businesses and associations. Simply ask them what they think of the area and take it from there.

Check out a list of all of our articles about how to find a new place to live.

Posted in Apartment and House Hunting | Leave a comment

Top 5 Reasons to Move Somewhere Else

There are many reasons to move. It can be as mundane as you got transferred. Or it can be as spontaneous as you met someone online. However, here are our top five reasons to move somewhere else:

  1. You just got back from vacation and are miserable.
  2. Your job sucks and you always wanted to work in a different field.
  3. You can’t go out without seeing someone who knows something intimate about you.
  4. It’s snowing in April.
  5. You can finally afford to.

Inspired? Well, then, learn how to find a place to live in a new city.

Posted in Apartment and House Hunting, Moving Logistics | Leave a comment

How to Use a Dolly

A dolly is, essentially, a platform on wheels perfect for lifting and moving heavy items.

The first step in how to use a dolly is to make sure to . If you are moving  a piece of furniture, you’ll want a smaller, platformed dolly. You just need to lift the furniture on top of it, then roll it to its destination.

On the other hand, if you’re moving a fridge or a number of boxes, an appliance dolly, which has a back, will be more useful.

 

Learn more about what at MovingGuru.com!

Posted in Difficult Things to Move, Moving Logistics | Leave a comment

Relocation Advice

Want some tips about how to relocate to your new place? We have them.

On our website we have over 250 articles filled with relocation advice. And most advice-filled of all? Our Top 50 Moving Tips.

Here are some hints as to the things that you’ll learn:

  • Who will help you resolve moving disputes?
  • What should to put on moving boxes?
  • Do you tip movers?
  • What’s the most important document to have when moving?

Learn the answers to these questions and 46 more – Top 50 Moving Tips.

Posted in Money-Saving Tips, Other | Leave a comment

MovingGuru.com's Moving eBook!

Hey All! Head to Amazon and check out our Moving eBook:

MovingGuru.com’s Guide for Easy, Affordable Moves

You can find it at this link above^^.

Also, check out our top 50 moving tips while waiting for your eBook to upload!

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Best Neighborhoods in Denver, CO

If you’re moving to Denver, it’s time to update yourself on some of Denver’s best neighborhoods. Fortunately, there are plenty of them that will suit you, whether you’re looking to raise a family, raise a garden or raise hell on Friday night.

Here are five of the best neighborhoods in Denver, CO:

Highlands – Highlands generally refers to a neighborhood in northwest Denver. It has many cool restaurants and bars mixed with residential homes with space for yards. It’s connected to downtown by a streetcar system.

Hippy: 5/10   Yuppy: 7/10   Trendy: 4/10    Dingy: 2/10

Baker – Baker is recognized as the hip and cheap part of Denver, where many artists and youths live. It has dozens of unique bars, clubs, shops and stops, and it is located just west of downtown. However, its low rents do attract a more degenerate populace, and crime is higher here than in other neighborhoods.

Hippy: 7/10   Yuppy: 2/10   Trendy: 7/10    Dingy: 7/10

Washington Park – Washington Park is a large park just south of downtown Denver. It’s a popular place for people to simply hang out and wander. The surrounding streets are filled with nice shops and restaurants and higher-end housing. It’s more expensive to live here, but it has many positives, including beauty, selection, density and nightlife.

Hippy: 5/10   Yuppy: 8/10   Trendy: 8/10    Dingy: 3/10

Montclair – Montclair is a more residential area, but it edges on urban Denver, making it a great place for young families, who want a bit more space and quiet, but also want to venture into the city when the time is right.

Hippy: 5/10   Yuppy: 7/10   Trendy: 4/10    Dingy: 3/10

Uptown/Capital Hill – Uptown is the trendy part of downtown Denver. It has countless cool bars, clubs and restaurants, and is recognized as one of the most fun places for a young professional to live. The area is quickly becoming a safer place, but crime is still present.

Hippy: 5/10   Yuppy: 3/10   Trendy: 7/10    Dingy: 8/10

 

Learn more about the pros and cons of Denver, or just get straight to the point and check out some Denver moving companies.

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Moving on 4th of July Weekend

Happy 4th of July, all you movers out there. Chances are you aren’t moving on the 4th of July itself, but this is a great weekend to get a move accomplished, because you have some extra time on hand due to the holiday, and many movers aren’t getting much business, meaning you can get some good rates.

Check out some free moving quotes today.

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Best Neighborhoods in Austin, TX

Thinking about moving to Austin, Texas? Well, it’s a great place to live. It has  plenty of things to do, including attending one of the biggest music fests in the world (South by Southwest), walking the Longhorns’ Texas-sized tailgate, and hitting up one (or more) of the many bars, restaurants and shops in the area.

But where should you actually call home? Here are the six best neighborhoods in Austin, TX, to have Austin movers drop off your stuff at:

 

South Congress (hipsters) – South Congress is the trendiest area of town, a neighborhood where gourmet food trucks meet upscale-dingy clothing meets happenin’ bars with happenin’ cocktails. It’s also a short shot to downtown, located just on the other side of Lady Bird Lake.

East Austin (less wealthy hipsters and/or gangbangers) – East Austin is kind of like South Congress, except it’s a bit more rundown. There are plenty of unique places and hipsy artsters in the area, but there are run-down convenience stores and violent individuals, too.

Downtown (students/young professionals) – Downtown Austin is home to many corporate offices, a row of over 60 bars and clubs, and nearby University of Texas. It is split roughly into West and East Congress, West being the financial center and East being the party center. UT is about a mile north.

Northwest Austin (Richy Rich, avid bikers) (see Bee Creek Hills, Rattan Creek) – The west and northwest of the city are known for their beautiful hills and parks, bike-able roads and super rich homes. They’re great places to raise a family, if you can afford them, and they have their own dining and shopping.

Rainey St. (starving artist/student) – Located just south of downtown, Rainey St. edges up onto the riverfront and has many divey bars and trendy coffee shops and restaurants. However, it’s still up-and-coming, meaning that while rents are cheap, vacant lots are present.

Crestview (young families) – North of the downtown and UT is Crestview and a number of other neighborhoods that have affordable-yet-nice housing and good neighborhoods communities, perfect for young families.

 

Learn a bit about the pros and cons of Austin, Texas.

Posted in US Cities | 1 Comment