Before You Move

•WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN YOU INSPECT YOUR APARTMENT
by dan the roommate manMOVE-IN DAYYour landlord will give you or should give you a move-in inspection sheet on the day that you take possess of your new apartment. It is very important that you take about 30 minutes and do an inspection of your new home before you move-in. Indicate on the move-in condition sheet any pre-existing damage i.e. spots on the carpet, wall damage, the general condition of the appliances.Promptly return your completed form to the landlord and be sure to sign and date...

•Not all apartment leases are created equal
by dan the roommate manBefore signing any lease:* Take a walk through the unit that you are renting to make sure it is in good repair.* Be sure to read the lease completely. All leases are not the same.What should be included in your lease:* All verbal promises should be reduced to writing within the lease.* Are there provisions for a job transfer within the lease?* How and when do you give notice to move? Must you give notice even when the lease expires and you wish to move? Can you go month...

•Packing Tips
by dan the roommate manThis weekend, I moved from an old apartment into a new, bigger, WONDERFUL town home. Just like any move, this one wasn't very fun. No matter how many times I do it, there are always an infinite number of sentences beginning with I wish I'd.... or It would've helped so much if we'd....This move, I realized that the moving process needed to be organized like a scientific experiment. There are materials you need, there's a procedure to follow. The result? You finish...

•DOES THE LANDLORD HAVE TO CLEAN THE APARTMENT BEFORE I MOVE IN
DOES THE LANDLORD HAVE TO CLEAN THE APARTMENT BEFORE I MOVE IN?   by dan the roommate manQUESTION:What can I do about a landlord who promised a clean and newly painted apartment before we moved in, but didn't deliver? We have moved in because we had nowhere else to go, but I am concerned about our children's health and the total well-being of our family. Can I report the unhealthy living conditions to the health department? Please let me know of my legal rights or how to go about this problem...

•BREAKING A LEASE
by Dan the roommate manI would like to break my lease because I would like to move in with a friend so I can save money to return to school in the fall. I still have about 6 months left on my lease. What can I do?Thanks, eddieDear Eddie,The first thing to do is read your lease carefully. Some leases have what is called a “lease breaking clause” which will tell you exactly what to do as well as how much it will cost you. There is usually a fee associated with it. But there are also those...

•THINGS TO TALK TO YOUR ROOMMATE ABOUT BEFORE YOU MOVE IN
by dan the roommate man1. Who is going to bring what things to the room? Who is going to bring the television, VCR, refrigerator, etc.? How many of each of these do we need?2. When will you be moving in? Will these be different times? Who is going to help you move in? Do we need to alternate times?3. How will the room be decorated? How many things do we need to have to have our room be 'home like?' Will this only be one person's decorations?When you move in, take time to talk to your roommate...

•IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO ROOM WITH A FRIEND
IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO ROOM WITH A FRIEND?   by dan the roommate manOn the subject of moving in with a friend, I really don't have much experience. I still live with my folks. The way I see it, why move out when I have free housing and free food here at home? I'm only 18, so I'm still trying to save money. But if I did move out, I definitely would not move in with a friend. On the contrary, I haven't had much luck with long-term friendships anyway. I've seen many come and go, but only one true...

•HOW TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER LEASE
by dan the roommate manIs it possible to negotiate better terms on your lease? It could be worth a try. What do you have to lose? Here are a few tactics to try:* Ask the landlord how many vacant units are in the building.* Bring a competitors ad with you when you view the apartment.* Ask for a “move-in special” if the building is ne or under construction.* Ask for a two or three year lease (if you need a longer than a typical one year lease) with the current rate locked in for the duration of...

•Preparing Your Child to Move
by dan the roommate manChildren respond to the general atmosphere set in the home by the attitudes of their parents. If you look at moving as an exciting adventure full of new possibilities, then chances are very good that you will infect your children with enthusiasm and anticipation.Many times we forget that making more money or moving to a larger home is not a change that children will understand. The younger the child, the less able they are to see into the future as you do. They tend to...

•YOUR BEHIND ON YOUR RENT CAN THE LANDLORD JUST LOCK YOU OUT
YOUR BEHIND ON YOUR RENT-CAN THE LANDLORD JUST LOCK YOU OUT?   by dan the roommate manYour landlord can't evict you unless he has has gone to court and proved that you did something wrong that justifies ending the tenancy.And your landlord can't proceed with an eviction lawsuit without terminating the tenancy first. This usually means giving you adequate written notice, in a specified way and form. If you don't move after proper notice (or reform your ways -- for example, by paying the rent or...