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July 2014

To those who have spent their lives driving compact cars and sedans, driving a moving truck looks about as easy as flying the Space Shuttle. If you’ve got enough stuff to move, however, finding a moving truck and hitting the road will definitely be on your apartment moving checklist. But don’t worry! Check out our beginner’s guide to driving a moving truck and you’ll get from Apartment A to Apartment B with far less stress.

Choose the Right Truck Size

If you’ve never driven a moving truck-sized vehicle before, you’ll want to keep your truck square-footage to a minimum. (Plus the smaller the truck, the lower the rental price.) If you’re moving locally and can make multiple moving trips, do so. You’ll save some cash and save yourself the stress of driving an enormous truck rather than a more manageable one. To figure out what kind of truck you need, start by making a home moving inventory and calculating how much space you’ll need for your belongings.

Know Your Route

Staring at a map and driving 14-foot moving truck are two things that should never mix. Familiarize yourself with your route before you leave so you can keep your eyes on the road. If you are directionally-challenged, invest in a GPS, drive with a friend, or use a smartphone app that voices turn-by-turn directions. Even if you’re just driving across town, it will pay to keep your attention on the truck’s handling rather than craning your neck to see street names.

Tips for Driving a Moving Truck

Ready to go? Before you start the engine, review these tips so you have a smoother drive.

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ApartmentSearch_New-York-ApartmentsRent controlled apartments are the four-leaf clovers of apartment life. Hiding among thousands of their fellows, they’re very hard to spot, and the finder of one is considered incredibly lucky. That’s because rent controlled apartments offer rent rate benefits to tenants that other apartments lack. Though the city best known for its rent controlled apartments is New York City, there are rent controlled properties in other U.S. cities like L.A., Washington D.C., and New Jersey.

Confused about rent control rules? Here are the top 4 things that apartment hunters need to know about rent controlled apartment life.

What Is Rent Control, Anyway?

The concept of rent control is the result of a variety of U.S. legislative measures passed between the 1920s and 1970s. Rent control means that rent cannot be raised above the limit that was set when the rent control law went into effect. Thus, it acts as a price ceiling for rental properties to ensure that rates are not being raised unfairly. Sometimes landlords are able to raise the rate and remove the controls once the original tenant moves out, but these rules vary from property to property. Generally, rent controlled apartment prices remain the same indefinitely.

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Apartment Life
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ApartmentSearch_Kids-RoomIt’s an equation many parents are all too familiar with: siblings + hot tempers + small spaces = timeouts. Sibling squabbles are bound to happen even when kids don’t share a bedroom; but add a small, shared apartment room to the equation, and there is enormous potential for chaos. Whether you are moving into an apartment and already have children, or have one with a baby on the way, you’ll need to come up with some creative solutions that let your kids coexist peacefully. Here are a few things to think about as you find an apartment that’s right for kids if they’re sharing a bedroom.

Find an apartment that’s kid-friendly.

A kid-friendly apartment doesn’t have to have 2 rooms or even have a totally symmetrical single room, but the right potential for configuration is imperative. When you tour prospective apartments, think about the kinds of furniture that will fit in the bedroom and whether it is the right space for your children. If you are planning on staying in the apartment for a long time, also consider how you will be able to change the space as the kids grow.

Divide the room.

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Miami city by nightWhen you live in an apartment, you can choose to live anywhere you want. While more millennials and other generations are choosing to live downtown in urban cities, many Americans are choosing to live the coastal life. As a result, they are enjoying the best of what summer has to offer: sun, sand, cool water, and relaxation.

Here are some of the top coastal cities where you can enjoy the beach life right outside your apartment:

West Coast:

  • San Diego, California. First of all, the weather here is perfect year-round: the city boasts an average daily temperature of 70 degrees F. Nearby Mission Beach and Coronado Beach not only offer gorgeous white sand beaches but they also include Belmont Park, which features amusement park rides for kids and adults. Plus, locals can find an apartment near the world-renowned San Diego Zoo.
  • Seattle, Washington. Those who choose an apartment in this gorgeous city get to visit all of the Puget Sound beaches whenever they want, particularly Alki Beach, with its 2.5-mile pedestrian walkway and soft sand. Seattleites can also stay cool on the water – and spot whales! –when they ride the ferry to Bainbridge Island or Orca Island.
  • San Francisco, California. Locals get to enjoy sweeping views of the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge whenever they want. They often enjoy gorgeous views of the water from one of the city’s numerous famous restaurants. This is a foodie city, to be sure, and apartment dwellers find some of the best natural ingredients for their summer dishes at the Ferry Island Farmer’s Market as well as Pike Place Market.
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ApartmentSearch_Guy-MovingMoving to a new college apartment? Time to buy sheets upon sheets of bubble wrap, box up the dishes, get a dog sitter, and contact a moving company…right?

Slow down! Ideally, that list sounds great on paper, but for a college student, moving apartments can get expensive pretty quickly. Here are some tips for moving apartments that will keep your college bank account intact!

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ApartmentSearch_Kid-AprtmentWhether you’re expecting a baby or are in need of a redesign now that your infant is growing older, there are plenty of things you can do to make your apartment more kid-friendly. From furniture changes to finding a whole new apartment, think about these things as you start to redesign a family-friendly apartment.

Start with the floors.

After all, this is where your baby will be spending the most time—and consequently, so will you. Invest in a good, easy-to-use vacuum if you don’t have one already; get comfy, stain-resistant rugs for the living room and bedroom; and consider putting a few floor pillows down for your own comfort when it’s time to play.

Think outside the apartment.

Since many apartments don’t have a private yard or patio, you can always take advantage of your apartment’s playground or other communal area.

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Apartment Life
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