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Moving is stressful. Even if you’re the most organized person who starts packingsuper early, there are just So. Many. Decisions to be made regarding how you’re going to get everything from Point A to Point B. This is especially the case if you’re attempting a DIY move.
We can’t make the decision for you about what to add to your keep, sell, and donate piles, but we can help you figure out whether you should pack up your belongings in a moving container or rent a moving truck. Here are some pros and cons to consider.
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Advantages of Renting a Moving Container
You can take your time packing and unpacking.
Unlike needing to be packed and ready to go when a moving truck shows up at your place, you’ve got some quality time with your moving pod. Depending on the company, you can have it parked out in your driveway or by your curb for around a month so you can pack it up as your schedule permits. And depending on how long you have the container when it arrives at your destination, you’re likely able to unpack at a slower pace, too.
The driving is done for you.
You won’t have to worry about transporting that big ol’ container; the company does it for you. Unless, of course, you hire a company like Red Rover that basically combines a moving container with a rental truck, which is a great option for city dwellers who can’t exactly park a moving container on the street.
There’s more transparent pricing.
It’s not necessarily cheap to rent a moving container, but you should know what you’re getting into from the get-go, especially when it comes to transportation costs. Moving container companies typically let you know how much everything is from door to door, and since you’re not doing the driving, you’re not on the hook for tolls and gas like you are with a rental truck.
Disadvantages of Renting a Moving Container
It takes up a lot of parking space.
Even the smallest of moving containers will take up your driveway or some prime parking on your street. Again, unless you work with a company like Red Rover, moving containers might not even be an option if you live in an urban area.
You’re on the container company’s schedule.
Yes, you had the luxury of time when you first got the container. But now that you’re actually moving, you’re on the company’s schedule, which means you might have to wait for your container.
Everyone knows you’re moving.
You can’t exactly fly under the radar about your move when one of these big containers shows up. In addition to dodging questions from nosy neighbors, you’re basically announcing exactly where you’ll be putting your belongings. Yes, these storage containers are sturdy and come with a lock, but if you’d rather not let the whole neighborhood know you’re getting ready to move, this might not be the right option for you.
Advantages of Renting a Moving Truck
You’re on your own schedule.
Yes, there’s a time frame in which you have to return the truck, but you don’t have to wait for professional movers to show up — and no one is getting paid by the hour while they’re waiting for you, either.
Well, in that it’s a regular vehicle, not a storage shed. Some rental trucks are indeed rather large, so good luck with parallel parking. Still, if you’ve got a driver’s license, you can drive and park a rental truck on the street (read signs and get permits, as necessary) or in a driveway.
There are different size options.
You can rent a small moving van to move a single piece of furniture or a larger truck to hold an entire home’s worth. With moving containers, even the smallest one is still a rather huge box camped outside your door.
Disadvantages of Renting a Moving Truck
If you’re used to driving a compact car or you’ve been out of practice because you’ve been taking public transportation, you are now responsible for driving all of your belongings to a new place in an unfamiliar vehicle — and quite possibly towing that compact car, too. If that sounds stressful, perhaps renting a truck isn’t right for you.
There’s no opportunity for storage.
With a moving container company, you may have the option to store your container on a secure site if you don’t need it right away. The only way you’ll be able to do that with a rental truck is if you drive it to a self-storage facility yourself. That’s fine if you don’t need your stuff, but if you do need it eventually, that’s a lot of packing and unpacking to do.
Transportation costs are extra.
Moving truck rental hourly rates might be alluring, but keep in mind you also have to tack on gas and tolls. It’s fine if you’re just moving across town, but if you’re moving across the state or across the country, it’s going to be difficult to budget the actual cost of your move.
A Few More Things to Consider Before Making Your Decision
There are other pros and cons to both methods of moving. Regardless of which ones resound with you, here are some final things to consider before choosing between a moving container or a rental truck:
You’re likely trying to save money by not hiring professional movers, so make sure there’s actually a cost savings by going with a moving container or a rental truck. You’ll also want to check in with various companies — three is a good number — to see which one is best for your budget. Keep in mind that you don’t want to overpay for more storage than you need, so use the online calculators or talk to a customer associate to see just how much room you’ll need in the moving container or the truck.
Consider your ability/energy level.
It seems like a great idea to take on packing at your leisure with a moving container, but will you actually do it little by little or will it be a race to the finish? And it might seem better to take matters into your own hands by packing up a rental truck, but what if you strain your back lifting a box and now you also have to drive to your new place? Saving money is important, but you want to also keep in mind your safety and your energy when it comes to a DIY move.
Remember, you can still hire help.
Even with a DIY move, you can still hire help. Maybe you need someone to help you pack, or maybe you just want to hire some strong hands to fill your storage container or rental truck. Either way, you could still save some money by doing a hybrid move, especially if you’re short on time.
Whatever option you choose, at the end of the (moving) day, you and your belongings will have arrived at your new place. Welcome home!
After years of living in the same place, 2022 was the year I packed up and started from scratch not just once or twice, but five times. My initial plan included only one move to another country, but along the way, I encountered challenges that became opportunities to enjoy life, meet people, and learn to let go.
So after things didn’t work out as I expected, I planned three moves. However, I ended up temporarily living in my brother’s apartment (twice!) while waiting for the keys to my new place. In total, in 2022, I lived in five homes, two countries, and four cities — with three major moves and two stays on my brother’s couch. My moving experiences helped me learn a few things about how to plan for a move. Here were my biggest takeaways.
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Expect even the best-laid plans to change.
Planning is essential when you’re moving, but things may not happen exactly as you scheduled them. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing! In fact, if you’re open to being flexible, better options may come your way. Though I only planned to move once last year, I kept my mind open to other possibilities. In the end, I lived in locations with mountains, forests and beaches; I traveled on buses, planes, trains, and cars; and I wandered through both desolate streets and hectic cities. This helped me to fulfill my wishes to travel more after pandemic confinement, and to realize that I am happy with a bag on my back and my life in a suitcase.
If you don’t want to be overwhelmed (and lose money), it’s a good idea to start packing as early as possible. During my first move I left almost everything behind because I didn’t give myself enough time to pack. Even though I started several weeks before the move, during the last few days, I just didn’t have a free minute. Let me tell you, it was exhausting. I had an attitude of “I’ll deal with that as my moving date gets closer,” and that was a mistake.
Not everything you own will prove useful in your new home. Depending on where you’re heading, you’ll want to keep lots of stuff or discard a good amount of it. During a cross-country move or foreign relocation, you’ll have to make a lot of decisions about your belongings. What is really important in my day-to-day life? What do I use most often? In my case, I came to understand how material things lose meaning after my father passed away. So I didn’t mind starting from scratch with a couple of suitcases — which gained and lost things along the way.
Organize your clothes carefully.
When you relocate, you may not have time to unpack all your boxes and suitcases for a while. In two of my 2022 moves, I didn’t go straight to my new home, so I lived for a few weeks with all my clothes in a suitcase. To avoid packing and unpacking, I decided to keep a separate bag with all of the clothes and toiletries I’d need. The idea is to be able to transition into your new space without having to rip open a ton of boxes to find your PJs.
Know that rental rules vary from place to place.
Every country, city, and landlord is different. I did a lot of reading about the places I would move to, but I had some surprises, such as huge variations in utility costs. And while looking for housing options, I noticed differences in terms, conditions, and requirements. I learned not to assume a new apartment would be similar to my previous one in terms of cost, noise levels, and beyond.
When you move into an apartment, you’ll likely have to pay a security deposit. But how is that different from first and last month’s rent, and how can you ensure that you get the full amount back? Here’s what to know.
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What is a security deposit?
A security deposit is a one-time refundable payment to your landlord or property manager that they could use to cover the cost of any damage to the property when you move out of your rental. This allows the landlord to confidently rent the property knowing they won’t have to cover the cost if damages occur.
This payment is typically due when you sign the lease, along with first and last month’s rent. Sometimes the security deposit can double as the last month’s rent, in which case it would be nonrefundable. Be sure you understand what you’re paying for — and what money is refundable and what isn’t.
How much will my security deposit be?
The amount of the security deposit depends on the property, as well as your history as a renter and any information that may come up on a background check. Renters with a lower credit score or a history of bankruptcy or eviction may have to pay a higher security deposit.
Why do I need to pay a security deposit?
A security deposit gives the landlord the opportunity to recoup costs for any damages to the property or unpaid rent. In a situation where there is damage to the apartment when you move out, the landlord will keep the portion (or all) of the security deposit to pay for repairs.
Do I need to pay a security deposit and first and last month’s rent?
Depending on the property and the landlord or management company, you may need to pay first and last month’s rent, both of which are nonrefundable, as well as a security deposit that is refundable. You may also need to pay deposits for utilities.
How can I make sure I get my security deposit back?
To get your full security deposit back, you should leave the apartment as you found it. When you move in, you’ll likely fill out a move-in inspection form. This is where you’ll note any existing damages to the property that you shouldn’t be held liable for. Make sure to fill this out as thoroughly as possible, so you’re not financially responsible for damage that was already there.
When you move out, there are a number of things you can do to ensure you’ll receive the full deposit back. Clean the apartment thoroughly, inspect for and repair any damage, repaint the walls if you painted them while you lived there, be present during your move-out inspection to offer an explanation for any issues, and turn in your keys when you move out.
No matter where you live, there’s a solid chance your rent has risen in the past few years. Rent prices increased in 79 of the largest 100 U.S. cities during the month of August, according to Apartment List’s most recent national rent report. And so far in 2022, rents are up 7.2 percent — but year-over-year growth has slowed to 10 percent, down from 18 percent at the beginning of the year.
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Still, you’ve probably come to expect that by the time your lease renewal notice comes around, you’ll receive a rent increase should you choose to renew. But given that rental vacancies are lower than usual (this could be because high interest rates are sidelining would-be buyers) and the rental market is hot, could your landlord pounce on this opportunity to raise your rent multiple times in one year?
The answer is a resounding “probably not.” But really you need to look to your lease agreement for the most definitive answer.
If your lease provides for a mid-year increase, then yes, your landlord can increase the rent, explains Steven M. Katz, Esq., an attorney in Columbus, Ohio with Katz, Pryor & DiCuccio LLP, who specializes in contract law and landlord-tenant law. But if your lease is silent on this topic, then no, your landlord can’t unilaterally raise your rent.
“For the landlord to raise rent in the middle of a lease, that would constitute a modification of the contract,” Katz says. “To modify a contract there must be consideration given by both parties. For example, if the tenant is behind on rent, the landlord may offer to forgo an eviction in exchange for a raise in rent moving forward.”
Despite these binding contracts, it’s not unheard of for some landlords to try to raise rent on unsuspecting tenants. And the protections that are in place could vary by state laws and city ordinances. For this reason, Katz recommends that renters be familiar with tenant rights, laws, and protections in their home state.
If you think there’s been a breach in contract, you can start by contacting your local tenants’ rights organization, which should be well-versed on the local laws in your area, says Leonard Ang, the CEO of iProperty Management, an online resource guide for landlords, tenants, and real estate investors.
One more thing: If you go to renew your lease and you’re presented with a rent increase, you may have some negotiation power — especially if you’re a good renter with a strong on-time payment track record.
“Rent is always negotiable, and smart renters know to ask for what they want, especially with a new lease or a renewal,” says Jonas Bordo, the CEO & cofounder of Dwellsy, a home rental platform. “Maybe a deal is possible… higher rent in return for new appliances or an extra parking space, for example, might be a deal that would benefit both you and your landlord.”
In my humble point of view, living on a higher floor in an apartment or condo building has always been synonymous with luxury. Maybe it’s because I’m a child of the 1980s and “The Jeffersons” theme song is ingrained in my memory, with lyrics that glorify “a deluxe apartment in the sky” as the epitome of success.
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But it’s not just catchy sitcom songs that value living high above the city sidewalks. Traditionally, there has been higher demand for units on higher floors, be it for better views of the skyline or enjoying a quieter, more private space,.
Still, there are distinct benefits to living on lower floors. If you’re hunting for a new apartment or perhaps are in the market to purchase a co-op or condo, here are a few reasons to take another look at apartments closer to the ground floor.
You could snag a lower price on a property.
“Lower floor new developments could be a deal,” says John Walkup, cofounder of real estate analytics company UrbanDigs. When comparing the price per square foot of both new and resale condos since July 2020, Walkup notes there was little difference in the median price for units on floors one through five.
Keep going up the stairs (or elevator), however, and it’s often a different story in many buildings. I can confirm this: Several years ago, before we decided to buy a house, my husband and I explored the option of purchasing a unit in the new development right across from our condo on the North Shore of Staten Island. We learned as you went up each floor, a condo unit increased in price by $10,000 because the views of the Manhattan skyline were simply that good.
Of course, it does vary by building and location, says agent Jenn Tanner of Coldwell Banker Warburg in New York. “If you’re not getting a ‘wow’ [response to the view] with prices as high as they’ve been, people don’t necessarily care to pay the premiums set per ascending floor,” she says. “They’d much rather save tens of thousands of dollars for a slightly less exciting view, let’s say, usually over 10-to 15 stories off the ground.”
You might have better views than your upstairs neighbors.
It’s easy to think that the higher up you go in a city, the more you can see. That’s a safe assumption for upper-floor dwellers in sky-high buildings, but it really depends on what it is you want to see.
In Manhattan, Parisa M. Afkhami, another agent at Coldwell Banker Warburg, says the prime apartments in one building on East 70th Street are actually on the lower floors so the neighbors can do some serious peeping — into the Frick Collection, that is. (The illustrious art museum is currently being renovated, so residents will have to find something else to look at for now.)
Broker Svetlana Choi, also of Coldwell Banker Warburg, agrees. Her clients “love the view of the blossoming trees” during the spring and summer in New York City, which can be better enjoyed from lower and even ground floor units.
You’ll feel more connected to the neighborhood.
Living in a high-floor apartment might make you feel far removed from the hustle and bustle of the town and its denizens. That’s a good thing for some people, but for others, they’d much prefer to feel like they’re part of the neighborhood they’re living in, not just look down on it from their terrace. If you can relate, then perhaps a lower-level apartment is right for you.
You’ll enjoy easier outdoor access…
Unless you live in a building with a private elevator that whooshes you to your floor so quickly that your ears pop, chances are you might have to spend some time waiting for the elevator to arrive at your floor. That’s a minor inconvenience on a regular day — but what about when the power goes out?
Broker Michael J. Franco of Compass in New York recalls one summer when the Northeast experienced a widespread blackout, which meant that many disgruntled apartment dwellers had to hoof it up and down the stairs — without the benefit of air conditioning. Lower floor dwellers had it much better.
…and so will your canine companions.
In keeping with the idea of easier access to the front door, broker Rachel Ostow Lustbader of Coldwell Banker Warburg notes that most dog owners would likely prefer being closer to the ground floor for when nature calls for their furbabies.
“I had one customer who wanted to live on the first floor because he had three dogs and did not want to have to wait for an elevator whenever he took the dogs out for a walk,” she says.
There are some downsides to living downstairs.
Though life on lower floors does have its advantages, there are a couple of major drawbacks to consider.
If you’re on a lower-floor that faces out onto the street, there’s a good chance you might make eye contact with a passerby. Upper floors have the upper hand here — though note that people living at the same height in a neighboring building might still spot you.
Additionally, lower levels can offer easier access to burglars and vandals, so you will need to take the proper precautions to keep your windows and terrace door locked for safety.
When Hurricane Ida hit New York City in the summer of 2021, flash floods proved to be deadly for some residents of illegal basement apartments.
In order for a basement apartment to be considered legal, it must comply with the local laws and building codes. In New York, this means there are, among other requirements, minimums for ceiling height and the number and size of windows. A legal basement apartment must also have half its height above curb level, and the walls must be damp-/waterproofed to withstand flooding and excessive moisture.
If you are considering renting or purchasing a basement apartment, make sure it is a legal one. Do not say “yes” to any landlord without a lease and do not purchase a basement condo without a home inspection.
There are benefits and drawbacks to being on either side of the staircase or elevator in an apartment or condo building. When you are looking for a new place to rent or purchase, be sure to consider a multitude of factors that focus on both safety and convenience.
