Must-Have Essentials on Your First Day Moved Into a Newly Built Home

little wooden house on grass

So, the big day is almost here. You’re about to move into your new home and you want to create a to-do list that includes everything that needs to be done before you arrive. What exactly should be on that list?

You don’t have to wonder anymore, because we’ve taken care of the details for you. First thing’s first: if you’re moving from state to state, you need a long-distance moving and packing company. And then, on your first day, you’ll need the following:

  • Utilities: Make sure everything is set up beforehand. You don’t want to walk into your new home only to find the electricity isn’t on, the water isn’t running or the gas isn’t connected. Call your utility providers ahead of time and set up an activation for the day before you move in. This will ensure that everything is ready to go on Day One.
  • Cable/Internet/Phone: Call a few weeks in advance of your move to schedule cable, internet, and phone installation for your move-in day. These are creature comforts that most of us have come to fully rely on, and you’ll want to have them up and running as quickly as possible. There’s no better time for this than move-in day. Consider an afternoon installation so you’ll have the morning to get things organized.
  • Appliance Delivery: Are you ordering new appliances for your new home? This is fairly typical for new homeowners. Go ahead and schedule delivery for the day of your move-in. Unlike with your cable, try to schedule for the morning rather than the afternoon. It’s easier to get your appliances into place before your home is full of boxes and other items that will surely find themselves strewn about the house. Having appliances squared away ahead of time just makes everything easier.

Moving provides enough stress on its own. That stress is only heightened the farther you move from your old home to your new one. When you have your utilities, cable, internet, phone and appliances all scheduled and taken care of well ahead of time, that stress is reduced as much as it possibly can be. You can better handle all of the unexpected things that are sure to come up on moving day.

Choose Mid Atlantic Van Lines

Securing a long-distance moving and storage company for your big day is a great way to reduce the stress — choosing a dependable and reliable company to care for your belongings and help you get moved in. At Mid Atlantic Van Lines, we are that company. Let us take care of the moving so you can focus on the many other things that demand your attention.

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Contact us today about securing Mid Atlantic Van Lines for your long-distance move.

Items You Should Move Yourself

suitcase

There’s something simple and incredibly helpful about finding the right moving and packing company to meet your needs. But, no matter how good your moving and packing company is, it’s important that you move some things yourself. What are those things? Here’s a look at the items you should take yourself, whether you’re moving across town or across the country.

Fine Jewelry

Fine jewelry should be moved personally for two reasons: It’s small and it’s expensive. This is the type of stuff that can easily get lost or misplaced, which you want to avoid at all costs. It’s easy enough to move fine jewelry yourself because it’s small and light. Make sure it reaches your new home safely when you choose to move it yourself.

Heirlooms

Heirlooms are important for another reason — they are irreplaceable. Anytime you have something that’s been passed down from generation to generation — something that holds significant value only to you — don’t run the risk of losing or misplacing that item in the middle of a move. It’s just not worth it.

Important Documents

Always make sure you have important documents before you move. We’re talking about passports, social security cards, birth certificates and similar documents. Not only is it expensive and difficult to replace these items, but you may also find that you need them immediately upon arrival in your new town or state.

For example: when you start a new job, you often need to provide a Social Security card and driver’s license to get paid.

Antiques

Antiques are another expensive and difficult-to-replace asset that should be moved by the owner only. Oftentimes, antiques have special handling needs that are best executed by a knowledgeable owner. Antiques are also best protected when moved by the owner rather than as part of a bulk move.

Medications

You never want to be without your important medications — especially when moving to a new place where you don’t yet have a doctor and pharmacy established. This isn’t just daily medication. You should make sure you have anything you might need for certain allergies or allergic reactions, or even emergencies you’re more prone to.

This is just an abbreviated list of the thing you should consider taking with you before a move. You may have other assets that you deem necessary to move yourself.

When you need a dependable moving and packing company for everything else, trust the experience and team you’ll find at Mid Atlantic Van Lines. We have been the go-to source for trustworthy moving and packing for thousands of customers through the years. We’ll make sure your belongings arrive safely and on time.

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Contact us today about your moving and packing needs.

3 Types of Lease Agreements

living room

When you’re searching for a place to lease, you’ll typically find three types of apartment lease agreements. What are those three types? And which is best for you? The right lease agreement for you will always depend on your unique circumstances and what you’re looking for in a home. The right arrangement for you may be completely different from the right arrangement for someone moving at the same time to the same place.

To help you make the best choice, here’s a look at the three types of apartment lease agreements and what to expect from each.

Periodic Leases

When you hear about a month-to-month lease, that’s what a periodic lease agreement is. This is a perfect lease agreement if you’re dealing with an uncertain situation. Perhaps you’ve taken a temporary job or you travel a great deal for work or you think you’re going to buy a home in the not-too-distant future. In each of these cases, the flexibility of a month-to-month lease might be just what you need.

If a periodic lease is so great, why not always opt for one? Well, first of all they tend to be more expensive. You’ll typically pay less in monthly rent the longer your lease agreement is. And a lease provides protection for both the tenant and the owner. When you have a periodic lease, the owner can tell you it’s time to move out at any time.

Fixed Leases

A fixed lease is the most common type of lease. These typically run between six months and a year, and there will be penalties if you need to break the lease for some reason. Penalties for breaking a lease typically amount to anywhere between one month’s rent and the total of payments due over the balance of the lease. In other words, it can get pretty expensive to break this type of lease.

Subleases

A sublease is related to a fixed lease in one way: If the tenant in a fixed lease needs to break the lease but can’t afford the penalty, they will look for someone to sublease. A sublease essentially means someone else takes over a lease on your behalf. Not all landlords will approve a sublease, and it’s important that you do get approval before moving forward with one.

When it’s allowed, a sublease is a helpful tool to assist you with getting out of a fixed lease before the term is up.

Long-Distance Moving Storage

No matter the type of lease you want or need, you will often require moving and storage assistance when choosing a new apartment. At Mid Atlantic Van Lines, we provide long-distance moving storage and other services that are designed to make your life simpler when moving from place to place.

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Use the tips above to ensure you’re getting the right type of lease for your unique needs, and remember to use Mid Atlantic Van Lines to ensure you have the long-distance moving services that you need. Contact us today for help with your move.

How to Find the Perfect Apartment

apartment

Few things in life matter as much as where you live. Where you live determines the lifestyle you can lead, the things you can do and even how much time you spend in your car traveling to work and other important places.

Moving to an unfamiliar place makes it much more difficult to find the perfect place to live. Are you moving to a new city or state? If so, you may be wondering how to find the perfect apartment. To help you get started, here are a few tips.

How Much Can You Spend?

It’s essential that you be realistic about what you can spend on monthly rent. Even if you can get approved for a lease, it’s not always a good idea to push as close to your maximum rent amount. After all, you want plenty of money left over to enjoy the place where you’re living, right?

Most lenders and leasers want to see a debt-to-income ratio of no more than 50% before approving a loan or application. That means your total monthly obligations (car payments, credit card payments, student loans plus whatever your rent would be) take up less than 50% of your monthly gross income — that’s your income before taxes and other deductions.

What Should You Be Close To?

Now that you know what you can afford, think about the areas you want to be close to. Are you interested in a short commute? If so, look for apartments near your place of work. Do you want to be close to a child’s daycare or school? Look for apartments in those areas. Do you need to be near a certain kind of recreation, like a lake or a running trail? Look for apartments nearby.

The Importance of Safety

Before you sign a lease, make sure you’re investigating how safe the apartment is. Make sure it has substantial locks and perhaps even a private entrance. You’ll also want to get a look at crime reports from the area. You can find websites that display crimes across a map, so you can quickly examine your apartment and the immediate area. There’s going to be crime no matter where you go, of course, but you want to ensure it’s not excessive.

Learn From Those Who Live There

It’s always a good idea to talk to current residents. They can share about the experience of living in a certain apartment complex or neighborhood and can tell you about the responsiveness of management when making maintenance and repair requests. This is where you can get an unvarnished look at what life is like living in a certain place.

Always Do a Walkthrough

Make sure you do a walkthrough of the apartment before signing the lease so you can ask final questions and come to a consensus with management about anything that might be a question mark. This is your chance to get the final information before moving forward with a lease.

How Will You Move?

Moving to a new and unfamiliar place is always tough. Make sure it goes as smoothly as possible when you choose Mid Atlantic Van Lines as your long-distance moving company. We are your best option when searching for a residential moving company that takes cares of your belongings.

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Contact Mid Atlantic Van Lines today!

How to Enjoy a Stress-Free Move

moving boxes

Have you ever packed up and moved your own house? Most people find the hassle of packing up their household goods and possessions, loading them into a rental truck, driving it across the state or country, and unpacking it at the destination simply too much of a hassle.

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