When it comes to resolving landlord or roommate disputes, knowing the laws in your area is absolutely vital, but what most people don’t realize is that laws concerning renter’s rights vary widely from place to place and from state to state. If you have recently moved to a new area and are thinking about renting an apartment, there are a few necessary things you should do to update yourself on the laws and rules in your area.

Your first stop should be online. The internet age has ushered in a slew of consumer protection websites that can assist you in leaning what the laws are in your new state as far as renting goes. Most major cities have renter’s rights groups that have their own website, and sometimes they even have a free 1-800 number you can call to learn about specific problems you are experiencing. Bookmark any sites you find like this for your area since you never know when you might need them in the future.

If you can’t find any up to date websites in your area that have this information, check out your copy of the Yellow Pages. They often have lists of non profit groups in your area that might be of use to you.

Finally, if all else fails, contact a lawyer in your new state, and they will likely point you in the general direction. The electronic age has afforded us significant leaps in communication so don’t get caught flat footed if you need to know your rental rights in your new state.

In the old days, the only real criteria most people used to determine where to live was location and rent prices, and while those factors are still extremely important today, you should also take incentives into account, as well. Thanks to the explosion in apartment construction that has taken over most major cities, there is a glut of apartments in most areas. To compete against each other, many apartment complexes will offer perks or incentives so you will choose them over their competition. Let’s look at some of the most common perks you will find.

The most common, and most popular, perk is free rent for the first month you live there. Depending on where you live and how much you were planning on paying for rent, this perk alone can save you $1,000 or more. However, you still need to take other factors like the condition of the apartment, the location and the rent into account before making a decision.

Another popular perk that many apartment complexes offer is a free apartment upgrade. Often times, apartment complexes will charge a base rate for rent, and then charge extra for things like vaulted ceilings, a water view or living on the top floor of a building. You can find complexes that offer these perks for free for the entire run of your lease as a perk. While free rent might save you more up front, a free perk or two like this may save you more in the long run. Make sure you weigh your perks carefully.

Waking up in a brand new apartment the day after a move is one of the most disorienting things in the world. Not only are you surrounded by a jungle of cardboard boxes and bubble wrap, but you often can’t even find the box that has your toothbrush in it and a bar of soap for a shower. Here are a few helpful tips that can make the morning after a bit easier to take. If at all possible, see if you can move a few things over the day before your actual move. If the unit you’re moving into is already empty or if the previous residents moved early, you might be able to drive over some boxes and basic amenities. If you can, completely unpack these items so they are ready for you when you move in. Things like silverware, dishes and bathroom amenities can really help you feel at home after a long day of moving. A second tip is to make sure all of your boxes are labeled properly and moved into the proper room by the movers. That way, the boxes that contain dishes or non-refrigerated food are in the kitchen and not in the bedroom. Not only will this speed the unpacking process, it will also help get you back in the groove in days, not weeks.

It is a nightmare situation that we dread, but we often find ourselves in: the movers broke something important and now they won’t pay for it. Resolving issues with movers can be like trying to pull teeth, and it can be just as painful. Most professional movers have liability insurance that protects them in case important items are broken. Some movers happily reimburse customers because they know that breaking things is part of the job and it is almost impossible to avoid these types of situations. Others, however, will fight you tooth and nail and won’t pay out until they have to. A good first step is to make sure that you have complete photographs of everything and anything that is valuable to you before you move. Also, get appraisals on items that are extremely valuable like paintings and jewelry. The main problem with getting things reimbursed from movers is when items with little actual value but significant sentimental value are damaged. The key here is to try to move these items by yourself if at all possible. This can be extremely difficult, of course, if the item is large or difficult to move, but the best way to avoid confrontation with your movers is to move these delicate and irreplaceable items yourself.

Short of the birth of a child, moving day is one of the most stressful days we ever experience. Seeing your entire life boxed up and moved from one spot to another can be extremely depressing and unnerving. No matter how well we pack, we often worry about things getting broken and our utilities getting switched on time. The first thing you can do to make your moving day a little less stressful is to make sure you get enough sleep the night before. You need a clear head and the ability to think on your feet on moving day and you aren’t accomplishing anything by packing through the night before. A second tip is to make a list of everything that needs to be done on your big day. Carry it with you so you can keep an eye on all of the different aspects of moving. Things can get lost in the shuffle pretty easily when it comes to moving, and it can be impossible to keep everything in your head. By making a list, you’re ensuring that you won’t forget something important. Moving is never, ever an easy thing to do, but organization is your friend on moving day. The more you prepare, the better off you’ll be.

There are two kinds of people in this world, people who pack correctly and people who don’t. Depending on how far you’re moving, you’ll need to adjust the quality and quantity of packing material that you use. You’ll also need to adjust how you pack depending on if you plan to use professional movers or not. If you want to do it yourself, chances are, you’re going to be a lot gentler with your belongings than a bunch of strangers will. How you pack is also dependant on how you plan on moving your things. If you plan on using the flatbed of a pickup truck, chances are, things are going to get bounced around a lot more than they would if you plan on using an actually Ryder or U-Haul truck. If there is rain forecast for the day you are moving, you’ll need to make sure you have a tarp or some kind of cover so your things don’t get ruined. You also need to take the distance into account. Some moves don’t even leave the building, while others are cross country. Moving is never a fun experience but planning ahead and having everything you need done can help reduce the stress a little bit.

One of the biggest challenges to moving is deciding on a neighborhood in a city that you don’t know very well. Unless you’re moving because of work or a family emergency, chances are, you have a working knowledge of the new town you’re moving to. You’ve been there before, you’ve walked the streets and you know the attitude of the neighborhoods. But if you don’t, you basically have two choices, You can hop on the Internet and let the multitude of reference sites teach you about each particular area, or you can go for a visit. A visit only really makes sense if you have the time, money and a good map that clearly defines what street borders make up each neighborhood. If you’re thinking about moving to a city like Atlanta, you need to know the difference between Buckhead and Bankhead, Five Points and the rest of the central business district and so on. Most apartment ads, whether they be in the newspaper or online, use neighborhood jargon, so you’ll need to know what all of that means. The answer to this puzzle is to simply do your research before you go so you know exactly what you’re looking at when you begin your apartment search.

 Moving is easily one of the biggest decisions that we make on a semi-regular basis. The sheer amount of stress that comes with a move is enough to make us want to put down permanent stakes where we are now and never consider moving again. In many cases a move may not be absolutely necessary. When it not, there are several things you need to consider before you give notice at your current apartment. Moving is often times more expensive than you imagine. Even if you don’t use professional movers, there are many costs involved in moving. Many utilities and cable companies charge you a fee to move your service from one address to another and there is also the bother of imposing on friends to help you move. You also need to consider the chance that your belongings will be damaged when you move. Even the best movers ding and break things and if you’re doing the move yourself, you can pretty much guarantee that there will be broken items. You should also consider that you may be trading in your current, average landlord for one that is much worse. Moving is never an easy decision to make and it should be evaluated closely so you don’t regret it once you leave.