Here are four tips to help you have a smooth transition during your move:

Tip#1: DIY or Professional Movers

You may want to do it yourself or you may want to consider hiring a professional moving company. The answer depends on the amount of things you are moving and your financial resources. If you are determined to bring a large quantity of your personal belongings, then a professional moving company would be the right answer. If you are prepared to carry just a small number of things, you may want to do it yourself.

Tip#2: The Size and Weight

You need to identify the size and weight of the personal things you want to bring along. If you have many large or heavy pieces of furniture, you will likely need help carrying them. If the things you are moving are light, you can carry them yourself.  If it’s large and doesn’t fit into a regular size car, you may need to hire a moving truck. Since you will be going away for only a few years, it is recommended to bring only what is important for you and leave the rest behind.

Tip #3: Budget

Unless you have unlimited financial resources, you will want to reduce your expenses as much as possible. If you opt to do everything yourself,  you can save thousands of dollars in moving costs and related expenses. Get your friends and relatives to help you pack. You can even try to borrow a car, truck or SUV to help with the move.

Tip #4: Cancellation Policy

If you’re using a professional mover, check out the terms and conditions stipulated in the agreement before you sign it. See if there any hidden charges written in fine print that you may have overlooked. Additionally, check out the cancellation policy of the moving company to see if they provide one.  Some moving companies insist on a rather large percentage of upfront payment or even payment in full before they agree to transport your goods to the new location. If you have paid in advance and have difficulties moving on the specific date caused by some unforeseen event, you can lose a considerably large sum of money that is not refundable.

Moving from home need not be a daunting task at all. Wth proper planning, you can soon be on your way to a brand-new, exciting life as a young and promising student.

As more and more people come across the ad, it is possible to have more than one interested party looking to rent the premise in question,  So how do you select between two or more seemingly viable potential tenants? When you have more than one person interested in the offer, it is best to implement a tenant screening process that can help you identify possible problems and challenges ahead of time.

Here are some tips to help you decide.

Tip#1: Telephone Screening

Telephone screening is vital to obtain a general impression of the person. This is the initial discussion where you will discuss and perhaps confirm on the agreed rental rates. This is a golden opportunity for you to find out more about them and their lifestyle.  Ask about their work and the length of employment. Finally be sure to inquire about the amount of people who will be staying at the premises during the length of the tenancy.  Make sure you ask what about your property interested them.  Try to find out why they are leaving their current place of residence as well.  Another question to ask is how long they intend to rent your unit. Obviously the longer they are prepared to rent it the better it is for you.

Tip#2: Showing the premises

It is normal for prospective tenants to ask for an on-site evaluation of the unit they are interested in. This is the most important part in the tenant screening process. This is when you get to meet the person and evaluate his or her character. Use your own judgment when doing this. Are they properly dressed and well-groomed?  How is their personal hygiene? Do they smoke? Do they look like the type of person you want to be living in your rental property?

Tip#3: Multiple Prospects

One good tip for landlords is to try and get more than one interested party. If possible, get all the prospective tenants together at the same time and show them the property all at once. This not only saves you time, but it will also deter any attempts to haggle over the rent. When there are more than one tenant trying to rent a single unit of interest, it is unlikely for anyone to ask for a lower rent.

Once you have decided on a tenant of your choice, it’s time to give them a rental application form to fill out.