FAQ numero uno

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me, “Now how exactly can I move for free.” I would have… ummm…. well… I would have a lot a money.

It is actually simpler than you might think.

All you have to do is…

1. Find an apartment on moveforfree.com
2. Visit the properties you found on the website and list moveforFREE.com as the referring source
3. Once your lease is signed, schedule your FREE move

Now, you say well that’s all well and good, but I want to know how I can move without paying anything?

In simple terms….

The apartment properties pay us a commission for referring you, the renter, to their property. That commission covers the cost of the move. Thus in turn you get this really wickedly awesome deal where you will move for free!

It really is that easy! Now… what are you waiting for??? Move your mouse on over to moveforFREE.com! We also have a great FAQ page. Check it out if you have any other questions. And as always don’t hesitate to post a question or comment on our Facebook or Twitter. I will get back to ASAP!

(See how happy I was to be using Moveforfree when I moved last year!)

Normal vs Awesome Amenities

When you are looking to move into a new apartment community one thing you may look for are what kind of amenities that property has.  An amenity in this sense can be described as “any feature that provides comfort, convenience, or pleasure.”  Some properties use this definition in the simplest of ways.

Common Apartment Amenities

• dishwasher
• microwave
• normal sized pool
• garbage disposal
• ceiling fan
• storage
• patio/ balcony
  

Then there are those communities that provide not so normal awesome amenities that can really draw in the interests of potential residents.

Awesome/ No so normal amenities

• maid service
• coffee bar
• movie theater room
• sauna
• racquetball court
• garden tub
• self- cleaning ovens
• putting green
• car washing station (with vacuums
• dog park

Another awesome thing is… that you can find apartments with these type of amenities on moveforfree.com.

Jefferson 1001 Ross- Dallas

La Maison River Oaks- Houston

Mansions at Canyon Springs- San Antonio

Alexan Swenson Farms- Austin

Which floor is best?

One question that an apartment leasing agent usually asks you when apply to lease with their property is “What floor do you prefer to live on.”  If you have rented an apartment in the past you probably know what you like and for what reason.  If you have never rented you may feel like singing “eeny meeny minnie moe.”  Before you catch a tiger by its toe you may want to consider a few factors first.

Safety

Living on the ground floor of an apartment building could potential be a security risk.  If a thief wanted to get into an apartment it could possibly be easier for them since they would not have to climb stories.  But in the same respect I’ve heard of robberies happening on second and third floors apartments as well.  If you do choose to live on the ground floor there are security measures that would be wise to take into consideration.  If you have a sliding glass door to your patio, you should make sure you can lock it as well put the safety bar down.  It’s also important to close your blinds and shades when you aren’t home or asleep.  If thieves can look inside your apartment and see what you have they are more likely to take your flat screen TV or laptop.  In my personal opinion the same should go for any floor.  Thieves no matter how low life they may be, are smart and could figure out a way to get inside your home.  In any event, be smart no matter which floor you choose to live on.

Moving

When choosing which floor you are going to live on you might want to consider the moving process.  Of course moving in to any story but the first floor might mean a lot more work.  Adding in stories makes the stressful process all the more… stressful.  BUT there are ways around this.  With companies like us, Moveforfree.com, you leave the moving process up to us.  We don’t care if you are moving from a third floor apartment to another third floor apartment.  We will move you for free!  If you don’t live in Texas you can check your local areas to see if they have apartment locators that have a free move offer.  If not, you can always hire movers, which may be worth it for you or bribe your friends with beer and pizza.

View/ Money

If you choose to live in a high rise building the view from the top may be an option for you.  Imagine going to bed at night to a gorgeous view like this…

You might want to be aware though as the apartments get higher up the rent may go up.  Consider a view an additional amenity.

Noise

I believe noise will always be an issue in an apartment building.  You may want to decide what you would prefer; noise above you or below you.  Personally, I would prefer noise below me.  There is nothing worse then heavy footsteps above you.  Just in case you might want to start polishing up the old broom handle.  There are precautions, however, you can take even before you move in.  Ask your leasing agent if they have the apartment above/ below the model apartment vacant.  Since no one ever lives in the models you will have nothing to worry about.  If that isn’t an option you can ask your leasing agent about the neighbors around the vacant apartments.  Usually single people or couples without kids are the quietest.  Just do some research beforehand and I think your choice will be just fine.

Reference: http://apartments.about.com/od/apartmenthunting/a/whichapartmentfloor.htm

Moveforfree.com through the years

Since it is history week here at moveforfree I thought it would be fun to see what moveforfree.com has looked like through the years.  Thanks to a really cool site called the Way Back When Machine, it’s possible to see what websites have looked like over the years.  It’s a huge archive of websites from 1996 to just a few months ago.

Here is what Moveforfree.com looked like just a few months after the site went live in October of 2000.

And here is what moveforfree.com looked like in November of 2001.  Click on the picture to see the full size version.

Now, of course, you know what our site looks like.

New things are always happening here at moveforfree.  You never know what’s going to happen next!

Roommates and Politics

In lieu of the recent midterm elections held yesterday, I thought it appropriate that we talk today about roommates and politics.  Not necessarily roommates and their political beliefs, but that of roommates and how to make your household a place of social equality.  Not a place where you are constantly fighting about the temperature of the thermostat or who’s turn it is to take out the trash or even shutting yourself up in your room because you just don’t feel comfortable in your own home.  That is not a place where anyone wants to live.  But, there is hope!  With just a little bit of pre planning and ground rules set you can make your roommate experience something you will never forget… for the good.

Here are a few suggestions on how to make your living situation work

• Agree on equal chore responsibilities

Chores are one of the most argued about issues amongst roommates.  Different people can have different perceptions of cleanliness or what their definition of messy is.  What has worked best for me is to agree that the main, common areas of the apartment should stay clean and are both person’s responsibility to keep clean.  Decide the very first day or even before you move in who is responsible for each chore.  If one person is responsible for vacuuming then the other person should mop the kitchen floor.  Also, come up with a time frame to get the chores done.  Some people think 10 minutes is too long to leave dirty dishes in the sink while others could leave them there for days without noticing.  Come up with a compromise, somewhere in the middle.  I would write all of this down in some sort of contract and have each roommate sign it.  This will avoid any confusion later.  If any argument arises all you have to do is point to the signed contract.  You can find a pretty good contract template here.  Lastly, I highly recommend that you get separate bathrooms.  I’m only saying from personal experience.  This will save a lot of headaches.

• Money issues

Money is always a struggle in any relationship.  Friends, marriages, friendships and roommates all feel the strain that money issues can bring.  When you split household bills with another person it is VERY important to set up a system before your first month’s bills are due.  I’ve seen different things when it comes to paying bills with a roommate.  I’ve seen friends who were responsible for one utility while the other was responsible for the cable bill.  I’ve also seen people who split every single bill down the middle.  The important thing to remember is that you decide right away and agree to something.  Who’s name is the bill going to be in?  How will the other person pay, if it’s in the other person’s name?  Nowadays with bill payment online it makes this method quite easy.  Check to see when each bill is due each month and write it on a communal calendar that you both can see.  Choose two days a month where both of you can sit down at the computer and pay bills.  Write these days down on the calendar as well.  Some apartment properties even allow you to pay rent online.  This is a wonderful tool at your disposal and allows you to pay with your credit or debit card instead of writing a check or getting a money order.  As with the chores it is also very important to sign some sort of contract to make sure that the bills are paid on time, especially the rent.

• Confront issues before the lease is signed

Whether you are best friends or a potential roommate you met on roommates.com, it is critical that you sit down and talk about any issues that may arise while living together; things besides money and chores.  Things like: what noise level is appropriate for music/ TV, how late are guests allowed over, how long are guests allowed to stay, what temperature is reasonable for the thermostat to be set, what is the mutual food that can be eaten by either roommate and are pets allowed in the apartment?  While you might disagree on some issues; it is important to work and compromise on them before your lease is signed and not when the problem arises.

Newlyweds: Should you buy a house or rent an apartment?

Now that the wedding is over and you and your new spouse have returned from your honeymoon, it’s time to start moving on in your new lives together. Newlyweds sometimes struggle over where exactly should they live. It seems only fitting that a newlywed couple should buy a house, but for many that may not be the smartest choice. Before you jump into any big purchases or signing a lease there are things to consider with your new husband or wife.

Maintenance Costs

One perk to apartment living is not having to pay for maintenance for your home or unexpected repairs.  When you sign a lease your landlord or apartment property is the one that is responsible for those costs.  If anything goes wrong all you have to do is give them a call and they will fix it for you without any added costs.  If you own a home, all those unexpected repairs and maintenance costs lie solely on the homeowner… which is you.

Utilities

It goes without saying that your utilities will be much less in an apartment than a house.  A smaller space means less energy needed to cool it, heat it and light it.  Especially in Texas, where the majority of the year it’s hot, you AC bill will be much cheaper in an apartment than a house.  Thus saving you lots of money.  When you are considering whether to buy a house or rent an apartment, it would be a good idea to consider your income and also know that your energy bill will increase in the hotter summer months.

Commitment

Renting an apartment is much easier than buying a house.  When you rent an apartment you can lease it for six months to a year.  A shorter commitment than buying a house.  It is much easier to rent an apartment than buy a house; much easier than deciding later on down the road that you can’t really afford a house.

Design

When you own your home you have the ability to decorate and design it any way you wish.  If you want to change something in an apartment, i.e. a light fixture or painting the walls, you usually aren’t allowed to do that.  But, if you and your new spouse decided to rent first, you could take that time to save up for some really nice and quality furniture and decor.

Family

Some couples like to start a family right after the nuptials are read.  In that case a house would probably be your best bet.  With a backyard and more room, a house is a good space for little ones to run around and grow up in.

Bottom line, it’s important to discuss this with your new bride or groom and find out what’s important to them.  Is money tight?  Than an apartment may be your best bet.  Do you want babies ASAP?  Than a house is the way to go.  Whatever you decide, be sure it’s the right decision for the both of you.

How Does it Work?

Pink Floyd may have said “‘We don’t need no education,” but boy they couldn’t have been further from the truth.

For every question that you may have, we have a wonderful and brilliant answer for you!

I asked all of our fantastic locators, what was the most asked question by MoveforFREE customers was.  Honestly, the answer was unanimous!  All of them said…

How Does it Work?!!

I think people are skeptical of how exactly we work and how a move can really be free.  So, I decided to lay it all out for you, straight from the horses mouth.  This is exactly how moveforfree works.

Moveforfree.com is a free online apartment locating company.  Like all locating companies, we are paid a commission by properties for referring clients to their properties.  Unlike other locating companies, we share our commission with our clients by offering them a Free Move or a Cash Voucher, if they prefer that over the free move option.  The free move or the cash voucher are a thank you to the customer for using our locating service and listing us as a referral on the guest card and the lease application.

The locators also said that the second most asked question is “What all do you move for free?”  You can find the answer to that question here.

We do all we can to make our customers happy and satisfied.  We even have customers that use us every time they move.  Like this guy who was a three time moveforfree veteran.

We have been around for 10 years and we plan to be around for many many more.

You have just been educated!!

Recycling in Apartments

Going through and reading San Antonio’s Waste Department’s 40 page “Proposed 10 Year Recycling and Resource Recovery Plan” was actually not as gruesome as it sounds.  There has been a lot of talk lately about San Antonio’s efforts to develop a sound plan for recycling in multifamily communities, i.e. apartment properties.  Right now, the only choices apartment dwellers have is to throw their recyclable materials away in the trash, use a private recyclable collection service or haul their own recyclables to a city drop off location.

Of the four most populated cities in Texas (Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin), only Dallas and Austin have a recycling program for multifamily residents.  Actually, Austin has committed to zero waste in 2040.  Zero Waste = recycling 90% of what else we might always throw away.

Compared to Houston, Dallas, and Austin; San Antonio has the lowest recycling rate at 15%.  In the proposition from the Solid Waste Department, director David McCary suggests the number one thing the city needs to consider is requiring multifamily properties to offer recycling services to residents.  This would improve San Antonio’s recycling rate according to data from the US Census and studies done by Texas A&M Real Estate Center indicating 28% of San Antonians live in apartments or condos.

The proposition suggests several things need to be done in order to implement a city wide recycling program for multifamily properties:

1. Education and training for property managers and employees
2. Help develop efficient programs for property owners targeting the materials that would earn the most revenue
3. Establish policies ensuring the recycling programs will be convenient to all residents living in a multifamily community

Other large cities use rebates and credits, which offset recycling collection costs to residents and property owners, either partially or completely.  However, to be eligible for this credit, a certain number and specific types of materials are required to be collected by the property.  They may also have to submit a plan to the city outlining their recycling education plan for the residents of their community.

My main concern while doing research for this article was what would be the added cost for recycling for residents of a multifamily property.  Right now I only pay around $4.00 a month for trash. Would there be an extra fee for a recycling program too?  If there was, could I opt out of the service if I don’t wish to participate?

I think it would be great if there was an easier way for apartment dwellers to be able to recycle.  The city has a 10 year plan to increase the recycling rate from 15% to 40% by 2020.  Hopefully this will be a “pathway to zero waste.”

What do you think about this new plan?  Do you think it will help reduce the amount of waste in landfills?  Would you pay an additional fee to be able to recycle?  Would apartment properties increase rent because of this?

Mobile Site

Ok MoveforFREE fans… two scenarios for you.

# 1

Isn’t frustrating when you are on your smart phone and you pull up a website and it’s just a tiny version of the one on the web?  You have to pinch and squeeze and it can be super hard to navigate.   It’s so nice when a site has a mobile friendly version.  Like Chase Bank or Twitter.

#2

Picture yourself driving around town looking for a new apartment.  Ok now picture how tiring it is going in and out of every apartment you think looks like it might be decent.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could pull up a handy mobile list of what you’re looking for right on your smart phone?

The future is now folks!  That’s right… MoveforFREE.com is now smart phone friendly.  Just type in moveforfree.com into your browser and you will see this…

Just select the metro area you are looking in from the quick search menu.

Once you select your metro area it will take you to some more options.  You can search by city, zip code, street name, or property name.

Say you wanted to look at all the apartments on a certain street… this is what the next screen would look like.  You can indicate number of bedrooms, and minimum and maximum price for rent.

Then you can look at the specific properties within the parameters you have just set.  Plus you can even call the property directly from this screen, just by clicking on the phone number!

Do you want to know when the property is open or how many different floor plans they have and what the rent is?  Just click view detail on the property.

MoveforFREE.com has always been about making things easier for our customers.  THIS my friends will make your apartment search mobile and on the go!  And WAY easier.  Also, be sure to check out the map feature.  This will help you find the specific property you are looking for.  And don’t forget this will make it easier than ever to register.  You now can register on your phone.  How cool is that?!

You no longer are restricted to a desktop or searching for a wi-fi hotspot.  Over one- third of all humankind now has access to the internet via mobile device.  Way wait to try this out!  Go now and let us know what you think.

I will never move myself again!

Truer words have never been spoken.

Since I have been living on my own, just over 6 yeas, I have moved 4 different times.  And one of those times was cross country.  (over 1000 miles)  And all of those times I did it on my own, with a little help from my friends.  But now that I have MoveforFREE.com in my life.  I no longer need to bribe my friends with free food and a contract to help them move in the future.

So when it came time to move again I couldn’t wait to actually MOVE.  Knowing that it was taken care of totally took the stressfulness out of moving.  Yes there was packing and cleaning but, all of that seems minuscule when you have movers.  The movers called me 20 minutes before they arrived.  It was great to see Brian again and he brought his partner Justin   They were done packing up the truck within a half an hour.  They handled my boxes and furniture very carefully and were super friendly.

I guess I better start moving boxes..

Oh wait!  I don’t have to move my boxes…

So, I’ll just sit here and wait!

MoveforFREE.com to the rescue!!

Brian (one of the movers) goes over the inventory with me.

Brian and Justin start moving my stuff into the truck.

Here are our moveforFREE tucks!

They handled my furniture very carefully!

I HIGHLY recommend MoveforFREE.com to everyone looking for a new apartment!  Seriously, why would you move any other way.  After not lifting a finger except to snap some pictures I will never move myself again.

Thank you MoveforFREE.com!!