Moving out of your apartment involves many “to-dos” – hiring movers, packing up, finding a new place to live. But, don’t forget that you are still responsible for cleaning up your current apartment. When you moved in, you probably gave a cleaning and security deposit – this guarantees that when you leave the place, you’ll leave it just as you found it. If there’s any damage, the landlord can deduct the cost of repair from your deposit. If the apartment is dirty upon your departure, the landlord may also deduct the cost of having it cleaned, up to a rate of $20 per hour. While damage may be something beyond your capabilities to repair, a dirty apartment is easy to remedy. Cleaning up and leaving it pristine can save you hundreds of dollars, and you’ll find a little bit of extra cash when you get your deposit back.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Obtain a copy of your original inspection (the one you and your landlord di when you moved in). This will help you get an idea of what needs to be done.
• Ask you landlord to do another walk through with you, and note down things that need to be cleaned or repaired. If anything needs to be done professionally, ask him to get a quote. See if you can get a better deal and get it repaired yourself, rather than having your landlord keep your deposit.
• Begin cleaning once you’ve packed up your things, to make it much easier for you.
• Inspect your walls and see what needs to be done. You may have to repair any damage from taping up posters or hammering nails for picture frames. You can easily buy a filler at a hardware store to fill in the holes and cover it up with some paint. For scuff marks, use a magic eraser, which is available in supermarkets.
• Mop up the floor and polish, in necessary. Use a magic eraser to spot clean any dirt. For carpeted rooms, vacuum thoroughly and for more intense stains or stubborn dirt, you can rent a powerwasher (like a Rug Doctor) to clean the carpets.
• For the kitchen, wash out the sink with detergent and toss out any debris. Wipe down the counters with water and mild soap. Clean the backsplash wall behind the stove. Take out the removable parts of the refrigerator and wash them or soak them in the sink. Clean out the inside of the fridge with a sponge dipped in water and soap and defrost the freezer. Check behind the refrigerator as well. Don’t forget to clean the oven – use the self-clean mode or use oven cleaner. Clean up any spills of stains on the stovetop.
• Inspect your cabinets inside and out and clean them with any mild cleanser.
• Look at the light fixtures too – clean any lampshades and bulbs, plus replace any burnt out lights.
• In the bathroom, clean the sink with a disinfectant. Wipe the mirror with a glass cleaner to get rid of any streaks. Clean out the drawers and medicine cabinets. Next, scrub down the tub or the shower; you may need a special cleanser to wash out the soap scum and mildew. Finally, clean the toilet, starting with the top lid, all the way around to the back and the bottom. Use a toilet brush to scrub the inside with a little bit of bleach to sanitize the bowl. Don’t forget to clean under the toilet seat as well!
• Test any smoke alarms in the apartment and replace any dead batteries with fresh ones.
• Remove any food particles from your dishwasher and run it one last time.
• For ceiling fans, wipe the top and bottom sides clean. If the blades are removable, take them off and dip then in soapy water, then dry thoroughly  before re-attaching.
• Dust the blinds or wipe them with a damp rag and clean the windows with a glass cleaner like Windex.
• Take out the trash and any other debris in the apartment.
• After you’re done cleaning, document everything by taking pictures to show that you’ve cleaned the apartment.

More often than not when you move long distance, you can drive yourself and your family to your new home. But sometimes, you may want to fly there or it’s simply impossible for you to move all your vehicles yourself. If you have multiple vehicles or you have sports vehicles (such as boats, jet skis, motorcycles or ATVs), you may want to look into having a professional company do the moving for you. Moving companies may specialize in moving big items.

Prepare your vehicle

It’s a good idea to inspect your vehicle inside and out. Make note of any dents, scratches etc. and take pictures of your vehicle. If you’re having operating problems, tell your mover. Remove all personal belongings. Secure any loose items in the car, to prevent them from shaking or breaking while in transit. Fold down any mirrors and retract any antennas.  Disable any alarms as well. Keep all your documents and make copies.

If you’re moving internationally, you’ll have to inquire with US Customs for any requirements needed to move your car, as well as with your the destination country’s counterpart.

Each moving company will have their different policies of what needs to be done prior to the move, so make sure you check with them. But most will ask to you to drain the gas any leave little or no gas at all – it makes the vehicle lighter and easier to transport.

Finding the right movers

If your moving company doesn’t offer shipping for vehicles, then do ask them for recommendations. They might know of good companies or have worked with them before. They will most likely give you a someone they know or they have a partnership with and you might end up with a discount. Begin your search as early as possible – some moving companies require 1 month’s notice. This will also give you a better chance of getting a delivery date that’s convenient for you.

There are many different types of moving companies out there, with different services. Some will pick up and transport your vehicle from point to point. If you’re looking to save, you may want to ask if your company offers discounts if you deliver it to a transport terminal and pick it up from another one of their hubs. If you’re transporting a car, a moving company may also be able to offer driving services – an employee will pick up your car and drive it to your new home.

You can use the phonebook, internet and classifieds as well, but do your homework. Use the same criteria and process you used when you looked for your house mover – Ask the necessary questions, check if they are licensed and have the proper insurance to operate. For example, a vehicle mover must have $750,000 liability and $5000 cargo coverage. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a website, where you can check a company’s credentials by entering their MC number or DOT License number. Check on references and google the company to see if there are any negative comments about the company.

The cost of your move will vary depending on the type of vehicle, weight and size, the distance of the move, dates and how much insurance you want. Usually, companies will ask for a small deposit or the payment upfront.

Try to get 3-5 moving quotes from different companies. Don’t rely only on the final price to determine which one to hire. Review what the company has to offer in terms of service, to help you make the best decision.

Hiring the movers

Once you’ve made the decision, you can hire the mover of your choice. First, you’ll have to agree on the pick-up and delivery dates. They will give you a delivery time window – usually 3-5 days. If they can’t pick up the vehicle on the dates you want or you won’t be there to receive it, then you’ll have to pay for storage fees.

They will do a full inspection of the vehicle where they will take note of any damage – be present for this because you’ll have to sign the contract. Read the report very carefully, and hopefully, if you’ve done your own inspection, you can point out anything they might have missed.

Once delivery date comes, be prepared to receive your car. Accept the delivery during the day, when you can thoroughly inspect the vehicle. Take note of any damage immediately and inform the mover, so you can make the necessary insurance claims.

Making the necessary preparations, moving your vehicle will be easy. Don’t be afraid to ask your mover questions and explain the terms of any contract before your sign.