Are you ready to move into your first apartment? Are you tired of dealing with your current landlord? If you are considering a move, it is important to budget for the cost of moving. Moving is not as simple as packing up your belongings, paying for your first month’s rent, and settling into your new home. There are several different expenses you will take on as a first-time renter, or a renter looking to move to a new neighborhood or apartment complex. If you want to prepare in advance for the financial investment you will need to make, here is a straightforward guide on the upfront costs associated with moving.

The Costs Associated with Renting your Apartment

Most landlord screen their clients before approving a rental agreement. While the upfront costs a landlord can charge vary from state to state, here are some of the most common costs you will be required to pay as a new tenant:

• Application Fees: Fees are charged per adult. These fees are designed to cover credit checks and background checks as well as the administrative costs of underwriting a rental application. Typically, application fees are between $25 and $35 per adult.

• Deposit: Some states only allow landlords to charge up to one month’s rent as a deposit. While Florida has no legal limits as to the amount of deposit a landlord can ask for, there are competitive limits.  The most common arrangement is to require the payment up front of the first month’s rent, the last month’s rent and a one month deposit, for a total of three months rent up front. Make sure to compare deposits required by various landlords in your area to get an idea of how much you will be asked to pay. If you have bad credit or a pet, you may be required to pay a larger deposit.  Also remember that the landlord of the apartment you currently live in can hold on to your current deposit for up to 60 days in Florida even if he intends to give it back to you.  Since there is also no guarantee that you will get your entire deposit back, you need to assume you will not get your refund before you move into the new place.

• Cost for Keys: You may have to pay for garage keys, gate keys, and access to the laundry room. While these costs are typically low, they are costs you should budget for.

The Costs Associated with Moving Your Belongings

Once you secure your apartment, your financial obligations do not end. If you already have the furniture you need to furnish your new place, you need to find the most cost-effective way to get your stuff from point A to point B. If you do not have a truck, most individuals on a budget find that renting a truck and asking their buddies to help out with the heavy lifting is the most affordable option. Still, you will incur the follow costs:

• Moving Supplies: The cost for boxes, packing materials, dollies, and blankets. Typically, for a small apartment, you can keep the costs for materials below $100 if you are resourceful.  There are often used moving boxes for sale on Craigslist.

• Rental Truck: You should call several rental agencies to compare the cost of renting a moving truck or van for the day. Most agencies charge a daily rate plus mileage. Note that the mileage can really add up.  Other agencies will give you unlimited mileage, which is a good idea if you are moving 10 or more miles away.

• Gas: You must gas up the truck before you turn it in. You may also want to offer your friends gas money for helping you with loading and unloading.

Costs Associated With Furniture

If you are starting out fresh, you may need to buy new furniture for your place. If you do not mind buying used, you can use classifieds ads or Craigslist  to your advantage and furnish your whole home, including the living room, dining room, and bedroom, for $500 or less. If you prefer to buy new, you are going to need to price the cost of pieces with furniture stores so that you can add up the total investment required. Even the most inexpensive sofas cost $300 alone.

Costs Associated with Utilities

You are going to need power at a minimum. In most cases, you will also want cable TV, Internet, and a phone.

• Electric and Gas: In many cases, electric and gas are offered by the same utilities companies. You may have to pay a deposit of $50 to $150 to have your services activated (potentially more, if you have had payment issues in the past).

• Cable, Internet, Phone: If you choose the same service provider, you can pay one deposit for all of the services. Some service providers do not require deposits when you enter into a contract, others require deposits between $100 and $200 when you have bad credit.

Make a list of all of the expenses and determine how much your move is going to cost you upfront. If you find that you have not saved enough to cover the cost, think of resourceful ways to get the cash you need.  One great way to pull together that unexpected cash is a Auto Title Loan from Embassy Loans.  With rates lower than many other loans, and no credit check requirements to slow you down, you’ll find that the team at Embassy can be your best friends during a move.  Give them a call today 866-288-5798 and put your move in high gear!