(This post is brought to you by ServiceMaster Restore.)

Remodeling your home is a huge undertaking. You’ve probably been saving for years so you could build your dream kitchen or bathroom. Now that the time is finally here, you’re eager to start knocking down walls and demolishing cabinets. However, before you begin altering your space, use a pre-remodeling checklist to keep your project on track.

Write Down Agreements With Your Contractors

Choosing your contractor is the first essential step in beginning your renovations. Always search for licensed, insured, and experienced professionals, to make sure they have the necessary skills to perform your job successfully and on time. You also want to make sure they hire their own employees or have good relationships with reliable subcontractors.

With your contractor chosen, it’s time to narrow down the terms of your agreement. The contractor you picked probably gave you an estimate before being chosen, so keep that handy throughout the renovation as proof of what you promised to pay. Make sure your agreement includes detailed information about the work that needs to be completed as well as specific materials and finishes to be used. Communicating clearly will make the entire project easier for everyone by making it less likely mistakes will be made and more likely the work will be completed on time.

Pack Up All Your Non-Essentials

When your renovation begins, your home will officially become a construction zone. Dust and debris will cover practically every surface of the work area as workers rip out walls and remove flooring. That’s why you should make a point to clean out the rooms being renovated as much as possible. Not only will all your belongings be in the way of the workers, but your stuff will also get filthy.

Put all your items into boxes and store them in another part of your home. (It’s also a great time to go through your items and get rid of things you no longer use.)

Make Plans for Using Alternate Spaces in Your Home

With your kitchen or bathroom out of commission until further notice, you’re going to have to make some changes to keep your home functional. Ordering pizza for dinner every night or stopping over at the neighbor’s every time you have to use the bathroom isn’t effective in the long run.

Instead, try to set up replacement rooms in your home. Obviously, if you have an additional bathroom, this isn’t a problem. However, most people don’t have two kitchens in their homes. Make up for this by moving your microwave, coffee maker, toaster, and other small electronic appliances into another room where you can prepare meals. It won’t be a good setup for cooking Thanksgiving dinner, but it should suffice until your job is done.

If you don’t have another bathroom, you’ll have to consider other options, like renting a portable toilet. This type of toilet can be placed in your backyard for your essential needs until your new bathroom is complete.

Have you recently completed a remodel? We’d love to hear your tips. Also, we’d love to see your before and after pictures—click here to send an email.

(A big “thank you” to TruGreen for sponsoring this post!)

Even in a seller’s market, you’ll want to take a strategic approach to make sure your home sells as quickly as possible—and for the best price possible.

There are four key elements you can take into consideration when preparing to sell your home.

Curb Appeal

A good first impression will likely have a major impact on whether potential buyers even bother to take a closer look. Most buyers will form a first impression within seconds(seven, to be precise), and this means that how the front of your house and yard looks is crucially important. Things that might help include painting, putting in a new door, adding lighting, and taking care of your lawn.

Timing is Everything

Next on the list is timing. If at all possible, try to put your house on the market during the peak selling months in the spring and summer. Many buyers like to shop when the weather is nicer. Many parents also try to time a home purchase and move over the summer months so their children can be in a new school district before the next academic year starts.

During the fall and winter months, the housing market tends to slow down as kids return to school and the days grow shorter.

Look at Your Neighborhood

Sometimes things that don’t belong to you can have an impact. Cleaning up common areas around your neighborhood can also make your home look more attractive.

Make a Good First Impression Inside the Front Door

As we all know, kitchens can sell houses. However, when it comes to that quick sale, your hallway can be even more important. This almost relates to curb appeal and those first impressions that visitors get as they enter your home. Your hallway is most likely the first thing they will see, so keeping this spacious, free of clutter and in general good condition should be at the top of your to-do list.

(A big “thank you” to our friends at porch.com for sponsoring this post!)

Moving is stressful at best (we don’t need to remind you about the countless reports that have been commissioned on that). However, when you are relocating to a completely new area, you have even more factors to fuel anxiety.

Even with help from pros like those at Den moving companies, there are a lot thing you need to sort out before committing to a big move.

Research, A Lot

First, you need to invest some serious time into conducting the right type of research. That includes making getting information from non-biased sources or people who know the area but don’t have a vested interest in having you move there. This might mean speaking to several real estate branches in various areas. You can also look into statistics about areas you are considering. Learning about things like the median price and sized of homes, average commute times, access to goods and services, and crime statistics can provide a big overview of an area.

Are there any warning signs?

Once you think you have found your area of choice, continue to scrutinize it. After all, a mistake at this point could be costly and keep you from enjoying life in a new city.

Are there an unusually high proportion of people interested in moving away?  Does it look like a place where you would feel comfortable living? Do you want to live in an area with meticulously groomed landscaping? Or are you more interested in finding a neighborhood where people are playing outside with their kids? If the neighborhood doesn’t “feel” right when you actually visit it, it’s probably worth reconsidering whether you’re willing to making a short commitment to rent—or a long term investment if you plan to buy a home.

What will the area offer you?

Of course, you can live in the “best” neighborhood in the land, but that doesn’t mean to say that it is suitable for your needs. If you are the young and trendy type, there’s every chance that you will want bars, coffee shops and the like on your doorstep. Or you might also want to focus on finding an established neighborhood with mature trees.

If you’re considering an upscale neighborhood that will likely stretch your budget a bit, also consider other costs you may incur as a result of relocating to that area. Will the property be expensive to maintain in a manner that will meet community standards? When you compare yourself to your neighbors, will you feel pressure to purchase more expensive cars and furniture?

If you have children who will attend nearby public or private schools, try to learn something about the school culture. Will you feel comfortable having your kids in that environment? Even if you’ve selected what’s commonly considered a “good” neighborhood, you need to make sure it will really be the perfect place for your unique family.

How does it impact your work life?

Finally, you don’t want to base your choice of location only on the proximity to work. However, you do need to make sure the commute will allow you to still have a good quality of life. In some cities, even a five-mile commute can take hours to complete. That means you distance isn’t the most important factor. Use a software, such as Google maps, to see how long the driving time is estimated to take during the times you will most likely be traveling to and from work.

(A big “thank you” to our friends at A & A Moving Co. for sponsoring this post!)

Moving to a new home is a tiring process. There is a lot that goes into it, not to mention that you have to do it all around your already busy life. And, if you’re like me, it’s easy to get stressed out trying to figure out how to make everything happen the way it should.

With that in mind, here is a simple checklist of things you need to do when moving into a new home. Hopefully it will make your next move a little less stressful.

Step 1: Find a Good Mover

The first thing you’ll want to do is find a good quality moving company. The pros at A & A Moving Co. know how much is involved in the process, “Packing items in homes, spending days or even weeks loading items in moving trucks and delivering them to new locations is not only time consuming and stressful, but items are not always packed with care. Boxes are sometimes hurriedly packed, not marked, or with special items broken. Unpacking trucks can also be a grueling process, especially after a long drive.”

Unless you don’t have a lot of things, have plenty of time on your hands, and have plenty of people to help you out, you’re probably going to want a mover.

But the quality of the team you hire makes all the difference. A good moving crew can make life so much easier, and a bad one can make your experience even worse.

When looking for a mover, there are three things to consider. First, make sure that the company is fully insured. If something happens to one or more items in transit, you’ll want to have the damage covered. Second, make sure the mover has received good reviews. There are plenty of sites online that review local businesses, so be sure to check them out for any mover you are considering. Finally, compare their rates. Pick a mover that not only has received positive feedback, but that doesn’t charge more than the others.

Step 2: Make a Detailed Itinerary

Now that you have a mover lined up, you can begin getting your home in order. Before you dive in, create an itinerary for yourself. This will be a running list of everything you need to do and everything you have already done. By jotting it down you get it out of your head and down on paper. That way you can feel confident you won’t forget anything.

Step 3: Stay Organized Throughout the Packing Process

If you are packing some of the boxes yourself, it’s important that to stay organized. If you just throw things into boxes without thought, you’ll find that your moving day is more complicated, and that unpacking will be a real headache. Instead, make sure you are labeling each box as you pack it up. Try to keep similar items grouped together, and don’t overload any of the boxes (for instance, don’t fill a big box with books). It might take you a little longer to pack up, but you’ll reap the benefits when you get to your new home.

Step 4: Make Sure Your New Home is Ready

With your old home ready to go, now it’s time to check on your new home. Make sure you have the date secured, so that there isn’t anyone still living in the home when you get there. You’ll also want to talk to the utilities companies so that everything is still running when you move in. The last thing you want to do is move into your new home and find that the electricity isn’t turning on, or that you won’t have Internet for a week.

Step 5: Take Your Time Unpacking

After you move everything in, you’ll likely be exhausted. However, you’ll also be anxious to get everything unpacked so that you can be completely done. During the unpacking phase, try not to rush. You have plenty of time to unpack everything. You can’t get it all done in a day. Rushing just leads to exhaustion and exhaustion could lead to breaking things—or at least making a huge mess! Take a few days if need by and get the packing done a little bit at a time.

Step 6: Make Your New Home Livable

Finally, it’s time to make your new home a place you can live in. Start decorating the way you like, organizing things like your bookshelves and cabinets, and starting cleaning things like the windows and floors. There will likely be dust and dirt tracked in during the move, so take the time to really scrub everything down. Once you’re finished not only will you have a place that is set up like you want, but it’ll be clean enough to live in as well.

And that’s it! When broken down into the steps above, the moving process doesn’t sound too bad. Just take everything one step at a time, remember to relax, and you should have no trouble reducing the stress that comes with moving.

(A big “thank you” to our friends at Livable for sponsoring this post!)

Moving can be stressful, and if you’re not organized while trying to move, it can make it even worse. Thankfully, making a few smart moves can make your transition easier.

1. Purge Early

You don’t realize how much stuff you have until you need to pack it all up. One way to ensure you easily get through all your belongings is to purge early. As soon as you know you’ll be moving it’s a good idea to start going through closets, basements, attics, and other storage areas. Make three separate piles: keep, donate, and trash. Anything in the trash or donate piles should be taken out of your home immediately. By purging, you can rest assured you’re not wasting time and money packing up things you won’t need.

2. Hire a Full-Service Moving Company

While using a company may cost a little more than doing it yourself, it brings along a lot less stress. A full-service moving company will not only haul your moving boxes and furniture to your new place, but they’ll even pack it and store it for you if desired. According to Livable, a storage facility out of Boston, “Full-service moving companies allow you to handle your move on your schedule. From packing to shipping to storing to delivery, everything is done as easily as possible.” In my experience, our family’s international full-service moves were less stressful than our local DIY moves.

3. Use Lists

If you decide to pack yourself, you can stay organized by using lists. For instance, have a binder or notebook on hand when you start packing. Then, label every box with a number. In your notebook, write down the box number and then list the items inside that box. This way, if you get to your new place and are in desperate need of your pizza cutter, you know which box to look in instead of digging through random boxes until you find what you need.

4. Be Color-Coordinated

Along with the list, you should also consider color-coordinating your moving boxes. For instance, place a yellow sticker on all boxes for the kitchen, blue stickers on items for the living room, red for the bathroom, etc. By doing this, you’ll know which rooms to put certain boxes in as you move in. This way, you’re not shuffling through all your boxes in the garage. Instead, you can get a jump start on organizing your home.

5. Designate Tasks

If you have people helping you with the move, it becomes more efficient if you give everyone a specific task. For instance, delegate some people to pack while others bring the boxes into the truck. Or put someone in charge or labeling boxes and filling out your notebook. When everyone has a specific task in mind, it will create less chaos around the house and help you keep an organized and efficient process.

6. Plan Ahead for Pets and Kids

There will be a lot going on during your moving day, so it’s a good idea to make advanced plans for pets and/or kids. For instance, see if a neighbor, friend, or family member can keep an eye on your pets or kids while you’re moving items out of the old house. This will create less for you to look after, and you also don’t have to worry about closing doors behind you or someone getting lost in the shuffle. In addition, if you need to stay in a hotel for a few nights in between the move, it’s a good idea to either confirm it’s a pet-friendly hotel or find a local boarding facility that will keep your pets safe for you.

7. Confirm Dates and Times

Whether you’re moving your belongings on your own or relying on a third party, it’s critical to confirm dates and times with anyone involved in your move. For instance, be sure moving trucks will arrive at the right location and at the right time. Make sure any closing dates and times have been confirmed, and finalize any other important dates before you start to move. The last thing you want to do is be waiting on a truck to arrive—or have a crew waiting at the wrong address—because you didn’t take the few extra minutes to confirm the appointment.

Moving can be stressful, but if you do everything you can to stay organized during the process, the transition will be much easier.

The Best Ways to Achieve a Quick Home Sale

Invest in a good home inspection

The last thing a seller wants to hear is that a homeowner’s inspection exposed a serious problem. This can cost lengthy delays, added expenses and possibly the loss of a sale. Before going through the trouble of finding the right realtor, negotiating a fair asking price and clearing out your home for showings, invest in a home inspection. Companies like HomeTeam specialize in home inspections for buyers, sellers, and realtors. The small financial investment you make will pay large dividends by reassuring you that everything is in check. If the inspection should reveal a problem that needs your attention, you can take care of it before you list your home.

Curb Appeal will Help your Home Sell Quicker

The best way to attract potential buyers is to make your home stand out. While you can’t change the design of your home, you can make it attractive on the outside. Take a stroll around the property to see what areas need the most attention. If you have a fence that’s a few years old and showing signs of wear, you can either paint it or replace it. Around your home, it’s beneficial to remove branches and debris, trim shrubs and make any minor repairs to your driveway, walkway or deck. Also, make sure to mow your lawn for the listing picture. Many people looking to buy their dream home check new listings daily and here first impressions really matter.

For a Quick Sale try Staging your Home’s Interiors

A potential buyer wants to walk into a home and imagine their furnishings in it. If your home has a lot of clutter it may appear smaller than it actually is. This can turn away a potential sale. Instead, clean out your home and put extra items in temporary storage so that it appears open and large. There are also a number of ways for short money that you can make it attractive and stage your home to sell faster and to attract more interest in the property. Add a fresh coat of paint to bedrooms, your kitchen, living room, and dining room. Replace curtains with sheers that brighten up the interior. Also if your hardware on closets, doors, and cabinets is outdated, replace them. The same goes for faucets in your kitchen and bathrooms. These minor changes will allow the home to show well and get your asking price.

Depersonalize for a Quick Home Sale

While you love the colors and enjoy seeing the family photos displayed on hallway walls, someone looking to purchase your home may not. Someone looking to buy a home wants to see a clean slate with lots of potential for their finishing touch. For a quick home sale, remove the knick-knacks, take down the pictures and paint walls that have bold colors. A neutral palette and a clean space let a buyer use their imagination to customize it to their liking. If you choose not to do this, many will not be able to see past it and decide instead, to simply walk away.

Get a Reputable Realtor to Sell your Home Faster

Of course, you can declutter and add curb appeal and still not sell your home quickly if the asking price is out of line with the value of the neighborhood. Signing on with an experienced realtor can play a vital role in selling your home quickly. The longer a home sits, the more likely you are to reduce the asking price. Instead, sign up with someone who knows the area, the recent home sales and what it takes to attract buyers. An experienced realtor will know what a fair asking price is for your home and the area. This will get you the best chance for achieving a fast sale and help you to close on the other end in a timely fashion.

Before putting your home on the market for sale make sure that you invest in a home inspection, make minor repairs and stage your home so that it looks its best to potential buyers. By doing this, you’re giving yourself the best chance possible for achieving the ultimate goal, a quick sale.

For more home selling tips on Stagetecture, visit our archives

If buying a house is only going to be made possible with a generous inheritance from your parents or a lottery win, think again. There are several ways you can own a home while you’re still young. Take a look at these first time home buyer tricks that can help.

How to Afford to Own a Home By Age 30

Buying a House: Consider investing with friends and family

Buying a property on your own can be tough financially. That’s why more homeowners are investing in property with friends and family. It makes sense to share a load of the costs in return for a bigger house or a property in your desired location.

Consult with your bank to find out what loans allow you to buy with a friend or that have a reduced risk if your parents are prepared to be a guarantor. Remember to draw up the right legal documents should ownership problems arise like if someone can no longer finance the loan or wants to sell. Here are some good tips to remember when buying a house with family members.

How to Buy a House: Try your hand at “rent-vesting”

If you simply can’t afford to buy into the suburb you want to live in, try your hand at rent-vesting. This means you buy a property to rent out and rent a place in a location you like. You get to live in a place you love and someone else is contributing to your loan repayments. You could also be enjoying some tax deductions too!

Just remember to look for property in areas that have a high rental demand. You don’t want to own a home that can’t be rented out. Rent on top of full loan repayments will be a disaster.

Consider Buying a House in another locale

Living in cities or premium suburbs can be expensive wherever you live in the world. Moving out of town to a country area could be a great way to make buying a property more affordable. Take land for sale in the Geelong region for example. It’s much cheaper to buy in this regional area than purchasing a property in the middle of Melbourne.

Our advice is to look for areas that have great amenities like shopping, schools and public transport, and areas with an hour or two from a major city. This will make the transition to country life much easier and a more appealing investment long term.

For a First Time Homebuyer – Get the right tools

Sure, it’s a nice thought to be able to own a home, but not realistic for many young buyers. Purchasing a renovator’s delight that needs work can be a great way to get your foot in the real estate door. You have two options when buying a home that needs some TLC: Firstly, you could get on the tools and flip the property quickly and reinvest or you could hire a custom home builderƒ and create a home you want to live in for many years to come.

Either way, make sure you crunch some numbers before you invest as renovating can drain the bank very quickly!

Save Up Money to own a home

If moving back in with your parents isn’t an option, saving money on rent through house sitting may be a great option. Becoming a house sitter allows you to live on your own without the added expenses. This means you can save the money you’d be paying in rent and bills to put towards buying your own home.

Housesitter.com has some good resources on how you can become a housesitter.

Our tip is to look for the more long-term house sitting gigs and set up a plan to put the money saved in rent into an investment fund. This will help you save money while still having a place to live. This especially works in locations where homeowners travel much of the year and need dependable people to watch over their homes.

For more home real estate and first-time home buyers tips, look through Stagetecture’s archives.

3 Money Saving Moving Tips To Consider Before you Relocate

All of that aside, you can save money on your move. There are a few things that you can do to make sure that you don’t blow your entire moving budget. These things are all small things too. Let’s take a closer look.

1. Moving Tips: Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

If you decide that you will be hiring professional movers like North American moving company, try to book the move a minimum of 6 weeks ahead of time. This gives you enough time to complete a thorough check when it comes to the service they offer before you sign a contract. This also gives you the time to negotiate and shop around. You should always get estimates from a minimum of 3 different moving companies and compare the services offered as well as all of the charges and fees.

Another tip for relocating your family when it comes to professional movers is not to assume that the pros will be upfront regarding all of their additional fees. It is easy to make an assumption that the price they quote will be the total price for the move. Sometimes, it really will be, then again, there will also be times when the rental agent needs to add fees or charges for services that weren’t anticipated. It is always a good idea to determine before the move exactly what services will be needed.

2. Consider these Moving Tips: What Season are you Relocating?

Moving tips are important when you’re not sure what is the best time of year to move. Most of us don’t have an option when it comes to when we will be moving. However, if you do have this option, try not to move during the peak season for moving companies – in the summer. Because this is the peak season for moving, the moving companies will be at their busiest and they will also be costlier. If you do have to move in the summer and have kids who are school aged, think about booking the move the day after the last day of school. If your move will be from July through September, try to book the move for a weekday because this will typically cost less and be easier to get the day that you need. For more moving tips look to LifeHacker.

3. What Type of Packing Material will you Need for your Move?

If you will be doing your own packing as opposed to the moving company doing it for you, you will need to have the right packing materials. Now, you can go out and buy boxes, tape, markers, and bubble wrap as much as you want, but you will be wasting your money. You can get free boxes from grocery stores, liquor stores, and offices in your area. You should start making the rounds to collect boxes as soon as you know you will be moving.

If you have kids, there is a good chance that there are already markers that you can use to mark the boxes with in your home. Tape too.

Bubble wrap is totally unnecessary. You can pack your fragile belongings and keep them safe by using things like old newspapers, sheets, blankets, pillow cases, towels, and comforters. You can even wrap each drinking glass and keep it safe by putting them in clean socks. The glasses slide right in and are protected.

If you are creative with packing, you won’t need as many boxes too. For example, things that are in drawers don’t need to be moved to boxes. You can take the drawers out, full, as it is, and wrap the entire thing in cling wrap. This saves space and boxes. Most of us already have cling wrap in our homes too. If you have kids, toy boxes can be wrapped the same way. Put all of the toys inside and then wrap the entire thing with cling wrap.

Moving can be expensive and a massive headache, but with careful planning and a bit of organization, it really doesn’t have to be.

For more moving tips on Stagetecture, look to our moving articles archives.

A new construction home can be exciting, right? Everything is new, but it also can be a challenge – everything is new! In fact, it can be an expensive investment that requires a lot of thought and careful planning. It’s easy to feel like you’re lost at sea when you enter the real estate market, particularly if you’re considering a new construction home. There are many benefits to new construction, but there are several things to watch out for as well. Make sure you’re going into your home purchase in the best possible way by following these tips for buying a new construction home.

First Time Buyer? How to Choose a New Construction Home

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Remember the Necessities for your New Construction Home

The idea of being the first to live in a new home is attractive to many people, but it comes with a down side that many do not anticipate. When you buy a new construction home, you are buying just the home. It will be a sort of blank canvas for you to paint upon. This means that you will have to worry about things like fences, appliances, landscaping, and a dozen other concerns. Be sure you’re ready to make the investment in turning your new house into a home.

Consider the Location when Looking at New Homes

New construction has a tendency to stand alone in areas that were largely unoccupied before. Be sure to think long and hard about the location of your new home. Some new construction is built on lots in already established neighborhoods, while others may be part of large residential development projects. There may be an uncertain future for your home’s location–try to gather as much information as possible about the surrounding area to get a feel for the new neighborhood. We like these tips when choosing a new home.

Beware of Defective Construction

One of the biggest problems that new construction home buyers run into is a latent defect. Your new house might appear to be perfectly built, only to present with expensive problems later on. You might find leaks when the first rain storm hits, or you could be surprised by poor electrical wiring when your power fails. Be sure to research your builder’s reputation before you enter into any agreements, and have the home professionally inspected before you officially take possession of the home property.

Ask About a Warranty When Looking at New Homes

Many areas now require a warranty on new construction homes according to law. This is meant to protect buyers from the danger of possible defects in construction. Be sure to ask lots of questions about your warranty–you don’t want to simply take the builder’s word. Whether you’re dealing with a reputable builder or a newer upstart, be sure to get all the details on a possible warranty before making any agreements.

Check Your Builder’s Past Work & Reputation

It would be a good idea to get a look at a few builders’ previous work when you shop for new construction. Research if they have or have had construction insurance when building your home. Ask for tours of some previously built homes to get a feel for the kind of work you can expect. You should never go blind into a new construction deal. Get the straight story from your own two eyes, and believe it when you see it. Always be cautious about new construction–you may love your new home, but only if it’s built right.

For more moving tips on Stagetecture, click here.

5 Advantages of Renting A Home Rather than Buying

If you’re trying to decide what you should do, consider these benefits of renting:

1. Should you Buy or Rent? If you Rent – No High Upfront Costs

When you’re renting, the only upfront cash payment is your deposit, which is typically one to two month’s rent.

When you’re buying, it’s one thing to qualify for a mortgage. It’s another to come up with the cash you’ll need before you even make that first monthly payment.

• An advantage of renting is no down payment. This is the biggest chunk of cash you’re probably ever going to need in your life. Although you can get loans with lower down payments, the benchmark figure is 20 percent of the sale price of the house. Saving that amount can take a long time, and borrowing it from family or against a 401(k) retirement plan, for example, poses other issues. The one thing you don’t want to be is “house poor,” with all of your available resources tied up in your house and nothing available for emergencies like illness or loss of a job.
• Closing costs. You think you’re out of the woods and then you’re hit with sale closing costs that include realtor’s commissions, mortgage loan fees, escrow and title company fees, inspection fees, appraisal fees, and pro-rated property taxes. Closing costs average an additional 2 to 5 percent of the purchase price.

SF Gate gives some good tips and information about the advantages of renting vs. buying a home or apartment.

2. Apartment Advantages could mean Access to Lifestyle Amenities

When you buy a house, what you see is what you get. Maybe you’re in the enviable position of being able to buy a house with a pool, a tennis court, a fully-equipped gym, or whatever other amenities would make you happy. If that’s the case, go for it! Otherwise, you’ll have to search all that out elsewhere.

But, if you’re looking for apartments for rent in Ontario, CA, for example, you can move into a community with amenities that rival the best in resort living. And the best part may be that you never have to worry about taking care of them.

3. No Maintenance Worries or Costs

When you buy a house, you’re buying every problem that comes along with it. Appliances stop working, plumbing fails, roofs leak, windows break, trees need trimming, ants take up residence, air conditioners quit on the hottest day of the year, etc.

Every once in a while, the whole place needs to be painted, too, and so on and so on. It’s all inevitable and just part of living. The same things happen when you’re renting, of course, but you’re not the one on the line for fixing them.

Lifehacker gives tips whether you should buy or keep renting.

4. Renting Could Be Safer if you’re a Traveler

Renting is a particularly good choice if you travel for work or just like to take off for time away on the spur of the moment. All you’ve got to do is make sure you turned out the lights and didn’t leave the oven on, and you’re free to lock the door and go.

Someone else is responsible for watering the lawn and making sure the trash is collected. You’ve also got no worries about something happening to a house while you’re gone. And, with the security of most rentals, you don’t have to be concerned about break-ins, either. When you have a leasing company they also can give you tips on how to keep your rental secure, as well as the advantages of renting.

5. More advantages of renting: You Can Move When You Want To!

When you’re renting, with the help of companies for residential moves you can move when your lease is up to accommodate a change in jobs or other plans. If you own a house, you can be stuck where you are for a lot longer than you’d like to be if market conditions don’t favor a quick sale. And that’s another thing. The real estate market can be volatile and you might find yourself needing to sell when it would be more financially advantageous for you to hold on. For more advantages of renting and information on the financial aspects of renting versus buying, check out this article from affordanything.com.

For more home rental and moving tips on Stagetecture, look through our archives here.