Here are some questions you should ask when you interview potential roommates along with some tips to help you better gauge whether or not the person you’re talking to will be a good fit:

1. How do you want to split the bills?

Most roommates usually split rent, utility and telephone bills equally. However, you and/or your roommate may wish to keep a cell phone and not use a landline service. Be sure to clarify this before you move in.

2. Do you smoke, drink or use drugs?

If both or neither of you smokes, drinks or uses drugs, then you won’t have a problem. But if only one of you does, you may not be comfortable with each other.

3. Will you be inviting over visitors and/or a boyfriend or girlfriend to spend time with you?

If you are a person who likes your privacy, you may have a hard time with someone who is more social and likes to invite people home.  Set up visiting rules regarding who can come over and when, to solve problem.

4. What are your working hours?

You may find it easier to have a roommate that has the same schedule as you do or you may want to stay out of each other’s way by having different schedules. This will depend on what you want from your roommate relationship.

5.  How you feel about pets?

If you have a pet, tell your roommate and ask him or her if this is OK. Don’t forget to ask if he or she wants to get an animal pal, too.

6. Do you have any diseases, allergies and/or medical conditions that should be known about?

This is an extremely important question to ask because you may not feel comfortable living with a person who gets diseases frequently or has allergies. You should also try to ascertain the persons emotional stability as well – you don’t want to live with someone who has a hair-trigger temper or is moody and unpredictable.

Going through this kind of an interview process may seem like a lot of work. But taking the time to talk to potential roommates about the issues surrounding these questions can help you–and the people you interview–whether you have a workable relationship.

When you’re  finally ready to move in with the roommate of your choice, you may want to put some of your belongings in storage. This is where Lone Star Self-Storage can help.  We offer secure units in five different sizes that can help you avoid overcrowding a shared living space. Better still, our contracts are month-to-month, so there’s no long-term commitment required.  When you’re ready to move into the next phase of your life, contact us!

Photo credit: Ambro

Moving can be stressful for your pet

Pets respond to change in much the same way that that humans do so there are some important things to take into account. They can get just as stressed out–if not more so–by  moving because the house or apartment where they live is their habitat both day and night.

The key to a successful move with your dog or cat is to keep their routines as regular as possible in the days preceding the actual move date. You should continue to pursue normal activities and try to keep disruptions to your furry friend’s schedule at a minimum. So if you take Fido on  morning walks or let Kitty out in the evening, then you need to keep doing this.

If you have a family, make one person responsible for looking after your pet during the actual move. If you are alone, either ask a friend to watch over Fido or Kitty or  take your pet to a boarding facility. That way, you can protect your pet from any trauma they might experience as you pack your belongings and move house.

If you keep your animal pal at home, be aware that your pet might become frightened enough by all the unscheduled activity that he or she may run away.  Be very careful about leaving house entrances open, as a stressed-out dog or cat may decide to bolt out the door.

While making a move easier on your pet is important, you also need to make it easier on yourself too. That’s why Lone Star Self-Storage offers storage solutions to lighten your load.  Whatever your need and/or budget we have storage unit that’s just right for you. Contact us today!

Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One thing you can do with your packing materials is repurpose them for use outside in your garden, on your next camping trip or perhaps at an outdoor sporting event. Here is a list of what you can do to make the most of the “industrial leftovers” from your move:

• Use newspaper as kindling – Whether you need to start a campfire or light up the charcoal grill, you can use crumpled newspaper to help you get the flames going;
• Create a compost pile – When you add shredded newspaper to a food scraps, you can create a balanced nitrogen-carbon composting mixture that’s great for your plants;
• Make garden pot “ winter jackets” –  Outdoor potted plants can die from over exposure to cold weather. A way to avoid this is to wrap cardboard, newspaper or bubble wrap around the pots they live in.
• Make your own garden mulch – There’s no need to pay for pricey landscaping fabric when you can use stacks of newspaper or large sheets of cardboard to suppress weeds.
• Use bubble wrap as an outdoor body insulator –  When you go camping, a roll of bubble wrap makes an excellent cushion for your sleeping bag. And if you go to watch an outdoor sporting event, you can use a smaller roll to pad your seat.

Once you’ve unboxed your belongings, you may encounter other dilemmas, like lack of space or a stylistic mismatch between what you own and your new surroundings. Lone Star Self Storage offers safe, inexpensive units of all sizes where you can store things you’re unable to use but don’t want to get rid of. When you’re looking for storage solutions in Austin, let Lone Star help you!

Photo credit: digitalart

Most of the time, landlords do return your security deposit. But you should still take a few precautions to protect yourself and your money.

• Do some research – Before you move in, check your landlord’s reputation. Also do a room by room walk-through of the unit you intend to rent and either videotape or take pictures of what you see.  And before you sign your lease, be sure you understand all terms and conditions.
• Be a diligent resident – On the day you move in and from that day forward, be very careful to not scratch, dent, stain or otherwise damage floors, carpets or walls. Keep everything as clean as you can and don’t let newspapers or trash pile up. Should an appliance break or require attention, tell your landlord immediately and keep records of all repair requests.
• Pick up after yourself when it’s time to leave – Clean your unit thoroughly before you return the keys to your landlord. Also do another walk-through with your video recorder or camera  so that you have a visual record of how you left the apartment or house.

Whether you are moving in to or out of a rental unit, you may find it useful to store your belongings at Lone Star Self-Storage. We offer units to suit every moving need and contracts that are month-to-month.  So when it’s time to relocate, let Austin’s no-hassle storage experts help you get to where you want to go.

Photo credit: SundayMorning

At Lone Star Self-Storage, we understand how important it is to plan your move in advance to make it as successful as possible.  So here are some tips to help to help you transition to the single life with less stress and hassle.

Downsize, downsize, downsize

To do this, you’ll have to go through all your belongings and sell, discard or recycle all the things you don’t need. You’ll have to do this ruthlessly because if you don’t, it will mean more things for you to physically move and also unpack. And chances are, your new home may not have the same amount of space as your old one.

Scrutinize the contents of your closet

Sorting out clothing should be at the top of your list of things to do. The easiest way to go about this is to separate out all clothing items into three piles: keep, donate or trash. Anything you wear frequently should be kept and packed. Clothes and shoes you’ve not worn in the last year should go in the donate pile. Those things that are too old to reasonably continue wearing should go in the trash.

Pack all your other belongings

The first thing you’ll need to pack will be all the items you don’t use on a daily basis. These can include photographs, spare linens and blankets and some kitchen utensils.  Then, a day or so before you move, you should have those things you used more frequently such as towels, a few items of clothing and personal hygiene items. Don’t forget to clearly label your boxes carefully so that you can save time when you unpack.

Figure out a moving strategy

Will you be enlisting the aid of friends to help you relocate or will you be using a moving company? Either option will require advanced planning. If you choose the latter one, get as many recommendations from friends and family as you can and interview at least three companies before choosing the one that will help you. Also consider getting insurance to cover any damage that might occur during the move itself.

Lone Star Self-Storage can be especially helpful to solo movers like you.  That’s because we offer safe, affordable storage options that allow you to travel light while you move and give you time to collect your belongings after the big transition. Let us make your the relocating process easier for you today!

Photo credit: SundayMorning

Here are some tips to help you transition to a new rental:

• Do the research –  You can go about this in one of two ways. First, you can do an actual tour of the place where you want to move. If that’s not possible, then you can always go online to get more information about housing in the city or town you’re moving to.
• Figure out a rental budget – Before you decide on what kind of rental property you are interested in, look at how much money you expect to have coming to you on a monthly basis. Your rent should be no more than 30 to 35% of your total income.
• Look over the property – If you can, it’s wise to investigate the area where you plan to move. You may also want to check the neighborhood and surrounding locale, especially if you have children.
• Choose a home you can easily manage – You may love the idea of moving into a large space, but is that really practical? Larger living spaces usually mean larger expenses for you.
• Prepare your home before moving in –  Before you begin unloading your belongings, make sure to clean your new living space. If you find things that need to be fixed, tell your landlord so that he or she can make the necessary repairs.
• Read your contract and know your rights and responsibilities – When you know the rules governing the place where you’ll be living, you’re much less likely to have a problem when renting. Staying aware of the federal laws that cover tenant/landlord relationships is also a good idea.

Another way you can help yourself prepare for the rigors of relocation is by using storage facility to stash the things you don’t need right away. Lone Star Self-Storage offers clean, safe storage units in five convenient sizes and our leases are month-to-month, so you never need to worry about long-term commitments. When you’re ready to move, we’re here for you!

Photo credit: Salvatore Vuono

The good news is that ways do exist to help you cope with all of the anxiety and nerves. Following is a list of the most common moving day fears along with actions you can take to eliminate them:

• Fear of getting ripped off –  You’ve probably heard stories of how dishonest moving companies will increase the price they quoted you after they have your belongings on their truck and then hold your possessions “hostage” until you give them the money they want. The way you avoid this is to never receive a quote over the phone or from the Internet and make sure the movers come to your house to see what needs to be moved. You should also get at least three in-home assessments from different moving companies and check to see that the people you are dealing with are listed with the Better Business Bureau.
• Fear of too much to do – The best way to deal with this is to have a plan and stick to a strict timeline. You may also find it helpful to designate one room in your home as the place you will keep all important moving paperwork, packing materials and so on. All nonessential items first and then, as you finish each room, cross it off your master list of things to do.
• Fear of damage or loss –  If you own things that are especially fragile or valuable, it’s probably best to carry it with you in your car. If the items are large, you might try to move them to your new place before moving day. Otherwise, you can get moving insurance and/or ask the movers to pack the items in question and be especially careful when handling them.
• Fears about your children –  Try to include your kids in the moving process. They can do things like find out about their new neighborhood and/or city. Older children can help with packing or helping to find movers. The more enthusiastic they are about relocating, the easier it will be for them and you.
• Fear of the actual moving day –  As you load all your boxes into your moving van or truck, you may be feeling especially nervous about leaving the familiar behind you. Try to think of your change of residence as a good opportunity for you and your loved ones to start afresh.

The Lone Star Self-Storage team understands that moving is as unsettling as it is exciting. That’s why we offer caring, personalized service to all of our clients. Regardless of whether you need temporary or long-term storage, we have the solution that’s right for you. Let us help you ease your moving day jitters today!

Photo credit: renjith krishnan

Fortunately, it is possible to get everything done and protect the things you own. Here are some tips that can help you make your move successful and damage-free:

Inventory your belongings – Most home insurance companies require that a home inventory be done prior to  determining a contract. Take pictures and use a video camera to document the furniture and other valuables in your household. Keep receipts and records of all important purchases.

Buy moving insurance – If you plan to use a professional movers to transport items that are expensive and/or valuable, purchasing some insurance is a good idea. If you will be using the post office or any other carrier such as FedEx, DHL or UPS, you may also want to look into some kind of coverage.

Decide how you will pack – A moving company can do the packing for you. That way, if something breaks or falls, the burden will rest with the firm. This is a rather expensive option, however, so  request a few quotes from different companies and check out the history and customer reviews for each one.

Consider the DIY option –  You can always pack everything yourself. Make sure to have all the proper tools on hand such as newspaper, tissue, bubble wrap and lots of padding.

Prepare your new home – Some valuables such as fine furnishings or artwork, need to be located in low traffic and/or low light areas. Once you have determined where these areas are in your new home, you may find it helpful to clean and/or repair them before you actually complete your move.

A Lone Star Self-Storage unit could serve as a secure, temporary waystation between your old and new homes. We carefully monitor our facility – which is enclosed by a perimeter fence – with surveillance cameras and daily walk-throughs. And each and every one of our units is reinforced and comes with its own high-quality lock. When you need a safe place to store your valuables and other valuables, contact us!

Photo credit: digitalart

You can make a transition back to the nest a little less stressful for you by taking the time to do these four things:

• Regroup and set new goals – Think about the bigger picture. This may include drawing up a six to twelve-month plan where you move back home, get a job and then move out again. Be clear with everyone about why you are returning, how long you plan to stay and when you plan to leave.
• Talk to your parents/relatives – You’ll need to have a serious heart-to-heart with the family members with whom you plan on living. This will likely be very difficult as it will force you to swallow some of your pride. You can make it a little easier on yourself by being open, honest and showing them that you have a plan.
• Draw up a contract –  The worst thing you can do is assume that your parents/relatives will take care of you while you are staying with them. Discuss financial arrangements before you move and offer to contribute money towards rent and/or other bills such as those associated with food and utilities. Also offer to help with chores such as cooking, cleaning and doing laundry.
• Be ready to do some soul-searching – If you are moving in with your parents, you may want to reconnect with old friends or find a new hobby. If you are moving in with other family members, this might be a good time to solidify interpersonal relationships. Wherever you go, use this time for personal growth and self-discovery.

Putting your things into storage would also be a good idea. That way, you can minimize any inconvenience that extra belongings might cause to your family members. Lone Star Self-Storage can help you find the right-sized unit at just the right price.  Contact us and let us make your move–and life transitions–a little easier!

Photo credit: photostock

Here are some things you may want to think about before you pack up the U-Haul or call the local movers:

• Finances –  You need to make sure that you have–or will have–a job that will allow you to at least pay rent and other bills and let you buy food. You’ll also need to have enough money saved up for your security deposit and for basic furnishings. If you’re just beginning your credit and/or employment history, chances are you may need your parents or friends to help you co-sign or guarantee an apartment for you.
• Where you will move – Once you’ve figured out how much you can afford to pay for rent then you’ll need to choose a neighborhood that’s right for you. Among the things you’ll need to consider are affordability, transportation issues (e.g., whether you’ll be near public transportation and how much it will cost you to get to and from work) and how close you will be to amenities such as markets, shopping centers and parks.
• Finding an apartment and/or roommates –   It’s probably a good idea to start looking for a place to live a few weeks–and if you can manage it, a month or two–before you actually move. This is because some cities (for example, Austin) have high occupancy rates and it can be quite difficult to locate a place to live quickly.  If you’re short on cash,  roommates can help offset expenses.  You can use the Internet as well as the newspaper and rental agencies to help you find home or apartment shares.
• Set up your utilities – If you move into a new apartment solo, you’ll need to set your apartment up for occupancy. Make sure that you get your utilities–such as electricity, water, the Internet and cable TV–turned on before you move. If you wait until the last minute to do this, you’ll likely be stumbling around by candlelight your first night in your new place.

Another important thing to consider is whether or not you’ll be taking all of your belongings with you or putting them in storage. At Lone Star Self- Storage, you can choose from a variety of different unit sizes according to your needs and budget.    We require no deposit or long-term commitment, so moving in and out of your unit is easy. So when you’re ready to move out into the big wide world, let us help you make that transition a little easier. Contact us today!

Photo credit: Ambro