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When looking into moving companies, there’s more than budget to keep in mind. There are actually three different types of moving companies out there, each of them somewhat different in both price and services offered.

Do-it-yourself moving companies offer rentals of equipment so you can do the moving on your own. If you don’t have a large household to move or if you have enough people to help you put things together, this may be the most cost-effective option. Simply rent the truck or trailer you need and load it up before you’re on your way. 

Self-service movers are a middle ground choice. You will be asked to pack things into moving boxes and get things organized before the movers come and pick things up. During the actual moving day, you won’t be expected to do much except be there to supervise the loading of moving boxes. However, there will be a series of guidelines to follow while packing in order to qualify for moving insurance.

Full-moving companies are the best option if you don’t have the time to do the packing yourself or if you simply don’t want to bother with it. This type of companies handles everything for you, from buying the moving boxes to making sure they are labeled, taped and loaded. While this may seem like the most convenient choice, it’s also the most expensive. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that many full-service companies work only with large moves and will not work with individuals who are only moving a few items.

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Ready for your own home? Sure that you don’t want an apartment? While this may make things simpler, there are still a lot of choices out there regarding homes. Besides the obvious, such as size, location and design, you also need to choose the type of home you want.

Single family homes are the obvious choice for many. They offer homeowners privacy and allow you to have as much land around you as you want, just for yourself.

Multifamily homes can look the same as single family homes, but they are usually found in cities and often don’t have a backyard or land around them. New York City’s brownstones are a good example. These two or three story homes are a great investment choice for those who need supplemental income, as they can be rented as more than one unit.

Co-Ops are a different element. Because you own shares, rather than actual property, your rights and obligations are different. Most co-ops are apartments, but some are now being build as house-like developments, where you have more of a feeling of community living than city dwelling.

What type of house is right for you depends on a lot of factors, so it’s important that you examine your needs and wants before you make a final decision.

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If home ownership is in your near future, there are some things you need to consider long before you take the first step. From what kind of house you want to where you want to live to how much you can pay for it, the considerations are endless.

It all starts with your income. How much do you make, how much do you declare and what your taxes show. If you have earnings on the side that you don’t declare, those don’t count, as any loan you apply for will be based on your declared income. Income can come from a variety of sources, including stocks or real estate investments.

Figure out your debt. Include everything from credit cards to child support. When applying for a loan, companies will look at your total income vs. your current debt to estimate whether you’ll be able to repay the loan. If your expenses and debts take more than 36 percent of your income, you may be a harder time qualifying for a loan, at least one with a low rate.

Finally, keep in mind that the more money you can put down, the better rate you will get on the loan and the more chances that the percent above mentioned will be overlooked. This is especially important if your credit rate is not the best and if you are having trouble canceling all your debts before applying for that loan.

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Ready to remodel? Hiring a contractor can be a daunting experience, especially if you don’t know what to look for. If that’s the case, here are some tips on how to make the right decision.

Ask for a recommendation. If you know somebody who hired a contractor recently, find out how satisfied they were with his performance.

If you can’t find anybody through personal recommendation, it’s ok to check the phone book or do an online search, but make sure that you look for reviews and contact the Better Business Bureau to see if there are unresolved complaints against the company.

As a general rule, contractors who have been in business for a long time are a better choice, as they will have connections with suppliers (and can get you better prices) and will know how to solve pretty much any issue that comes up during construction.

Don’t choose the cheapest option out there. Saving a few hundred dollars can be a mistake if it turns out the contractor uses cheap materials or has no experience with a particular type of remodeling.

Make sure the contract has no hidden fees or clauses. Cleanup and debris removal, for example, should be included in the quoted price. Brand names of supplies to be used and number of items to be bought (or where) should also be specified.

Find out if the contractor has all the necessary insurance and licenses to allow him to get building permits and obtain other paperwork as needed. Keep in mind that a beginner may be charging you less because he’s not able to get everything you need and is counting on you doing it for him.

Be wary of contractors who require a large deposit before they start the job. A small payment is ok to cover start-up expenses, but requesting too much money may lead to the company slacking on the job later on because they have already secured the money.

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If you have expensive or fragile items that you are taking along with you to your new home, you have two options: find a specialist that will pack and ship the items for you or follow some special steps to make sure they stay safe and take them yourself. Which option you choose depends a lot on your budget (moving supplies do cost some money) and how much time you have (if you’re using a company to do it, you will have to fill insurance forms, provide photos of each item, etc.).

If you choose to pack and ship your collectibles along with other household items, there are still things you can do in order to ensure they will make it to their destination in top shape.

1. Wrap each item separately. Use bubble wrap (not newspaper) and secure it with lots of packing tape.

2. If you have the original box for an item, put it inside and then wrap the item with bubble wrap.

3. If the item has small parts that can be removed, do so, to prevent them from breaking off during the trip.

4. Pack the items into small moving boxes, so there is no too much room for them to shift during transit. Fill empty space in the boxes with crumbled packing paper.

5. Make sure there are lots of cushioning material in the cardboard box, both around and in between the objects. Foam peanuts or extra bubble wrap would work.

6. Mark the moving box as FRAGILE. Rather than using just a permanent marker, you may want to buy the red stickers sold at office supply stores. They’re easier to spot.

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If you share your home with a four-legged member, you are probably aware of the challenges involved in making sure everybody’s happy. If that’s the case, here are some tips on keeping the house in top condition but still making it a haven for your small friends.

Reconsider your floors. If you have a dog that sheds a lot, rugs will be a nightmare to clean. The same is true if you’re just housebreaking a new puppy. On the other hand, wood floors can get ruined pretty easily if you have a dog that runs around all day, causing scratches and marks. Laminate is a great alternative for the front or back room that allows outdoor access –If you have dogs, this will make it easy to clean mud prints several times a day.

To keep furniture in top condition, invest in a good cover or have a throw handy so you can cover sofas and chairs during the day, when your dog is likely to sleep on them. And avoid fleece or other materials that are more likely to attract fur.

To protect your pet, remove any objects at low level that can be dangerous. This includes everything from small items that can be swallowed and can cause chocking to cigarette packs (nicotine is poisonous), household chemicals and even plastic bags. Be careful with plants as well, as many are poisonous to animals.

Block any holes or hideaways that can lead to small pets (like ferrets or rabbits) getting stuck. Be aware of cracks or holes in the furniture as well –A small pet can get into the side of a reclining sofa and be injured when the sofa is opened.

If you have a pet that likes to chew (rabbits are the perfect example), make sure there are no live cables around when he’s out of the cage. Even puppies can get into trouble from chewing on wallpaper (and glue) or certain types of plastic, which can be too hard on their throats or stomach if swallowed.

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There is a real difference between buying an apartment (or even a house) and buying a co-op. While the details may escape most inattentive readers, the truth is that your choice of real estate will have a great impact on your economic future and the rights and obligations you are buying into.

The most important difference between apartments and co-ops is that with an apartment, you are buying not only the actual walls where you live, but also the right to the land in which the building is standing. On a co-op, however, you are buying shares of stock to the property itself. You’re not buying a place to live, you’re making an investment into a specific property.

Attached to this comes a series of details. For example, buying an apartment means you get your credit history checked. Buying a co-op means you need to pass a rigorous interview (if the committee doesn’t like you, they don’t have to sell you anything) and more than likely have a background check done.

You are also limited in other areas when it comes to a co-op. For example, you are probably not allowed to sublet or use the place as a weekend stop. Instead, you are expected to live there full time. The same goes when the time comes for you to sell the place. Before you can do that, the Board of Managers would have to approve the potential new owners.

So why do people buy co-ops in the first place? They’re usually cheaper than apartments of the same size. There are also substantial tax breaks associated with owning a co-op. For example, you are not required to pay real estate taxes, since you are technically considered a stock owner, rather than a property owner. There is also an issue of privacy involved, as you are not listed as a property owner in any public record.

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1. Do I have all the right moving supplies? Running out of packing tape or moving boxes in the middle of the process can be distracting.
2. Will I have a place for this particular item in my new home?
3. Will it fit? Large pieces may look out of place if you’re downsizing or if the rooms themselves are small.
4. Does it serve any practical purpose?
5. If not, do I love it enough to take it along anyway?
6. Will it cost less simply to buy a new one? (very important in the case of large or heavy pieces)
7. Is there a chance that it breaks?
8. If yes, what can I do to protect the item?
9. How valuable is it? Collectibles or very expensive items should be insured and shipped separately.
10. Will it survive the trip? Plants will probably not make it on a standard shipping/moving truck.
11. Do I have more than one of this item?
12. If yes, do you need more than one?
13. Is it smart to take it? If you’re moving to Hawaii, you probably don’t need three wardrobe moving boxes of winter clothes anymore.
14. Can you leave it behind? Will it break your heart to do so? If not, you may be better off giving it away to charity or sharing it with a family member or friend.
15. Can I make things play double-duty? Like using your blankets to wrap furniture or fragile items.

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Bigger is not always better. When it comes to buying a home, especially a first home, choosing a small space can actually be the wisest choice.

Assuming a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and a low interest rate (8 percent or less), a small house will probably end up costing you the same per month than you would be paying for rent. This is a huge plus, as many people put off buying a home because they assume the costs would be astronomical. On the other hand, a large house that costs twice what you would normally pay in rent could end up being a huge financial burden.

Smaller houses are easier and quicker to fix, a big plus if you’re planning on selling early or are interested in an investment, rather than looking for a permanent place to live. Also, the smaller the home, the easier it would be to make at least part of the repairs yourself without feeling overwhelmed.

If you’re a first-time buyer who just spent all his money on the down payment, a smaller house could also benefit you because it’s easier to maintain: less electricity, less furniture to buy, less heat needed during the winter to keep the place cozy. While these may sound like small things, they add up over the course of a year.

Finally, buying a smaller home can mean having some money leftover every month to invest in other ventures. For example, you could contribute more to your IRA or 401(k) or buy stocks. You could probably also afford to repair your car without having to use your credit card in the process.

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Whether you’re trying to save money or looking for ways to make your home greener, making your home more energy-efficient is a great idea. Despite what you may think, most of the things that can save you tons of money in the long run are actually cheap and easy to implement.

• Defrost your freezer or consider switching to a frost-free one.
• Keep the freezer as full as possible, since that makes better use of the space and saves electricity.
• Only run machines when they’re full: this goes for the dishwasher and the laundry.
• Make sure the door on your kitchen appliances close properly so there is no leak or energy waste. This includes the oven, refrigerator, toaster oven and microwave.
• Wash your clothes in cold water if they’re not too stained.
• The dryer is pretty much the only appliance that shouldn’t be too full when you run it because it actually spends more energy that way. So load it halfway and make sure the clothes have enough space inside to turn, so they can dry faster.
• Turn everything off if you’re going away on vacation.
• Fix leaks, dripping faucets and toilet tanks that never get full. Even a few drops a day amount to a lot of water over the course of a year.
• Close up any window or door openings so there is no heat escaping or cold wind coming in during the winter. Then lower the thermostat a couple of degrees and use an extra blanket.
• Use low-flow showerheads.

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