Renters are moving experts. After all, they are more mobile than the rest of the population. Thirty percent of renters move every year as compared to 17 percent of the overall population. Some even have it down to a science. After all, why do a spring cleaning, when you can move into a professionally cleaned new home once a year or so?

But even for these renters, moving is a big hassle -- think of the money you have to spend on change-of-address cards and postage alone! Still, renters tend to have less stuff and can get away with moving themselves pretty cheaply across town.

Here are some tips you can use for your next move:

1. Develop a moving plan so moving day doesn't become a frenzied catastrophe. Make moving arrangements as soon as you know you're moving (at least six weeks in advance), especially if you're moving during the summer, which is the busiest and most expensive season.

   Are you going to move yourself with your own vehicle or a rental truck, or do you plan to hire a moving company to move you? If you need a rental truck or a moving company, call at least three companies for estimates (over-the-phone estimates are OK for rental trucks but be sure to get written estimates from moving companies).

   Be cautious selecting a company. Ask friends for referrals instead of relying solely on the Yellow Pages. You want a rental truck that's not going to break down on your way to another town, and you don't want a moving company that is going to damage your belongings.

   You can check on the reputation of a moving company by calling the Department of Transportation at (202) 927-5604 to see if the company is licensed to move interstate. Or you can call the American Movers' Conference, (703) 683-7410 the moving industry's trade organization, to verify that a company is an agent for a particular van line. If you're moving yourself, you're going to need some help. Enlist friends' support or hire day laborers.

   But be aware that your friends and hired hands may be rough with your stuff and the apartment. You might want to teach them some moving skills so your landlord won't charge you for scratches on the walls and floors.

2. Try to lighten your load by weeding through old junk and throwing it away. If you have a lot of excess trash, start throwing it away little-by-little long before the move. Don't overflow the dumpsters on moving day or your landlord may deduct the cost of hauling it away from your security deposit.

   Renters can have yard sales, too. Even if you don't have a yard, you can ask your landlord if you can have a sale. But check with your city's license or permit bureau to see if you need a permit.

3. Contact everyone who needs to know that you're moving.

   Notify the post office, utility companies, bank, magazines, newspapers and credit card companies of your impending move. While you're at it, order your new utilities (phone, electric, and gas) for your new apartment.

4. Coordinate your move with the new people coming into your old apartment and the people leaving your new apartment. At the end of the month, you may not be able to move on the day you'd like if the new apartment isn't vacant yet or the landlord wants to take a few days to paint and clean.

5. Check with the landlord or manager of large buildings to see if you need to reserve a freight elevator or make special arrangements to use the loading dock. Some apartment buildings won't allow you to move in on the weekends.

6. Also find out where you can park the moving van. You may not be able to get close to the front door if there are parking restrictions or if your truck can't fit down a narrow street.

7. Before you leave, clean your apartment thoroughly or hire someone to clean it professionally. Ask your landlord if you should patch any holes in the walls. Walk through the apartment with your landlord to discuss any damage that has occurred.

8. Give your old landlord your new address so he can mail you your security deposit.

9. Conduct a walk-through inspection of the new apartment when the landlord gives you the key. Complete a checklist of all damage to the apartment so that you won't be charged for the existing burn on the countertop when you leave. It's also a good idea to take pictures if there is a questionable item. If the landlord doesn't normally conduct walk-through inspections, do it yourself with a friend as a witness.

10. Read your new lease carefully before you sign. If there are house rules, read them carefully and ask your landlord or manager questions if you don't understand something. If your landlord has promised to install new blinds tomorrow but just didn't get around to it before your move-in date, write this promise or any others on the lease as a condition of the lease.

--- Article by Leta Herman, Inman News Features