Organize for Moving Out
Move-out day has a tendency to sneak up on everyone. You've just raised your head from your last final and now you're faced with the packing nightmare. Here are our pointers for a successful move-out:

Find out the exact date and time that your lease ends and plan to be completely moved out by that time. Staying past the cut-off time is costly because it causes problems for the landlord. Check your lease for the "holdover" penalty. Most 12-month leases do not cover an entire 12-month period, which is a surprise to many students. The gap between the time your lease ends and the time the next lease starts are intended to give the landlord time to "turn over" the rental and do any maintenance work and cleaning needed.

Notify the utility companies, including phone and cable that are in your name of the date they should terminate your service. Give them the forwarding address for sending you the final bill.

Pack and remove all of your belongings and also any items unclaimed by any of your roommates. Avoid the risk that the landlord's costs for hauling trash and discarded items away will be deducted from your security deposit.

If you are charged a cleaning fee, find out if your landlord will compensate you if you clean the apartment yourself. Your lease should clearly explain if you have this option. If you don't have this option, leave the apartment as clean as you found it. The Golden Rule applies especially well here.

You must notify your landlord in writing within four days after termination of your occupancy of the forwarding address where you may be reached or where you will receive mail. If you fail to do this, your landlord is not obligated to give you an itemized list of damages claimed against your security deposit.

Get Competitive If You Still Haven't Found a Subtenant
In January we talked about how to find someone to sublet your room/apartment/house for spring and summer. Our top piece of advice was to start early. Now it's 4 months later and a whole different ballgame as the number of prospective subtenants has dropped to a very selective (or maybe procrastinating) few. Now our top piece of advice is to negotiate the rent price. You may only be able to sublet your room or apartment for 75% of the monthly rent, leaving 25% of the rent for you to pay each month. Close to 50% may be a more realistic figure. You'll need to make the hard choice about whether it's worth subletting to collect just a portion of the monthly rent and incur the risks associated with subletting (e.g., damages, collecting unpaid rent) or whether to pay the entire rent yourself, even though you won't be living there.

If you want to give finding a subtenant your best shot, adjust the rental rate in your advertisements, beef up your ads to highlight special features (e.g., air conditioning), make sure your rental is in good repair and kept clean so that prospective subtenants don't turn away, and work out any unresolved issues with your roommates and landlord about the sublease arrangements so that the subtenant isn't scared away by tensions or unanswered questions.

Prepare Now for Power Outages Caused by Spring Storms
Power outages may be caused anytime of year by weather, animals, and accidents. Here in Ann Arbor the majority of outages come from storms, especially during spring season when the weather is the most erratic. Here are recommendations for preparing for power outages, provided by the City of Ann Arbor:

Have several flashlights placed throughout your apartment/house.

Keep extra flashlight bulbs and a back up supply of batteries.

Have a fire extinguisher readily available, particularly in places where there is an open flame, such as in the kitchen if there is a gas stove.

Have several battery-operated smoke detectors and, depending on the size of your rental, at least one carbon monoxide detector installed and functioning as a back-up to any electric detectors, particularly near the bedrooms. Keep a supply of batteries for the detectors.

If your rental is missing working smoke detectors and doesn't have at least one carbon monoxide detector and fire extinguisher, talk to your landlord about getting these items installed. You may need to pay for the non-mandatory items, but it's worth it for your safety and peace of mind.

Get renter's insurance to cover any damages to your personal belongings. You can usually get inexpensive coverage through the same company that insures your vehicle.

After a power outage:

Use a battery-operated radio to check for any emergency reports or broadcasts.

Minimize opening and closing the refrigerator/freezer so the cold temperature can be maintained as long as possible to prevent food from spoiling.

Keep a record of any damages to your personal property related to the storm. Contact your renter's insurance agent about filing a claim to recover your losses.

Don't Abandon Your Bike
Your bike needs periodic care and attention. While it can go for weeks without being ridden and still be in fine shape, it's important not to forget about it. You should make sure that you keep the air pressure in its tires up to the recommended inflation level, as well as check that all the screws, bolts and nuts are tightened. By keeping your bike well-maintained, it will last longer and run smoothly.

Hundreds of bicycles are abandoned on campus at the end of the academic year; they are collected by DPS and, if unclaimed after one month, will be sold or given away. Mandatory registration of bicycles with the Ann Arbor City Clerk's office can help reunite bikes with their owners.