Hi renters,

Welcome to Rent Check PHX! I’m so happy to have you here.

In today’s issue, we’re talking about how to ask your friends to help you move—an experience I know incredibly well after over a decade of renting in the Valley.

I also have some cool listings for you, and a space to tell me what you want to see in this newsletter.

Rent Check PHX will hit your inbox every other Wednesday evening, so you can expect the next edition on Aug. 27. Hope you enjoy! 🫶

From one renter to another,

Jessica Swarner

Newsletter Editor, Rent Check PHX

Renting a new place in Phoenix? Here’s how to throw a successful moving party

Good friends help friends through crappy moves. (Shutterstock Photo/fizkes)

Moving sucks. It just does, no matter how you go about it. You’re guaranteed to go through a weird period of having all of your stuff in limbo. And if your lease ends in the summer? I send my thoughts and prayers.

What makes moving less bad, though, is having help. Lots of people hire movers (See r/phoenix for recommendations), and if that’s in your budget, go for it. Having professionals, especially for large and heavy pieces of furniture, can take a lot of stress out of the day.

But I wouldn’t know, because I’ve never felt like I could afford movers. 😅 Instead, I’ve done the same thing lots of people my age have done: throw a little moving party. Here are my tips for seamlessly setting one off.

📆 Pick a day and time to move, and start asking for help.

Do as much planning and prep as you can. Nail down a day and time you’re planning to start moving your stuff, and don’t forget to check the weather—aim for a cool, monsoon-free day to make things easier on everyone. If you need one, reserve a moving truck in advance. Sometimes friends with large cars and trucks can come in clutch and help reduce the need to rent a vehicle.

Then, start hitting up friends and family. Hopefully you’ve mentioned an upcoming move to some people and they’ve offered to help—or you’ve helped others before, and now you can ask for the favor returned. In my experience, people have been more than happy to help out, especially when they’ve been in the same situation before. But if that flaky friend is dragging their feet, don’t be afraid to remind them of the time you watered their cactus, or promise to give them a ride to Sky Harbor for their next flight.

📦 Get your stuff in order.

Pack up all of your stuff in advance in labeled boxes. You can note which room or what level each box should go in, which will save you lots of questions on moving day. Try to minimize the amount of loose stuff you have—the fewer trips people have to make, the better.

But, on the other hand, take into consideration the weight of boxes. Throwing a bunch of stuff into a huge box might sound like a good idea, but be mindful of what people can safely carry—we all know nobody’s got money for medical bills. Books are so much heavier than you think, so maybe fill up the bottom of a box with them, then pack lighter stuff like sheets and towels on top.

Consider picking up some materials that will make the move easier on everyone, like mattress bags, dollies, carts, moving straps, and extra tape. If you don’t want the extra cost, hit up Facebook Marketplace and local groups like Buy Nothing Downtown Phoenix to find some discounted or free supplies.

Read the full story

🛌 If you’re OK with roommates: ANOVA Central Station in downtown Phoenix offers co-living situations. You can rent a bedroom in a four-bedroom apartment for $867-$992 a month or in a three-bedroom for $1,105-$1,192 a month. You can rent a studio, 1-bed/1-bath, or 2-bed/2-bath yourself, but those run $1,200 to $2,450 a month.

🛁 For vintage lovers: This 1930 bungalow at 2220 N. 23rd Place in Phoenix comes fully furnished. The 1,266 square-foot two-bed, one-bath offers a clawfoot tub, covered front porch, fenced backyard with a covered patio, gas grill, and garden beds. It’s listed for $2,000 a month, with yard maintenance included.

📦 If you need space: This two-story home at 4705 W. Sweet Iron Pass in Phoenix offers 2,638 square feet for $2,599 a month. The four-bed, three-bath house also offers a fenced backyard, covered patio, and two-car garage. The rent was originally listed last month at $2,750, and it dropped a few weeks ago.

💸 Let’s dream for a minute: If you love sports and have $9,100 a month to spend on rent, check out this house at 5202 N. 42nd Place in Phoenix. The four-bed, three-bath home isn’t huge at 2,588 square feet, but it does have a big backyard with a full-size pickleball court, basketball hoop, sand volleyball court, fire pit, and pool with a Baja shelf.

If you come across any interesting, weird, or surprisingly affordable listings that you think should be featured here, please send them my way!

Email here

Listings available as of Aug. 13. I’m not paid to share these listings, but that doesn’t mean I can personally vouch for them, so please still do your research before applying and signing a lease!

Welcome to The Tenant’s Voice! I want this section to be a place where we can share our renting frustrations, helpful tips, and pressing questions.

But, since this is our first edition, I want to start by asking: What do you want to see in this newsletter?

What information on renting do you feel like you’re lacking?

What types of content would help you feel seen and heard?

What fun stuff would you like to see: renting wins, renter-friendly design inspo, dream listings that we can all drool over?

Please let me know—we’re always experimenting, so there are no wrong answers! I’ll plan to include some responses in the next edition so you know what other renters are thinking. 🙂

Email here

💰 Need help paying rent in Phoenix? These 10 programs can help. (The Copper Courier)

💸 Arizona expanded its down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers, but funding sources are running dry. (KJZZ)

🏡 With home ownership so out of reach, renters are flocking to suburbs. (NBC News)

🪞 These 10 home decor items look like vintage thrift-store finds—but you can get them at TJ Maxx and Marshalls. (Apartment Therapy)

☠️ Want to test your landlord’s limits? Consider decorating for Halloween with Skelly, the 12-foot skeleton, and his pals. (azcentral)

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