It’s time to move to a new place and that means there’s a lot to consider: how will you be moving your things? To what location are you moving? Do you need to sell your old house? There’s a lot to think about when you’re ready to start somewhere new.
Don’t worry. If you follow these simple tips for moving, you’re sure to feel more confident about the whole process. Here’s the key: planning.
Plan For Where You’re Going
The best way to avoid a stressful move is to have a plan. Know where you’re going before it’s time to be out of your old place. That part is crucial. It may seem like a no brainer, but it’s more common than you’d think. You’re not going to couch hop with all your belongings while you look for a new place. As many as 78% of recent buyers found their real estate agent to be a very useful information source, so if you’re looking to buy, consider working with a realtor to smooth out the process. Additionally, it’s important to ask yourself ‘how much house can I afford?’. You don’t want to look at homes that are completely out of your budget. So, consider using a mortgage calculator to determine what you can comfortably afford, and take things like utilities and upgrades into consideration.
Plan for How You’re Going to Pack and Move
Next, having a plan for packing will make the entire process go much smoother. First, you’re going to want to categorize the items in your home by room. Keep all your kitchen stuff together, your bathroom stuff together, and your bedroom things together. This will ensure the unpacking process goes smoothly, too. Don’t start mixing stuff just because they may seem relevant. If they belong in a different room, keep those boxes separate.
There are going to be some belongings that don’t have a designated space. If you have no clue where they should go, prepare a random box or two and label it as “miscellaneous.” This will be where the loose ends go. Of course, you’re going to want to make sure you label your boxes accordingly, especially if things are fragile. Starting early and packing up rooms little by little is going to be the best way to move. Don’t try to pack everything at once.
You also need to have the means to transport all of your belongings. You can typically borrow a family member’s truck, use your own vehicle, rent a moving truck, or hire professional movers to get the job done. About 33% of people prefer using professional movers, so make sure you plan how you want to go about moving all your things.
Plan for Selling Your Home
If you need to sell your home, be sure to work with a realtor to ease the process. These individuals will give you top-notch advice to prepare your home and find the right buyers. And if you’re interested, consider doing some work on your home to boost the selling price. Of homes sold in 2019, some estimate that 75% will sell below asking price. So don’t be afraid to put in some work so that you can ask for a higher price. Look up projects that offer a great return on investment to make the most of your efforts.
Overall, the most important part of moving, buying, or selling a home is making sure you have a plan. Although things may not always go smoothly, having a plan will make the process that much easier.
