May 13, 2020 | Real Estate
Once you’ve accepted an offer on your house, the next thing you should do is schedule a moving company. The earlier you plan for the moving company, the more time you’ll have to research your options and ensure that you can reserve the date you need.
Narrow Down By Services
The first step is to narrow down your choices so you can focus on moving companies that are best suited for your needs.
- First, determine if you need a long distance mover or a regional mover. Long distance movers will have larger trucks and/or semi-trailers; regional movers will have mid-to-small sized trucks only.
- Next, decide if you want to do all your packing yourself or if you want the movers to pack your possessions. Don’t worry about the furniture; most movers will insist on wrapping furniture to protect it from damage.
- Finally, decide if you want help unpacking on the other end.
Once you’ve narrowed down the list with these three criteria, you’re ready to start contacting moving companies.
Ask Questions
Prepare a list of questions to ask all the moving companies you’re considering. This way, you’ll be comparing apples to apples and it will make your final decision more clear. The first things to ask are if they meet the criteria that’s mentioned above. Next, move on to your prepared list.
Following are some questions you should definitely ask. You may also have other questions to add to the list.
- What kind of insurance coverage do you provide?
- What if my moving date needs to change?
- What guarantees do you offer as far as showing up and delivering the possessions as promised?
- Do you have at least two previous clients I can call for references?
- How many hours does it typically take you to do a move of this size?
Get Estimates
A quality moving company will want to send over a representative to inventory your possessions to ensure an accurate estimate. This is standard procedure, and you should lead the rep through your home so you can answer any questions.
Your final decision should be based on the criteria you need, the affordability, and quality you think you’ll receive based on the answers to your questions and your impression of the representative.
Mar 4, 2020 | Mortgage
The vast majority of people are going to move at least once in their life. Moves can vary in distance. Sometimes, these moves are across town. Other times, they might be across the country. Regardless of the distance, is important to find a neighborhood that fits both the budget and lifestyle.
There are a few tips to keep in mind.
1. Consider Renting First
Even though there are powerful electronic tools that can help a family narrow down their potential landing spots in a new city, it is impossible to be 100 percent certain that the community is a comfortable fit until actually living there for some time. Therefore, it might be a prudent idea to try renting first.
Renting in that location doesn’t come with the same commitment as buying property. Therefore, if the neighborhood isn’t the right fit, individuals and families can move without having to sell their house. On the other hand, if the community is still a great fit after a few months or a year, it is easier to buy a house at that point in time.
2. Look At The Cost Of Living
Everyone has a budget and most people like to focus on the price of the home. After all, this is likely going to be the biggest expense; however, there are some other factors that are going to play a role as well.
Think about the cost of gas, transportation, the rates on various utilities, healthcare costs, real estate taxes, food prices, and more. All of these factors are going to play a role in how expensive it will be to live in a certain location. Gas prices are going to vary widely depending on state taxes. Some municipalities have local income taxes while others don’t. There might even be HOA fees to consider. Think about all of these factors and their impact on the cost of living.
3. Prioritize Safety
Lastly, even though the financial factors deserve consideration, safety needs to come first. Take a look at the crime rates in the local area. Read some of the local police reports. When visiting, look for signs of vandalism and home damage. This will help everyone estimate the safety of a potential landing spot pretty quickly. Safety should always come first.
If you are in the market for a new home or interested in listing your current property, be sure to contact your trusted real estate professional.
Feb 26, 2020 | Real Estate
Heading to a new place can be an exciting time; however, this is going to have an impact on someone’s relationships with family members and friends. The idea of relocation can be stressful for these emotional attachments. This can cause some hesitation as individuals and families adjust to living in a new place.
These are a few tips that everyone should keep in mind.
Keep In Touch
Of course, one of the most important tips for coping with the move is to keep in touch. This doesn’t mean that these relationships need to die. Simply arrange ways to talk with each other.
This starts with phone calls, video chats, and emails. This is a great way to stay involved in the lives of close friends and family members. Once the move has settled, invite them out to take a look at the new place. It is exciting to move to a new city and this is an opportunity to share some hospitality with loved ones.
Memories Of Loved Ones Are Important
Be sure to take souvenirs, mementos, and reminders of the old home. Pictures are the easiest way to do this. Be sure to display these photos in conspicuous places in the new home. This will ensure that these relationships aren’t forgotten.
In addition to pictures, paperweights, trinkets, postcards, and other items make great mementos and can serve as decorations in the new home. Display these on a shelf or ledge where they can be seen. This will help someone adjust to living in a new place.
Explore The New City
It is important to move forward. In order for someone to truly be happy in a new place, they need to give this location a chance. Get out of the house and explore everything the new city has to offer. Check out the bars, shops, restaurants, community spaces, and people. This is extremely important. Try to make new friends and create a solid support structure in a new place.
While it is important to maintain old relationships with family members and friends, they will want you to be happy in your new home as well. Therefore, branch out and explore. This will make coping with the move easier.
If you are in the market for a new home or interested in listing your current property, be sure to contact your trusted real estate professional.
Oct 3, 2019 | Real Estate
Many people are looking to buy homes, not across the street, not somewhere else in town, but in other parts of the country. The motivator for this is that there are significant differences in the median prices for home sales in different parts of America. This is not a result of the places being undesirable.
Many of the places with excellent values in home prices are very desirable. In these nice cities, the lower prices are more about the local economy, the cost of living, and the availability of homes for sale.
Popular Cities For Relocation
A study done by REALTOR® identified the most popular cities that people search for when looking for a new home in another area that is different from where they currently live.
The median home price in America is $226,800.
Areavibes ranks American cities based on a livability score that considers many factors, which include the cost of living, crime, school, employment, and amenities. The livability score is a scale that goes up to 100.
Here are the top choices in the order of their popularity for searches and median home prices along with their livability score:
- Charleston, South Carolina – Median home price is $269,400. Livability score is 77.
- Boise, Idaho – Median home price is $191,000. Livability score is 80.
- Honolulu, Hawaii – Median home price is $601,500. Livability score is 73.
- Columbia, South Carolina – Median home price is $164,200. Livability score is 63.
- Fort Myers, Florida – Median home price is $160,800. Livability score is 70.
- Portland, Maine – Median home price is $248,000. Livability score is 66.
- Sarasota, Florida – Median home price is $109,500. Livability score is 74.
- Greenville, South Carolina – Median home price is $237,800. Livability score is 73.
- Tucson, Arizona – Median home price is $135,200. Livability score is 65.
- Las Vegas, Nevada – Median home price is $184,900. Livability score is 71.
Cost Of Living
The cost of living is a big factor that impacts the quality of life for the average person. The cost of living includes the cost of housing, groceries, transportation, health care, utilities, and other goods and services. The national standard for America’s cost of living is set at 100.
The cost of living index in each city is a number that is higher or lower than 100. Higher figures than 100 represent a percentage higher than the national average. Lower numbers than 100 are cities that cost less than other cities in America.
Here is the cost of living index for these popular cities:
- Charleston, South Carolina – 115
- Boise, Idaho – 96
- Honolulu, Hawaii – 182
- Columbia, South Carolina – 101
- Fort Myers, Florida – 94
- Portland, Maine – 114
- Sarasota, Florida – 108
- Greenville, South Carolina – 106
- Tucson, Arizona – 92
- Las Vegas, Nevada – 100
Conclusion
The lowest median price for a home is found in Sarasota, Florida. The city with the highest livability score is Boise, Idaho. The lowest cost of living is in Tucson, Arizona. These are all great cities to live in. For those who have the option to relocate, to get a better price when buying a home, they should all be considered as decent choices.
If you are in the market for a new home or interested in listing your current property, be sure to contact your trusted real estate professional.
Aug 23, 2019 | Real Estate
Moving takes a certain amount of adjustment. Kids of all ages may need a little help getting used to the new environment. Help kids adjust to the move by keeping the following in mind.
Kids Are Resilient
Don’t overly worry about how your kids will adjust to the move. Kids are resilient. They tend to acclimate to new situations fairly quickly. It may even be that your kids get used to the move before you do!
Make Friends With Other Parents
You could facilitate your kids’ making new friends by making friends with parents of kids the same age as your child. To do this, attend any school functions and meetings that come up. Make a point of seeking out other parents and perhaps inviting them and their kids over to your house for lunch.
Add Bonuses To The Move
Help get your kids excited about the move by adding some bonuses they didn’t have before. Has your daughter always wanted to take ballerina lessons? Has your son always wanted to try horseback riding? Consider paying for some local lessons in your new area. This will incentivize your child and help them see how moving is a beginning, not an end.
Cut Them Some Slack
In the beginning, your child’s grades may slip at their new school. Be patient and allow them this period of adjustment until they get used to the new routines. Your child may also undergo some mood changes after the move. Let them know that you’re ready to listen whenever they want to talk about what they’re feeling about the move.
Help Them Fit In
Fitting in is very important for most kids. At their new school, kids will likely be into different things than at your child’s previous school. Even the trendy fashion may be different. Do what you can to help your child fit in with a few new outfits or a different style of shoes. Although you know how little material things matter in life, these things can make a huge difference in how comfortable your child feels as school.
Let Them Help
One reason kids feel afraid about moving is the lack of control. When you let kids help with the move, they regain some control. Let kids help with choosing new furnishings, packing belongings or other small tasks.
It’s likely that one reason you’re moving is for better opportunities for you and your children. Once your kids adjust to the move, you’ll be able to see for yourself how they are thriving in the new environment.
If you are in the market for a new home or interested in listing your current property, be sure to contact your trusted real estate professional.
