How to Prepare for a Move to a New Home and Community
Petra Quinn
How to Prepare for a Move to a New Home and Community
If you’ve recently gotten a new job or a transfer that requires you to relocate, you may be wondering how to arrange it so you and your family can transition into a new home without it being too chaotic. The key is to start planning as soon as possible so you can take things slowly and methodically. This will give everyone in your family a chance to prepare for the change so they can adjust well to a new residence. You might want to employ the services of a real estate agent who specializes in relocating families because he or she is aware of all of the details that are involved with such a move.
These are the steps on how to prepare for a move to a new home and community.
Scope out the area.
Before you choose a home in a new city or community, you should get to know it first so you can make an informed decision. You’ll want to check out different neighborhoods and see which one suits your family. If traveling to the proposed community isn’t possible, at least spend as much time as you can exploring it with google maps, reading up on the local government pages, and following the discussions on community pages on social media.
Write up a moving budget.
Once you have settled on some areas you could see yourself living in, work out what your budget will be, both for purchasing real estate and for the cost of the move. Don’t forget to factor in hidden costs for both – failure to do so can take an unpleasant toll on your finances.
Figure out whether to sell your old home or rent it out.
You will need to decide if you intend to sell your present home, first, or if you can afford to make the move before selling it. Or alternatively, you could rent out your house instead of selling it. Do some reading on the pros and cons and look at comparative prices so you know what you’re getting into if you do opt to be a landlord. While renting your house may initially seem easier, it will mean locking you into additional duties as a landlord while you’re already exceptionally busy.
Decide if you want to rent or buy.
Similarly, you should figure out what’s going to work better for your family: purchasing a new home in your new community or renting for a while at first. Whether you rent or buy, narrow down your options by using sites that provide a 3D house tour option, which helps you get a more accurate view of different listings. If you’re relocating to a community in the Seattle area, for instance, check out different Maryland apartments online and get a sense of your options and what the costs might be, depending on neighborhood and type of residence.
Work with the right REALTOR®
Having a REALTOR®handle both the sale of your old home and your selection of a new residence will make your life a lot less stressful. But you don’t want to hand this major process over to just anyone. Be sure to read reviews and get recommendations before selecting a real estate agent and be very clear with them on what your family’s needs are. IF you are moving to or from the Chesapeake Bay area, you can rely on Realty Navigator to help you through every step of the process.
Set a moving date.
You should try to set a moving date as soon as possible and create a timeline of tasks to be completed. No later than three months before your move date is when you should take care of things like sorting through belongings and collecting packing supplies. Around two months prior to your move, start researching moving companies. You will want to start packing at least a month before your moving date – and take care of things like changing your address, too. Some tasks to save for the final week include cleaning your home and scheduling utility shut-off.
Especially given the fact that starting a new job can be disorienting at first, you want to keep your move as stress-free as possible. Dealing with selling a house, buying a new one, and uprooting your whole family for a move is a lot, but with good planning, you can easily manage it.
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The Author: Suzie Wilson has been an interior designer for over 20 years. She created Happier Home as a side project to help everyone she can style their home stress free.
Realty Navigator is a full-service, independently owned, and operated real estate brokerage with offices in Annapolis and Chester, MD. We provide customized real estate listing services, residential homes, and land for sale from Brandywine, Prince George's County, to Kent Island and in Talbot, Caroline, Queen Anne's County. Trusted and experienced agents are standing by to discuss your real estate transaction. Call or click today at 443-256-3773 or 410-643-3404. If you need to speak to the Broker, Petra Quinn, call 443-600-1986.
