Helpful Hints for Moving To A New Home – An Essential Guide to Buying
Here at Bucks County Area Homes, our realtors are kept constantly busy by a stream of potential homeowners looking to move into the area. This, we believe, is due to the great community spirit and wealth of family friendly activities on offer for residents of Bucks County, as well as the welcoming and neighborly attitude adopted by the vast majority of those already living here.
Yet while we are delighted to help as many families as possible find their ideal home, we recognize how stressful a process moving home can be – especially if the move is particularly long distance. This is why we have compiled a short guide to assist anyone preparing for a move in streamlining all aspects of this difficult time, taking into account financial aspects, money saving methods and those last minute checks that we all forget once in a while!
Shop Around for a Moving Company
One of the most important aspects of your move in Bucks County, after signing all the paperwork and receiving your contracts, is making sure your furniture and belongings can be transported in a safe and efficient way. This is where the moving company comes in – but although this is an essential part of the move, it can prove to be expensive. Setting a reasonable budget for removals and sticking to it can prevent moving home becoming out of hand financially, so receiving quotes from a number of different firms is a good idea. Thanks to the internet, reviews and customer testimonials are now easily accessible so it is easy to choose a company with a good reputation.
If you have a large number of belongings and are worried that more than one truck may be required, hiring a van or pickup to drive yourself is a great way of saving additional expense. Alternatively, if you are not moving too far, drafting in friends and family members to help can take a lot of the strain off your shoulders and also assist in unpacking at the other end!
Re-directing Important Documents
In a survey conducted by My Move, collecting and sorting important papers was found to be one of the most stressful parts of moving to a new home for Bucks County buyers. This is backed up by home-movers around the globe, with a survey of UK property owners revealing that mail re-direction came second only to financial aspects as a primary cause of stress, so we're definitely not alone in that aspect! The ideal solution to this problem, of course, is to go paperless – after all, email and online banking services are always available no matter where you are. If this is not an option, giving yourself at least three weeks to sort through documents you are likely to need soon after moving and transferring them to an accordion file with separate sections will mean you know exactly where information is when you need it urgently. This file should remain with you during the move, so put it in your car rather than on the moving truck; that way, you can keep a close eye on it. Money.co.uk also recommends informing your bank of your change of address as soon as possible, saying; “Keeping them informed is not only a good idea because it will mean they can get hold of you in an emergency, but it will also stop any important financial documents falling into stranger’s hands. Write to each bank in advance to inform them of your new address and your moving date to ensure that their records remain up to date.”
Preparing your New Home for Moving Day
Unless you are moving into a home which has been newly built, chances are there are certain areas of the property which could use a little TLC before you move in your furniture. At the very least, the entire house could probably use a thorough clean and small areas of the interior may require painting in order to bring it up to your standards. If your budget will allow for it, bringing in professionals to provide you with a clean blank canvas come moving day is a great way to reduce stress, especially if you are moving long distance and cannot spare the time to race backwards and forwards across the country! In general, the best thing to do is start at the top and work your way down. Starting by removing cobwebs and dust from ceilings and windowsills, wiping down walls and cupboards and disinfecting bathroom surfaces should be your starting point. Don’t forget to clean light switches too – it’s surprising how many germs can accumulate here! It is much easier to clean an empty home than attempt to negotiate around furniture and boxes, so getting a head start will save hassle in the long run.
Child and Pet Care
While kids and pets are a huge part of any house move, the general view is that it is much easier to move furniture and boxes without them underfoot! Older kids are a great help when it comes to unpacking boxes, yet if your children are smaller it may be a good idea to ask a relative or babysitter to keep them entertained during the bulk of moving day. Even better, arranging a playdate followed by a sleepover gives you a wider window in which to get your new home in order before having to take on childcare duties once again!
Before the move, checking your new yard is fully enclosed and pet proofed is essential if you plan to move your pets to your new home first, as they can then be left to explore without the worry of an escape attempt distracting you from the job at hand.
And Finally…
The littlest things can often prove to be the biggest problem come moving day, as all of your possessions need to be uplifted and transported, so organization is key in reducing stress. Making sure you have the keys for the old and new houses, the car and any additional moving vehicles on your person at all times prevents panic and arguments over who had them last! A checklist of last minute items – locking windows in the old house before vacating, dropping keys off with the realtor, final meter readings for power and gas etc etc – will similarly keep you on track.
Moving can be incredibly stressful, but with proper planning and a loose schedule the little factors which can build up to a big problem can be tackled in an organized manner and is why you need a full service real estate team. Just keep in mind the reasons for your move, take deep breaths and, if all else fails, make sure the liquor cabinet arrives intact!
Comments(1)