Time to Move

When your home starts feeling too small or outmoded, you may think that the solution is to remodel. Although it is a workable solution for many homeowners, others who do extensive remodeling end up selling their homes within a few years of completing the work. The decisions you make about your renovation could have a significant impact on whether you can recover your investment when you sell your home.

Real estate agents see a lot of homes and listen to a lot of buyers. Together with architects and professional kitchen planners, they can offer valuable advice on how to improve a kitchen or bath, or add a room that will increase your family’s enjoyment and attract future buyers.

Before you decide to take the remodeling plunge, you should consider whether expensive improvements will over-improve your home in relation to the neighborhood. If you are inclined to make an investment in your home that far exceeds the selling price of other homes in the area, it may be better to sell your present home and buy one that corresponds to your needs.

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As your life circumstance changes, your housing sometimes must accommodate that change. When your children leave for college or move out on their own, it may be time to re-evaluate your housing arrangements. It is useful to consult with a real estate agent who can help you decide whether it is time to move.

When it is time to sell your home or to purchase a new one, the first step is to contact a professional real estate agent to discuss your situation. What is your home worth? Would it be better to sell it now or to keep the house and rent it out? What cost effective cosmetic improvements should you make before marketing the property? If you are moving to a new city, how can you contact a real estate agent to introduce you to the community and help you find the perfect new home in a neighborhood that meets your needs? Real estate agents are professionals whose experience and expertise can make your transition as smooth as possible.

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There are many details to handle when you move out of one house and into another. Since it is easy to forget things in the rush of moving, making a written checklist of everything that needs to be done is an invaluable aid.

Be sure to include such tasks as providing the post office, your bank, credit card companies, and publications to which you subscribe with your new address. Let your insurance agent know about the move to ensure that your personal property will be covered at both houses. Call the utility companies ahead of time to arrange for the cut-off and turn-on dates for gas, electricity, water and telephone service. Put important documents, such as birth or marriage certificates, tax returns and home ownership documents together in a safe place as you pack, so that you can locate them easily.

It will give you a great deal of satisfaction to check off each item on your list as it is handled.

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Many people buy their first homes before they start a family or become established in their careers. A few years later their life circumstance has changed. They need more space or have increased income to invest in a higher priced home.

Changes in lifestyle often create changes in housing needs. A big promotion may require you to do more at-home entertaining. This translates into the need for a larger kitchen and additional living space. If you are starting a family, it may be time to trade your sophisticated home in the city for a house which has a big yard and is located in a good school district. If changes in your life have prompted thoughts of moving, an agent will be happy to discuss all of the possibilities with you. Your agent can determine what your present home is worth and show you homes that will meet your current needs.

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When you decide it is time to move, it is important to engage your children in the process. Depending on the reason for the move and the distance, moving can cause some concerns for children that parents may not be aware of right away. Moving often means going to a new school, leaving favorite playmates, and experiencing a lot of uncertainty about what the new neighborhood will be like.

The transition will be a lot easier if your children support your efforts to get your current home sold. How can you get them involved in the process? Include the whole family in discussions about the move and invite the children to participate in house-hunting trips. Ask for the children’s cooperation in keeping their toys and clothes picked up. Teenagers may be especially touchy about strangers invading their space, and may resist keeping their room in “showing” condition. Stay communicative with your children about developments in the home sale to help them feel connected to the process.

Work with a real estate agent who is comfortable with children and can remain sensitive to your children’s needs and concerns. When the house sells, take the whole family out to celebrate the event.

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Have your housing needs expanded along with your income? Are you are thinking about selling your property and looking for a new home? The transition can be accomplished smoothly by using a systematic approach.

As part of your selling strategy, it is advantageous to have your present house under contract before you begin a serious search for a new home. This will make you attractive to sellers in two ways. You won’t have to include a contingency in your offer to cover the sale of your present home. You will strengthen your negotiating position by improving your financial circumstance with an accepted offer. In a situation where there are multiple offers on the new home, the chances of your offer being accepted are better if it isn’t dependent on selling another house before you can make a move.

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Contacting different moving companies is one of the first steps in moving to a new house. You will find a variety of service options and price ranges from which to choose, whether you are moving across town or thousands of miles across the country.

Call several companies for estimates. Ask each company exactly how their charges are calculated and what is included. How much insurance is included in the estimate? What is the cost for additional coverage? Are there special provisions for fragile or unusually valuable items? Is the delivery date guaranteed? If economizing is important, ask if there are ways to cut down on the bill by providing your own boxes and packing yourself. Household movers are competitive, and comparison shopping can help you get the best value for your moving dollars.

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The final step in selling a home is often considered the worst part–the packing and moving of all your possessions. The secret to a smooth move lies in advance planning. Arrange for the movers well in advance. Get estimates from several moving companies, and ask what their quotes include, what kind of services (and care) they provide, and which aspects of the move they will not handle. For example, many companies will not be responsible for removing light fixtures or other attached items.

Insure your possessions adequately during the move. Most moving firms can arrange insurance for you. You may be able to extend your homeowner’s coverage to insure the contents of your home during the move. Be sure to get the additional cost and conditions of this agreement in writing.

If you prefer to do some packing yourself, it is better to confine your packing to the unbreakable items. Most companies recommend that you let them handle all the packing for an extra charge. They will not cover items against damage or breakage that they have not packed.

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Serious house hunting can leave you worn out and confused at the end of the day. It is hard to remember which house had the great back yard and kitchen and which one you ruled out because of inadequate storage space. Some of the houses you visited looked familiar–like maybe you had seen them before. How can you conserve energy and keep it all straight?

The first step is to find a real estate agent who knows the area well and will only show you homes that meet your criteria. Next you should acquire a small note pad in order to keep a record of the homes you visit. Note the address, style and exterior color, as well as something distinctive about the house that will trigger your memory. Make a special note if a house has real possibilities. Jot down important pluses and minuses of each property and share this information with your real estate agent. This will help you to narrow down the houses so that you can focus on your favorites.

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At some point your present home may begin to feel cramped. You would like enough room to have an “adult haven”, but you must weigh the price of a larger home over against the prospect of living with contractors and plaster dust for a long time. Is it better to remodel or to look for a new home?

Before you decide on a major home improvement project, talk with a real estate agent who knows your neighborhood. Will the changes you have in mind over-improve your home, making it difficult to re-sell? Will you be able to recover the cost of your investment? Find out how much your present home is currently worth, and how much home equity you have. You may be able to make a substantial down payment that lowers your mortgage payments on a larger home. It may be worth making a move to avoid the stress and inconvenience of remodeling, if you can find a new home with all the features you would like to add to your present home.

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