Tag: tips

  • 15 Tips for Moving Day

    15 Tips for Moving Day

    Moving into a new apartment? If you don’t plan ahead and make specific arrangements, moving day can become a nightmare. With a little planning and preparation, you can make moving day run smoothly for both you and your movers.

    Make moving day easier with these 15 moving tips:

    1. If you’re hiring movers, set a moving date at least two weeks beforehand. Remember to be flexible, though, if you plan to move on a weekend or during the summer as these are busy times for movers.
    2. Before you hire a moving company, ask friends, coworkers, and neighbors for recommendations to ensure you hire a reliable company.
    3. Remove any clutter from your current apartment or home before the movers arrive.
    4. Unless you’re paying your movers to pack your belongings, too, pack items you won’t use at least one week before moving day.
    5. Make lists of contents and separate boxes according to which room they’ll go in in your new apartment so your movers can place them in the correct room. Sequentially number boxes so that if anything is missing you’ll know what was in the box.
    6. Be present on moving day in case the movers have any questions.
    7. Label boxes with large, clear handwriting or labels to help the movers recognize what goes where in your new apartment.
    8. Label and separate items that are heavy or fragile and be sure to tell the movers to be extra careful.
    9. Ask your new landlord about parking and unloading regulations before moving day to ensure you and your movers have adequate space to park and unload. If your old or new building has elevators, find out if they have to be reserved in advance.
    10. Prepare a floor plan so your movers will know which boxes and pieces of furniture go to which room.
    11. Have drinks and snacks available for your movers at both your old and new apartment.
    12. Have soap, paper towels, and toilet tissue easily accessible at both your old and new apartment.
    13. Do a final walk-through of your old apartment and your new apartment before the movers leave to ensure everything is in the correct place and is not broken. Once you are satisfied, sign off on any final paperwork.
    14. If it’s in your budget, hire a cleaning crew to clean your old apartment after your belongings are out.
    15. Tip your movers, especially if they did a good job.

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  • 3 Things to Consider Before Buying a Home

    3 Things to Consider Before Buying a Home

    At some point in your life, you may look around you and feel like everyone is buying a home. While this is the goal for many Americans, it occurs at different times for all of us.

    There are many key factors you should have in place before buying a home

    When buying a home, it definitely helps to be financially aware. It also benefits to be aware of your personal preferences and even work circumstances before buying a home. Buying a home is one of the biggest financial investments you will make in your entire life. It comes with an incredible amount of responsibility. Before buying a home, you should take a step back to decide whether you are in the right position to move forward.

    A Measure of Certainty

    Remember, a home is supposed to be a long-term investment. Not only does it help store up equity, but to live, raise a family, and partake in a community. Maybe you have the type of job that requires a move every few years. Or you could be contemplating a career change or going back to school full-time soon. If a change lies in your near future, it may not be the best idea to purchase a home.
    Everyone’s circumstances are different and renting out your home for a period of time is often an option. Still, you should at least have a plan for 5-10 years in the future. If you cannot see yourself living in a home or community for that long, then buying a home may not be right for you quite yet.
    A Strong Credit Score

    A good credit score can save you thousands of dollars over the life span of your mortgage. Applying for a mortgage is a very in depth process. Mortgage lenders want to ensure that lending to you makes a good investment. This is especially true now, after the mortgage bubble burst revealed the problematic nature of the subprime mortgage industry. A score of 700 – 720 can get you a good rate while 750 or above gets the best rates.

    Do Your Research

    Utilize the internet to research the home buying process. Look into any issues you don’t understand. You may decide you want professional help. Working with an exclusive buyer agent can help during the bidding process to get a good deal. But remember seeking professional advice and assistance will cost you, so factor this expense into your home buying budget. And much of the advice can be found online.

    Final Word

    Buying a home is an exciting, yet stressful, time in anyone’s life. You have to do your research before getting started to make the process as seamless as possible. It helps to plan for the future and working on your credit score, as well. This way you can make the home-buying process as enjoyable as possible. You can also make sure that you end up in the right home at the right time for you.

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