Moving Made Easier with A Plan of Action! - Guest Post

Moving is one of those things that everyone inevitably does at some point. Most people dread going through everything in a home, packing, moving and unpacking at the end. Buying a home should be an exciting time in life, but it’s often overshadowed by the stress of the move. Make moving easier with a few conscious decisions.

1. Don’t Procrastinate:

    The absolute worst thing to do before a move is put everything off until the very last moment. Not only is there more stress, there is also the chance that something will be forgotten. Avoid unnecessary stress by making a plan. Write down all of the tasks that need to be done before the move. Group similar tasks together to create bite-sized projects to avoid becoming overwhelmed. For example, decluttering and cleaning may be grouped together by room. Also, set aside a reasonable amount of time to complete the tasks on your list. Don’t designate a single day to cleaning the entire home, you’ll only feel swamped by the lofty job. Instead, set aside a few days for this task. Perhaps spread the chores out to avoid burn-out.

     2.   Packing By Season:

    Start by packing the out-of-season items that won’t be used until long after the move. If you are moving in the warmer months, start by packing your winter coats, shoes, toys, or other winter-related items. Pack away your decorations associated with out-of-season holidays. Packing all of the out-of-season items eliminates a huge portion of items that need to be packed, and it’s relatively easy to complete. Also, there isn't a chance that a winter jacket is needed in the summer so boxes aren’t disturbed once packing has started.

     3.   Declutter, Declutter, Declutter:

    When moving, most homeowners find items that haven’t been used in months or even years. Preparing for a move is the perfect time to donate, sell or throw away these items. Before anything is put in a box, take a moment to ask if the items has seen the light of day recently. Earn a little extra cash for the move by selling those items at a garage sale or online. If that sounds like too much work, there are plenty of places to donate your used items. Don’t let the donation pile sit for too long, or it will simply turn to clutter and cause stress down the road.

    4.     Label Everything:

    Labeling boxes might sound like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to forget this simple step in the packing process. Use free printables to keep track of all of your items and know the contents of each box. Although most people simply scrawl the designated room the items belong in on the outside, go the extra mile and write the specific items inside, if it’s fragile or needs to be set down a certain way. It will also be easier to know which boxes need to be opened first. For example, plates, bowls, cups and utensils are typically the first things that need to be unpacked after a move. If there are multiple kitchen boxes it might be difficult to find exactly what you need right away.

Take labeling to the next level by adding a splash of color. Creating a color coding system for the boxes makes it easy to know where each box goes at a glance. This can be done by taping some paint chip samples from your local home improvement store to the boxes or with a crayon or marker.

       5.    Pack a Bag:

    Unpacking can take a few days. Pack a bag or two with “must-have” items: clothes, chargers, toiletries, bedding, and towels. That way, unpacking can be done at your pace because you already have every necessary item at your fingertips. Pack the “moving bag” the same way you would pack a weekend bag or suitcase.

       6.    Be Proactive:

The garage is typically the catch-all for boxes and bins that have yet to be unpacked. Before stuff has a chance to take over the garage, decide on a storage plan that will work for your family. Shelving, cabinets, or overhead storage racks are great ways to keep items off the floor and out of the way.  Choose a solution that is adjustable to meet storage needs as they change. Having a storage plan in place ensures that you aren’t forced to park outside!

Moving doesn’t have to be such an ordeal. All it takes is a little bit of planning and organization. Enjoy this new adventure!

BIO: Bri works for The Garage Medics, a garage storage and organization company that helps homeowners create custom garage storage solutions. Bri graduated from BYU-Idaho in Advertising and Public Relations. When she's not working, she enjoys all things film, good books and making memories with her husband and German Shepherd.

In a seller’s market, success favors the focused, prepared buyer

This year, home shopping may feel like hitting a hill at the end of a marathon with a pack of runners closing in on you from behind.

Scraping together a downpayment and winning mortgage approval are just the first steps in today's more rigorous path to ownership.

In March, there were one percent fewer homes on the market than in March 2015, yet sales are higher. "Inventory is moving more quickly," says Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at realtor.com.

A one percent decline in houses to choose from may not sound like much, but there's a larger percentage of higher-priced homes in the mix, so the shortage is more pronounced on the lower price end.

Tight supply of entry-level housing is a lingering effect from the last housing downturn, says Daren Bloomquist of data firm RealtyTrac, Irvine, California. Many owners who otherwise would be selling and moving up are still struggling with big mortgages.

"If a home in the $250,000 to $300,000 range goes on sale in the Dallas/Fort Worth market, we'll see five to fifteen offers in a two- or three-day period," says Jim Fite, broker and owner of Century 21 Judge Fite Co., Dallas.

Not all areas of the country suffer shortages, but supply in many markets mirrors the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Obviously, though, with homes selling quickly, some buyers have found a way to beat the competition.

1. Get ready, get set.

"Buyers and their agents must be as organized and committed as if they were planning the invasion of Normandy," says John Pinto, Realty World-John V. Pinto & Associates, San Jose, California.

Agents can set up messages to alert buyers the moment that properties meeting their criteria land on the MLS. Buyers ready to visit the property as soon as sellers allow a tour are able to submit a purchase contract that could be accepted before other contracts come in, Pinto says.

Being first may not cinch the deal if better offers roll in quickly. "The greatest struggle for first-time homebuyers is outbidding investors who are paying a premium for real estate," says Fite.

2. Show financial strength.

Price is key to a winning offer but it's also important for a buyer to inspire confidence that he's good for the offered price.

Pre-approval, a written statement from a lender that states that the borrower qualifies for a certain loan amount under the lender's guidelines, is often insufficient in a competitive market. A pre-approval letter is not an offer or a commitment to make a loan. Instead, buyers might consider going a step further and submitting all the paperwork required for an actual loan. "It's called pre-underwriting," says Gibran Nicholas, chief executive officer of CMPS Institute, an Alpharetta, Georgia organization that certifies bankers and brokers.

"You'll always have some types of contingencies in a contract, like for the appraisal," says Pinto. But backing the price offer with a robust lender's review helps, he agrees.

3. Prepare to up your game.

In a seller's market, the list price is often viewed just as a starting point, says Rob McGarty, Surefield, Seattle.

In fact, many purchase contracts include an escalator clause that indicates that if a competing offer comes in, a buyer is prepared to beat that price up to a specified limit.

Sometimes sellers will set a list price so high, however, that it stays on the market for a couple of weeks.

That's how Andres Ortiz bought his home in the competitive northern Seattle market. Having carefully studied prices for other homes in the location, Ortiz and his agent had confidence that the price they offered was right in line with the market. "The seller even agreed to make some small repairs," says McGarty.