I move around quite a bit. I left my parent's house for school, went through countless roommates in different residences, moved to new cities for work, and finally moved into my dream home with my wife. Over years of packing and unpacking, I've mastered the art of moving.
Eliminate the stresses of the moving process. Here is a list I've compiled to help you on your journey. Follow these tips to pave the way for a well-prepared home owning experience:
Reserve a moving truck like a U-Haul or hire a moving crew in advance
Get moving boxes
Banana and apple boxes from grocery stores are free and work perfectly
Label boxes by room/items
Wrap breakables and pack carefully
Clean rental unit if necessary
Clean inside and behind refrigerator
Use cleaning option on oven.
When you're finished, do a once over to make sure you have all of your belongings
Take note of small repairs
Complete tasks one at a time
Take care of repairs before they get worse
Do extra planning for major projects
Get to know the ins and outs of your home
Get to know your new neighbors
Change the locks if necessary
Monitor you heating/cooling unit
Change filter regularly
First, keep your important documentation and paperwork in an organized filing system. Use an accordion style binder or filing cabinet to keep it tidy. If you're going through the process of buying a home, you will acquire a substantial number of documents and receipts. You want to be able to easily and quickly access these files as necessary. Create a file in your inbox for important emails.
Grab tape, markers and cardboard boxes to keep track of your belongings. The more specific your labeling, the easier and less stressful the unpacking. Make a packing list of the specific items in each box and tape it to the outside. You'll have an easier time looking for random appliances.
Even a thorough professional home inspection doesn't catch every tiny scuff and scratch. No house is perfect. You'll find little things in need of attention.
When I moved into a rental home in college, I noticed chipped outlet covers, stray nails in walls, overgrown weeds, and dirt on the baseboards. Luckily, I had all purpose cleaner and hedge trimmers. I still needed a toolbox and new covers to fix the outlets.
A toolbox can really come in handy for all present and future fixes. Invest in a basic toolbox. I couldn't have completed my moves without one.
Make a note of each little problem and fix them early. The longer you put them off, the worse they can get. I put off a minor leak in my basement for months. What should have been an easy DIY project turned into a $300 plumbing bill.
Your list of small projects adds up. Instead of flailing around from project to project, finish them one at a time. Prioritize your list and don't start a new task until you've completed a current one.
I juggled five projects at one time at my new home. Each fixup made the rest seem so daunting and stressful. Eventually I became overwhelmed and quit all together. Finally, I couldn't live with the wasps nest at the front door, the broken light fixtures and unhung paintings. I made a list, accomplished tasks one at a time and my list was complete within a week.
Bigger projects need more planning. Kitchen remodels, painting the master bedroom and landscape redesigns should be strategically scheduled and budgeted. Allow for more time and money than expected in case the project doesn't go as planned.
Certain big projects cost a lot of money and could require you and your family to relocate until completed. You don't want to be present while your home gets bug bombed. Trust me.
I'll never forget when my dryer stopped working at our new home. I opened my phone and had my old landlord's number up. As I went to hit "call," I remembered I don't have a landlord anymore. Home and appliance problems became my responsibility.
If you finally bought a home after years of renting, get used to fixing problems yourself instead of relying on your landlord.
Have money reserved for repairs set aside in a savings account. You never know what situation may arise and need financial support. Homeowner’s insurance does not cover doesn't cover everything. It comes in handy to have savings specifically for household needs.
Learning to identify potential problems in and around your home will help you avoid these stressful situations. Research and keep up on the required maintenance of your home.
Locate you breaker box. Label each switch my room and outlet. If you have specific electrical issues, you'll have an easy time resetting the correct switch.
Next, find your water valve. If you find leaks in plumbing, follow the old adage "Lefty loosey, righty tighty" if you forget which way to turn the valve.
Knowing your home's infrastructure could stop problems before they get worse.
The idea of moving to a new neighborhood intimidated me. Would I fit in? Do I have what it takes me be a good neighbor?
I jumped right in. I went next door to introduce myself. We hit it off immediately.
Good neighbor relationships can have many benefits. He looks after my dog when I'm out of town, and I let him borrow my tools when he needs help. I'll always remember the time I forgot to blow out a candle before I left. Instead of driving 30 minutes from work to blow it out, my neighbor happily walked over and blew it out for me.
Not only do we help each other, we regularly have barbeques and have a few cold ones while we watch football on weekends.
Building a community of willing helpers and friends makes life more enjoyable. Be willing to offer dinner and drinks when a neighbor lends a helping hand.
Central air and heat is vital to your home's infrastructure. If your house isn't heating properly, you may have bigger problems than the air system itself.
During our first winter in our new home, our heat read 68 degrees, but the temperature felt like 62 degrees. Upon inspection, we learned our attic was not properly insulated.
Keep track of your utility payments each month. If they seem through, your system or insulation could be off. File your bills with your other important documents.
Renters usually don't have to worry about changing locks. When you sign your lease, you usually agree to pay a fee to replace the lock after you move. The previous tenants paid for new locks for your apartment or rental house.
However, buyers should consider replacing locks and changing codes. Real estate agents, previous owners or friends of previous owners could still have keys.
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