Planning a Move

Planning a Move

Before you start packing boxes you should be thinking about logistics. These guides will get you thinking about the decisions you need to make before a move. It's important to have the best tips and resources possible when planning a move! 

• Moving on the Cheap
• Moving Made Easy with a Timetable
• Don't Move It! Yard Sale Tips and More

• Home Improvements, Before You Move In
• Moving Costs: Ways to Budget for Your Move

• Changing Rentals? Save on Your Next Move
• Moving Tips for Every Season

Read More: 9 Ways to Save on Moving Expenses

Five Must Have Moving Supplies
Where do you get Moving Boxes?

Choosing Movers

When preparing to move one of the biggest decisions is figuring out how to find trustworthy movers to get your stuff from A to B. These guides will help you find the right movers for you.

• Movers: Hire Professionals or Do It Yourself

• Movers You Won't Regret

• How to Get an Accurate Moving Quote

Want more GREAT TIPS from a GREAT AGENT? Call Sarah First!

9 Ways To Save on Moving Expenses

9 Ways To Save on Moving Day Expenses

Summer is a time when many of us move, an experience most people find painful -- often in the lower back -- and definitely in the wallet. Whether you are buying or selling a home, moving out of your parents house or finding a new place to rent, what people usually dread most is moving.

Maybe you're doing the heavy lifting yourself or maybe hiring a team to pack and move you, there are important rules of thumb to keep in mind.

1. Pull your friends and family together.

Assess whether you really need a moving company. You might do quite well asking your friends and family to help you move, particularly if someone you know has a truck. Sami Cone, a savings pro, says getting people together might be easier than you think. "Just make sure to show plenty of gratitude during and afterwards and free pizza doesn't hurt either," says Cone.

2. Seek free boxes.

Those professional moving boxes look nice, but they can add up quickly. You would be surprised at how many boxes stores, particularly liquor stores, throw out each week. Many times, managers of these stores are happy to hold them for you. Cone says that restaurants and coffee shops are also prime places for sturdy boxes. Where Can I Get Moving Boxes?

3. Do some packing yourself.

If you are using movers, ask if you can save on their estimate by packing and doing at least some of the work yourself. Cone says you would be surprised at how much you can save if all they have to do is send two people out to pick up boxes already packed.


4. Shop around for movers and deals.

Sometimes there is no getting around movers. If you have to hire them, look around at the local newspaper and daily deals sites, says Cone. You may even find some deals on moving trucks and storage facilities.

5. Tip well.

Aimee Elizabeth, author of "Poverty Sucks! How to Become a Self-Made Millionaire," says that she loves to move and has come up with a sure-fire way to make the movers move faster while saving money. Elizabeth calculates their hourly rate vs. the cost of an incentive for them to finish early. She then tells the movers that if they have the move completed by 2 p.m., for example, she will tip each of them $20.


6. Don't overlap residences.

"Don't overlap residences more than a month, so you don't have to carry two house payments," says Cone. Same goes for rentals. If you found that perfect next home and your lease isn't quite up on your current rental, ask the landlord if he will accept a deposit to hold it rather than having to put up a month's rent. You would be surprised how many will hold it a month for you, especially if your credit is good and you appear to be the perfect tenant.

7. Start over.

Depending on where you're moving, you might be ahead of the game by packing only things that you can take in your vehicle and selling the rest. Bonnie Russell with Personal Public Relations says that when her father retired from Oregon to a village for members of the Air Force in California, he gave heirlooms to his family, sold the rest, and purchased only what he needed -- some of it used -- for his new, smaller digs.

8. Look for tax deductions.

Tony Aguilar, founder of Amiti Advising, notes that if your move qualifies for tax deductions (talk with your tax accountant), make sure you keep all of the necessary receipts.

9. Retrieve utility and other deposits.

It may have been years since you last saw the money you put down as deposits on a rental home or apartment or utilities, but the money should still be there. Howard Dvorkin, author of Credit Hell: How to Dig out of Debt, says many people forget these, as well as pet deposits. Make sure to leave all of the property you're leaving behind in good working order and clean and you will get that money back.

Read More: Five Must Have Moving Supplies

• How to Make Moving Cross-Country Go Smoothly
• Making the Move for a Job? How Employer Can Smooth the Way

• Moving Day Horror Stories

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Homebuyer Checklist: Easy as 1,2,3

Many buyers "just know" when they find the right home because they have done their research. And while it’s necessary to read up on everything you can before you begin searching, it’s also important to have a quick-to-access home buyer’s checklist so be sure to print this out and keep it handy or pull it up on your smart phone.

One: The Home

Things to look over and ask about for each house that you look at:

• Year built (Lead Paint?)
• Size/Square footage
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of full baths
• Number of half-baths
• Kitchen layout/size/storage
• Condition of walls (interior) 
• Closets/storage space
• Basement – any strange odors? mildrew or mold?
• Fireplace
• Exterior appearance (condition of outdoor walls, overall appearance)
• Age and condition of roof
• Front and back lawn areas
• Deck/porch/patio
• Fence
• Garage
• Windows/screens
• Utilities: Gas, Electric, Cable TV/Internet
• Private Well? Septic?

Two: The Neighborhood

Things you will want to ask about, look into, and research about the neighborhood you move into:

• Appearance/condition of neighboring homes
• Demographics of the neighborhood
• Parking
• Safety
• Police and Fire Protection
• Pet restrictions
• Parks/recreational facilities
• Traffic issues

Three:  Community

It’s important to live in an area where you not only love your house, but you feel at home in the community. Here are some things you’ll want to ask about:

• Schools (Reputation of school district, Private school locations (if you’d prefer), Age/condition of schools and buildings, Test scores of current students, Quality of teachers and educators, Play areas/playgrounds, Class sizes, Curriculum, School safety)
• Religious community centers (churches/synagogues/etc)
• Shopping centers/grocery stories
• Proximity to your place of employment
• Hospitals
• Doctor and dentist locations/quality
• Parks and recreation
• Restaurants
• Entertainment (movie theaters, shopping malls, etc)
• Airport
• Proximity to highways
• Public transportation – bus? metro?

Ready to search? http://sarahmarrinan.kwrealty.com/search/

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Home Maintenance Checklist

Basic Home Maintenance Checklist

Here is an overview of home maintenance every home owner should do.  (See Home Maintenance Toolkit)

1. Roof: Check the roof and around vents, skylights, and chimneys for leaks. Repair as necessary.

2. Attic: If there is no ridge vent, keep gable vents open year-round to ensure proper ventilation.

3. Gutters: Clean the gutters and drain pipes so leaves won't clog them and be sure they drain away from the house. Drain outside faucets in cold climates every fall.

4. Siding and Paint: Look for cracks and holes in house siding or paint. Replace caulk if necessary. A carpet knife can work well for cutting away old caulking from house siding. Slice down alongside it from both directions with the hook-like blade, then use the knife to lift out the old caulk bead intact.

5. Basement: Check the basement walls and floor for dampness. Be sure to clean the dehumidifier regularly, if you have one.

6. Safety Equipment: Ensure that all smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers are in good working order. Replace batteries in appropriate devices as needed, or at least twice each year.

7. Air Conditioner: (Fall: In cold-climate areas) Remove window air-conditioners, or put weatherproof covers on them.

8. Heating System: (Fall) Have the heating system serviced. Change filters.

9. Storm Windows and Screens: (Fall) Take down screens (if removable type) and replace with storm windows. (Spring) Remove, clean, and store storm windows (if removable). Check and patch all door and window screens. Put screens up (if removable type).

10. Windows and Doors: Seal drafty doors and windows. If you added up all of the small cracks where heating and cooling escapes from a home, it would be the same as having a window open. Replace seals as needed.

11. Filters: Remember to clean or replace filters once a month, or as needed. Check and clean the dryer vent, air conditioner, stove hood, and room fans. Keep heating and cooling vents clean and free from furniture and draperies.

12. Fireplace: Clean the fireplace of ashes. (Fall) Check the chimney for loose or missing mortar. Have the chimney professionally cleaned. Make sure the damper closes tightly. (Spring) Leave the damper open for improved ventilation if the home is not air-conditioned.

13. Faucets: Check for leaky faucets in the kitchen and bathroom(s). Replace washers as necessary.

14. Refrigerator: Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easily, the latch may need to be adjusted or the seal may need to be replaced. In addition, if you have a coil-back refrigerator, vacuum the coils at least twice each year. Your refrigerator will run more efficiently with clean coils. Also, stock up! A full refrigerator uses less energy than an empty one.

15. Hot Water Heater: (Fall) Drain the hot water heater. Remove sediment from the bottom of the tank.


If you are not "maintenance savvy", having a home inspection, whether you are buying selling or have just lived in your home for over 10 years will help you evaluate which of these items need attention.

Read More:
Home Organizing | Home Cleaning | Spruce Up Your Home | Home Selling Info