Written by Sheila Olson at FitShelia.com
When it comes to managing relocation, creating a moving checklist is key to keeping stress to a minimum. Finding a new home, managing finances, and hiring movers are a few of the many responsibilities you’ll need to handle in a short amount of time. This article from Pro2120 Property Management Group will provide you with insights on how to tackle move-related challenges and ensure everyone has a smooth relocation experience.
Budget for Your Move
Along with the cost of the home, you’ll need to factor in the living cost of the new location. This will include the cost of buying groceries, furniture, transportation, and more for at least the first three months post-move. As Opers explains, if you’re struggling to create a budget, try following the 50/30/20 rule, which states that you should spend:
- 50% of income towards essentials
- 30% of income towards wants
- 20% of income towards savings
However, funds for your down payment, closing fees, and hiring movers should be kept separate and not be included in this budget. While the 50/30/20 rule is a good benchmark to follow, feel free to adjust your budget based on needs.
Find an Affordable Property
Moving into a bigger home doesn’t necessarily require spending large sums of money. Choosing to move across state lines will provide you with numerous affordable options to choose from. The first step is researching the housing market of the locale you’re moving to. According to Sperling’s Best Places, home prices in Carmel, IN, for example, are higher than the national average. However, the cost of groceries, transportation, and utilities are right on par with the rest of the country.
While it’s advisable to find a property before moving, if you have family or friends living in the new state, consider living with them for some time. This provides you the opportunity to visit the local neighborhood and scout properties in person. But, provide them with ample notice, as they will need to make accommodations to cater to the needs of your kids and pets. As for your belongings, consider renting local storage units where movers can directly store your belongings on moving day.
Work With a Real Estate Agency
While you can view properties online, listings may not provide the full picture required to make an informed decision. Working with an experienced and trusted real estate agent will help overcome this challenge and take a lot of burden off your shoulders. While your agent will do all the legwork of finding properties, you’ll need to create a list of requirements, which should include the following:
- Required Features: an outdoor yard or deck, two plus bedrooms, and one or two-floor home based on preference.
- Location Requirements: home located in a good school district and is in close proximity to resources, such as vets, hospitals, recreation centers, and parks.
- Moving Timeline: with kids, the best time to move is during the summer when schools are on holiday. Additionally, it will be easier for friends/family to accommodate you during the vacation season.
Minimize Moving Costs
Undertaking a long-distance move yourself will be a challenging and exhausting endeavor, especially if you’re moving your business, too. Additionally, it will significantly reduce the time you can dedicate to house hunting, budgeting, and managing the needs of your kids, pet, and business. Hiring movers will be an expense, but here are some ways to cut down on costs:
- Rather than requesting movers to bring packing materials, provide them with your own. These can include boxes you’ve saved from the previous move and those donated by friends and family.
- Reduce your moving load by disposing of excess goods such as old furniture, appliances, utensils, clothing, decorations, and more. Items in good condition can be donated to local charities or sold online to earn a bit of petty cash.
- Hiring movers last minute will lead you to pay a higher rate. Hence, once a moving day has been fixed (ideally a few weeks before the actual move), contact local moving agencies, receive quotes, and sign a contract for the best price.
Settle In
Once the boxes are unpacked, start exploring your new area. The transition may be challenging for your kids, so make the effort to do things they enjoy, whether it’s a bike ride, going to the movies, or exploring the city. Going to parks and community events can help your entire family to meet locals and make some connections before school begins, which can make the transition a little easier.
If you just moved back to where you went to high school, look for old classmates online. You can try social media, but there are also online databases where you can plug in where you graduated and when, and see updates on your classmates. Reconnecting can make the transition easier for you, too.
Make a Plan for a Successful Move
The stress of relocation shouldn't overshadow the excitement of starting a new chapter in your life. By following these steps – including sticking to a budget, finding an affordable property, working with a trusted agent, and keeping your moving costs at bay – you'll stay on top of all responsibilities and have an easy moving experience.
If you decided not to sell your previous home and are in need of someone to help you to manage it, contact Pro2120 Property Management Group.