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1.
Not having enough details
& demographics about your new hometown
Gather as much information as possible about your
new destination, from sources such as Mortgage 101's Power Relo Tools, your RPS
relocation package, Chamber of Commerce newcomer packages, location magazines
and your Realtor.
2.
Not having your home priced
and showable for selling
Check your home thoroughly for all needed repairs
before listing it for sale. Pay attention to details such as gapped caulking,
chipped tiles, paint...it's often these little things that potential buyers will
notice. Also, have the home professionally cleaned, including carpets. If you
haven't had your home appraised in the last two years, do it before putting the
home up for sale. Also, have one or two Realtors give you a Comparable Market
Analysis. This will show what other comparable home in your neighborhood have
sold for recently. Over pricing your home at the outset will result in slow
showings and a delay in selling.
3.
Poor research of what your
money can buy in your new city
Many factors such as differing salary, cost of
living, taxes and housing prices affect what the same dollar can buy in
different parts of the country. Resources such as Mortgage 101's Power Relo
Tools, the Chamber of Commerce, Realtors, and Runzheimer Reports can give you
this information.
4.
Not getting a mortgage
pre-qualification letter before house-hunting
While pre-qualifying with a mortgage company
doesn't provide final loan approval, it does give you a realistic price
guideline and shows sellers that you are a serious and qualified buyer.
5.
Not protecting yourself with
the best home inspection possible
This goes for both the home you're selling as
well as the one you're buying, although who pays for the inspection (buyer or
seller) is negotiable in each separate contract. A good inspector should be: A
member of the ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors); bonded, licensed and
insured; able to provide references; up front about their fees and what is
included (are termite inspections extra, for example.) Your Realtor or mortgage
loan officer can recommend a certified inspection company.
6.
Setting up the best interim
housing between destinations
When you first arrive in your new town, you'll
most likely need to have temporary housing arrangements until you can close and
move into a new home, or find a permanent rental. This may be anywhere from a
few days to a few months. If you foresee needing interim housing for less than
30 days, the easiest option is a suite hotel geared for extended stays, such as
a Residence Inn or Lexington Suite. For a month or longer, corporate apartments
or homes are much roomier, more comfortable, and usually 20-60% less than paying
a daily or weekly hotel rate.
7.
Moving your household and
"stuff" safely from point A to point B
Depending on the size of your household and the
distance of the move, you may want to consider hiring a moving company.
Obviously, doing it yourself can save quite a bit of money; however, the time
factor, experience of professional movers and the insurance they provide your
contents may make hiring the better choice.
Moving companies can give you either a binding or
non-binding estimate. Binding means that the cost is held to exactly the
estimate they give; this means that they will actually physically inspect your
home before giving the estimate. A non-binding estimate is only an approximation
and no guarantee that the final billing won't be more. However, federal law sets
a ceiling of no more than 10% additional charges over the estimate. You will
also want a moving company that can guarantee the pickup and delivery dates.
8.
Having a trailing spouse who
needs to relocate into a new job
By the year 2000, 65% of all households will have
two incomes, creating a significant burden when losing one income as a result of
relocation. 27% of companies provide spouse employment assistance; if yours is
one of them, take advantage of it. If not, try to begin establishing a network
before you arrive, contacting any friends or acquaintances in your new city;
subscribing to the newspaper; contacting recruiters, placement firms and career
counselors; contacting the chamber of commerce and employment commission; and
joining organizations, especially networking ones. If a job still hasn't been
landed by move time, consider volunteering or joining a temporary agency - great
full time careers have been started from both.
9.
Finding the best new schools
for your children
Concerns about family and children is the second
most frequently cited reason for reluctance to move. There are many ways to find
out all the information you need to make a wise decision. If you haven't decided
on a particular area of town, the chamber of commerce can give you a wealth of
statistics on all local school districts, as well as private schools. Using
Mortgage 101's Power Rel Tools can provide excellent information. If you have
decided on a particular area, your Realtor can get you a school district
information package.
10.
Concerns over your children
making a smooth transition
In addition to educational concerns, we also
worry about the emotional effects of a major move on our children. They may be
resisting the move; may even be angry. Will they adapt well...will they make new
friends? Probably the best way to ease the way is to involve the kids in the
move. Provide them with the same information about your new town that you have.
Rent or buy videos about your destination to watch as a family. There are also
many excellent books geared to children of all ages.
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