Moving can be a very stressful time. Whether you are moving across town or across the country, things can get overwhelming. I recently relocated 750 miles to another state, and I learned a few things along the way. These are things I learned from my own experience.
Start packing early and orderly.
I thought I would only need a week to pack up an entire home. I was wrong! I should have given myself a lot more time. I found myself the morning of moving day, throwing random things in boxes to finish. I was surprised at some of the things that made the 750-mile trip.
Start by packing things that you won’t need for a while, such as holiday decorations, and small appliances that aren’t used on a regular basis. I used towels and blankets to help cushion breakables and to help save space. Make sure to label your boxes to make unpacking easier.
Be patient while getting approved for a home loan.
Getting approved for a loan is much more difficult than they show on television. We were “pre-approved” but that wasn’t good enough. The process to be approved for a loan was grueling since my husband’s salary is commission based, even though our credit rating was outstanding. Every time we thought everything was submitted, we were asked to submit more and more. The process took three months!
Make sure to review your credit report and score. If there are negative things on the report, be prepared to write a letter of explanation. This is sometimes required, but can still help to get financed for a loan.
There will be costs in addition to the mortgage payment.
There can be some additional costs involved on top of a mortgage payment that should be considered.
We moved to a community that has a home owner’s association. We had to figure the HOA fee in with our monthly budget.
Utility costs can also vary. We contacted the local utility office to see what the average rates were in the area, so we knew what to expect and how to budget the cost.
By determining extra costs in advance, it will help to decide how much of a mortgage payment can be afforded.
When its time to negotiate, don’t be afraid to ask for things.
When we put in an offer on our home, we asked the builder to include items since he was unwilling to come down on the price. We were able to get a refrigerator, patio screened in, and tile backsplash installed. I was surprised we were able to get those things worked into the deal.
If there is something you see in the home or some work you would like done on the home, just ask. The seller might include the item or give an allowance toward the item or service. You won’t know, unless you ask.
