Raise your hand if you like moving. Not you, professional movers. You don’t count. For the rest of us, the ones who aren’t paid to help people move, there probably aren’t going to be a lot of hands raised. It’s a necessary evil, and it’s exciting to be going from your old place to a newer place, but moving is a lot like air travel: It’s great in theory, and it sounds really great, but once you’re actually doing it, you’re likely to get frustrated, angry, or both. There are ways to make it easier, though. It’s never going to be a picnic, but it doesn’t have to be as miserable as flying coach in the middle seat with a screaming toddler directly behind you.
Talk to your real estate agent
6 tips to save your real estate clients from moving misery
You can’t buy a house without a real estate agent. Well, you technically can, but it’s a lot of work and unnecessary stress. After you’re approved for the house, you may think that’s it, and there’s nothing left to do but go to the closing and collect the keys to your brand new pad. That’s not so. Your real estate agent knows about a lot of things other than houses. And lucky for you, most of the topics agents are knowledgeable about are at least housing-adjacent. Want to get the name of a good moving company? Your real estate agent can probably give you names to call and names to avoid. Once you get moved in you probably want to think about house insurance, maybe even a warranty for your home (which you should go to this site to learn more about). Your agent knows a lot of people in your new town, and that makes him or her an invaluable resource. Did you just move to the Garden State to find your furnace malfunctioning after a couple of weeks? Ask your real estate agent about residential heating repair. You may also want to talk to your new coworkers or your new neighbors, but don’t neglect the person who sold you the house in the first place.
Plan ahead
Tips for a Smooth Moving Day
Does your new house come with appliances? Probably not; things like washing machines and fridges generally go with the people who brought them there. But if the previous residents didn’t bring the fridge, then you might be the proud new owner of a refrigerator, so congratulations. Decide ahead of time how you’re going to handle the appliances issue. If you’re inheriting items, consider getting them checked out to make sure everything is in working order. If you need to order new appliances, scout out an appliance store and pick out a few items. Many appliance stores have both a storefront and a website that lets you check out the inventory without ever walking in the door. Once you’ve found what you want, call the store and start trying to arrange for payment and delivery. Free delivery is a truly beautiful thing if you can get it, so make sure to ask.
You’ll probably need a list of things to do before you pack the last box and leave town, but those lists aren’t perfect. To make sure you aren’t leaving out something important, have a friend take a look at the list. It may be that you’re forgetting something obvious like turning on the electricity at your new place. Even if you live alone, that doesn’t mean you have to move alone.