By Sajag Patel

Recently, the role of the real estate agent in a homebuyer’s purchase transaction has been thrown into question. Earlier this year, the National Association of Realtors shelled out $418 million to settle a series of lawsuits alleging that the association was inflating commissions. 

In particular, commissions for buyer’s agents were dragged into the light. It left some homebuyers questioning whether they need an agent at all. What, exactly, do they bring to the table? Is it truly worth paying a commission fee, or can’t the buyer just manage on their own?

When you’re the one buying a house, do you actually need a licensed professional to guide you through the process? The answer, to me, is yes — unequivocally yes — and I’ll tell you why.

As a buyer’s agent, you bring so many things to the table, and you have to communicate that value to your clients. Buyer’s agents carry their weight by being many things to their clients at once: a finder of good deals, a counselor, a negotiator, and a peacemaker, all in one.

It’s critical to stress to your buyer that they are hiring a professional who has sold many homes in a single year, not just one home every five to seven or 10 years. They are hiring someone who brings experience, knowledge and skills to the table to assist with a transaction related to what is likely to be their single largest asset. Why wouldn’t they hire a professional to represent them?

Help them reach their goals and be the voice of reason

A buyer’s agent can genuinely add value by helping buyers hash out their goals and establish a sensible game plan for finding the right home. Since buying a home is a quagmire that ordinary homebuyers can get lost in, your role as a buyer’s agent is crucial. Afterall, you’ve done this many times with other clients with similar needs. 

As a professional buyer’s agent, your role is to first educate the homebuyer on the home-buying process and what comes with homeownership. The buyer’s agents who invest the time upfront with their clients through a consultation make the experience 100 times better for the buyer than those who don’t.

You serve as an unbiased observer in the process and the voice of reason when helping homebuyers who feel overwhelmed to stop them from making emotional or impulsive decisions. You have your clients’ well-being at heart while considering their needs and priorities. You know the usual difficulties and issues to look out for and the home features that hold up in value. 

As a buyer’s agent, you have many fingers in the pie. You are a negotiator and a liaison as a professional legally bound to protect homeowners’ best interests and balance out any possible conflict with the seller or their agent. You are a person of many functions — finding homes for your clients to look at, making offers to the listing agent, and negotiating contracts that are advantageous to your customer.

Professional buyers agents save their clients time, money and reduce stress throughout each step of the process. One smart way to show how, exactly, you can do this is to break down the specific services you offer, giving the buyer the ability to choose how they work with you. As a buyers agent, you should have a menu of services that allows the buyer to decide in what capacity they want to work with you.

Showcase your knowledge of exclusive deals and your extensive network

Finding the best property is vital to every homeowner, but it can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. This is where your extensive knowledge as a buyer’s agent becomes critical. You have a deep understanding of the community that your clients are targeting to buy a house. You can offer crucial insights into neighborhoods your clients are exploring, such as everyday things like whether there is a lot of noise pollution, grocery stores nearby, or too much traffic. You also have insider information about existing property values and can inform your clients about the property’s transaction history. You can bring this knowledge to the negotiating table and help clients tremendously by arming them with valuable pricing data when they make an offer. 

Finding the perfect home is not easy, and your invaluable network allows your clients to learn about available properties that are not accessible to everyone. This is one of your main selling points. You are giving so much added value because you have built up an extensive list of connections in the real estate industry. Your contacts give you a heads-up about exclusive, sometimes off-the-market and hard-to-find properties your clients can only know about through you. The wide-ranging property choices available through your network will give your clients the gamut of options for homes unavailable to the general public. Professional buyers agents are local market experts and can help the homebuyer win in competitive sellers markets and save money in buyers market.

Spotlight your negotiating skills

A buyer’s agent brings far more value to the table than just scheduling property tours and home inspections. Your role as the go-between for your client is critical when price negotiations come into play. 

You bring to the table layers of experience that give you insight into the perspectives of the seller and their agent. Negotiating the best deal for your client is a pivotal part of any real estate transaction. As an agent, you are a trained negotiator, capable of securing favorable terms by advocating for your clients’ needs, protecting their interests, and getting the most from the deal.

You are the buffer and the go-between your client and the seller. You can let your clients know how to proceed with the deal and then serve as the liaison between them and the seller, or in some cases, their broker, especially when talks between your client and the seller become confrontational. Your experience will come in handy as you serve as a voice of reason and offer rational and constructive answers to problems.

You serve as a fountain of valuable references for other services. Buyers need to have a range of professionals on hand to make the seamless transition to being a homeowner — real estate lawyers, home appraisers and inspectors, mortgage brokers, and movers.

Your value doesn’t stop after the sale

But your services shouldn’t stop there. A good buyer’s agent can help homebuyers navigate everything from utility setup to cable connection and a home security system. There is so much that goes into setting up a new home, and a good buyer’s agent should be able to help ease the transition from start to finish. And you can do just that by working with Move Concierge.

By working with a service like Move Concierge, you are making yourself valuable after the purchase and throughout the move. Taking this extra step can help you build a deeper, longer lasting relationship with your client, because you have gone above and beyond what a typical agent might do. You’ve shown that you are an expert who cares by providing them with a seamless moving experience from start to finish, and that’s not something they are likely to forget. 

Need Moving Help? Here Are 5 Moving Tips Every Mover Should Know.

Anyone that’s been through the moving process knows just how rough it can be. Whether you’re moving to a neighboring city or a completely different state, moving is filled with tasks that would give the Mission Impossible movies a run for their money. With our list of moving tips and a good attitude, moving will be easier than ever!

Moving Hack #1: Set a Budget

Moving can be expensive, especially when you don’t set a budget. By planning ahead with a detailed budget, you can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars and a whole lot of time. Creating a budget is pretty simple. You can use Excel, Google Sheets, or even just a notebook if you’re old school. A moving budget will help you know what to expect with the upcoming process. Here are some things you should consider including in your budget:

• Packing tape
• Moving boxes
• Professional movers
• Gas
• Packing materials (bubble wrap, packing paper, etc.)
• Hotel expenses
• Food

Every moving budget will differ by case. Be sure to think hard about what your move will look like. Here a few extra things that are smart to budget for if you can afford it. 

• Car maintenance
• Deep cleaning your new home 
• Property taxes (if applicable)
• Car shipping fees (if applicable)

All in all, setting a budget for your move is a must if you want to limit the stress and hassle that typically comes with moving.

Moving Hack #2: Eat Up!

We think it’s pretty safe to say that this hack is a tad bit more enjoyable than the previous one. What other moving help blog is encouraging you to eat more? This one is pretty straight to the point. You’ve got plenty of things to pack without having to raid your pantry and worrying about keeping your perishables nice and cool. A helpful moving hack is to try to eat all of the food you have stored up so that you don’t have to worry about packing and transporting it. 

Set a goal that next time you need to go to the store you’ll take your groceries to your new home. If you come across food items you don’t think you’ll use, consider donating them to a local food bank or shelter. 

Moving Hack #3: Purge Your Closets and Attics

If you’ve been in your current home for a while, chances are you’ve got a lot of stuff piled up in your attic and closets. Before it’s time to start packing up your belongings, go through the items in your closet and attic and identify anything that won’t be making the move. Once you’ve done that, set them aside and determine what you want to try to sell and what you will donate. By removing these items from your home, you’re freeing up space that will be valuable during the moving process. If you’ve ever moved before, you know things can pile up and get messy rather quickly!

Moving Hack #4: Get Quotes From Multiple Moving Companies 

Whether you’re moving to a different city or a new state, moving companies make the entire process much more manageable. That being said, you have to be willing to do the research to get a good deal. Here are a few things to look out for when choosing a moving company.

• Uninsured movers: While giving a few of your buddies 50 bucks each to move things into a uhaul truck and drive it to your new home may be cheaper, it’s not going to give you the protection you want.
• Overpricing: Make sure you call at least three different moving companies in your area to get an idea of what a fair price is. If their prices are similar, call a few other options and take a closer look at reviews written by their previous customers. To get a better idea of what a move should cost, check out our blog on this topic here. 

Moving Hack #5: Get Creative With Your Packing.

Let’s talk about moving and storage. Want to save money and a little bit of hassle? Then get creative! Pack your things into your other things. Don’t unpack your drawers. Leave your belongings inside and secure them shut. To make transport a little easier, take drawers out, then move them to the truck individually and put them back in. You’ll also avoid throwing your back out if you’re moving yourself. Here are some things that you probably already own that can be used in place of moving boxes:

• Dressers
• Coolers
• Suitcases
• Laundry baskets

Now that you know these hacks, you’re  on your way to an easier, less stressful transition to your new home. Need more moving help? Check out our Step-by-Step Moving Checklist for more tips.

Everyone wants their new home to be pristine on the day they move in. There’s something wonderful about walking into an empty home for the first time and smelling how clean it is. You’ll soon be placing your furniture on those empty floors and making new memories between those blank walls. However, looking and smelling clean isn’t enough for families moving into a new home these days. Standards have changed over the past year and looking clean just isn’t enough. Let’s dive into the three in-depth steps every family should take before moving into a new home.

1. Deep Clean the House

Sanitized Peace of Mind

Step one, a deep cleaning of your home. We mean more than just a quick sweep and vacuum to remove settled dust. In the wake of COVID, a deep cleaning provides peace of mind. Cleaning an empty house allows you or your cleaning company to access every inch from floor to ceiling.

Clean from Top to Bottom

To save time, start at the highest areas and work your way down. This will prevent you from having to go back and clean areas that might get dirty again as a result of starting at the bottom and working your way up.

Ceilings and Light Fixtures

Begin with the ceilings. Use a duster or specialized broom to clear away cobwebs and get rid of ceiling dust. Pay special attention to the corners and to light fixtures where dust gathers most heavily. If your home has ceiling fans or beams, be sure to clean them during your ceiling dusting and wipe them down.

Windows and Permanent Blinds

Next, pay attention to your windows. Clean the windows with a sanitizing streak-free cleaner. Be sure to also clean any permanently installed blinds. Mini-blinds are a common place for dust and other particles to accumulate, unnoticed. You can use a sock on your hand, soaked in cleaner, to get each individual slat.

Counters and Shelves

Your home’s counters should be cleaned next. Take sanitizing surface cleaner to every countertop, shelf, bathtub, and toilet lid in the house. Find any horizontal surface to clean, including window sills and door frames. While you’re at it, wipe down and sanitize every doorknob and handle in the house as well.

Baseboards

Baseboards are often the dirtiest parts of homes, sporting years of scuffs and accumulated dirt. With your walls already cleaned, take a sponge or cloth and wipe down your baseboards with paint-safe cleaner. 

Carpets and Hard Floors

Last but not least, finish up with the floors. Vacuum and steam-clean the carpets. Sweep, mop, and then re-mop the hardwood and tile. For wood, finalize the process with a coat of wax or oil soap to protect the boards.

 Wipe Out the Insides of Drawers, Cabinets, and Shelves

In addition to the usual surfaces, seek out interiors as well. Dirt, dust, and viral particles can hide inside your drawers and inside the shelves of closed cabinets. Open cabinets, closets, and drawers through the house, then wipe them out with a sanitizing cleaner.

Cleaning Unfinished Utility Spaces

When you’re finished with the spaces that are regularly accessed by the family, don’t forget the utility spaces. Find your basement, garage, and utility closet areas that see less use, and be sure to clean them as well. Wipe down the large household appliances, then sweep out and sanitize the space where they are installed.

Consider an Insured Sanitation Service for Guaranteed Clean

Of course, if you’re worried about your personal time, energy, or ability to reach every nook & cranny, you can rely on professionals to make sure the house is clean. Should you hire a sanitation service to clean your home before moving in, make certain that your team is insured with a strong local reputation for pristine and satisfactory service.

2. Replace Air Filters

Air filters are an important part of maintaining a healthy home. Luckily, they are inexpensive and easy to install. To do this, find the air intake and filter locations within your home. Intakes are usually part of your home’s HVAC system and are often found near the thermostat. Wear a mask when removing old air filters, as they might be full of old pet dander, pollen, mold spores, and worse. Bag the filter immediately and then throw that closed bag into your trash to best contain the dust-caked to it. Then, install a new filter of the same size. It is always worth upgrading a little to a filter with a higher filtration rating. Let the HVAC run for a few hours to cycle the ventilation and get your home filled with freshly filtered air.

Consider an Air Filter Subscription

You will need to change your air filter about once every three months to maintain good air quality and avoid clogging your HVAC. This can be a hassle, and easy to forget when you are leading a busy life. The best solution is often to subscribe to an air-filter service. An air filter subscription service, like Second Nature, will deliver new air filters at the correct time interval, serving as both a reminder and a handy supply of new filters.

3. Safety Check the House

Your final pre-move-in step is to perform a full safety check throughout your home. Walk every room from the front door to the back patio, checking things that might become dangerous over time after your family moves in.

Clear Excess Lint from Dryer Trap & Duct

If your home comes with a washer and dryer, check the dryer. Lint buildup is one of the leading causes of residential fires. Clear the lint trap, if necessary. Then detach the flexible duct at the back of the dryer and clear it of lint as well. Make sure your dryer’s external vent is not clogged so there is a clear path from dryer-to-outdoors for lint and hot, moist air to travel down.

Replace Batteries on Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Check every detector in the house, and add more if necessary. Make sure your smoke detectors have fresh batteries and are placed above doorways and near bedrooms. Place new batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors, placed near the floor, or ensure they are plugged into a near-floor outlet. Remember that smoke rises, but carbon monoxide falls.

Clean and Inspect the Chimney and Flue

If your home has a fireplace, clean out the fireplace, then the chimney, and inspect the flue. Make sure the chimney is safe (not crumbling) and arrange for repairs if necessary. If you plan to use the fireplace, ensure the flue both opens and closes smoothly so there’s no risk of trapping smoke indoors or letting the cold in when the fire is out.

Replace Light Bulbs Throughout the House

Replace lightbulbs with new LED bulbs throughout the house. This will save energy for years as a resident and will give you a chance to inspect the light fixtures for any scorch marks or loose wires.

Check Attic & Utility Spaces for Protruding Nails

Attics often have sharp nails that stick down from the roof overhead, and other utility spaces can be similarly unsafe due to their unfinished nature. Check your attic and utility spaces for dangerous protrusions, old pest traps, and other potential hazards.

Check Your Home Address Visibility

Make sure your address is visible from the street. Repaint the curb, put numbers on your mailbox, or add a decorative house number sign to the front of your home. This will make it easier for both deliveries and, if needed, emergency services to find your house.

Pet Proof the Yard

Finally, if you have pets (or small children) in the family, be sure to pet-proof the yard. Secure the fence so there are no underneath or in-between escape routes. Make sure your gates close fully and lock safely with a key or combination only available to you. If you have a pool or other yard features, make sure they are safe for small, unaware creatures to play near.

Moving into a new home is a big responsibility both for your own safety and the safety of your family or household. Now more than ever, it’s important to make sure your home is sanitized and well-maintained before your moving truck arrives to fill the house with your furniture and possessions. If you want to make your next movie the easiest of your life, get in touch with Move Concierge today.

Relocating to a new city or house can be exciting and scary. There will be new opportunities and new challenges to face. This, however, is primarily dependent on the reason for moving. Nonetheless, regardless of the reason, moving is always stressful. There are a lot of things to plan for in the weeks before the move.

For most people, the biggest challenge to moving comes in the form of cost. Even if you are moving within the state, the costs can be high and present a significant obstacle, especially if you did not have a lot of time to plan for the move.

Are you thinking of moving? If yes, it’s vital to prepare financially to avoid unnecessary stress. Let’s take a look at the costs.

Do You Want a Full-Service Company?

The first choice you have to make, one that can affect costs significantly, when hiring a moving company is whether you want a full-service moving company. With the additional services, like packing your belongings, a full-service company is a more expensive option.

The formula used to calculate how much moving will cost depends on whether you are moving to another state or not. Usually, an hourly rate will be applied for moves within the same state, with the charges varying from one company to the next. The total cost will also depend on the number of additional services required to complete the move.

If you are moving to a different state, the charges will be based on the weight of your belongings and the total distance between the old and new house. The cost of the additional services will also be included.

Full-service companies can reduce the hassle of moving. Some of the additional services they offer and will incur extra charges include:

• Provision of packing materials and supplies
• Disassembling furniture
• Packing up your things before the move
• Loading and offloading the truck
• Transporting your property
• Unpacking your belongings on arrival
• Packaging material disposal

Intrastate Moves

Also known as local moves, intrastate moves occur when a person relocates to a different house within the same state. The rate for such moves is based on an hourly flat rate. To avoid any unnecessary last-minute surprises, there are three key things you should take note of:

• The cost for local moves can vary significantly as the charges and rules vary from state to state. Therefore, it’s crucial to get estimates based on the exact distance of the move and your state’s hourly rates.
• Rates for local moves are calculated on an hourly basis regardless of the tasks movers perform.
• Expect a term travel fee that’s equal to the cost of one hour of standard move-related work. The purpose of this fee is to cover the cost of fuel and the time spent by the moving company to get to your house and the new location.

How to Calculate the Cost of Moving from Your House for a Local Move

Another crucial element that influences the costs you will incur is the type of house. Hourly rates for local moves vary from state to state and can range from $25 to $60.

For the example below, the applicable rate is $30. Make the necessary adjustments for more accurate calculations.

• Studio apartment: Two professional movers can complete the task in 3-5 hours, bringing the cost for each to $90 to $150.
• 2-bedroom apartment: The task can be completed in 5-7 hours with 3 local movers. The cost for each will be $150 to $ 210, bringing the total to around $450 to $630.
• Larger Houses: For houses at least 5000 square feet, moving costs can increase significantly and reach up to $2,000.

The costs indicated above only include moving costs. If you want packing services, the costs will increase, and the cost usually comes close to the moving cost.

Interstate Moves

Long-distance moves that involve relocating to a different state are referred to as interstate moves. Such moves are charged differently than local moves. The major cost factors include:

• Weight of shipment: With weight, the more belongings you have, the more expensive your move will be.
• Distance: Of all the cost factors, distance is the one that you have the least control over. Undoubtedly, the cost increases as the distance increases.
• Additional services: When moving companies give you a quote, it includes the basic services involved with moving. If you want other services, they’ll come at additional costs.

Interstate moves can be very expensive, with costs reaching $5,000. If the costs rise beyond the estimates, you may find yourself with unnecessary stress. As such, it is crucial to request your moving company to give you a written binding not-to-exceed estimate. With this, you can rest assured there won’t be any major variances between the estimates and actual cost.

Additional Factors That Affect the Cost of Moving

Moving accounts for the most significant cost factor when relocating. However, there are also other costs you may incur, especially if you do not hire a full-service company.

1.      Moving Supplies

When moving, you will require a wide range of supplies to help you with packing and protecting your belongings. These include plastic bins, cardboard boxes, and packing paper/plastic wrap, among others. These costs may seem negligible, but they can impact your budget.

2.      Moving Related Add-ons

When the moving company finally comes to help you relocate, some factors, such as the number of movers, may affect the cost. Other add-ons that may be provided by the movers and increase the costs include mattress bags, stretch wrap, and felt pads.

3.      Date of the Move

One thing that most people are unaware of when it comes to relocating is that the date and time of your move can affect the cost. To keep costs low, use the following tips when selecting a date and time for moving.

• Schedule the move during the morning hours.
• Try moving between Monday and Thursday as weekend moves will be more expensive due to the higher demand.
• Leases usually start at the beginning of the month and end at the end of the month. Try moving during the middle of the month when there is less demand for moving services.
• Most people relocate during late spring or summer, with the peak moving season lasting from May to early September. If you are not moving due to an urgent reason, try scheduling your move during other periods of the year.

4.      Insurance Costs

Among your household belongings, there are items that are valuable. With moving comes risks such as damaged or lost property during transit. Getting extra coverage can help cushion the effect of such losses should they occur. To this end, moving companies offer different types of protection. They include:

• Basic Released Value Protection: This is the bare minimum coverage for moving. It offers protection of .60 cents for each pound of cargo liability.
• Full Value Protection: This is a more comprehensive cover that offers greater protection for your belongings. Under this cover, your moving company is required to issue compensation for damaged belongings at their present value.

5.      Tip for Movers

There is a lot of work involved in moving and packing your belongings safely without damage. When movers do a great job and get your property safely to your new house, it is customary to offer them some gratuity.

On average, tips range from 5-10% of the total cost of moving. However, you can also use other methods to determine how much to tip them. When deciding the appropriate amount, consider the distance and complexity of the move. Add something extra for the foreman and driver, especially for interstate moves.

Keeping Costs Low

Costs are undoubtedly one of the primary concerns when relocating. As you try to find out how much you will need to move, you can also take some steps to reduce the costs.

• Get rid of all the items that you no longer use
• Select moving dates and times wisely
• Start packing weeks prior to the move to avoid packing costs
• Compare quotes from different companies

Choose the Right Company

There are a lot of challenges and risks that come with moving. Some include dealing with unprofessional movers or having your belongings stolen along the way. As you weigh up moving companies based on cost, you should also consider how reliable they are. This can be determined by how long they’ve been in the industry and reviews from customers. You are better paying a little more for a reliable company than having to deal with damaged or lost goods.

Regardless of whether you are moving to your own property or switching apartments, moving can be exciting. However, there are many things that need to be done in the lead-up, during, and after the move that can make the process stressful.

In this article, you will find a step-by-step checklist that will make the moving process a lot easier for you. If you’d like your own copy of the list, you can download it here!

8 Weeks Before

Unless you are moving due to an emergency, you will have ample time to prepare. However, this is where most people fail as they assume that there’s enough time. Ideally, you should start preparing eight weeks before your move.

1.  Check Out Your New Community

Once it’s settled that you have to move, choose a suitable area to relocate to. Go there in person to get a feel of the neighborhood and to see the amenities available. Before taking your family to a new location, it is best to see how it is.

2.  Set Aside Funds for the Move

When moving to a new house, you can either hire a moving company or elect to go the DIY route. If you are moving within the state, a DIY approach may be plausible. However, for a cross-state move, you’re better off hiring a moving company.  Either way, there are costs that you will incur.

Determine how you will move and figure how much it will cost you. If you are moving within the state, set aside $1,000. For long-distance moves, your budget could rise to as much as $5,000. For job-related relocation, inquire from your employer whether they offer any assistance with covering such costs.

3.  Find a School for Your Children

If you have school-going children, you must find a suitable school for them. Before you begin your search, notify their current school that you will be moving to get copies of their school records. Fortunately, finding good schools for your children is easy these days. Instead of doing a physical search, you can log in to greatschools.org, a platform designed to help parents find educational opportunities for their children.

4 Weeks Before

Most of the preparation for moving takes place in the month before the move.

1.  Start Packing

If you wait till the day before moving to begin packing, you are setting yourself up for unnecessary stress. Go through every room and drawer in your house and categorize things either as used frequently, rarely, or never going to use.

Find ways to get rid of the things you are never going to use. You can donate them or organize a yard sale. Anything that is not used frequently should be packed in well-labeled boxes.

2.  Take Your Car for Servicing and Update Your Address

When preparing for a move, it’s easy to get caught up with the ‘moving’ part and forget other minor yet crucial things. If you’re moving out of state, you need to make sure your car is ready for the journey. Take it to your mechanic for tire fixes, oil change, and the necessary tune-up.

Also, notify parties such as your current employer, credit card companies, bank, subscription services, and landlord that you will move. To change your address, visit your local post office or do it online via USPS.gov.

2 Weeks Before

Contact the moving company a couple of weeks before the move to confirm your preparations are going according to plan. One area to focus on is insurance. Make sure it is sufficient for your valuables. Other things you need to do during this period include:

• Clear out safe deposit boxes, storage units, and any place other than your house that you have property
• Schedule enough time off work to prepare for the move
• Have the rugs cleaned to make sure they’re ready by the time you’re moving

1 Week Before

During the last week before your move is when things can become a bit hectic.

1.  Finish Packing

As you count down the days to the move, step up your packing efforts. Your goal should be to have everything packed and ready to go a few days before the planned moving day. This will save you from last-minute stress. 

If it will take a few days to get to your new home town, pack a to-go bag. It should contain essentials such as a toothbrush, toilet paper, chargers, and at least one change of clothes for everyone.

2.  Visit the Pharmacy

A few days before the trip, visit the pharmacy for a refill of prescriptions while arranging to have prescriptions transferred to a pharmacy in your new area of residence.

3.  Confirm the Date with the Movers

You can never be too careful with this. Get in touch with your movers again to confirm the date and time of your move. Other details to inquire about at this time include total cost and the payment methods they accept. Make sure to get the contact information of the crew that will come. To make it easy for them during the trip, prepare written directions to your new home.

Don’t Pack Items

While you are finishing with the packing, some items should be kept separate from the things that will be loaded in the moving truck. They include:

• Documents such as birth certificates, marriage license, passports, and documents that have details such as social security numbers and bank account information
• Medicine
• Checkbook
• Credit cards
• Jewelry
• Cash
• Irreplaceable items such as family heirlooms

Moving Day

With all the packing done, you will not have a lot to do on moving day. Wait for the movers to arrive and make sure each of them is an employee of the moving company. Show them everything that needs to be loaded and give special instructions, especially for boxes with fragile items. 

Even if you are moving to a better house or neighborhood, leaving the place you’ve called home for a long time is difficult, especially for kids. Do a final walkthrough of the house to say a proper goodbye before leaving.

Supervise the Loading

Once you arrive at your new place, lay down the plastic carpet protector. As the movers prepare to bring things inside, show them around and direct them to where specific boxes should go. As they offload, check for missing or damaged items.

Complete the Transaction

After the movers finish loading everything, you and the mover in charge should sign the inventory sheet. Get a copy of it to keep in your records. Proceed to pay the movers and if the job was done satisfactorily, add a ten to fifteen percent tip.

Start Unpacking

To turn your new house into a home, start unpacking your belongings and organizing. Begin with reassembling furniture so that the moving crew can assist you. If you notice any damaged items while unpacking, take photos and set them aside. The moving company will send someone to inspect them.

Pros and Cons of Hiring a Moving Company

The biggest decision you have to make when relocating is whether to hire a moving company or not. Each option has some advantages and disadvantages. Here they are comparatively.

1.  Cost

For most people, the cost is the biggest factor when deciding whether to hire a moving company. A moving company will provide the truck and crew to help you with loading and unloading, which will, of course, come at a cost.

Though a DIY approach may be cheaper, it comes with other hassles that you should consider when deciding.

2.  Time and Stress

One of the primary benefits of hiring movers is the time and stress that they will save you. Instead of worrying about all the logistics of moving, they will help you with a lot of the work on moving day. A DIY approach will involve help from friends and family, which can make it a bit hectic as there will be no organization.

3.  Safety

Arguably the biggest concern of hiring a moving company is the safety of your belongings. Is it safe to trust strangers with my assets, or will I become a victim of a moving scam? These are legitimate questions. However, they can be easily addressed by doing your due diligence and only hiring a reputable moving company.

The real safety concern comes to matters loading and unloading. It’s not just about putting things in the truck but doing so in a way that minimizes risk. So, are your belongings better off being handled by professionals or your friends and family?

Is Hiring a Moving Company Worth It?

When taking upfront costs into account, hiring a moving company is expensive. However, this does not mean that a DIY approach is significantly cheaper. In essence, the only extra cost you are incurring is for a truck suitable for moving and professionalism. Either way, you will still need a moving truck and people to help you. Even if it’s friends and family, they will expect something small in return, even if it’s just dinner.

Considering the benefits professionalism brings, the added cost is unquestionably worth it, as it may just be the difference between arriving with your belongings intact or not.

Moving During the Pandemic? It Can be Done Safely

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage, life still has to go on…and for some people that includes moving. Moving during a pandemic is a little more challenging, but it can be done safely. You just need to keep a level head and follow public health guidelines. Obviously, there are extra precautions, but many of the concerns are similar to those you might already have.

Check the Rules Where You are Going

Pandemic America is a patchwork of different restrictions and lockdown rules. One thing to check is whether the state you are moving to is currently requiring quarantine or COVID testing (or both). If you do have to face a two-week quarantine when you arrive at your new home, try to set up grocery delivery ahead of time. Use a review site like TripAdvisor or social media to locate good restaurants that do delivery (always a good idea as it can, in any case, your new location stands on business closures and mask mandates. Oh, and if you’re driving through other states, make sure you are aware of their rules too. Also, if driving, stock the car with food and limit stops as much as possible. You should not push through if fatigued, but you should also not be stopping to eat indoors at a restaurant.

Buy Extra Packing Materials

A general rule of moving is that you always need more packing materials than you think you do. It’s particularly important to buy more during the pandemic, when it might be harder to run out to an office supply store and pick up more boxes. One option is to have the movers pack and provide the boxes, but this is often a premium service that can be quite expensive. It also results in the movers being in your home for much longer, which increases transmission risk. If you do need extra materials you may have to have them shipped, which can get very expensive.

Some experts are recommending using only new boxes; if you do use recycled boxes, quarantine them in the garage for a day or so before packing them. This might not be a bad idea with new boxes either. However, the virus does not stay on cardboard that long.

Don’t forget to get bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts too. If you still get a newspaper delivered, start saving the newspapers about a month before your move so you can use it as packing material. Put the newspaper off to one side so you are not frequently touching it.

Make sure you have what you need for specialty items such as musical instruments well ahead of time.

Work Out How to Dispose of What You’re Leaving Behind

Moving is a good time to declutter your life. You may decide, for example, to replace worn furniture rather than move it, or to clear out your closet.

Donating to charity is a good way to dispose of unwanted possessions, especially furniture or clothing in good condition, but this is another thing the pandemic has made a little more challenging. Find out what local charities are doing and use drop boxes to donate clothes. Many donation centers have specific rules or require an appointment. Wash and, if possible, tumble dry clothes before donating; this is appreciated by charities and prevents any transmission of COVID.

Other options to consider include posting to Nextdoor or social media to offer items for sale or free. Make sure that you have a way to get the item outside so that the person picking it up doesn’t have to enter your home.

If stuff is not in good enough condition to donate or give away, then make sure to recycle as much as possible. Also, remember that the pandemic is affecting everyone’s judgment. Consult with friends or family on keep or toss decisions (and watch for the “friend” who will try and convince you to give it to them instead).

Take Precautions When Interacting with Movers

The movers you hire will need to enter your home. Check with the firm about what protocols they are using during COVID-19, and have a backup plan. What will you do if they all show up without masks? If you can get a quote virtually, do so…but if you do, take lots of photos. Some companies will quote based off of square footage, which is not accurate at all if you have a lot of stuff. Don’t let movers in your home if they aren’t wearing masks. You can also ask them to wear booties (which is often a good idea anyway as it reduces the amount of dirt tracked in). Many movers, however, prefer not to wear gloves, which appear to have minimal advantages for reducing transmission and make it more likely that they will drop your stuff.

Wear a mask yourself. Don’t pack all of the hand soap, but rather leave some out for both you and them to move. Hand sanitizer is good, but there’s a near guarantee somebody will need to use the restroom during this process and want soap.

Stage everything as well as you can. It’s particularly important to label all boxes with which room they are going to so as to minimize the amount of time the movers spend in your new house. (And don’t forget to label any heavy boxes, such as books). If you have furniture that has to be lifted or moved a certain way, label it with written instructions so as to minimize the amount of time you spend talking to the movers. If you do it right, you can wait outside while they do their jobs.

If you are moving into and/or out of an apartment, give the movers the freight elevator key rather than escorting them to and from the loading dock. Elevators are small, poorly ventilated areas primed for the spread of COVID.

Transmission from people is more dangerous than transmission from surfaces, but make sure to wash your hands frequently. Consider getting some hand lotion so you can protect your skin from the damage caused by frequent washing.

Also, open all of the windows while the movers are in the house to increase airflow. If you have more than one bathroom, have the movers use a specific one and ask them to close the lid before flushing. Don’t shake hands. Tip via credit card rather than giving them cash. If you want to give your movers a perk, bottled water and packaged snacks are better than the traditional pizza.

Finally, check your own temperature before the movers arrive. If anyone is sick, reschedule; you don’t want to be responsible for your movers getting sick and then somebody else’s move being delayed. Make sure you have enough overlap time to be able to do this.

Make a COVID Box

Pack a specific, labeled box with face masks, hand sanitizer, and other supplies. Put your first aid kit in there too. If you have pets, put a couple of meals of pet food and any pet first aid equipment you keep around. If you are driving to your new home, take this box with you. If not, label the box to be loaded onto the truck last so it will be unloaded first and ask for it to be put in your hall.

That way your personal protection and sanitization supplies will be easily accessible when you get to your new home. If you have vital medication, however, you should always keep it with you during the move. This includes vital medication for pets. As moving is stressful, maybe keep a bit of chocolate with you, too.

Allow Extra Time

The possibility of being sick and unable to interact with movers has already been mentioned. The fact is that moving during a pandemic is going to be more difficult and take longer.

You may have to order packing materials online and wait for them to be shipped rather than simply running to the hardware store. Your judgement when it comes to deciding what to take and how to pack it may be off. Social distancing will make it difficult to request packing or unpacking help from friends.

You need to be flexible about your move date and realistic about traveling to your new home. Due to COVID, a several day drive is safer than a flight, so it is probably better to drive your car even a long distance rather than having it shipped. If you do have to do a multi-day drive, read reviews of motels and make sure they are taking precautions.

Moving is already one of the most stressful things you can do; moving during a pandemic is only going to be worse. Above all, take care of yourself. You are doing something difficult and stressful, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a bottle of wine or your favorite binge eating food at the other end.