September 2nd, 2019 | Buyers

Real Estate In A Nutshell: The Big Move

Have you bought a home or are in the process, but not sure what happens after you sign on the dotted line?

You’re not the first one! We are here to teach you about what comes next, so you can handle the aftermath like a pro!

Last week, we discussed the your buyer visits and how to get the best use out of them, if you missed this post, no worries, just click, Best Use Of Your Buyer Visits, now get ready to learn about moving in and how to best prepare!

Everybody hates moving, especially if you’ve been living at your current place for a long time! Decluttering and packing seem so daunting and some of us procrastinate until the end, which makes it that much more stressful! But please don’t wait and get a running start, that way you feel more prepared and calm the day of.

First thing to do prior to packing, BOOK YOUR MOVERS AND IF LIVING IN A CONDO, BOOK YOUR ELEVATORS!

Most people move either at the end of the month or the beginning of the month, so movers, Uhaul, etc get booked far in advance during these periods and you want to ensure you can get the exact date and time you want and need.

If living in a condo, book your elevator first, as there are limited time slots and restrictions. Again, this ensures you get the date and time you want. Once you have that confirmed, book your movers, Uhaul, etc. Most condo buildings will require a refundable security deposit in order to secure your booking. So, make sure to check with property management. They usually accept this payment in a certified cheque or bank draft. NOT in cash or a personal cheque (I know, pain in the butt).

OUR ADVICE: Hire cleaners to come clean your new house. That way you have a clean, fresh slate to start with and don’t have to clean before unpacking, after you just packed, cleaned and moved out of your current place. Totally worth the $$$ and sanity!

What else?

Another to-do you’ll want to take care of in advance, is booking your service provider to install cable and internet. These services are usually busy all days of the year and having to go without internet or cable for a week after you’ve moved in will drive you crazy! Especially if you work from home or have small kids, trust us!

Our best moving tips:

• Declutter prior to packing. You don’t want to pack and move junk from one place to another! Start ahead of time and do 1 hour a day of decluttering. For more tips, check out our blog post, How To Declutter Your Home, Room By Room
• Rent boxes. You can rent boxes to pack up your stuff. This way, you’re not running around looking for boxes at the LCBO and you’re not suck deconstructing boxes after your move to put out for recycle. Again, totally worth the cost, for your sanity.
• Go room by room. Packing up a whole house can seem daunting. But if you break it up in chunks and focus on one room at a time, it becomes more manageable. Save the kitchen for the very end. Use this same advice when unpacking in your new home.
• Label your boxes, with the room and quick descriptions of what’s inside. This way, it’s easier for your movers to place them in the appropriate room and quicker for you to unpack and prioritize based on what’s inside the box.
• Pack an overnight bag for the whole family, including pets. This way, you are not fumbling on the first night in your new home trying to find toothbrushes, pj’s and kids favourite blanket and stuffed animal or your pets food and bowls.
• Get a babysitter for kids and pets. It’s a lot easier transitioning from one house to the other without kids running around stressing you out or pets running out of the house or constantly barking at the movers.
• Don’t leave things to the last minute. Pack and dissemble as much as you can prior to the move. Don’t think you’ll wake up early the morning of to tackle these items, as things always take longer than expected.
• Be clear about your movers contract. Make sure you know all the costs upfront like rates, charges per hour, gas costs, movers insurance for broken items, etc, so that there are no surprises at the end.
• Get a good night’s rest. If you’ve followed our tips above, then you shouldn’t be rushing the night before and staying up late to finish packing. We find when we have a good sleep before a big day, we are less stressed and grumpy, which makes the experience more enjoyable.
• Have fun! Even though moving is not fun, try to enjoy it. Make a playlist with all your favourite songs. Buy your favourite snacks to munch on throughout the day. Say goodbye to your house. Take pictures. Have a glass of vino (we are not judging, it’s 5pm somewhere) and don’t forget to smile!

That’s about it from us! We hope this series, Real Estate In A Nutshell, has been informative, and that you feel more confident about the next steps, once you’ve purchased a home.

And of course if you have any questions, make sure to ask them in the comment section below!

If you missed any of our previous blog posts of the series, check them out by clicking, I Bought A House, Now What?