Now what????
It's MOVING DAY! Hopefully, you have made plans in advance as to how the move is going to happen, the exact date and time, and where you are headed. Be sure your electricity, water, and other utilities have been transferred into your name. (Believe it or not, some people need reminders about all of this...) It is definitely preferred for the seller to get moved out and have a cleaning crew come through to tidy up prior to closing. A few days prior to closing! But, this sometimes does not happen. I have had a closing where the sellers were still moving out a few hours before closing, so the final walk-through is crucial to be sure you will not have a huge mess when you arrive in your new home.
Preparing for the move from your former house can be a great deal LESS stressful if you attempt to stay organized and think ahead. I have moved a ton of times in my life so far, so I have my system down. I begin early packing up everything I can think of that is not essential to every day living. As soon as your contract is ratified, you might want to walk through your existing home and start taking stock.
Then, start with one room at a time, one box at a time, packing stuff up that you just don't use every day. Be sure to use a Sharpie and detail what's inside each box! Nothing is more overwhelming than unpacking a bunch of boxes that all look the same with no idea what is inside. Need boxes? I highly recommend hitting your local liquor store and asking for empty boxes. The boxes they usually have there are medium in size and sturdy; and there's always plenty! Try not to get overwhelmed. Just do a little at a time; a couple of boxes a day. For fragile items, write FRAGILE in large letters on all sies of the box and arrows for THIS SIDE UP. If you have 30 days to closing, you should have lots of time.
Some people would rather have a moving company do it all. There are movers who will come in and pack everything down to the last cup, plate, and pair of socks. (For a price, of course.) When I moved from my rental home to my permanent residence, I used Coastal Transfer out of Georgetown (15 mins South of Pawleys Island). They were inexpensive, FAST, and friendly. Since I had packed up my house myself, they simply loaded it up, and delivered everything to our new home. The entire procedure took 2 hours. They can also do a full scale move for you where they will pack it all for you. Sometimes, if you can afford it, this might be the better option, because they would not move things that were not properly packed for insurance reasons. Contact them and ask them lots of questions about your move.
When moving day arrives, be sure to have lots of water and snacks on hand. If someone can keep the kids and pets, that is a good idea; if not, have the little ones and critters stay in one room that keeps them out of the way of the movers. Also, just like closing, expect the unexpected. Don't plan anything else on moving day if possible. (I know, duh...but I am trying to prevent pitfalls for you!)
Lastly, stay calm and be patient. It will all get done eventually. Just try to relax and enjoy the ride. Soon, you will be settling into your new home!!
Happy House Hunting!
No comments:
Post a Comment