Search Results for: blog the hidden expenses of moving

Four Questions to Ask Your Moving Company

When it comes time to make a move to a new home, one of the scariest things to do is to find a moving company that you can trust. Everyone has horror stories to share about bad situations they have been in with the movers that they selected. I have heard tales of movers damaging or losing belongings, or worse, outright stealing or holding items hostage until an inflated fee is paid. This makes it hard to feel secure about hiring movers. Each year there are, in fact, thousands of complaints filed against disreputable moving companies. How can you protect … Continue reading →

Tips for Moving Day

Well, it is finally approaching! It’s going to be moving day. If you are planning a move, you have got to be both excited and overwhelmed. We made a move last year, and I thought I would never get done with everything. And of course, there are things that I wish we would have done differently. With my mistakes in mind (and also the things that did work well), here are some tips for moving day. Designate one person to stay at home with the movers. If you are closing on a new house the same day and need to … Continue reading →

Moving Checklist Continued

Congratulations on your move! We are counting down all of the thing you need to do before the big day. If you missed the earlier article, click here: Moving Checklist. We started out preparing at six weeks before the move, now we are down to the wire. Here is the rest of the list. 2 weeks before the move Clean out your pantry. Plan out using items from your pantry to make your meals for the next two weeks. Separate out any food items that you won’t be using and consider donating them to a food bank or giving them … Continue reading →

Moving and Your Home Business

Moving is tough stuff! Getting organized and moving from one house to another is challenging and overwhelming enough–without having to take into account a home-based business too… One of the problems with moving a home-based business is that you may need to continue working, while you are in the process of moving. Depending on the type of business you operate, this can range from easy (just taking the lap-top with you and keeping things going) to rather complicated (if you have merchandise or product that you have to have handy). Being able to juggle the tasks and time management needed … Continue reading →

Moving With Kids in High School

I have turned down a couple of job opportunities in the past couple years because accepting the job would mean a move. While we moved when the kids were younger, with all three of them in high school, moving now just doesn’t seem like a good option. Not that I haven’t known plenty of people who have done it—but it seems that moving with kids in high school is much harder on them than a move when they are younger (or waiting to move after the kids have finally graduated.) As a single parent who shares custody with my children’s … Continue reading →

The Hidden Expenses of Moving

Are you planning a move? Watch out for these hidden expenses that can leave you short! There is no doubt that moving is an expensive thing to do. Not only do you have the normal costs associates with a move, such as movers, truck rentals, etc., but a few other “hidden” expenses can crop up. Be aware of these expenses so you can find frugal ways to reduce your moving cost. Boxes Yes, you can pay more than $100 to buy boxes and packing supplies. Of course, you can get these boxes for free. You can read all about that … Continue reading →

Things You May Need for Your New Home

Moving into a new home or just finding yourself in need of a few things around the house? Here is a list of items that you will probably need after you close on your home. Window treatments The law varies by state as to the state of the window treatments. Some states require them to be left with the house, other states require them to be left if they are mounted or custom (venetian blinds and shutters count, curtains do not). Then again, even if they are included, you may not agree with the style. Sun and Snow Two big … Continue reading →

Setting the Price of Your Home

One of the biggest issues in today’s real estate market is how to set the price of your home when it comes time to sell. During the boom, you could ask for the sky, and chances are that bidding wars would bring you the moon as well. Today, that isn’t the case. Here are some tips to help you set the price of your home before you put it on the market. First let’s talk about the real estate agent or broker. Contact at least three different agents and ask them to do a market analysis on the price of … Continue reading →

Reasons to Move

With the media constantly talking about the housing market, people wonder if they really should move, selling their old homes and or buying new homes. I get these questions a lot. While the house market can be scary, the truth is that sometimes you have a good reason to move, and that reason may overshadow any downsides to selling a home right now. And the truth is that even though you may take a hit on your current home, you can still purchase another home for a good price, so things may just even out. I have three friends at … Continue reading →

The Pros and Cons of Gated Communities

Is a gated community right for you? According to recent US Census data, gated communities are one of the fastest- growing forms of housing in the US. Take a look at the pros and cons of living in a gated community before you decide. What is a gated community? Gated communities have been around for longer than you might think. They center around a development or neighborhood in which the only way in or out is through a gate. The level of security, (privacy and protection) offered in a gated community can vary from an unmanned gate that is operated … Continue reading →