Common Mistakes People Make While Moving

Moving is complicated and stressful. There’s more to it than buying several boxes, packing your stuff and relocating to your new home because, in reality, there are a lot of things that could go wrong. Here are some of the most common moving mistakes, and tips on how to avoid them through proper planning and allocating enough time towards the process.

Miscalculating how many boxes you’ll need.

Before packing your things, try to come up with a good estimate of the number of boxes you need. If you fall short, take note of what you already have — such as suitcases and dresser drawers — and use them as makeshift moving containers to cut down on the costs of boxes.

Not getting enough padding for your items.

Having enough padding materials is necessary if you don’t want to end up with broken items when you arrive in your new home. You will need a good stock of bubble wrap or thick packing paper to cushion fragile items and protect your furniture edges from scratches. Likewise, you can also use personal items such as linens, blankets, bedding, and even clothes and dish towels to wrap up any fragile and sharp objects and fill in the gaps in their moving boxes.

Forgetting to label your boxes.

“Labeling boxes is Moving 101,” according to Moving.com. When you pack your things, don’t forget to have markers and tape with you to organize your stuff. Knowing what things are included in each box will also lessen the time it will take you to unpack.

Packing your things at the last minute.

Even if you’re the least organized person and you plan to just throw things into moving boxes, remember that packing takes time. You thought it’ll only take you an hour to pack the things in your bedroom when in reality, it could take you a whole day to sort through your stuff. The kitchen might even take you 2-3 days, especially if you have any delicate items that need to be carefully wrapped and stored. Remember to give yourself enough time and be realistic about how much it will take you to tackle each area in your home. You can avoid the stress of trying to pack on a tight timeline when you plan these things ahead.

Not preparing a moving essentials bag.

A moving essentials bag is a duffel bag, backpack, or a suitcase where you can easily access the things you’ll need on the day of your move and the few days after it. It’ll be convenient for you since you won’t have to rummage through all your moving boxes just to find a basic item you’re looking for. Fill it with your personal items and necessities such as your wallet, keys, medications, basic toiletries, important documents, electronics and chargers, a few clothes, etc. If you have kids, remember to have them pack their own essentials bag, as well.

Not getting rid of things you no longer need.

Sort through your items and simply throw out the things you no longer need. Remember that the fewer things you have to move, the better and less stressful it can be for you. You can save time, money, and effort, and won’t have to waste resources like boxes, padding, and fuel. So don’t waste time packing stuff you don’t really need, only to unpack them again in your new home without knowing where those things will fit. You can donate your stuff or give them to family members once they no longer serve a purpose in your life.

You choose to DIY your move instead of getting professional help.

Think twice before deciding to DIY your move instead of hiring the expertise of a professional moving company to save money. Remember that a DIY move may not be as cheap if you will count these major pitfalls, such as wear and tear on your body, damage to household goods, and unexpected fuel costs. Even if you have friends who are willing to help, it’s still labor-intensive and risky.

Hiring moving experts will help you in assessing the size of your move. They are also a great help for moving belongings and furniture, lifting heavy items, and handling the move in a safe and organized manner. You will do yourself a favor if you hire the pros, especially if you have a truck’s worth of heavy belongings.

Not anticipating the cost of your move.

Most movers offer estimates, not quotes, so you can have a general idea of what your move will cost you. This will be helpful especially if you’re trying to keep costs in a certain range. Figure out how much you need to budget so you won’t be surprised in case there’s a fuel surcharge or you will need significant add-on services from the movers. Experts recommend that you get at least three estimates from different moving companies. Also, don’t forget to ask questions about possible hidden fees, especially if you’re considering the cheapest bid.

You didn’t check your insurance.

With moving insurance, there are many policies and coverage levels to choose from. Before choosing a moving company, ask about what types of coverage options are available to you and whether you need to get more than what’s being offered. This is also the time to review your homeowner’s insurance policy if it offers additional moving insurance to know which works best for your move.

You forget that plants and animals have special needs when moving.

With all the other things you’re worried about, it’s unavoidable to forget the special needs of our pets and even plants when moving. You can’t just throw them in the box or load them in your car. Make sure that before moving day, your pet has current shots, tags, papers, and certificates, especially if you are moving from one state to another.

Keep in mind that lots of movers won’t handle plants especially if you’re crossing state lines. If you’re planning to bring them by car, remember to first check with the USDA for specific rules and regulations in the state where you’re relocating. If you find out you can’t move your plants, you may opt to donate them to friends, the community garden, or the local retirement home.

Why People Sell Their Homes “As Is”

For starters, what exactly is “as is home”?

Selling a home “as is” means sellers put up their homes on the market without doing any repairs to improve its current condition. Rather than putting tons of money, time, and effort to fix the issues in their home, they put it up for listing as is, often for a lower asking price to attract multiple offers.

Maybe you’re thinking, “Why would anyone sell their home as is?” After all, there’s no better way to increase a home’s value and sell for top dollars than making repairs and staging your home nicely.

Here we explain some of the most common reasons why sellers might have to do it:

They’re in a tight financial situation so they couldn’t afford to do any repairs.

Sometimes homeowners would like to sell, but they don’t have the funds to make any repairs or tackle home improvement projects to increase their home’s value. In this situation, they may have no other choice but to sell as-is. There are also instances where a homeowner might have finished doing maintenance work on the home’s exterior but have no money left to spend on interior improvements. There are also those who, well, just want to save tons of money on repairs.

Since making repairs and staging are just some costs associated with putting a home for sale, it’s easier to sell as is for those who are in a tough financial situation because they can skip those processes.

They want a cash offer.

Many people sell their houses as is because they want to attract cash buyers. Many of these buyers are local investors and flipping companies who purchase fixer-uppers or ugly homes and renovate them. Likewise, sellers generally love a cash offer because it helps expedite the home sale process. They get paid faster and use the quick cash to settle debts or spend it on other expenses.

 Investment companies help distressed owners sell as is by purchasing with cash. The only downside is that you cannot expect them to pay anywhere close to a home’s market value.

They want to avoid a lot of stress after inheriting a property or going through a divorce.

One option for people to offload a house they’ve inherited after a parent or loved one passed away is to sell it as is. It might make sense if you need to sell with your siblings and all of you live far away to oversee any home improvements before putting it on the market. It can also help prevent a major headache since they only have to split the profits from the home sale, avoiding a family feud.

Another common scenario is if someone had just “won” a house after a painful divorce but found out they couldn’t afford to pay for taxes, utilities, and upkeep costs anymore and would rather spend the money somewhere else. In this situation, it’s better to sell the property in its current condition, especially if it can help with moving on into a new life.

They want to sell quickly.

Making repairs and doing home improvements may sound great, but the truth is they are also too time-consuming to deal with. It takes time to fix every minor issue, make some updates, and even to stage your home. They can prolong the time you have to wait before you can put your house up for sale. Homeowners who want to sell their homes quickly put it up on the market as is. It also helps speed up the transaction if they get a cash buyer or work with a reputable investment company.

A few things to remember when selling a home in its current condition:

You still need to disclose known issues and defects. Selling a property as is does not exclude you from disclosing known defects and issues. It remains your legal obligation to talk about the home’s existing problems and truthfully answer any question from a buyer. The only exception is if you’ve inherited the property and you aren’t aware of its general condition.

It doesn’t mean that the buyer will skip the home inspection. Although you clearly stated your intentions when selling the home, it doesn’t mean that a typical buyer won’t request a home inspection that will uncover any issues. Regardless, most mortgage lenders will require a home to be free from any health or safety issues before they can lend money to it.

Make sure you’ve explored all other options before coming up with this decision. Putting your home up for sale can put a lot of stress and pressure on any homeowner. If you are considering selling as is, you may want to get help from a realtor who has experience in this kind of transaction before making a final decision. Maybe you can still come up with other ways to continue with the home sale without selling as is or adopt a creative sales plan that will suit your situation.

If you need to sell your house fast in Miami Dade, we’ll buy it!