An approach shared by a Serial-Mover. Me!
For most, the notion of moving is a daunting one. But it doesn’t have to be! Take it from someone who once moved 8 times in 1 year (!) and has moved over 65 times in her short 53 years. This must be a reason selling real estate is such a joyous career for me. I have lived in nearly every zip code in Boulder County, know exactly who to call to facilitate every aspect of a move, and have enormous compassion for my clients because I’ve moved so many times and am still alive to tell the tale. 🙂
So, I wish to share my version of moving made Fun, Fast, and Easy.
Moving can be FUN.
#1. Determine Your Motivation:
Are you considering a move for a job, a larger/smaller home, or the desire to cash in on the phenomenal “Sell-High” opportunity our current market presents? Keep your motivating factor in mind because having a FUN goal helps you keep your “eye on the prize” for those occasional moments of doubt.
#2. Gather the Data:
Empower yourself with the facts and know the numbers. Moving is so much more FUN when you have the confidence knowing your decision makes sense on paper. For example…
— Evaluate your financial house. Ask for help from your favorite banker, tax professional, and local lender to learn the “big $ picture” a move at this time will offer.
— Call your favorite real estate professional (me, I’m guessing) for a market analysis to learn the FUN details about the area to which you plan to relocate. It could be across the street, across the county, or across the country. Just knowing what awaits you is exciting and FUN!
#3. Ask For Help:
Moving is never FUN if you do it all by yourself. But, your moving party during a pandemic may be limited to those you’ve been in quarantine with this past year.
However, if your State and Local guidelines on COVID-19 pandemic safety define de-cluttering and packing professionals as Essential Businesses, you might be able to employ the help of these life saving angels to wade through these icky tasks, which make moving preparation all the more FUN. Plus, the money you pay to have someone pack and move is balanced out by all the money you will save on chiropractic bills. (Trust me on this one. 😉 )
Remember, a SAFE move is always a FUN move.
Moving can be FAST.
#1. Choose a Fabulous Real Estate Agent:
Your real estate Agent can literally be what makes or breaks the “Fun, Fast, and Easy” experience of selling and buying a home. So, choose wisely. I recommend choosing an Agent who can provide a FAST response to your questions and concerns, is FAST on their feet to implement strategies and overcome obstacles, and is FAST to dig in and get their hands dirty, if necessary.
#2. Sellers: Your Home is a HOT Commodity Right Now:
So, logic follows that selling your home will be FAST. However, there are always exceptions to the rules, so please, please, please follow your well-chosen Agent’s advice on pricing, repairs, and staging. Your success for a FAST (and lucrative) sale is highly dependent on this.
— With that in mind, prepare for FAST success: Refer to the FUN section for guidance, then begin your decluttering, packing, and the search for your next home now.
#3. Buyers: Be Open Minded:
You and your Agent will likely place Offers on more than one home during this HOT market. The well-priced homes in desirable areas will often go under contract very quickly. Please do not be discouraged. In the spirit of a FAST move, it is best to remain open minded on many levels.
— Be willing to ACT FAST. You and your Agent should do all within your power to see a home as soon as it comes on the market. Ask your Agent to have that Offer written and ready to submit immediately afterwards, too.
— Be flexible with your move-in date. In your Offer (and for its FAST acceptance), be open minded if a Seller is requesting a Post Closing Occupancy Agreement. This addition to the contract allows the Seller to rent back their home after Closing while they too try to find a new home in this HOT market.
— Have “vision” when looking at homes to buy. Not all homes are move-in ready. If it is within your budget and tolerance, be open minded to homes that need a little love. These homes do not always move FAST, so partner with your Agent to look for these hidden opportunities (and their list of contractors. 😉
— Maintain a positive mindset and start packing your current home now. Prepare for your FAST move as if it has already taken place. Sounds woo-woo, I know. But, it works. 😉
Moving can be EASY.
#1. Refer to the guidance in the FUN and FAST sections:
Make your life EASY and prepare for success. (Both in this HOT market… and in all aspects of your life, for that matter.)
#2. Keep Calm:
The art of keeping calm is not just a slogan for social media and napkins, but a tried-and-true tool for a “Fun, Fast, and Easy” move. I am fully aware this is easier said than done, so this is how I implement this valuable strategy for myself and my clients.
— Remember to gather the data, THEN make a decision. Having confidence in a well-informed decision definitely helps one be more calm. Which in turns makes your life EASY.
— Keep a running and written list of your questions and tasks. (My famed go-to is the bullet-point list, organized by category.) Daunting situations become EASY to handle when taken out of swirling thoughts and put on paper. At that point you can EASILY prioritize what action to take next.
— TRUST that your diligent preparation will deliver the right results. Ask yourself if the energy you spend worrying will benefit the situation. (Often it doesn’t, btw.) Action and patience benefit a situation, so focus on that instead.
#3. Hard Work Now = EASY Move Later:
Here are a few tips I have implemented myself, and in my humble opinion, are worth taking.
— Review the Offer to Buy/Sell contract before you are facing a multiple-offer situation. Sellers, do this before you even open your home to the public. Buyers, do this before you even look at a home with the intention to buy. Understanding this contract = EASY “crunch time” decision making.
— Buyers: carefully research your home preferences with your Agent online via Skype/Zoom/FaceTime before shopping in person. Honing in on your preferences allows you to more EASILY narrow your choices down to a few great homes. This extra step will also make it EASIER to confidently make a strong Offer once you confirm the home you fell in love with online satisfies most of your preferences in person. (This is a highly recommended step while navigating real estate in a pandemic. A SAFE approach is paramount to your moving success!)
— Sellers: keep in mind the EASIEST transition between Selling and Buying your next home just might be Renting. It’s OK to pack and move your belongings to a rental –and only unpack the essentials– while on the hunt for your next “forever home”. It will be EASIER to move again if most of your belongings are still packed and ready for Move #2. (or #’s 3 and 4, if you’re me. 😉
— Renting may be an EASY and affordable transition strategy at current since the rental market is slightly softer in some markets, especially University towns where students are conducting their studies online from the comfort of their parent’s home (in another State). Your choices may be better and rents may be more negotiable.
#4. Hacks for Success:
— The future you will thank the present you if you invest in large plastic bins and not cardboard boxes when packing for your EASY move.
— Pack in categories and label your bins with the basics of what’s inside. Add a note indicating which room it is intended for, as well.
— On that same note, label the boxes you can leave packed for storage. Such as “Holiday Decor” or “garage”.
These are just a few ideas to make your move EASY. Tune in over the next few weeks for more. 🙂
‘Safety First’ Makes for a FUN, FAST, and EASY Move :
My moving made Fast, Fun, and Easy tips can apply to nearly anyone, anytime. Although one can implement them now, it goes without saying the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for our world community, and not just for moving. 😐 The Markel Group is sensitive to these challenges, and strives to provide as much in the way of honest answers and compassionate guidance as possible. If you are in the market to Buy or Sell, please contact us with your questions and refer to our Best Practices.
Thank you for reading to the end of my article! I hope my tips have been helpful. I offer them with sincerity and confidence they can make a difference in how you experience a move. More questions? Unique situation? Let us help! We are committed to serving you to the best of our ability.