1. In home survey — A reputable moving company will
take inventory of all your belongings, including items in
storage areas like cabinets and garages. They will ask
what goes on the truck and what stays behind to
determine the bulk and weight of your move.
2. Don’t pay a large deposit — You should only pay upon
delivery. If you pay in advance, you have no control over
when you will see your belongings again.
3. Licenses — Confirm that your interstate moving
company holds a valid operating authority with the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
4. Get references — Ask your friends, family and work
colleagues. Check online resources such as
www.moving.org. Ask the mover for names of recent
customers in your area and contact them.
5. Unexpected packing costs — Watch for inflated prices
for boxes and packing materials. Make sure that labor
costs are in your estimate.
6. Beware of extra fees — Ask if there are extra charges for
the movers having to negotiate stairs and elevators,
navigate narrow streets, and other additional fees that
may apply to your situation.
7. Never sign a blank moving contract — Get everything
in writing including the estimate, extra fees, and your
pick-up and delivery dates. Read your contract and
inventory form to make sure all of your belongings are
listed.
8. Don’t accept the “guaranteed” quote — There are
three kinds of moving contracts: 1) A binding estimate
specifies in advance the precise
cost of the move based on the
services you request. 2) A
non-binding estimate is
prepared in advance to give
you a general idea of the cost
of your move, but the exact
cost is not determined until
your shipment is loaded on
the truck and weighed. 3) A
non-binding to exceed estimate
insures that the estimate is the
maximum you’ll be required
to pay for any services
rendered.
9. Report any problems —
On moving day, open
boxes and check for
damage. Note any
problems on the mover’s
bill of lading before signing it.
10. Valuation protection — Full (Replacement) Value
Protection: Under this comprehensive plan, an article that
is lost, destroyed or damaged while in your mover’s
custody will be repaired or replaced according to the
protection you have selected. Minimum Liability: The
mover assumes liability for no more than 60 cents per
pound per article.
When it’s time to move, contact me for a free guide with
Answers to Questions about Moving!
Source www.moving.com
Real Estate Trends You Should Know
If you took a time machine back to 1981, the housing and buyer preferences would look much different. Mortgage rates were four times higher than they are today. The typical home averaged 1,700 square feet and cost $70,000 ($201,376 in inflation-adjusted dollars), the Internet didn’t exist, and there was a much larger share of first-time buyers.
Here are 5 trends that have changed the landscape of the real estate industry in the last 35 years.
First-time buyer trends
The percentage of first time buyers in 1981 was 44% of the market. In 2015, due to various factors, the number of first time buyers dropped to 32% of market share, the lowest percentage since 1987 when first time buyers represented 30% of the market. However, recent data suggests that as much as half of the homes purchased in 2017 will be bought by first time buyers.
Recent national data indicates that first time buyers on average have a household income of $72,000 and pay $182,500 on average for their first home.
The Internet as resource
90% of buyers are online during their home search. Real estate related searches on Google.com grew 253% between 2008 and 2012. Nearly 8 in 10 new home buyers visited more than 3 real estate websites before taking action on a site.
Comparatively, open houses as a house hunting resource are used by only 50% of home buyers. Print advertising has been used less than 25% by home buyers in recent years.
A record 51% of home buyers recently reported finding the home they purchased online. 90% of the buyers who shopped for their home online used a real estate agent to complete their purchase.
Home size increases slightly
In 1981, home sizes on average were 1,700 square feet, compared to the 2015 average home size of 2,000 square feet, which has remained the same since 2011. The average home size among first time buyers is 1,650 square feet.
Down payments have reduced
In 1989, the average monthly mortgage rate was 10.62%. At that time, buyers typically financed their home purchase with a 10% down payment. More recently, buyers average a 6% down payment.
The home search takes longer
In spite of technology, the home search process is not faster. In 1987, the average home search was 7-8 weeks. Due to increasing regulations that impact lenders and appraisers, the average home search has increased to around 10 weeks in recent years.
Source: National Association of REALTORS®
Are you a first-time home buyer? If so, be sure to contact one of our agents to help you through the process!
Why You Should Sell Your Home in Winter
Did you know that web traffic increases on various real estate websites when it gets cold? It makes sense. People are inside with their cocoa dreaming about the house of their dreams. If you are thinking about selling your home anytime soon, yours should be one of them.
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People Buying A Home in Winter REALLY Want to Buy a House.
Let’s face it. If you’re buying a house over the holiday season and in the immediately exhausting aftermath – YOU ARE A MOTIVATED BUYER. These are the people that want to write an offer as soon as possible, and they are the ones that you want looking at your house.
2. Deals Tend to Go More Smoothly.
Real estate transactions tend to run more smoothly in the winter months. This is probably because REALTORS®, Lenders, and Title Company Reps are not as busy. Your deal will have much more of their attention than it would get in the spring, leading to less mistakes, faster closing times, and more availability.
3. Relocation is a Year-Round Process.
January is actually the biggest month for relocation! People who are being relocated to northern Colorado for their jobs will often fly out for a day or two and write an offer on one of the houses that they see during that time. They don’t have time to wait, even if the weather (or the house) isn’t perfect.
4. More Control Over When You Move.
Buyers tend to be more flexible about terms in winter, so it’s easier to negotiate the ideal moving scenario for you. Want to sell now but then move after Christmas? Want to take your time looking for your next place, but be in a better negotiating position without a contingency? Sell now and we can work to negotiate a delayed possession or leaseback situation.
5. Uncle Sam Says BUY!
Some buyers are looking to make a purchase before the end of the year for tax purposes…your ideal buyer might be one of them, but they can’t buy your house if you don’t list until spring!
If you are thinking about selling and want to find out what your home might be worth, would like to talk about the pros and cons of selling during the winter months, or have questions or concerns about the selling process contact RE/MAX Advanced here. Let’s discuss your options!
A College Grad’s Guide to Home Buying
Many millennials are open to moving back to their parents’ houses after college. But for some, moving home may not be a viable option. This is leading recent college grads to a fork in the road: should I rent or should I buy? With renting costs continuing to rise, many recent graduates are deciding on the latter. Here is your unofficial guide to home buying!
What does the future hold?
It can be very daunting to map out the next 10 years of your life just as your tassel has been moved to the left. Impulsive decisions should be left in the dorm room and recent grads need to plan where and what they will be doing before considering buying property. Thinking like a real estate investor rather than making emotional or rash decisions can help guide the thought process.
Before college grads think about buying a home, they should have both a stable job and firm plans to live in the neighborhood for at least the next five years. If a recent grad is cemented and secure in their current location then they should talk to several mortgage lenders (starting with their bank) about their loan qualifications.
Buying your first home is a huge decision, so all the factors together can become overwhelming. However, if you are mentally prepared to take the journey then you need to be certain that your wallet can handle the weight as well.
Plan, Plan, Plan
Before you even think of picking up a pen and inking a deal for a mortgage, it’s important to be aware of your financial standing. With technology, budgeting has never been easier. There are a slew of apps for smart phones that are tailor-made for budgeting and planning your finances.
In addition to knowing the precise state of your finances, it is important to know your credit score — visit AnnualCreditReport.com. This is the only site that’s federally mandated and an authorized source for a free credit report.
Once you know your score you can decide what next steps. If it’s too low to even apply for a home loan (anything below 580), it’s time to get your credit in order. You should open up a credit card and pay it on time and stay on top of your student loans. Your mortgage lender can also help determine a course of action.
Many new buyers also don’t factor in the hidden costs of buying their first home. As well as the down payment on the property, there are also appraisal charges, closing costs, taxes, insurance and property inspection fees.
Much like school itself, the best thing a recent college graduate can do is their homework. As long as you think with a clear head and have a healthy financial standing, you could soon be hanging that fancy diploma in your very own home.
Give one of our agents a call if you or someone you know is contemplating their first home purchase!
Courtesy of RISMedia 2016