In Transition - Tips on Moving

Too often, moving happens in an overly haphazard fashion. Families might get so caught up in selling the house and other attendant business that they leave the actual moving until the last minute. This is how belongings get lost or left behind. Long-range planning is essential. You should probably start the early stages of the moving process several months in advance.

First Things First

If you are relocating, it makes sense to pack valuable objects away first. Things like jewelry and antiques might be better off placed in a safety deposit box, locked trunk, or other secure location. This way, there is a lowered risk of these things getting damaged or misplaced during the hectic moving process. Furthermore, you might have a "lock box" set up with your real estate agent, where he or she will have access to your home and will accompany potential buyers around it. You might trust your agent, but it is possible that a "buyer" might really be a crafty thief who is able to spirit away small, valuable items-even under your agent's nose. There is also a chance that the visitor might be honest and well-intentioned, but might accidentally damage some valuables anyway.

Junk

You might want to make money off your junk. Some people prefer to have a yard sale, where they might stand to make a good profit by selling things item by item. Needless to say, this does not always happen, and even after a long yard sale, you might still have plenty of junk left. Taking your junk in bulk to a store and selling it all for a very low price might be a little galling. However, you will save yourself a great deal of time and effort that might otherwise have been used to set up and manage a yard sale. Furthermore, it must be said that the presence of a junk sale might lower the "curb appeal" of your property. It is hard to make your yard look neat and welcoming for potential buyers if you have piles of junk spread out for sale on it. In addition, keep in mind that many real estate agents prefer to show the buyer around the house when the owner is not around. You may be encouraged to spend a great deal of time away from your house, which would make a yard sale less feasible. Selling junk in bulk might be a far better way to go about your relocation process.

Children

If you have young children, it might be best to keep them out of most of the moving process. It is possible that they may cause unneeded hassle, or might even be hurt. They are also more likely to suffer emotional distress if they actually have to witness the packing-up process first-hand. While you are relocating, do consider putting small children in the care of someone you trust as you pack. Otherwise, try enrolling them in an affordable sports or activities class. This is practical for you, as well as educational and healthful for your children.

Beverly Manago is a freelance writer focused on the real estate industry. She is also a consultant for My Single Property Websites, a web 2.0 marketing tool that lets real estate agents create stunning virtual tours and single property sites easily, with a free version available for listing presentations. She also contributes to the Real Estate Marketing Blog there.