Tips for homebuyers Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Bruzzese Home Improvements

First 4 Things You Should Repair on That Fixer-Upper Home

November 22, 2016adminhome improvement, home remodeling, Tips for homebuyershome buyers, home improvement, home remodeling, home repairs, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

There are all kinds of reasons for buying a fixer upper home. Maybe the structure is going to be restored into your dream home. Maybe you just want to live in it for a few years while fixing it up to sell for a profit. Maybe it is all your budget will allow at the moment. Regardless, there are some things that need to be fixed first on fixer-upper residential homes. Here are the top four renovations you should consider early in the restoration of your bargain home purchase.

Replace the Roof

This is the part of the exterior of your home that gets pounded with everything from the hot sun to driving winds and rain. All of your interior upgrades and renovations that are next on your list can be ruined by even small leaks from a roof that is in poor condition.

You need to make sure that the roof over your head is keeping out the elements before upgrading any insulation, especially attic insulation. A qualified roof inspector can let you know if your roof is leaking even a little bit. Plus, because of how large a roof on a house is means that fixing it will make a dramatic difference in its visual curb appeal.

Update the HVAC System

Chances are the furnace and air conditioning system in the home is very old. The house obviously did not get into its fixer-upper status by a former owner who went all out with upgrades and renovations.

HVAC companies like Pacific Aire, Inc. offer expert advice for HVAC systems and advocate repair where possible and replacement when necessary. They typically advise us to keep in mind the statistic published by Energystar.gov, which indicates almost half of HVAC systems are incorrectly installed and correcting installation issues may be all that is necessary for an efficiently functioning system.

Replace Flooring

The floors are the first thing people notice when they come into your home. One of the first things you should do is to look underneath wall-to-wall carpeting in every room and hallway where it is installed. Owners of fixer-upper homes often find hardwood flooring that only needs refinishing. That nice shiny oak hardwood flooring that is so popular in new homes today may have been preserved under carpeting for decades.

Do not judge it by its current looks. Check it to make sure no holes have been cut and replaced with plywood and look for other serious damage. If the planks are intact, they can be sanded and refinished to shine like diamonds at far less cost than installing a new floor. For areas that do not have hardwood subflooring, clearance laminates, vinyl and ceramics are available at less than a dollar per square foot. Also, many flooring types are available for easy DIY installs.

Upgrade the Electrical Service

Even if you cannot get into the wiring in the walls that feed every outlet and ceiling fixture in your fixer-upper, you should install a new service panel including the main service entrance power cable and electrical meter box. Most building codes require a 200 amp breaker panel for a regular residential home. Some older fixer-upper homes have a 50 amp fuse box. This is completely inadequate for today’s families and their electricity needs.

If you have ungrounded, non-polarized outlets, that wiring should be replaced immediately too. You should never use an adapter to plug in your three-prong appliances. Upgrading the main service entrance, breaker box and household wiring is one of the wisest and safest things you can do first for your new bargain home.

Unless your fixer-upper home is really old, the plumbing is likely to use copper supply lines and PVC drains. If you suspect a terracotta sewer line underground, have it inspected by camera for tree root intrusion and broken pipes. Simply put, work on the infrastructure of your home first. Your renovations will go smoother as you go along if you have a sound infrastructure to work with.

Guest Post By:

Anica Oaks

Freelance writer and web enthusiast
Read some of my published work on my Google+ page.

Elegant and Functional Walk-In Closet Design Ideas

October 10, 2016adminHome Organization Tips, Interior Design, Tips for homebuyershome improvement, home organization, home trends, interior designLeave a comment

One of the biggest mistakes of first time home owners is giving too much significance to the unimportant things. For example, it’s not that important how much room you have in your bathroom or even in your bedroom (if it is one-purpose room). Both of these places have simple functions and you don’t usually spend more time there than you absolutely need.

On the other hand, the size, position and layout of your closet can play a vital role in making your home more orderly and practical. Unfortunately, this is something that people often tend to oversee. Not only does it keep the rest of your home neat, but it also makes it easier for you to find whatever you are looking for. To make things even better, walk-in closets can be designed in a fashionable and enthralling manner, thus ensuring the rest of your home look even better.

Taking Care of Storage Capacities

First things first, when designing a closet, you must appeal to its practical side. What this means is that you have to come up with the way to organize it properly. Naturally, your first step would be to get the right storage capacities, which means finding someone to deal with shelving installation on your behalf. DIY projects are a great idea, but in this particular case, they might not give as satisfactory result, since any irregularity may seriously damage your valuables. Imagine if the shelf you keep your jewelry on suddenly broke or fell. Sure the results may not be catastrophic, but why take any chances? Another option would be to get a secure nightstand with compartmentalized drawers, where you will keep all the most precious things you own.

The Right Light

As we emphasized several times already, practical function of your closet is the most important. This means that your walk-in closet should always have adequate lighting. Now, while the illumination should be your first concern, this isn’t that hard to deal with. Just follow Watts (or lumens if you are going with LED) and you should be fine. What you might want to give some more attention to is making the light in the room match the overall ambiance. If you decide to go with a shimmery color (like petal pink) hanging fixture might be a perfect solution. Furthermore, seeing how glass is a natural light enhancer (due to its reflective nature) you might want to think a bit about investing in some glass shelves.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Speaking of reflective surfaces, no walk-in closet will ever be complete without the mirror. Seeing how this closet is going to be a room without windows, it is vital that you use all you can to enhance the effect of your lighting system. For practical purposes, it goes without saying that what you need is a full length mirror, but this is only the tip of the iceberg of all that you should pay attention to. This mirror is also a part of the room and as such it must fit in. The easiest way to do so is to make the frame match the surrounding wallpaper pattern. To find a universal solution that fits it all, you can always get mirror closet doors.

While to some they may seem like a luxury, but those who once lived in a home with a walk-in closet could never again live without it. Just having them, means that your home will be overall less messy and that you won’t have to make improvised changing rooms wherever you are. Still, in order to make you feel even more comfortable in this little fashion realm of yours, you might want to go one step further and go that extra mile when decoration is concerned.

Guest Post By:

Chloe is an art historian, recreational ballet dancer and a contributor at smoothdecorator.com. She is passionate about photography, dance and music. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world with her husband and take stunning photographs of beautiful places. She also enjoys learning and writing about home design, since she is crazy about aesthetics. You can find Chloe on FB, Twitter, and G+.

Building Inspections: The Need-To-Know

October 6, 2016adminHome Improvement Tips, Tips for homebuyershome buyers, home improvement, real estateLeave a comment

When buying a piece of property to proudly call their new home, many people fall into the trap of clever real estate marketing campaigns, which usually costs them thousands in additional expenses once the estate passes into their hands. Homebuyers with a tad more experience, on the other hand, know that minor oversights during preliminary property tours can result in major update costs later on, which is why they always base the final property purchase decision on objective building inspection reports. But what exactly do building inspectors do, and how can the unbiased assessment save you cash down the road?

ABC of Building Inspection

A building inspector holds qualifications and licenses that entitle them to review and report on the state of residential and commercial property for a set commission. In the audit, the building inspector will go over the building plans and the property itself to make sure it is compliant with relevant standards and regulations. During the inspection, the inspector will strive to identify defects or faults that may compromise residents’ safety and report thereon. A building inspector also has the authority to issue building permits prior to the beginning of construction, oversee the works to ensure observance of regulations on design, materials, and construction methods, propose solutions to potential issues, and certify the building plan compliance with relevant local standards upon completion of construction.

The Role of a Building Inspector

In order to ensure observance of valid building regulations and standards, the building inspector will undertake one or more of the following tasks.

Interpretation of building plans, regulations, standards and codes of practice;
Inspection of materials, structure, and workmanship for compliance with regulations;
Coordination of action plans during construction process;
Preparation of time scale estimates and costs prior to and during the building process;
Data collection with the help of surveying tools and photogrammetric equipment;
Provision of assistance to building managers, architects, and surveyors in construction planning and organization.

Down-To-Earth Report Details

If the list above sounds too complex for you, here are some practical examples of the defects a building inspector can uncover during the audit.

Structural faults, such as roof, flooring, or foundation defects which can compromise safety and well-being of residents and therefore need to be repaired before moving in;
Electrical system issues, such as wiring faults, smoke alarm defects, and low quality of installation workmanship;
Plumbing and sewer defects, such as drain, waste, and vent damage, as well as pipe, fitting, and water heater installation or operation faults;
Air-conditioning and heating system faults, such as blocked filters, valve defects, and poor installation quality;
Health hazards, such as presence of pests, mold and invisible toxins such as asbestos, water pollutants, and gas leaks, as well as balustrade, floor, ceiling, and wall defects, and other potential problems that can jeopardize residents’ health and safety;
Mechanical defects caused by age and wear which will require post-purchase repairs, updates, and makeovers that can cause additional costs.

Speaking the Inspector’s Lingo

Most building inspectors seem to speak a language of their own, riddled with vague terms such as ‘serviceable condition’, ‘conducive to deterioration’, and ‘deviations from the site plan’. For this reason, understanding the building inspection report can be a tough task for an average homebuyer unacquainted with technical vocabulary. To avoid misunderstandings, you should ask the building inspector to provide both a written and an oral elaboration on the state of the property you’re set on buying, and you can also ask them to produce a broad assessment of home repair and upgrade costs that will have to be covered if you decide to purchase the piece of property. On top of the inspection report and cost estimates, a certified building inspector will also be able to refer you to reliable environmental consulting experts for additional tests and audits to establish compliance of the estate with relevant health regulations and standards.

An unbiased building inspection can be a lifesaver for first-time homebuyers, as it will expose and point to structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical problems below fine frills and shiny polish which you’d otherwise overlook. Based on the inspector’s report, you’ll be able to make an informed decision on property purchase and avoid common mistakes that can set you back more than you ever thought was possible. For a cool bonus, you can try to use the specifics from the report to bring down the price of your future nest in the negotiations before you sign your name on the dotted line.

Ready to buy a home of your own and settle down? Make sure you get the property inspected before you dash off to sign the purchase contract: it will save you cash, nerves, and hassle later on. You’re welcome.

This article was written by Zoe Clark. Zoe is an environmentalist, home decorator and DIY enthusiast. When not obsessing about designing perfect homes, she is spending time with her family.

3 Secrets for Home Shopping

September 19, 2016adminReal Estate Tips, Tips for homebuyershome buyers, real estateLeave a comment

Everyone wants to have a home, but for many, this excellent goal is hard to achieve practically. What with high price inflation, and low salaries, the cost of a typical home in the United States is usually 4-5 times the annual wage of a typical worker. Many people throw up their hands in despair, and go for a long term mortgage loan in order to eventually meet their goal of home ownership. Sadly, this goal is often far away, and refinancing, along with recent housing crisis, causes it to not be as tangible as one might wish.

What are the secrets to becoming a home owner outright? For the first tip, Warren Buffett has a general phrase for all who want to practice his billionaire wisdom. “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful” How does this apply to housing?

When it comes to buying their first home, most people automatically jump to a multi-decade mortgage loan. The mortgage loan industry in the United States is gigantic for this reason, and the government incentives for refinancing are large. Citizens of this country are greedy in this area, judging by Buffett’s principle. Buffett would caution us to be fearful when others are greedy. Now, many people would say, “But how can I get a home then? The prices are so outrageous!”

This brings us to our second secret, sheriff’s and foreclosure auction web sites. Searching Google for auction and foreclosure brings up a lot of gems that just need a little polishing. Many places that are high crime, or have a reputation for being full of certain ethnicities that some are prejudiced against also have a very low price level. A great example is Detroit, Michigan. After the 2008 economic bailout of General Motors, the city of Detroit literally went bankrupt. There are still decent houses in Detroit selling right now for $1000 cash, out of the city’s desperation to sell. As a caveat, sometimes such houses have to be fixed up to code, but this is a far cry from a cracker box mansion that goes for 5 times a worker’s annual salary.

The third secret to home shopping is to look internationally. Sites like Land Watch and Craig’s List are a great place to start. Price levels overseas are usually far lower than in the US. Homes in China, the Philippines, or Mexico, are often within reach for 1 year of savings from a hard American worker. This technique profits from the distortions that are prevalent in global finance. Powerful countries often manipulate their currencies to be artificially high, so people will sell to them. Weak countries manipulate their currencies to be artificially low, so people will buy from them. This leaves a lot of undervalued assets just across the border. If an individual can swallow their patriotic pride, and consider investing overseas, the benefits are often immense.

Now, in selecting your home, it pays to remember what you actually need. Many people buy a home that is a cracker box mansion, but they are only in it for 3 hours a day. This home is pretty much a waste, and a drain on your personal finances. Identify what you actually need. If you need the huge mansion, then great, but the essentials are often met with much less.

Balancing quality and price are important as well. In the Detroit homes above, many people would shy away from such a purchase because of the perception of low quality. However, an ancient Jewish king once observed, “He who builds a high gate invites destruction.” Having a fancy home in a nice neighborhood can often make you a target for vandalism and theft. It is important if your home is nice to have at least a small home warranty, which adds an additional expense to an already overpriced asset. Keeping things simple, and laying aside prejudices can make even the poorest of us happy home owners.

Tricks for first time home buyers

July 27, 2016adminHome Improvement Tips, Tips for homebuyershome buyers, home trends, remodeling tips1 Comment

Buying a home for the first time can be one of the most exhilarating parts of many people’s lives. Many people only buy a home once or twice in their life, making it an incredible experience, if not slightly nerve wracking.

Unfortunately, the downside of only buying a few homes in one’s life is that many people know very little about purchasing a home and miss out on a lot of incredible opportunities that are available.

Here are a few tricks that real estate investors and professional buyers know and utilize to get good deals, analyze homes, and minimize risk.

Understand Renovations

Renovations can be both challenging and fun for new homeowners. However, they can also offer incredible opportunities if you know what to look for. Oftentimes a home that is in need of repairs will sell for significantly less than its ARV, or after repair value. People simply don’t want to deal with repairs, and sellers just want to get the property off their hands.

This means that you can buy a nicely modeled, newer home for say, $200,000. However, you could also buy a beaten up, older home for $140,000, put in $25,000 of repairs, making it equal in both value and modeling to the newer home, and save $35,0000 in the process. This also gives you complete control over what the home will look like, what kind of floors you like, paint colors, countertops, cabinets, etc.

This is also a form of appreciation. If you don’t know what appreciation is, appreciation is when your home’s value increases over time, meaning you can sell the home down the road, pay off your mortgage, and pocket the difference. This can be hundreds of thousands of dollars over long periods of time.

Doing significant repairs, like those mentioned earlier, can force appreciation on your home. This appreciation can be much higher than the amount of repairs put into the home. For example, you could put in $35,000 of repairs, and if the you made the right repairs the home would be worth $50,000 more. This means you just forced $15,000 in appreciation right off the bat. You now have a little cushion in case the value of your home drops.

Loans

Many people do not realize how much interest plays into their loan. When you first get a loan on a property, you will be paying more than half of your monthly payment straight to interest. This means that any drops that can be had in interest rates should be taken advantage of. Most people will not shop around for interest rates, believing that 1/2 a percent can’t make that much of a difference. In reality, that 1/2 percent can make a huge difference.

There are many brokers that can help you shop around without pulling your credit a dozen times. Find one that you like and stick with it.

Finding homes

Don’t just use one place to look for properties. Let’s use someone living in Atlanta Georgia for an example. They could use the Georgia MLS, they could try a site like Fizber that offers FSBO sales, they could drive around neighborhoods they like, or they could likely find some kind of local listings in their local paper etc. The point of this is that when you are buying something as important as your first home, it is important to do your research and know exactly what the market looks like and what a good deal is. If you spend time looking on multiple platforms you will better be able to recognize a good deal, and have a better idea of what you are looking for.

Common Mistakes People Make When Buying Their First Home

January 11, 2016adminReal Estate Tips, Tips for homebuyershome buyers, real estateLeave a comment

A home is probably going to be the largest purchase most people will make in their lifetime. As such, there can be a lot of pressure to make the right decisions when obtaining a home. Unfortunately, sometimes people do make big mistakes. With that in mind, here are some of the most commonly made mistakes you should make sure to avoid when buying your first home.

Forgetting There Are More Expenses than Mortgage Payments

One mistake made by first time homebuyers occurs because they are unaware that owning a home requires far more expense than a monthly mortgage payment. Many people may decide to take on a mortgage when they finally have enough income to make the monthly payment. However, this ignores many of the other routine expenses that can be involved.

This includes things like property taxes, home insurance premiums, electricity bills, water bills and even dues paid to a homeowners’ association. Certainly make sure you know all the expense that will be required to own a specific home before you agree to buy.

Not Getting the Best Home Loan

Another common mistake occurs when new homeowners select the wrong mortgage. There are many home loans beyond the standard mortgage that are designed specifically for people who need financial help obtaining a home. You can find many of them on this website from a mortgage lender in Austin.

This includes options like loans from the Federal Housing Administration, the Veteran’s Administration and the US Department of Agriculture. Loans from these government agencies often come with great benefits for consumers like interest rates lower than regular mortgages. Make sure you qualify for such options before choosing a conventional mortgage.

Choosing a Home Before a Loan

The first step to buying a home should always be getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Part of the reason some people don’t is because they are nervous about the pre-approval process. They may assume that they’ll only be approved for a loan for a home much smaller than they actually want. They may also worry about being rejected outright. However, these fears are often misguided. Being pre-approved for a mortgage first will help you choose the right home from the beginning instead of having your hopes dashed later.

Overall, buying a home is a big deal. There is a lot of decision making required, and it will be a huge financial commitment. Make sure you are well informed on the whole process so you can put some your fears at rest.

Guest Post By:

Anita Ginsburg / Freelance Writer
anitaginsburg@gmail.com

6 Important Features Home Buyers Are Looking For Today

January 2, 2016adminHome Improvement Tips, Tips for homebuyers, Tips to sell your homehome improvement, home trends, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

Homeowners who want to list their property often want to avoid having their home on the market for an extended period of time. This makes it important to sell a property that is in demand with certain features that are available. Before making necessary changes on the home, it’s important to be aware of important features that home buyers are looking for.

1. Home Office

More people are telecommuting and working from home, which makes it important to have a home office that is available. Home offices have a high level of appeal for a space that is closed off from the rest of the home. Not only do potential buyers want a home office where they can work, but they also need a space to pay bills and store important documents.

2. Energy Efficiency

Energy efficient homes are currently in demand due to more buyers who want to reduce their global footprint with their home. Energy efficient homes are known to cost less throughout the year with the use of the HVAC system and other technology on the property. This can be achieved by installing new insulation, using solar panels on the roof, and having a solar reflective roof. There should also be Energy Star-rated appliances and Energy Star-rated windows on the property.

3. Open Floor Plans

Spaces that are closed off and confined are no longer in demand. More buyers want to live in a property that is spacious and is easy to entertain in, like those built by these Utah home builders. The kitchen should be connected to the living room and include a seating area where guests can enjoy spending time in the room. This makes it easy for the host to maintain conversation as they cook and serve food. Additionally, the space should flow and be easy to navigate.

4. Larger Garages

It’s important to increase the size of the garage if possible, as more buyers are looking to store more than one vehicle in the space. Three-car garages are a popular feature that is often sought out for a spacious area that can store tools, personal belongings, cars, and sporting equipment without feeling cramped.

5. Fireplaces

Fireplaces are a feature that is currently making a comeback on residential properties for a cozy addition that livens up a living room or bedroom. More people are spending less time watching television and instead are now more entertained with laptops, e-readers, and tablets. 40 percent of buyers are willing to pay more for this feature, making it important to have at least one fireplace on the property to allow the home to stand out with what it offers. Outdoor fireplaces in the backyard are also popular and make for a space where the homeowners can entertain their guests while spending time outdoors.

6. Updated Kitchen and Bath

Kitchens and baths that appear outdated or dingy will likely cause the home to sit on the market longer. Homeowners aren’t looking to remodel after moving in, making it important to install new appliances, add decorative backsplashes, and paint the cabinetry. You can also install new countertops or add a kitchen island to increase the functionality of each room.

Although it’s important to update your home and enhance the curb appeal of the property, there are several features that should be added to allow it to sell quickly. The features will catch the attention of buyers and make for a home that can be more functional in the coming years. This will not only allow the home to sell quickly, but can also increase the value of the property.

Buying Your First Home? Here’s What You Need to Know

December 5, 2015adminTips for homebuyershome buyers, real estateLeave a comment

There is probably nothing that brings more joy to one’s heart than becoming a homeowner. This sense of accomplishment is something really unique, as finally you will have a place that you can call your own. However, buying a home for the first time is in no way an easy task. Because of this, numerous homeowners come to regret an oversight they had made during the purchase. In order to prevent this from happening to you as well, here are several things you need to know before venturing out onto the real estate market.

Set your budget

It is essential that you have a set budget even before you go out looking for the right home. This way, you will have a realistic price range and there is nothing more important than staying within it. Naturally, if the offer is something really special, exception can be made, however this should most often be avoided. Any budget infringement you make at this point is bound to cause some serious consequences, so being mindful of every single dollar you spend is the best advice possible. Especially since there are always some hidden costs you are usually not aware of. Sit down and calculate exactly how much you are capable of spending, and don’t even look at houses outside that price range. You will save yourself a lot of heartache.

Your own evaluation

Even though the price of any given home will be more or less accurate, remember one thing: your expenses do not end with the purchase. This is another reason why you need to set a realistic budget. Think of it this way – every extra dollar you pay for the home itself will be a dollar lacking for some extra work the home requires. It is always best to consult a contractor, a plumber and electrician before purchasing a property. Better yet, take them with your to see the house before you buy it. This kind of consultant work won’t cost you much, but can save you a world of trouble later on.

Examine the neighborhood

When buying your first home, you will naturally be focused on the house itself, however, choosing a neighborhood is important as well. Look for lines of public transportation, restaurants, schools and hospitals in the vicinity, since these things may come to determine the quality of your lifestyle. These are just some of the things that make a dream neighborhood. If the price seems too good to be true, your home just might have a railroad or an airport in the vicinity, so keep both your eyes (and ears) open.

Additionally, ask around to see if the neighborhood you are moving into has a reputation of some kind. A good idea is also to consult a local Realtor. If you plan to raise a family in that home, the last thing you want is for it to be in a shady part of town. However, minding the home’s surroundings is important not only for your own safety but for the value of your property in general. Disregarding this, it may cause you a bitter disappointment once (or if) you try to sell the place.

The method of transaction

The last, but not the least important thing that requires your immediate and undivided attention is the choice of the safest method of transaction. Since,houses usually go for a substantial amount, the risk is in no way insignificant. Because of this, your safest bet would be to use escrow. Being a neutral party, it holds onto the funds while the physical assets are exchanged, and neither side is at risk of a loss. Escrow is one of the most traditional methods in dealing with large transactions, yet unsurpassed up to the present day.

Finally, just one more piece of advice. In order to make up your mind for the purchase, “good” is not good enough, the home needs to be perfect. Since this kind of investment is not something you make every day, you would be wise to remember that. Buying your first home is a dream come true for a lot of people, so don’t be afraid to dream big and settle for no less.

Tips To Make Your Next Home Move Easier

December 1, 2015adminDIY Projects, Home Organization Tips, Tips for homebuyersDIY projects, home improvement, MovingLeave a comment

The thought of moving into a new home is both exciting and overwhelming! We found this moving house checklist to help you organize your next move and make things a little easier. Just print it out and check off the boxes as you complete each task. Happy moving!

Moving House Checklist by Terrys Fabrics.

5 Tips For Making Your Move a Smooth One

March 28, 2014adminHome Organization Tips, Tips for homebuyersDIY projects, home organization, MovingLeave a comment

New Home — Source: www.aspenrentalsmn.com

Buying a home is one of the most thrilling experiences in a person’s life. However, moving into it is another story entirely. Moving is stressful. There is no way around it. First you have to find boxes to pack your stuff in, then you have to pack everything you own into those boxes. Then you have to carry all those boxes and your incredibly heavy furniture out to the moving truck. Then you have to drive to your new home – that could take minutes or days! Then you have to carry all of that stuff back inside. After all that, you still have to unpack and organize your home. That’s a lot of work! Enough to make anyone want to run the other way, but you just bought a new home, and you are going to move into it. Don’t worry! It will be over sooner than you think. In the meantime, here are five things you can do that will help make moving a little less daunting.

1. Start Early

Usually we find ourselves scurrying around a day or two before a move putting things into boxes. This creates unnecessary stress, and it can mean that your things aren’t packed carefully. Start a couple weeks ahead of time and pack up everything you don’t absolutely need for the coming weeks. Take extra care packing china. Get storage closets packed up and make sure there is nothing lurking in the backs of drawers, under beds, or behind the couch. A week before your move you can pack up the kitchen dishes and most of your family’s clothing. You can live on paper plates and microwave dinners for a week, I promise. Sort out the clothes that you will need for the week and pack up everything else. This way the day before your move, there won’t be much left to put in boxes.

2. Label Everything

Label every box as soon as you finish packing it. Make sure the label clearly states what is in the box and which room you want it to go in. This way, no matter who takes the box out of the truck, they know which room to put it in. Make sure the labels are easily visible. It will save you tons of time sorting out which rooms the boxes go in later.

3. Enlist help

Call your dad, your sister, you best friend, and your neighbors over to help you out. Don’t feel bad about it. The more people who help, the faster and easier it will be. Just remember to help them out the next time they move.

4. Confirm your moving day schedule

If you are moving out of a rented place, make sure you know what time your final walk-through is. If possible, leave someone behind to go through with your landlord after all of your things are out. Also, it is a good idea to send someone ahead to the new house and have them make sure they can unlock the doors easily. If you are not getting the keys until you arrive, then double check the time for key pick up with your Realtor or previous owner. Send someone ahead for this if you can. Have this person open all the interior doors in the house. It will make dropping off boxes and arranging furniture so much easier.

5. Clean before you move–in

Home buying can be a dirty process. If at all possible, clean your new home before you start moving things into it. If you cannot physically get there to do it, try to arrange to have a maid-service come in and clean before your arrival. The last thing you want to do after a long day of moving is clean the bathroom, so you can take a shower. Plus, you don’t want to try to put things away in a dirty kitchen. It’s an extra step, but one you will be happy you took.

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