Moving House

It’s a done deal. You’re finally moving into a new home. But while the excitement builds, so does the anxiety about your getting your stuff to your new digs. Whether you’re relying on your own muscle-power or hiring professional help, a little moving know-how will get you there with as little stress and few unnecessary expenses as possible.
Start early. Make a checklist of things that need to be done before moving day. First off, there’s a whole list of companies and organizations that need to know your new address and when it will take effect. Arrange for change-of-address notification with Canada Post. Update any government documents, such as your driver’s license. Call your insurance company to update your homeowner’s policy. Inform utility companies (including cable and phone), newspaper and magazine subscription departments, and often-missed health-care professionals (such as your doctor and dentist) about your move.
Put Canada Post’s online service to work for you. At www.smartmoves.ca you’ll be able to file your change-of-address notification with a few clicks of the mouse. Pick an E-card to send to friends and family, let Canada Post know which government offices and business your want to notify, and generate helpful checklists to keep your move on track. You’ll also have access to exclusive offers and special discounts.
Trash it or save it. Moving is the perfect time to edit your belongings. Make a list of the things you don’t want to move with you. Dispose of those shabby university-dorm bookcases, that haggard flea market easy-chair, or meaningless memorabilia before you buy packing tape. If your pile of rejects is high, arrange for a trash removal service to cart it away for you.
If you’re moving into a smaller space and not ready to part with larger items that you don’t have room for, consider putting them in storage. Check under “moving and storage” in the Yellow Pages for a local facility. Also note that if you’re using professional movers, they may offer storage services.
Hire your wheels. If you’re moving on your own, arrange for your van or truck as early as possible, especially if you’re moving during summer months. The rental company will be able to advise you on what size of truck you’ll need and offer moving equipment for an extra fee. Things like a dolly, furniture pads, and proper packing material might be worth the extra cost.
You’ll also want to take the time to sign a contract and know exactly what you’re paying for. Moving day is not the time to be quibbling over a verbal agreement.
Get professional help. If you’ve decided to hire movers, don’t go with the first moving company you contact. Get estimates from a few companies since you’ll be trusting them with practically everything you own. When you review the estimates, make sure you’re getting prices for the same services and take special note of how precious items will be handled. Some moving companies will not move pianos, chandeliers, or sensitive electrical equipment but may recommend a special service for you to investigate. You’ll also want to note their insurance coverage. Exactly what will you get if your inherited dining suite is chipped or scratched?
Pack it up. If you’re hiring a professional mover, you may be lucky enough to avoid packing since some will pack everything for you. If, on the other hand, packing is a chore with your name on it, invest in proper packing supplies. You may even want to check the Yellow Pages under “moving supplies and equipment” to rent or buy supplies. Some even offer plastic bins for the environmentally-minded.
Good boxes go a long way in making your move smoother, but don’t forget about reinforced packing tape, a tape gun, bubble wrap, packing paper (since newsprint can discolour light coloured items), and a marker to label boxes. To avoid back and muscle strain, keep packed boxes under 25 kg and label all sides, top, and bottom. To prevent damage, don’t over- or under-pack boxes.
Like all complicated endeavours, a little planning is a great stress-buster. It makes move-out day go by that much more smoothly, and move-in a dream.

Searching for homes online

With the prevalence of the internet more information has become available to the average home shopper or seller. But is that enough when it comes to your largest investment?

Many people are under assumption that public real estate websites have the same information that is available to real estate professionals. Not so. The truth is realtors have access to a great deal more valuable information than what the public sees when they visit websites like mls.ca. There is information like how many times the property has been offered for sale, and when, and for how much, how many times it has sold in the past years and so on. Real estate agents will also have access to the listing date, expiry date, required deposit and vendor information that play a vital role in determining value or developing a negotiation strategy. This information could make the difference between getting your offer accepted and not.

Realtors also have access to information such as what similar houses in the area have sold for, how often they become available for sale, how long it takes on average for a home to sell in the area.

Each buyer is unique, each property is unique, as is each buying or selling experience. It's because of this that the most important value of a realtor that will never be available by simply performing an internet search is the knowledge and expertise they bring to the table that allows them to interpret the information of your unique situation. You may look at a piece of information one way and a professional will see it from a completely different angle—an insiders' perspective.

Moving Checklist: What to do and when to do it

Moving into a new home is an exciting time but it can also be stressful. Don’t despair. Whether you’re doing it yourself, asking friends for a little help or hiring professionals, here is your moving guide to help get you through it.
As Soon As Possible:

• Start early. Investigate and research moving companies and/or truck rental companies.
• Hire a moving company or if you're doing it yourself, reserve a moving truck. Be sure to get written confirmation of all your costs and details of your move for your records.
  TIP: Weekends and holiday long weekends are busy times for movers and truck rental companies. Book far in advance (at least 2 to 3 months) to ensure you get a moving truck for the day you need to move.

2 Months Before Moving Day:

• No sense moving what you don’t want to keep. Go through your home and determine what you want to keep and what you want to throw out or donate.
  TIP: If moving in spring or summer, earn some extra cash and hold a moving sale to help get rid of items you don’t need or want for your new space.
• Make a list of items in your home that need extra attention while moving or special packing instructions (i.e. computers, televisions, fine china, etc.)
• If you have children and you are moving to a new school district, start arranging the school transferring process.
• Order boxes and moving supplies (packing tape, bubble wrap, tissue paper, stock up on newspaper, etc.) required for your move.

1 Month Before Moving Day:

• Time to start packing! To make it easier, begin with the items in your home you do not use regularly. Be sure to clearly label or number your boxes to make the unpacking easier.
• As you pack, make note of items of significant value (i.e. stereo systems, flat screen televisions). Depending on your insurance agreement with your moving company, you will need to declare items of value in case items are lost or damaged.
• At your local postal office, fill out a change of address form with your new address.
• Inform the following companies and institutions about your new address:
  o Banks
  o Cable and phone providers
  o Insurance companies
  o Hydro and utility companies
  o Credit card companies
  o Doctor and dentist offices
  o Any subscriptions you may have
  TIP: Many companies now offer the convenience of changing address information online.

2 Weeks Before Moving Day

• Confirm your reservations with your movers or truck rental company.
• If required, cancel or transfer your newspaper delivery service.

1 Week Before Moving Day

• Most of your packing should be done one week prior to moving day.
• Set aside the items of importance you wish to transport to your new home yourself (i.e. jewellery and passports).

A Few Days Before Moving Day

• Re-confirm arrival time of your moving truck. If moving yourself, re-confirm your reservations with the truck rental company.
• Prepare a detailed map and directions for your movers including a cell phone number you can be reached at on moving day.
• Pack a travel bag with the items your family may need on moving day such as tooth brushes, change of clothing, medications, hair bushes, soap, toilet paper, paper plates and cups, aspirin, etc.
• If you are moving yourself, start dismantling beds and other large furniture.

Moving Day

• Make a note of all utility metre readings (new and old home).
• It’s important to be present when the truck is being loaded and unloaded just in case your movers have questions.
• Before the movers leave, check your belongings and note on the inventory paperwork any damaged items.

To buy or not to buy

That is the big question, with no simple answer. Home ownership is not right for everyone at all times in their lives, and life doesn't come with a handbook. If the question has popped into your mind here are some reasons why you should seriously consider it:

Owning your home is an excellent way to build equity that allows you to develop some financial stability and build capital for your "move up" home. It gives you some security for the future giving you a resource you can fall back on.

Paying rent each month may be fine and even necessary for a while, giving you time to build your credit or adapt to a new city after a recent move. I don't disagree with the folks that say paying rent for a long time is like throwing money away. Consider this, if you were to buy a $300,000 home with 5% down, and experienced a very modest 3% growth, which is half the expected national average this year, your $15,000 investment would increase to $24,000 giving you a 60% return on your investment.

For the first few years of your mortgage, your blended payments are mostly comprised of interest with a teeny bit going towards your loan or principal amount. A gradual shift occurs and you start to pay more principal and less interest as your mortgage continues to mature. While it may be true that you feel like you are only paying rent for the first while you are actually building equity by paying down your original loan amount. So, even if your home were never to appreciate in market value you would still be ahead of the game by paying your own mortgage instead of your landlords.

Rents can go up, and you have little or no control of that, but you can lock into a long term with a mortgage to make sure that your monthly expense does not increase giving you security knowing exactly how much your payments will be for years to come. Time seems to fly and you could end up paying rent for years, adding up to tens of thousands of hard earned dollars, and never end up with anything to call yours.

Owning your home gives you the option to earn income either by renting out the whole property or by garnishing an income from an auxiliary apartment, or room where permitted by law.

A home is a great way to secure a loan once you have built up some equity, even if your mortgage is not paid off. You can get a secured loan at a much lower interest rate than other personal loans.

With property values expected to continue to rise throughout this year and the next, your investment will be earning money while you sleep. My favourite expression is work smart, not hard!