Top Ten Relocation Headaches
1.Not having enough details & demographics about your new hometown
Gather as much information as possible about your new
destination, from sources such as Mortgage 101's Power Relo Tools, your RPS relocation
package, Chamber of Commerce newcomer packages, location magazines and your Realtor.
2.Not having your home priced and showable for selling
Check your home thoroughly for all needed repairs before listing it for sale. Pay
attention to details such as gapped caulking, chipped tiles, paint...it's often these
little things that potential buyers will notice. Also, have the home professionally
cleaned, including carpets. If you haven't had your home appraised in the last two years,
do it before putting the home up for sale. Also, have one or two Realtors give you a
Comparable Market Analysis. This will show what other comparable home in your neighborhood
have sold for recently. Over pricing your home at the outset will result in
slow showings and a delay in selling.
3.Poor research of what your money can buy in your new city
Many factors such as differing salary, cost of living, taxes and
housing prices affect what the same dollar can buy in different
parts of the country. Resources such as Mortgage 101's Power Relo Tools, the Chamber of
Commerce, Realtors, and
Runzheimer Reports can give you this information.
4.Not getting a mortgage pre-qualification letter before
house-hunting
While pre-qualifying with a mortgage company doesn't provide final loan approval, it does
give you a realistic price guideline and shows sellers that you are a serious and
qualified buyer.
5.Not protecting yourself with the best home inspection
possible
This goes for both the home you're selling as well as the one
you're buying, although who pays for the inspection (buyer or
seller) is negotiable in each separate contract. A good inspector should be: A member of
the ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors); bonded, licensed and insured; able to
provide references; up front about their fees and what is included (are termite
inspections extra, for example.) Your Realtor or mortgage loan officer can recommend a
certified inspection company.
6.Setting up the best interim housing between destinations
When you first arrive in your new town, you'll most likely need to have temporary housing
arrangements until you can close and move into a new home, or find a permanent rental.
This may be anywhere from a few days to a few months. If you foresee needing interim
housing for less than 30 days, the easiest option is a suite hotel geared for extended
stays, such as a Residence Inn or Lexington Suite. For a month or longer, corporate
apartments or homes are much roomier, more comfortable, and usually 20-60% less than
paying a daily or weekly hotel rate.
7. Moving your household and "stuff" safely from point A to point B
Depending on the size of your household and the distance of the move, you may want to
consider hiring a moving company. Obviously, doing it yourself can save quite a bit of
money; however, the time factor, experience of professional movers and the insurance they
provide your contents may make hiring the better choice.
Moving companies can give you either a binding or non-binding estimate. Binding means that
the cost is held to exactly the estimate they give; this means that they will actually
physically inspect your home before giving the estimate. A non-binding estimate is only an
approximation and no guarantee that the final billing won't be more. However, federal law
sets a ceiling of no more than 10% additional charges over the estimate. You will also
want a moving company that can guarantee the pickup and delivery dates.
8.Having a trailing spouse who needs to relocate into a new job
By the year 2000, 65% of all households will have two incomes, creating a significant
burden when losing one income as a result of relocation. 27% of companies provide spouse
employment assistance; if yours is one of them, take advantage of it. If not, try to begin
establishing a network before you arrive, contacting any friends or acquaintances in
your new city; subscribing to the newspaper; contacting recruiters, placement firms and
career counselors; contacting the chamber of commerce and employment commission; and
joining organizations, especially networking ones. If a job still hasn't been landed by
move time, consider volunteering or joining a temporary agency - great full time careers
have been started from both.
9. Finding the best new schools for your children
Concerns about family and children is the second most frequently cited reason for
reluctance to move. There are many ways to find out all the information you need to make a
wise decision. If you haven't decided on a particular area of town, the chamber of
commerce can give you a wealth of statistics on all local school districts, as well as
private schools. Using Mortgage 101's Power Rel Tools can provide excellent information.
If you have decided on a particular area, your Realtor can get you a school district
information package.
10. Concerns over your children making a smooth transition
In addition to educational concerns, we also worry about the
emotional effects of a major move on our children. They may be resisting the move; may
even be angry. Will they adapt well...will they make new friends? Probably the best way to
ease the way is to involve the kids in the move. Provide them with the same information
about your new town that you have. Rent or buy videos about your destination to watch as a
family. There are also many excellent books geared to children of all ages. |
Relocation Relocating to San Diego
San Diego
Neighborhoods
Relocation
Considerations
Top Ten Relocation Headaches
Relocation Issues for Kids
Home Buyer Checklist
Select A Relocation Professional
Before You Relocate
After You Relocate
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