May I move now?

Yesterday, a customer of mine was just locked out of her house by her real estate agent, many of her possessions still inside. How did this happen? The answer shocked me: she had waited too long to move her things out.

When is the right time to move your belongings out of your house? And what do you do between moving out and moving in? Making changes can be exciting. Things you didn’t plan for can create opportunities, or chaos. More often than not, not knowing will lead to a more defining response such as fight or flight.

In today’s post, we’ll be discussing how to prepare for – and avoid – the pitfalls that come from leaving one house for another.

First and foremost, understand who works for whom. Your real estate agent is not employing you, they’re employed by you. As such, they should expect and be open to whatever issues you are running into. Here are some tips for communicating with your agent:

1. Ask Questions. Always ask questions; especially the ones that seem to have a simple answer. Don’t be embarrassed into silence. Remember: the only “stupid” question is the one not asked. Your real estate agent is being well paid when they close on a house. They should be resourceful and act like they are vested in your successful move. Ask them what advice they have, what local companies they have heard good things about, and what is the best neighborhood restaurant to get a good meal. The movers are taking their sweet time getting things done. Remember, you are the client in this situation. It’s time to get stern with the lead person or call their supervisor.
2. Write things down. A teacher once told me, “A dull pencil is better than a sharp wit.” Everything that has importance, including deadlines, financial matters, babysitters, appointments, and taxes, should be written down in a place that you will see it. Keep it all in the same notebook, since sticky notes gets lost every 3 seconds. Divide and conquer. Don’t try to do everything on your own. Delegating is a great tool when you have too much to do. For example, there are groups, such as Girl/Boy Scouts, and even some high schools where young adults are required a certain amount of community service hours. Find out if helping someone move or watching the little ones would qualify for them to reach their goals.
3. Be present. Another important aspect is to be present for final inspections and paperwork. Remember, the inspector is there to protect your biggest asset: your new home. Though they may not check every circuit box and probably won’t spend 3 hours hosing down the roof to check for leaks, they’ll make sure there is a home warranty included to help with these problems should they arise.
4. Take time to reward yourself. There is always time to take a deep breath and enjoy small and big accomplishments. This could be 15 minutes of quiet meditation, a donut, or a power nap. Any idea that gets you out of your current mind set will create new perspectives and refresh your body.

Once you are all moved in, everything is settled enough to take a day off. This is as important as buying the perfect house. Sit back and relax for one full day. Clear your mind and let your imagination run free. What color will look amazing in the kitchen? What style should the area rug be in the living room? The pictures will get hung and the pool will get cleaned….. but, not today. Congratulations and enjoy.

And remember… if all else fails: you can get a bigger storage unit.