Right At Home Daily:
Many people find moving to a new home tough psychologically. There are always
mixed feelings about leaving a place in which you've had good times to go to
a new home where the future is a big question mark.
But there are some things you can do to make your move a little easier. Pack
your comfort items together, including favorite pajamas, bedding and CDs.
Mark this box clearly so you can find it when you start to unpack. Make sure
you know where the nearest supermarket is to your new home. That way, you can
purchase something quick along with a bottle of something to make your first
night a special one.
Finally, take photos of your old residence looking its best. Create a small
photo album to take with you on the journey. If you have school-age children,
give them a camera to photograph their best friends. Create a moving album
for them and give photos of your children to their friends so they have
something to remember them by.
By making your move something special, you will create happy memories that
will carry you into your new home, and your new life.
Right At Home Daily: Finding It: House Hunting
By Lisa Skolnik for Right At Home Daily
How to Prepare for the House Hunt
Looking for a new home can become a time consuming and overwhelming experience that'll test your patience. The hours and homes can quickly blur into one hazy memory.
Here's how to optimize your house hunting hours and make the process manageable and memorable.
Create a wish list: Write down your housing wants and needs. Include all the physical characteristics you want or need, such as style, size, layout and room configuration, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and the basic amenities you must have (e.g., central air, fireplace, basement or yard).
Include critical features such as location and services (a home's proximity to good schools or public transportation lines). This list will help you weed out homes that don't match your criteria, and it'll serve as a guideline for your broker (give him or her a copy).
Use the Web: Most national real estate chains have a Web site that offers tons of information about their listings and the various cities and towns where they are located. You can find Web addresses in a local paper's real estate section or call local agents directly.
Visit the major online listing services such as HomeAdvisor.com and Realtor.com. The International Real Estate Digest (ired.com) lists thousands of real estate related sites.
Keep a journal: To avoid attending a second showing at the wrong house and to eliminate unsuitable homes, record your activities. Make notes on the listing sheet and take pictures to populate your journal. Or, consider recording (digitally or on a video tape, but ask permission first) your walk through a house.
If you own a Palm Pilot you may download RAHD's house hunting journal, House hunt checklist
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