I have been known to come down with fits of paranoia over one thing or another. I’ve been called an alarmist, worrier, nag – you get the picture. On this occasion, though, it led me to a post idea!
Last year we moved into our lovely condo, opting to rent from a private owner. Our landlord mentioned that her and her husband were planning on retiring in Florida, but that she would not put the condo on the market as long as we were interested in staying here.
That sounded really good, and she has varied from her expected move date, which led me to consider what other plans may be subject to change. The condo has been on the market before, and it is possible that they may decide it would be easier in the long run to sell rather than keeping this as an investment property.
I have seen situations before (thank you HGTV) where renters had to move suddenly because the owners decided to sell, and although I am definitely putting the cart before the horse in my own case, I wanted to think through some things we could do to be prepared in case this is our last few months here.
5 Tips To Prepare For A Move
Make Necessary Repairs
As far as I can see, all we need to do is cover up some nail holes in the walls and paint. Whatever you can do to return your rental to a condition worthy of receiving back your full security deposit should be done.
Taking care of those things now or slowly as the lease term comes up, will help you have less stress in case a move is imminent.
Save! Save! Save!
There are so many costs that arise with moving that if you know a move is coming, you might as well start saving right away. Consider the cost of the security deposit and first month’s rent, packing materials, rental truck or cost of movers, and purchases needed to accommodate your new rental (e.g. curtains, furniture, etc.).
Although all these may not apply to your situation, make sure you save what you can for the ones necessary to you.
Sell Your Extra Stuff
If you’re like us, and lived somewhere for an extended period of time, chances are you have accumulated a lot of ‘stuff’ you don’t necessarily need. With a few months to go before a move, it is the perfect time to start selling things on EBay or Craigslist that you don’t want to take with you to a new home.
This is helpful so you’re not just carrying things from place to place that you will never use again. Also, this is a good way to make extra money toward your move.
Start Packing the Non-Essentials
You know you don’t need EVERYTHING that’s hanging around the house right now! If you know a move is imminent, start packing up those items you don’t need on a day, or even a weekly basis. Things like out-of-season clothes, books, bed linens, curtains, and decorative items can be given a bit of time every week.
This will relieve the stress of packing all at once.
Use a Real Estate Agent
While we were looking for a new home I decided to contact an agent to help me find rentals. It was a really good experience, and one that I will employ again.The benefits were that he was able to take me to multiple listings on the same day instead of my having to contact each agent individually and set up appointments based on their schedules.
Also, on many listings the landlord paid the full agent fee, so I didn’t have to worry about paying for the agent’s services. Since planning ahead, an agent can be looking out for upcoming listings that suit your needs, doing leg work so that your time can be used elsewhere.
Moving can be such a strenuous experience that it’s best to get ahead of the game if you can. If the situation is unexpected, it is best to organize and priorities to the best of your ability. Giving these tips your time before you’re in a crunch will definitely help to take the edge of the experience.
photo credit: Freedigitalphotos.net
