Check with your lender on any local programs that might help with closing costs or in other ways. Even though the media have pronounced the 100-percent-financing option dead, this is not always the case. Check it out for yourself and then get preapproved for a loan so you know how much house you’re able to buy.

Step 2. Be Specific in the Area You Want To Live
Educate yourself. Familiarize yourself with the neighborhoods you’re interested in, the taxes and school districts. This not only helps you narrow down your search when you need to move fast, but also helps you figure out potential mortgage payments.

Step 3. Find an Agent Specializing in the Area You Want to Live
This will save you time and effort. Once you’ve identified a real estate agent, trust him or her to do the job. Agents who are thriving in this challenging market have proven their worth. They have the resources and skills to help you find your next home.

Step 4. Don’t Shy Away From Houses That Need Some Work
Just because a house needs some paint or cosmetic fixes doesn’t mean it’s not a good buy. Most real estate agents have an address book full of trusted businesses they work with to help you fix up your new home. There’s an HUD program known as 203(k) that enables you to fold repair money into a primary mortgage; ask a RE/MAX agent in your market about the program.

Step 5. Be Prepared To Act
Sometimes the first home you see is the right one for you. Don’t discount it. Remember, good deals still go fast. Take advantage of the electronic tools your real estate agent has to offer. In many instances, real estate agents have access to better information than what you can find in a standard Internet search.

, Realtor
334-323-1124 or Toll Free 800-475-2243 ext 124
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) & Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR)
Helping You Move Team with RE/MAX of MontgomeryBetty Cannon

Before you plug in and light up for the holidays, run your decorations through this quick safety check.

Inspect light strings. Discard any that are damaged. Frayed or cracked electrical cords or broken sockets are leading fire hazards. 

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for connecting multiple strings. The general limit is three strings.  Light strings with stacked plugs can usually accommodate greater lengths than end-to-end connections.

Replace burned-out bulbs promptly. Empty sockets can cause the entire string to overheat. 

Make sure outdoor lighting is UL-rated for exterior use. Exterior lights, unlike those used inside the house, need to be weather-resistant. The same goes for any extension cords used outdoors.

Don’t use outdoor lights indoors. They’re too hot for interior use. For the coolest bulbs and greatest energy efficiency, try LED lights, which come in a wide range of styles and colors.

Don’t attach light strings with nails or staples. They can cut through the wire insulation and create a fire hazard. Only use UL-approved hangers.

Take exterior lights down within 90 days. The longer they stay up, the more likely they are to suffer damage from weather and critters chewing on them. 

Store lights safely. Tangled lights can lead to damaged cords and broken sockets. After the holidays, coil each string loosely around a stiff piece of cardboard, wrap it in paper or fabric to protect the bulbs, and store in a sturdy container until next year.  

Published: November 18, 2009/Pat Curry is a former senior editor at BUILDER, the official magazine of the National Association of Home Builders, and a frequent contributor to real estate and home-building publications.

Betty Cannon, Realtor
334-323-1124 or Toll Free 800-475-2243 ext 124
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) & Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR)
Helping You Move Team with RE/MAX of Montgomery

By Dian Hymer, Monday, April 25, 2011.

Inman News™

It can take weeks for an offer to be ratified. Buyers and sellers often counter back and forth for weeks before reaching mutual agreement on both price and terms. In this case, it’s a good idea to re-evaluate the closing date in the contract before inking the final agreement.

Some buyers make offers that propose closing a certain number of days from acceptance of the contract, often 30 days. Even if you negotiate for a month, you will have 30 days, or whatever number of days agreed to in the contract, to arrange financing, complete inspections and close the transaction.

However, sometimes closing is to occur on a specific date, say June 1. If you start negotiating on May 1 and it takes a couple of weeks to arrive at agreement, you may not be able to close on time if you need a mortgage. It’s best to modify the closing date in writing at the time you go into contract.

One of the main reasons transactions don’t close on time is the mortgage approval process. Even though you may be preapproved by a lender, you will still need to provide additional documentation to satisfy today’s underwriters who scrutinize buyers’ finances zealously.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: Be aware that you will be asked to document where the funds for the down payment and closing costs came from. It’s not enough to produce a cashier’s check or wire for the amount of cash necessary to close. You must verify the source of the funds in writing for the lender.

One buyer who had more than enough cash to close the sale decided to send money for closing from several different accounts, rather the one account that she said she’d draw on. This required additional documentation at the last minute from each institution that transferred money to close the sale.

Lenders not only scrutinize the buyer’s financial wherewithal before they approve a mortgage, they also examine the preliminary title and appraisal reports for the property. Sellers should have a look at a preliminary title report on their property before they put their home on the market to make sure there aren’t any irregularities. If there are, they can attempt to clear these up before the home goes on the market. Your real estate agent or attorney can help you with this.

Appraisals have not only delayed closings in recent years, they have caused some transactions to fail when the appraisal came in low and the buyers and sellers were unable to negotiate a satisfactory resolution. If the buyers need to switch to a different lender whose appraiser might have a different opinion of the value of the property, this will take time and can delay closing.

It’s also possible that an appraisal could come in so much under the contract price that the seller might not be in a position to close the sale. For example, if the property is listed for $1.5 million and the sellers owe $1.4 million, they could have a problem if the property appraised for $1.4 million or less.

Some buyers don’t want to pay more than the appraised value in this market. In this case, the sellers would have to be willing and able to bring enough cash to closing to cover their closing costs and any amount they might owe the lender. If the sellers were not in a position to do so, the sale becomes a short sale and would require lender approval.

A short sale, as defined by the National Association of Realtors, is “a sales transaction in which the seller’s mortgage lender agrees to accept a payoff of less than the balance due on the loan.”

THE CLOSING: Short sales take time, which might be worth the wait if you are committed to buying the home at the right price.

Dian Hymer, a real estate broker with more than 30 years’ experience, is a nationally syndicated real estate columnist and author of “House Hunting: The Take-Along Workbook for Home Buyers” and “Starting Out, The Complete Home Buyer’s Guide.”

Betty Cannon, Realtor
334-323-1124 or Toll Free 800-475-2243 ext 124
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) & Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR)
Helping You Move Team with RE/MAX of Montgomery

#3 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA

• Risk of price decline: 13.1%

Boosters of Alabama’s capital point to Maxwell Air Force Base — hub of the Air Force’s officer training and information-technology development — as a backbone of the economy. But the city owes much of its recent success to the migration of auto plants to the South, with Alabama alone boasting about 250 auto-related manufacturers. The Montgomery plant that South Korea’s Hyundai Motor opened in 2005 has added about 7,000 jobs to the tri-county area, including those at more than two dozen suppliers. The factory has done so well that the city recently won a competition for a Hyundai plant that will make electric transformers.

And it’s not just the number of jobs that counts: Keivan Deravi, an economics professor at Auburn University at Montgomery, says that Hyundai has boosted prevailing wages for skilled factory workers in Montgomery by about 20% since its arrival.

Local real-estate experts say strong employment has kept demand for homes constant, while developers have avoided overbuilding. Deravi says that helps keep the economy “boringly stable.” And that’s good news for homebuyers in a city where housing dollars go a long way.

Stable prices are part of what attracted Paul and Jenni Register to Wynlakes, a neighborhood with a golf course and country club on the east side of Montgomery. With a child on the way, the Registers wanted more space than their 2,400-square-foot villa offered, and they liked the big yards and ample security in the new neighborhood. The couple ended up paying $555,000 for a 3,800-square-foot home, which their real-estate agent says was about 4% below the list price.

Betty Cannon, Realtor
334-323-1124 or Toll Free 800-475-2243 ext 124
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) & Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR)
Helping You Move Team with RE/MAX of Montgomery

Buying a brand new a shiny, un-lived in home has a certain amount of appeal. There is no previous homeowner who has affected the home or who has emotional ties to the home that will factor into the negotiation process. New homes are usually built with floor plans that reflect the latest, most popular design trends.

In many ways, buying new construction is an entirely different animal than buying an existing home. While you still need to determine your budget, decide which home features are must-have and secure financing; the process of buying new construction involves a number of different steps.

Representation
Always have independent agent representation when considering new construction. The builder will have sales agents of their own, but they are paid to represent the builder’s interests, not yours. Many will use pressure tactics to encourage you to sign the contract.

A buyer’s agent will act as your fiduciary and provide unbiased information on the pros and cons of any potential transaction. If you find developments that you are interested in learning more about, channel everything through your own independent representation. Protecting your own welfare is paramount.

Learn About the Development(s)
Buying a home in a planned development necessitates careful research of the development and neighborhood itself – more effort than you might otherwise put into learning about an existing neighborhood surrounding a resale.

• Drive around the neighborhood to get the lay of the land. Are street grids easy to learn, or confusing. What community amenities are in the development, and how conveniently are they located in relation to available homes?
• Are homes built right on top of each other, or does each lot have breathing space between houses? Are houses laid out such that similar models are not side-by-side, or does each street have an overly “cookie-cutter” feel to it?
• Visit open houses for any home models that fit your budget, size requirements and general home needs. You may need to allot several days to this task to avoid rushing through each open house. Bring a camera to document details of each model – this way you don’t have to rely on either your memory or marketing materials provided by the development.
• Inquire with the city or county planner’s office to learn about what is in store for the area around the development(s) you are interested in. Is that bucolic country neighborhood destined to besiegement from an array of shopping complexes and office parks? Is a seemingly too-distant neighborhood due to be linked by future mass-transit into core areas?
• Research the bylaws and rules of the homeowners association, if one exits. Some subdivisions have HOA’s with strict rules and regulations restricting things such as exterior paint colors, outdoor sheds, landscaping and vegetable gardens. Violating these guidelines can result in expensive penalties, while living by them may be too stifling for some.

Research the Builder(s)
Accurately and fairly reviewing a builder’s history is a crucial step if you’re considering the purchase of a newly built home. Don’t rely on information provided by representatives of the builder or subdivision, as it will be their goal to represent the builder in the best possible light.

Go to the courthouse to see if any liens or lawsuits have been filed against the builder, and verify how they were resolved. Check with the Better Business Bureau for any serious complaints against the builder registered by past homeowners or subcontractors. If at all possible, contact homeowners currently living in homes previously constructed by the same builder to see how they feel about the quality of craftsmanship after having actually lived in the home. Experienced real estate agents should also have a good understanding of which builders have a good reputation locally, and which do not.

Be Cautious with Upgrades and Extras
5 Home Features That Excite Buyers
1. Stainless Steel Appliances:
Many buyers like the sleek, powerful appearance of stainless steel kitchen appliances. Part of the attraction may be that a home kitchen with stainless steel appliances suggests the professionalism of a commercial kitchen. The modern look of the appliances themselves can be incorporated into almost any kitchen design (from modern interiors to more traditional styles). A stainless steel finish is not for everyone, however, so keep in mind that the appeal of these contemporary gadgets will not be universal.
2. Hardwood Floors:
Hardwood floors are sought after by home buyers across all property types and architectural styles. Hardwood flooring has a timeless style and is more durable than other types of flooring. Synthetic wood floors are an option for owners who can’t afford hardwood – just know that most potential buyers will know the difference right away.
3. Quality Fixtures:
Upgrading the smallest details can often go a long ways to improving your home’s appeal to buyers. Replacing outdated or lower-quality doorknobs, faucets, light switch/outlet covers, and drawer pulls can be a relatively inexpensive way to make over a bathroom or kitchen. You can also greatly enhance your home’s appeal by updating lighting fixtures throughout your house, but keep in mind that higher-end lighting fixtures can get expensive fast. Whenever replacing fixtures, make sure the replacements coordinate with both any remaining fixtures and the interior aesthetic of your home.
4. Surround Sound:
The popularity of larger flat panel and projection screen televisions in recent years has in turn generated greater interest in advanced home audio that compliments near cinema-quality picture. Building a surround sound system into your living/media room can entice potential buyers who may be excited by the idea of a new dimension of home entertainment but disinclined to go through the process of installation and setup.
5. Slab Kitchen Countertops:
Granite countertops get a lot of attention as a must-have finish for any contemporarily designed kitchen, but in reality a number of other slab materials can be used to achieve a similar look at a lower cost. One of the major selling points of granite countertops is how easy they are to care for: the hard, nonporous surface is much easier to clean than a tile counter top with grout lines. Solid Synthetic surfaces (such as Corian), composite stone (such as Silestone), limestone, soapstone, marble, quartz and butcher-block slab counters all come with easy care and a more attractive appearance than laminate or tile countertops.

Upgrades to the home itself are features (such as hardwood flooring or high end appliances) that you pay extra for to improve the home based on your tastes. Builders can make a lot of money on upgrades, because they get the parts and labor at favorable rates and generally tack on a large markup.

Make sure you know the base feature list of the model you are purchasing by heart. When the builder offers upgrades, make sure you understand exactly what is being offered by asking questions and taking notes.

Do your own research to compare the cost of the feature plus installation as offered by the builder with what it would cost to have the work done independently after move in. If the builder’s version is far and away more expensive, bidding the work out to independent contractors after you move in is probably the smart move. If the costs are similar, however, it may be less stress to have the work completed by the builder in advance.

Hire an Independent Home Inspector
Many people who purchase new construction fall into the trap of thinking that because the home is newly built, the important step of getting a detailed home inspection is unnecessary. Simply put, new construction does not guarantee sound construction, and skipping a professional inspection can leave you open to future problems that might crop op as a result of building flaws or cut corners. Even homes built by the most scrupulous contractors can have defects that are not obvious to the untrained eye.

Many builders will proved an all-inclusive home warranty as a part of the purchase agreement. This should not dissuade you from getting an impartial inspection: most warranties have a limited lifespan, and many original issues with home construction may not become apparent until many years later.

Shop for Lenders
Builders almost always have a preferred lender (sometimes even an in-house mortgage company), and will typically try to steer you to using this lender to secure the mortgage for your new home. Some builders will even offer deals on the purchase price of the home or free upgraded – contingent upon you using their lender.

Using the builder’s lender, especially without first shopping around for mortgages and other sources, is highly problematic. A mortgage provider who has a working relationship with a builder or development is out to make sure they can get you into a loan for the property. What they aren’t necessarily doing is making sure you get the best deal. Always shop around for the best possible rate, lowest closing cost and fewest hassles.

This is an excerpt from the RE/MAX September Real Estate Advisor.

Betty Cannon, Realtor
334-323-1124 or Toll Free 800-475-2243 ext 124
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) & Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR)
Helping You Move Team with RE/MAX of Montgomery

By Inman News, Wednesday, June 23, 2010. Inman News

Mortgage giant Fannie Mae rolled out its Loan Quality Initiative (LQI) June 1, thereby forcing homebuyers to obtain mortgages based on “refreshed” credit reports or risk their closing being canceled and, in some states, their deposits forfeited.

In other words, the buyer is not officially approved for the mortgage until the results of second credit report are approved. There may be other last-minute verifications of undisclosed liabilities, such as job status, that may be “refreshed” as well.

The day before the closing, while Buyer A’s excitement is peaking, the lender refreshes his credit to make sure his credit score is still as good as it was when it was pulled the first time.

The lender discovers that Buyer A’s credit score has been lowered because Buyer A applied for a fourth credit card. It’s called finding an “undisclosed liability,” and it is not going to end well for the buyer.

Under the LQI, the lender could delay the closing, increase the interest rate, ask for a larger downpayment, or cancel the closing. In some states, Buyer A could lose his deposit.

“The impact on closings is too early to measure,” according to Gail Stanley, an Orlando mortgage lender, “but my guess is that homebuyers will be well coached.

“What lender, mortgage broker or real estate broker isn’t going to use every communications tool available to make sure the buyer does not even think about using available credit, much less apply for more during the ‘refreshing’ period?” Stanley asked.

“The mortgage lending business as we have known it is over,” according to Boston’s MetLife Home Loans’ senior mortgage consultant, Brian Cavanaugh. “Quality loan service and counseling will replace rate shopping because mortgage pricing is so competitive.

“Homebuyers need to work with loan officers who clearly understand the new guidelines and can help the buyer understand the importance of complying with them. Mortgage financing is incredibly important in personal financing now and it needs to be understood and protected,” Cavanaugh said.

Stanley said that pulling the second credit report is not new, and that the LQI will be a welcome new tool for lenders who practice responsible lending.

“We all realize that buyer qualifications need to be tightened and that the lender needs to be protected. Consumer education is the challenge,” Stanley said. “Realtors need to encourage their buyers to be as complete as possible in the original application and to be careful not to do anything that will negatively impact their credit score before the escrow closes.”

Depending on the state and the standard purchase and sale agreement used, borrowers could lose their deposits, according to Boston attorney Richard D. Vetstein. He recommends that real estate attorneys review standard purchase agreements.

Vetstein posted some advice about Fannie Mae’s LQI on his Massachusetts Law Blog. “If you’ve taken out new loans that are sizable enough to affect the debt-to-income-ratio calculations used in your original mortgage approval, the deal could fall through. The added debt load could render you ineligible for the mortgage because you suddenly appear unable to handle the payments without a strain on your household budget,” he notes.

Also, “Many lenders already pull second credit reports right before the closing, but the Fannie Mae mandate will likely result in a markedly increased number of lenders pulling second credit reports and performing other last-minute verifications.” And Vetstein states that a surge in new use of existing credit sources could also impact consumers’ ability to secure a home loan.

But holding the buyer accountable pales in comparison to the stringent accountability now in place to prevent lenders from submitting contract products for sale to Fannie Mae with “undisclosed” liabilities. (See www.efanniemae.com, keyword: Loan Quality.)

Just as lenders are calling for refreshed truth from buyers, Fannie Mae is not asking — it is forcing lenders to upgrade the quality of their underwriting and to get used to the new system and embedded, stringent accountability tools for meeting clear, detailed and tougher underwriting standards.

Fannie Mae’s ultimate goal is not to punish the lender or homebuyer. It is to be repaid. Not only will profits start flowing again, but investors will return. And when that happens, loans will become easier to obtain.

There will no doubt be faults found with Fannie Mae’s Loan Quality Initiative, but “lack of accountability” will not be one of them.

It is a welcomed and refreshing thought.

Dave Fletcher has been a licensed Florida real estate broker for more than 30 years. He has served as broker of record, marketing consultant or adviser for more than 60 communities. He specializes in fractured condo sales.

Betty Cannon, Realtor
334-323-1124 or Toll Free 800-475-2243 ext 124
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) & Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR)
Helping You Move Team with RE/MAX of Montgomery

Applications for refinancings were up 17 percent, however, to the highest level since October, as borrowers sought to take advantage of falling interest rates.

Mortgage rates have fallen as investors’ fears about the European debt crisis make investments in bonds and mortgage-backed securities look more attractive.

“Refinance application volume jumped last week as continuing financial market turmoil related to the budget crises in Europe extended the opportunity for homeowners to lock in at historically low mortgage rates,” said Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, in a statement.

Requests for refinancings accounted for 72.2 percent of total applications, up from 68.1 percent the previous week, and the highest share observed in the survey since December.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 4.8 percent from 4.83 percent, with points remaining constant at 1.08 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans — the lowest rates since November.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 4.25 percent from 4.19 percent, with points decreasing to 1 from 1.36 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. However, due to the decrease in points, the effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for one-year ARMs increased to 6.83 percent from 6.81 percent, with points increasing to 0.38 from 0.37 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.

Betty Cannon, Realtor
334-323-1124 or Toll Free 800-475-2243 ext 124
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) & Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR)
Helping You Move Team with RE/MAX of Montgomery

It was a blistering August day, and I — already stressed to tears over the endless preparations for moving out of the house where my family had lived for 14 years — stood speechless on the sidewalk as a dubious cast of characters loaded the truck with something that struck me as less than tender loving care.

Then our beloved family babysitter, to whom we had tearfully bid goodbye, showed up at my side. Beaming, she presented my son with a huge package, the contents of which was making suspicious scratching sounds.

“It’s a hamster!” she proclaimed, apparently fulfilling my 5-year-old’s lifelong dream. I resisted the temptation to hand Billy, as my son promptly named him, to the movers and resigned myself to having one more responsibility.

But emblazoned in my memory — and ears — is the tedious, 35-mile drive to our new home, in a minivan stuffed literally to the ceiling with our personal items. Wedged somewhere in the detritus in the back, the rodent spent the entire journey running as hard as he could on his cage’s squeaky little wheel.

There’s a metaphor in there somewhere. Hamster-gifting probably is a rare enough occurrence that it probably doesn’t merit mention in a list of “how-to-keep-saner-while-moving” suggestions. But to me that moment has always underscored the thought that moving is stressful enough without piling on — that there ought to be ways to sidestep some of the tensions (and the costs, which are a source of stress unto themselves).

Five things to consider in simplifying your move (plus this tip: avoid last-minute hamsters):

1. Start thinking about moving as soon as you can. The American Moving and Storage Association, a trade association, has created a “Moving Countdown Calendar” at Moving.org that suggests a timetable for specific chores in the two-month period leading up to the big day.

On it are such necessities as interviewing three movers for estimates (60 days ahead), starting to gather and organize important personal papers (45 days), reserving rental equipment if you’re moving yourself (30 days), and getting the car serviced if using it in the relocation (12 days). Start packing 28 days ahead, the chart says in bold letters.

2. Do you really need to be told to get rid of stuff beforehand? Apparently so.

“The big thing you hear about organizing — you hear it again and again — is worth repeating,” said Bill Sheehan, chief operating officer of Relocation.com, a referral site for finding professional movers. Sheehan himself has moved eight times in the past 12 years, and says he’s lost much of his inclination to accumulate possessions.

“People move junk all the time,” he says. “Get rid of it, because you’re going to pay for moving it.”

Sheehan’s firm says that, in a hypothetical move from New York to Los Angeles for a family with a three-bedroom house, 7,500 pounds of household goods typically would make the transcontinental journey. It assumed an average price tag of $6,500, though it said there were many factors that could affect those costs. 

Get rid of 10 percent of your belongings before you go and you’ll knock $250 to $400 off the bill, the company estimated. Start “editing” your belongings by getting rid of clothes. Among your household goods, pack only items you’ve used in the past year, Sheehan said.

3. Third-party companies that will handle the chore of stopping and starting utility services abound on the Internet these days.

“These are one-stop shops,” Sheehan said. They can be time-savers.

“The advantage is that you can get bundled service — phone, electricity, cable all in one,” he said.

“The disadvantage is that a specific company has a specific bundle that you have to purchase,” he said. “Maybe you want DirecTV rather than cable from another provider.”

Allconnect.com and WhiteFence.com are among the utilities-connection services.

Another consideration: Some services may require submitting personal data that you’d rather not be sending out online, no matter how secure the service says it is.

4. Some of major moving companies have added “concierge” services that go beyond merely packing, moving and unpacking.

Mayflower and United, for instance, last year unveiled cleaning services available at your old or new house. In addition, in many locations they’ll do such things as network your computers or set up your home theater at the new place, or come back after you’ve settled in and remove unwanted boxes and packing debris.

Doing it all yourself? UHaul.com has a customer-to-customer message board for those looking to give away or acquire boxes.

5. Getting ripped off probably would count as the ultimate stressor in moving.

The typical sage advice is to get multiple bids from movers, which can vary by surprising amounts.

Sheehan said his company’s research shows that one of the biggest complaints after a move comes from customers who end up with a much bigger bill than expected.

“They say, they quoted me ‘X’ dollars and I went with them because they were the cheapest and they weren’t good,” Sheehan says. “Just because a company is the cheapest doesn’t mean it provides the best customer service.

“You need to go onto consumer Web sites and go to the Better Business Bureau to see if they have complaints,” he said. “All moving companies are probably going to have some complaints, so it’s worth going through them to figure out how serious they are. Do they have a few complaints, which is what you might expect, or do they have dozens?”

Further, he said, make sure the moving company is legit. There are many under-the-radar movers these days. You can ask to see proof that a mover is insured.

ProtectYourMove.gov is a site maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; it offers extensive information on researching moving companies’ credentials and legal responsibilities toward consumers.

Mary Umberger is a freelance writer in Chicago.
From Inman News article on April 21, 2010

Betty Cannon, Realtor
334-323-1124 or Toll Free 800-475-2243 ext 124
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) & Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR)
Helping You Move Team with RE/MAX of Montgomery

Planning your travel itinerary and making transportation and lodging reservations in advance. (Leave a copy with a friend.)

Transferring your bank accounts. They will be happy to open your accounts by mail.

Contacting your local credit bureau to find out if they are on the same system your new hometown subscribes to; if not, they will be able to transfer your credit file.

Requesting records from doctors and dentists, including eyeglass prescriptions, dental x-rays and vaccinations.

Obtaining your children’s school records to make for an easier transfer.

Drawing up a floor plan of where your furniture should be placed and where the movers should stack the boxes, do this for each room. This will help avoid confusion for you and your movers.

Pay existing bills and closing out local charge accounts.

Recording expenses incurred during your house-hunting trips. You will also want to save your moving expense receipts (if the move is employment-related) for tax deductions.

. . . Across Town!
PLAN AHEAD BY: Deciding what to move and what not to move. Possibly plan a garage sale (extra cash and less to move) or donate to one of the many charitable organizations that will pick up at your home.

Getting estimates from several moving companies or truck rental companies if you’re moving yourself. Be sure to obtain a hand truck (appliance dolly) if you’re moving yourself.

Arranging transfer of children’s school records if applicable.

Drawing up a floor plan of where your furniture should be placed and where the movers should stack the boxes, do this for each room. This will help avoid confusion for you and your movers. Arranging any special movers, such as for an expensive piano or such as is necessary to break down and move a pool table or aboveground swimming pool.

Don’t Forget To…
Cancel or transfer delivers, newspaper, garbage collection, etc. Coordinate the transfer of gas, electric, (water & sewer when not handled by the Title Company) with the next occupant of your old home, as well as with the previous owner of your new home, so as to avoid lapses in service and extra re-start expenses.

Check on personal items that might be at the photo shop, dry cleaners, bank safe deposit box, a neighbor’s house, on lay-away or in the repair shop (i.e., shoe repair, jewelry store, small appliance repair or dressmaker.)

Make arrangements for transporting your plants and pets.

Save the phone book from your former city residence for tying up loose ends or for future correspondence.

Transfer insurance policies or arrange for new policies.

Gather all valuables, jewelry, important papers (birth certificates, deeds, documents, etc.) to take with you personally.

Have the car serviced for the trip.

Pack an arrival kit of necessities just in case you arrive before the mover.

Get refunds from your present utility and phone companies and arrange for service at your new home.

Purchase moving insurance. Your mover’s liability for lost or damaged goods will not equal their replacement cost.

Appraise valuable items, such as antiques, art pieces, etc. before the move.

Check with your attorney about your will if crossing state lines.

Ask for professional referrals if available (i.e., doctor, accountant, etc.)

Change these addresses: Post Office, charge accounts, subscriptions (at least four weeks in advance), relatives and friends, national and alumni organizations, church, mail order clubs (books, tapes, catalogs), firms with which you have time payments, past employer in order to receive your W-2 form.

Save your old address labels to speed up your change of address forms.

Betty Cannon, Realtor
334-323-1124 or Toll Free 800-475-2243 ext 124
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) & Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR)
Helping You Move Team with RE/MAX of Montgomery