Organizing for Moving Day

You’re moving soon, and while you’re excited to live in a new place, you also know that you’re in for a lot of work. If you’re dreading it, don’t despair! The process of moving to a new house or condo can be a huge headache for some people. After all, it is a time-consuming and energy-draining task. But with a little planning, your stress level can be lowered when the moving van arrives!

The key is to be organized. Yes, moving presents a challenge when it comes to your organization skills. A plan goes a long way, and you can begin to get organized for moving weeks or even months in advance. Don’t be intimidated or afraid to move! It’s an exciting time in your life, so try to relax and get ready for your new adventure.

Here are some tips to help you get organized for moving day:

Go through each room and make a list. Take an inventory of each room and decide what you will move and what won’t take with you. Moving is a great time to clean out closets and rid your home of items that you no longer want or need. Making an inventory will also give a good idea of how many boxes you will need to get.

Get sturdy boxes. Flimsy boxes just won’t do, especially when you are packing items like books and dishes. You need good boxes that will hold your valuables securely. Sturdy boxes are easier to pack and seal. Remember that you can never have too many boxes!

Group items together. Put boxes of dishes in one corner with kitchen items, and things like brooms, mops, and household cleaners in a separate box. Make piles and stack boxes in each room of similar items.

Label every single box. After you’ve packed your grouped items, you need to label each box legibly. This way, when you are moving you can put the box in the appropriate room. You will thank yourself for doing this once your boxes are all unloaded and you need to find things.

Pack a transit box for your first night. You probably won’t feel like doing much unpacking the first night in your home. This is why it makes sense to pack a box with all of the essentials you will need for the night and early morning. Items like toilet paper, a shower curtain, coffee maker, clean clothes, toothbrushes, and some cleaning products should be handy for when you arrive at your new home. Your transit survival box will be personalized for your particular household.

After you’re all settled into your new home, make sure that you got a great deal! You can rely on a free home valuation report from Neighborhood IQ to learn your new home’s value.

Meet Bob and Linda

Bob and Linda were looking to refinance their mortgage but had no idea what their home was worth. Thanks to Neighborhood IQ they were able to use the same tools as the big banks, find the true value of their home, and negotiate a better deal for themselves... all for free. Visit NeighborhoodIQ.com today for more information and to find out what your home is truly worth.

Home Selling Mistakes: Make Sure You Avoid These

It is very easy to be swayed by real estate agents who promise you a fortune for your house. The longer your home stays unsold on listings, the lower its price goes. Many sellers are aware of this but they still make some common mistakes that either fetch them lower prices or results in a delayed sale. Here are the five most common mistakes sellers make when selling their home:

(1) Overpricing the house

This is not the 20th century. An average person with an elementary knowledge of internet can get a detailed report online. Your buyer can easily get an accurate home value report at Neighborhood IQ, click here to get a free home value report. Your real estate seller may be promising you a million dollars for your place, but if similar homes in your area are selling for half-a-million, it is unreasonable to expect someone to turn up and pay the double amount for your house. Talk to several real estate agents. Get their estimates. Find out what price houses similar to yours are selling in your neighborhood to make an educated assessment.

(2) Getting the wrong real estate agent

Many people hire the first real estate agent they meet. A lot of sellers do not even care to visit the office of the real estate agent they are hiring; instead they hold their first meet at home. This probably explains why a large proportion of houses go unsold through the expiry of their listings. The real estate agent you have hired may be an impressive talker, but only his previous clients can tell you about his record as an agent. Talk to them.

(3) Not using the internet

Nine out of ten people looking for a new home first search on the internet. You are missing out on a lot of potential buyers if your “For Sale” house is not searchable on the internet. There are plenty of websites where you can place an ad for your home with some beautiful pictures of it. Buyers often want to look at a few images of the house before a personal visit.

(4) Not taking photographs

Hire a professional to capture photographs of your house and then upload those images on the internet. Remove or blur all personal details from the photographs before putting them online. You can also hire someone to make a 3D map of your home. That will raise confidence in your buyers.

(5) Targeting the wrong customer

Do you own a four-bedroom house? A young guy in his early 20’s is not the right customer for two reasons: (a) that house is too big for him, and (b) he cannot afford it. There are exceptions but we will not bother about them. Most of the time it is a couple with children that will like your house. So make sure you target the right audience.

Are you making these five home selling mistakes? It’s not too late to change. Use the tips given above and your house will soon be sold at a good price.

Home buying guide – 5 Essential Tips

Buying a house is once-in-a-lifetime investment. Make sure you make the right decision. Follow this simple home buying guide to get yourself the best deal.

(1) Get yourself an agent

I do not personally like agents. Their fees inflate house prices. Houses are already expensive- add to them the agent fee and you have an overblown budget. Despite my personal feelings, I know how important it is to hire an agent when you are going to buy your first house. Agents can navigate you through the legal mumbo-jumbo and help you find your first home through their local area expertise. Since they have the connections, they can make your purchase smooth and easy.

(2) Find the right home

For many Americans, a home is the most expensive thing they will purchase in their lifetime. When a person decides to buy a home, he essentially needs a place where he would like to settle down. This makes buying a home an emotional decision as well. A real estate agent will show you several homes. This wealth of choice can make your head spin even though prolonging the buying is not a wise business decision. So make sure you find the right home, and soon.

(3) Loan

Unless you have just won a million dollar lottery, or you have suddenly grown very rich, chances are that you’ll need a mortgage to pay for your first home. It makes sense to get a loan pre-approval as there are sellers who will not even consider showing you the place unless they are sure you can get a loan. The FHA sets the minimum down payment requirements. The minimum down payment for a house is less than many conventional purchases. You will have to compare several mortgages to choose the one which suits you the best. Your agent can also help you find a good mortgage.

(4) Negotiate

Some sellers ask sky high prices for their property. This is where your negotiation skills will help you. Your agent will also help you out by compiling data from similar sales which have occurred in that neighborhood for the past three months. You can also find the correct property value through an online property value report which evaluates the true value of a property. One such report can be found for free here from Neighborhood IQ. This data gives you the power to negotiate.

(5) Home inspection

In several states in the US, a home inspection is an essential part of the contract which allows the buyer to cancel the agreement if there is a fault with the house. This gives first-time home buyers a power over sellers who may try to oversell them a house with a faulty foundation or some other issue. It should be mentioned here that the discovery of a fault does not mean a seller is legally required to make repairs. The inspection only gives power to the buyer to cancel the contract. In reality, most buyers ask for repairs, and most sellers agree.

If you are ready to make your first purchase, make sure you start early- the property rates are rising and the sooner you act, the better.

Thinking about Refinancing? Here are Reasons Why It’s a Good Idea

Like many homeowners, you probably want a lower interest rate and a shorter mortgage. If you are considering refinancing your mortgage, it can take a lot of effort and time to begin the process. While there are some not-so-pleasing aspects of refinancing, it can be a good financial move if your mortgage payment is lowered.

Under the right conditions, refinancing your home can certainly benefit you in the long run. It all depends on your particular financial goals. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why refinancing is a good idea:

You can get a lower interest rate. Since interest rates are at a record low right now, you can get 30-year and 15-year mortgage rates far below 5%. This is one of the best incentives to refinance because it not only lessens your monthly payment; it also allows you to build equity in your home quicker. You can save thousands of dollars in interest by refinancing, and you can pay off your mortgage debt faster. According to lending companies, reducing your interest rate by 1% is an incentive to refinance.

You can shorten the term of your loan. If you switch from a 30-year mortgage to a 15-year mortgage, the shorter loan can fit into your budget. Your monthly payment may only increase by a few hundred at the most, and this may be a feasible option for your household. You can use a mortgage calculator to estimate your new payment.

You can lower your monthly payment. If your goal is to have an extra couple of hundred dollars every month for savings, investments or vacations, refinancing at a lower interest rate can accomplish this. You can also save a great deal of money in interest. Keep in mind that lowering your monthly payment can add years to the term of your loan, but it can be extremely helpful.

You can get a fixed-rate loan. Your adjustable-rate mortgage can be refinanced for a lower interest rate, and you can lock into this rate for years to come. You can also plan a fixed payment with more ease every month.

You can cash out your home equity. This can be a savvy move in certain instances. You may want to cash your home equity to invest and start a business. Or you may simply want some money to pay for other expenses or manage debt.

You should also take into consideration the fact that refinancing involves closing costs and other fees. It may cost thousands for a new mortgage, but only you can determine if the costs of refinancing is worth it in the long run. Also, if you are considering moving anytime in the next few years, refinancing will probably not be the best option.

Refinancing means that you need to know the value of your home. You can get a free home valuation report from Neighborhood IQ by clicking here to find out your home’s worth to help you decide if refinancing is a good way to go. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of your unique situation. With careful planning along with knowing the value of your home, refinancing could turn out to be one of the best financial decisions you have ever made as a homeowner.