There’s a great debate going on particularly with millennials when it comes to homeownership. The debate is simple: rent or buy? From the tv shows, it looks simple. Get a job as a freelancer or in an office, work a couple years, save up for a down-payment and boom, you’ll be able to afford all of life’s luxuries. Carrie Bradshaw did it on a writer’s salary, so why can’t you? You saw all those shows, plus she lived in one of the most expensive areas in New York, it’s possible… right? Though it may look easy to those who are still living with their parents, the debate is very real, especially for millennials. They’re entering a new market and one that’s heavily saturated. On top of that, millennials aren’t making as much as their parents did at their age, thus, it’s not looking like they’ll be homeowners as quickly as the generations before them. However, millennials are finding a way to get the money needed in order to transition from a renter to a homeowner. Though they thought that was the challenging part, many have no idea what lies ahead of them.
Scrambling the downpayment for your home is the least of your concerns. In fact, it’s probably the easiest part of the entire homeownership process. First-time home buyers are going through what you could call a shock treatment as unexpected costs are popping up left and right of them. But what are these costs? Good question. They’re all the thing you didn’t think about right until now.
From the minute you signed your name on the dotted line, there are costs. Of course, you have the prior costs of hiring experts such as plumbing repair services for home inspections, which is needed to reduce any surprise costs. You have the closing costs of the sale, taxes, home insurance, and fees. This is all before you even step foot in your house. But prior to even putting your foot through the door and getting to sleep in your bed for the first time in your home, you need to move. Now, this is where you start to wager costs and stress.
Moving everything you own into a new home is a huge project. In some cases, it feels like it never ends. If you’ve been living in your home for years and years, every memory, every album, every sock is going with you. And if you’ve accumulated an attic full of stuff – it all has to leave with you. Now, you’ll hear people tell that a great way to save money is to move everything yourself. Those people, the ones that told you that, well they have obviously never moved. Of course, depending on how far away you’re moving, the expenses can vary. When you hire home moving services they will take a chunk of your budget, however, you’ll be happy they did. Most of us are working full-time, having children and other obligations and if you have to move, that’s a whole other type of stress that you simply don’t need.
If you’re considering hiring movers, you’re ultimately saving yourself from stress and unnecessary arguments with your partner. Upon leaving your house, you have a deadline that you agreed upon. This isn’t something you can negotiate but rather something you have to abide by as from the day on, you no longer have ownership of your house. Now, many people have trust issues with moving companies, as some moving companies have been known to be careless with people’s belongings. However, prior to hiring a moving company, you need to do your due diligence. Not all companies have high standards, so, you need to weed them out.
Before hiring a moving company, there are a couple things you need to look for. Qualities that’ll be able to distinguish between the good and the bad. Do some research and answer these questions.
How long has the company been in business?
Now, there are many new companies coming out which offer high standards and top-quality service. Many of them would have had at least a job or two, so it’s important to follow the service that they provided.
Is the company insured?
You absolutely want to make sure that the moving company is insured. In addition, are your personal items covered by the insurance? This is extremely important just in case there’s an accident.
Does the company have a website and/or any online reviews?
Nowadays, it’s almost a requirement for companies to have a website. In addition, it’s even more normal for them to have reviews from their previous clients. Go through their website, Google them and see what people are really saying about their service.
What do the rates include?
Just because they advertise inexpensive rates it doesn’t mean your final bill is going to be cheap. You need to double check and see if fuel charges are included if the rates vary on the day of the week and other things that may or may not be included in the price.
Will they wrap your belongings up?
If you don’t ask this question, you may end up having to wrap your belongings on your own on short notice. This isn’t going to work out well and it’ll bring unnecessary stress. Ask beforehand if they’ll be taking care of this or if it’s your responsibility.
Upon contacting them, do they ask you any questions?
If the moving company you contacted hasn’t asked you a single question, run. They should be curious about the delivery time, if they need to measure doors, stairs, elevators and if you have a specific deadline for your move, that way they can see how many men they need for the job. These questions must be asked prior to moving.
Moving doesn’t have to be hard. Ask yourself and the company these questions to protect not only yourself but your memories.
