It Sold! Time to Move!

The Contract is negotiated, the inspection repairs done, final walk through is approaching and its time to move! Wow, where do you start?

Moving is not easy, there are no two ways about it, you just have to buckle down and get it done. Even if you are lucky enough to have a moving company coming to pack you, move you and unpack you, you still have some decisions to make.

#1 Decision: Don't move things that you do not want or will need in your new home. Take this opportunity to clean your closets, your garage, attic and storage buildings out. Time for a fresh start.

Some things are hard to part with but you may not have room for them in your new life, so take Nana's piano and give it to someone special to you who will love it the same way you have. All the other things can be sorted and decided whether it is worth your time for a garage sale or donations to your favorite local charity.

OK, the un-needed and unwanted items are gone and the rest is left to pack. Be organized while packing, packing rooms together, packing items that are of immediate need in your new place together and things that can wait together. That way when you get to your new home you can find the coffee maker and not have to dig it out from under the bread maker! Clearly mark all boxes as to what is in the box as well as what room it should go to in the new home. It is a good idea to have a photographic inventory of your things if you will be using a moving company as well.

Save some money on boxes by using your luggage and storage boxes. Don't forget to check your local liquor store for some really good heavy duty boxes and then if you happen to be using a Keller Williams Agent in the Boerne Office, ask them. We have started a new plan where our local clients donate their moving boxes to the office and we give them to those who need for a small donation Hill Country Daily Bread. For those delicate items, you can buy speciality moving boxes and bubble wrap. Think about renting furniture pads, straps and dollies from a rental company.

Last but not least pack an essential box, it should include the following and be easy to get to when you arrive:

• ID
• Your wallet, checkbook and/or ATM card
• Bottled water
• Toothbrush, toothpaste and soap
• Any prescription medications
• Aspirin
• Snacks that don't require refrigeration or cooking (granola bars, nuts, bread, PB, etc)
• Paper cups, paper plates and plastic utensils
• Towels
• Sheets
• Scissors and tape
• Closing documents if you're buying a new home
• Important files
• Medical records
• Pet food and pet littler, if applicable

Before Moving Day -

Don't forget to contact your local Post Office to obtain a Change of Address form. You can also obtain this form online at http://www.usps.com. Give a change of address to the following: banks, schools, friends & family, insurance companies, doctors and specialists, cell phone providers, credit card companies and magazine and newspaper subscriptions.

As you empty each room, clean it, that way you are not stuck cleaning the entire house as the moving truck leaves. Invite friends and family over for one last picnic and help to make sure the house is spic and span for the new owners and nothing has been left behind by accident.

Now is the time to make sure that during the move nothing was damaged in the house, Check the doors, frames and walls so there will be no problem with the final walk through on the buyer's side.

Wow! its over,now you can sit back and relax, oh wait you have to move in to the new house, but hopefully since you packed everything in such an organized way, this will be a snap. Welcome to your new home!