WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WINTER MOVING:

Does the idea of moving on a freezing cold day sound a little crazy to you? We’ll admit, winter weather doesn’t always provide ideal moving conditions, but it can actually be a good time to move.

GOOD REASONS FOR MOVING IN WINTER MONTHS

The winter months are often a less busy time for moving, so you’ll have an easier time booking movers, securing elevators in the building, and it can be cheaper than moving in peak season. These can all make your move much easier, but there are definitely a few things you’ll want to consider before booking a move in winter.

THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN MOVING IN WINTER

Winter moving can be tricky, but with some smart planning it can be easier than you think. Here are a few of the most important things to consider when planning to move during the winter.

Be flexible

Winter weather can be extremely unpredictable, so be prepared for anything. Keep an eye on the weather in the weeks leading up to your moving date. If a storm happens to blow in on the day you’re supposed to move, you may need to reschedule.

Be prepared

Moving day is always pretty busy, so you want to make sure you’ve got everything ready to roll by the time moving day rolls around. You should ideally have everything packed and ready to go before your movers show up, so you’re not running around at the last minute. Taking the time to pack early will save you tons of time on moving day.

Get your home ready

If it happens to snow on moving day, you’ll have a bit more prep work to do before loading out and loading in. Grab your snow shovel and clear a wide path from your home to where the truck will be parked. Salt or sand any slippery surfaces well—you definitely don’t want anyone to slip while they’re carrying something heavy or breakable. If it’s raining snowing heavily, you might want to consider putting up a tarp or tent over the path to keep your items dry. You can also put plastic covers down on the floors inside your home to keep things clean while everyone is coming in and out.

Protect your items

In the event of heavy snow or rain on moving day, you’ll want to pack your items a bit differently as well. Moving boxes secured with packing tape should be sturdy enough to withstand a little rain. However, if you’re expecting a pretty heavy downpour, it might be worth looking into plastic totes for moving instead of cardboard boxes. (You might be able to rent these.)

If you’ve got artwork to move, it should be wrapped in plastic or covered with trash bags to keep water out. Any clothes and textiles can also be packed in trash bags to protect them from the rain. Wood or fabric furniture can be wrapped in heavy blankets or tarps to protect them from light rain. Furniture can also be shrink-wrapped in plastic, which is a good idea if you expect very heavy amounts of rain.

Give yourself extra time

When the weather isn’t cooperating, it’s smart to plan for delays. Snow, ice, or heavy rain could all cause delays in travel time, and will definitely affect how long it takes to load up the truck and move everything in at your new place. Give yourself plenty of extra time to complete the move—it’s better to finish earlier than you expect than it is to have to pay for extra time at the end of a move.

Tips for Buying Your First Home—And Mistakes to Avoid

Buyers need a basic overview. This is especially true for first-time home buyers who aren't familiar with the process. Bear in mind that the steps in the home buying processcan vary from state to state, depending on local custom.

However, when you strip away all of the crap—which may or may not happen to you—there are only five basic steps to buying a home. You can do these five steps in any order you want.

Hire an Agent

You don't have to hire a buyer's agent if you prefer to go to open houses and look through a mumbo-jumbo of homes online, but hiring an agent will save you time. Here's why:

• An agent can send you listings directly from MLS that fit your parameters, and you won't waste time looking at active short contingent listings that are under contract.
• Agents often know of new listings coming up that are not yet on the market.
• You can waste the agent's gas and not your own when you tour homes.
• Some agents will preview homes for you.
• An agent can generally spot overpriced listings and advise you accordingly.

Find a Home to Buy

Buying a home can be an overwhelming process and emotionally draining. Finding the right home is not always an easy task. Schedule a maximum of seven homes at a time because any more than that will make a buyer's head spin.

Most buyers conduct a lot of research online before ever stepping foot in a home. Buyers spend an average of six to eight weeks, according to the National Association of REALTORS, trying to figure out where they want to live. Once the neighborhood is selected, most buyers end up buying a home after two or three home tours.

Get a Loan

It's not always necessary to have a mortgage broker or bank in your back pocket before buying a home, but it's smarter to get loan pre-approval in advance. This way you know for certain how much home to buy. Many sellers won't look at an offer if the seller doesn't have an assurance that the buyer can get a loan.

Popular first-time buyer loans are FHA loans because the minimum down payment requirement is much less than a conventional loan. However, if you are thinking about buying foreclosures, for example, conventional buyers tend to get priority with REO banks.

You can ask your agent for a referral to a mortgage broker or check with your own bank/credit union. Compare the types of mortgages available to you and your GFE.

Negotiate the Offer

Buyers sometimes make the mistake of comparing the sales price of a home to other homes they have seen. It's a mistake to compare sales prices among homes for sale. That's because sellers can ask any price they want. It doesn't mean the home will sell at that price.

An agent can provide comparable sales and examine the pending sales. Comparable sales are similar home types in the same condition and location that have sold within the past three months. Pending sales will become the comparable sales by the time your home closes.

You may need to pay over list price in a seller's market, especially if many buyers are vying for the same inventory. Your agent can give you a reasonable price range and help to manage your expectations. A good buyer's agent knows there is always more to an offer than its price, but the price is paramount.

Do a Home Inspection

In some states, a home inspection is conducted before buyers make a purchase offer. In other states, a home inspection is a contract contingency. A contract contingencymeans a buyer has the right to cancel the contract. You might not want to be locked into buying a home that has a faulty foundation, for example.

Sellers are generally not required to make repairs if problems are discovered during a home inspection. A home inspection is for the buyer's edification. However, sometimes when a buyer gives a Request for Repair to the seller, rather than blow the deal, the seller will often agree to repair.