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.

How to prepare furniture for storage

Insufficient storage space can be one of the major issues you may face when you’re preparing to move out. In fact, there are a number of cases when you may decide to put some of your larger household items in storage until you can figure out what to do with them – especially true for the various types of furniture you own.

Most furniture pieces are too bulky and as such, they take a lot of space. Therefore, if you’re downsizing your home, planning on a big new-home renovation project, or trying to preserve priceless antique furniture that just won’t fit or match your new residence, then putting your furniture in storage can solve your current just-not-enough-space-for-furniture problem until you find a long-term solution.

However, before you can store some of your pieces, you’re going to have to prepare your furniture for storage so that your valuable possessions retain their current condition and appearance regardless of the storage period (short-term or long-term storage).

Read on to find the best way to prepare furniture for storage.

Storing your furniture: is it worth it?
Before you get down to preparing your furniture for storage, you’ll need to be sure that you’re doing the right thing in terms of investing your time and your money into the whole furniture storage idea.

After all, if you do decide to store your large and heavy items inside a storage unit at a good storage facility near your new home, then you’re going to have to pay a monthly storage fee to keep your things safe there. And if neglected or mismanaged, storage costs can quickly add up to thousands of dollars a year – a serious financial burden which you most likely won’t be able or won’t be willing to handle.

Important info: How much does it cost to rent a storage unit?

Keep in mind that it won’t make much sense to discard high-quality furniture items that are practical, comfortable, fashionable and trendy, or ones that are treasured within the family as family heirlooms. Also, it won’t be too smart to store inexpensive IKEA-like pieces that you can buy cheaper later than the storage fees they will incur in time. /How to pack IKEA furniture for moving/

Go through each furniture item that you plan to store away and ask yourself these 5 questions to figure out of a piece of furniture is worth keeping or not.

Is the furniture item

practical, convenient, comfortable and easy to use?
well-made from high-quality materials?
in good shape and condition, ready to serve you years to come?
sentimental to you in any way (a family heirloom, a precious gift, etc.)?
expensive in terms of monetary value?
As already explained above, renting a storage unit to safeguard your valuable furniture for a few months (short-term storage) or more than 12 months (long-term storage) can be the ideal solution during the transitional period in which you find yourself at the moment.

Storing your furniture in a storage unit can be beneficial for you. Click here to learn what to look for when choosing a storage facility.


How to prepare your furniture for storage
Ideally, you’ll have already decided which furniture pieces to

move with you to the new home (if your new house or apartment is ready to receive any household items at the moment),
put into storage (most likely into a storage unit but you can also place in storage in an attic, basement or garage), and
get rid of before the actual move (either sell, gift or leave behind).
So now comes the big question: What’s the best way to prepare your furniture for storage? Follow these 2 steps to do just that.

Step 1. Clean your furniture for storage
The very first step to preparing furniture for storage is to clean the pieces thoroughly. If you fail to do so, the dust or dirt that may have been left on their surface may lead to permanent damage while the items are stored away for months.

To clean your furniture before placing it in storage,

REMOVE dust and any loose particles from the furniture surface by using a soft, non-abrasive and dry cloth. Do this gently and avoid pressing or rubbing down the dust particles onto the delicate finish of your furniture.
PREPARE WOOD FURNITURE FOR STORAGE by applying a suitable wood cleaning product on the wooden surfaces and wiping it out gently with a damp cloth. Then, apply a coat of furniture polish on all wooden surfaces (a process known as sealing) to prevent the wood from drying out while the furniture pieces are stored away.
PREPARE LEATHER FURNITURE FOR STORAGE by vacuuming well the upholstery to remove any coarse particles and then applying a high-quality leather cleaner. After some time (read the product’s instructions for use), wipe the leather with a dry cloth to finish the cleaning process. Finally, use a leather protecting product on the upholstery to keep it in tip-top shape for a long time.
POLISH all metal parts on your furniture to remove the accumulated oxidation.
MAKE SURE all furniture items that you intend to place in storage are completely dry before packing them up. Remember that any amount of moisture trapped in your furniture can lead to the growth of mold in time.
See also: How to pack a storage unit

Step 2. Pack your furniture for storage
The second step to the preparation process is all about packing furniture for storage. Do a good job here and you’ll get the guarantee that your pieces will stay perfectly protected for as long as you need them to stay in storage.

To wrap furniture for storage,

CONSIDER disassembling the largest furniture you own so that you can pack, transport and store the separate pieces more easily and safely. In addition to the better level of protection for your possessions, you’ll be able to use the storage space more efficiently thanks to the smaller size of the disassembled parts.
WRAP FURNITURE FOR STORAGE with (furniture) blankets, bed sheets, large pieces of cloth or other suitable furniture covers to keep dust, dirt, and moisture away from your pieces. These soft and breathing protective materials will not only keep your wood or leather furniture from accidental scratches or dents, but they will also enable the air to circulate freely around, thus eliminating the possibility of moisture accumulation and mold growth.
PROVIDE extra protection for all protruding parts of your furniture pieces such as legs, arms, ornaments, and so on. Do this by wrapping those fragile elements with soft padding (blankets, clothes), and then adding sheets of bubble wrap over them.
NEVER PLACE bubble wrap directly over delicate wood or leather surfaces. Doing so may lead to the formation of condensation, which in turn will enable the growth of mold and mildew. ALWAYS use plastic wrap (bubble wrap or shrink wrap) as a second line of protection over fabric or paper materials. Thus said, particle board furniture does not “breathe” as solid wood and leather do, so those chipboard furniture pieces can actually be packed in plastic wrap as the first line of defense.
POSITION cut-out pieces of thick cardboard over the glass elements (doors, shelves, panels, etc.) found in some household furniture. Then, finish the protective layer by adding a sheet of bubble wrap.
USE small pieces of packing tape to secure the protective materials but do not place them directly over the delicate furniture pieces.
And now that you know how to prepare your furniture for storage, learn how to get good deals on storage units.

Tips for a Smooth Moving Day

Okay, just kidding. There's not a lot of room on the agenda for R&R today, but at least you can rest assured that you've done everything in your power to stave off potential moving-day nightmares. Now it's on to your next task: making the day go as smoothly as possible.

Packing Up

• Check the Bill of Lading. Moving companies are required to show you this contract before they start loading your stuff on the truck. Even though you're anxious to get going, take a few minutes to read it thoroughly. Make sure it matches the terms on your original service order, and address any concerns before you sign it. Hang onto your copy until you've unpacked the boxes, because you'll need it on hand if anything gets damaged.
• Supervise the packing process. You may be tempted to let the movers run the show -- after all, they do this for a living. But you'll save yourself a lot of chaos in the long run if you oversee the process.
• Provide sustenance. Whether you're working with pros or pals, provide snacks and water for everyone who's helping out. It'll keep their energy up, and it never hurts to inspire some goodwill in the people who are hauling your stuff around.

Check Your Home One Last Time 

Once your stuff is on its way to your new home, you'll want to make one last pass through your old haunt to make sure everything's shipshape. Don't forget to: 

• Check the house for anything you may have forgotten. Check every closet, the attic, the crawl space, the garage, the medicine cabinet, and the drawer under your oven. If you're leaving any furniture behind for the next owners, make sure all the drawers are empty.
• Check for any damages caused by the movers. You don't want to lose part of your security deposit or haggle with homebuyers because your cupboard left a hole in the wall.
• Write down your meter readings. When you receive your final bill from your utility companies, verify that the figures match up.
• Check for cash. Have cash tips of $20 to $25 per mover ready, along with money for any tolls along the way.

In Transit 

• Before you leave your old house, give the movers your cell phone number in case either party gets delayed or lost.
• If you're driving a rental truck, take it slow -- the extra weight will make the truck harder to handle. Watch out for low clearances, especially if you make a pit stop at a drive-thru window. If you stop along the way, lock the cargo door.

Inspect Your New Home 

Try to arrive at your new home before the moving truck does, otherwise you may be billed for the thumb-twiddling period. Once you arrive: 

• Do a walk through with your real estate agent. Make sure everything is where it's supposed to be.
• Check the utilities in your new home. Take a few minutes and check the outlets, light switches, appliances, faucets, and toilets in your new home. If anything's broken, you'll have a chance to address it before you settle in for the night.
• Get organized. Tape names to doors to assist movers; map out floor layouts so movers know what's going where.

Unloading

While your boxes are being unloaded, oversee the process and make sure they end up in the right rooms. (You did label them, right?) You don't want to be rummaging through the basement for your coffee pot tomorrow morning. In fact, try to banish as little to the basement as possible, because you'll be less likely to unpack the boxes you can't see. You might end up feeling like you're in a permanent state of transition; or worst-case, you may not discover any damages until it's too late to file a claim.

Above all, don't overdo it. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, make moving your sole task for the day -- schedule cable installation, phone service, and internet hookup for after you've settled in. Stay hydrated, pack snacks, and take short breaks when you need them. Moving day might be hectic, but if you're prepared, you can help it go off without a hitch.

End Your Summer Move On A High Note: Planning A Housewarming Party

After months of planning a move and the big day itself, a housewarming party is a fun reward for a job well done. Use these tips to make your party the best it can be.

First off, hold your party in the evening to avoid the hottest time of day. Pick simple, refreshing food and drinks, like fruit platters and lemonade, to match the theme of the season and make less work for yourself. Finally, take advantage of your backyard, courtyard, garden or other outdoor space to host guests and keep the mess indoors to a minimum.

A housewarming party is a great experience for everyone involved. Turn to Atlas for help getting everything to your new home before the party starts.

What to Eat on Moving Day For Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

When you’re transferring a household of belongings, nourishment plays a key role.

“You want to make sure the people helping are full and not ravenous,” explains nutritionist Vanessa Rissetto.

Friends and family members may also have specific dietary requirements, such as allergies or vegetarian preferences.

Further complicating the situation is the kitchen status: you’ll likely pack up pots, pans and utensils prior to moving day. You also may not have access to a cool refrigerator.

For the best meal results, plan ahead and prepare for a crowd.

Follow these guidelines to make the most of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between for moving day.

Breakfast

If you have time in the days prior to moving, prep a batch of breakfast burritos. Then heat them up in the morning of the big day and serve on paper plates with juice or coffee.

Other easy breakfast options include overnight oats topped with fruit, bagels with cream cheese, make-ahead egg muffins, or vegan peanut butter banana breakfast cookies.

Lunch

To avoid missing a mid-day meal, prepare a few choices for those helping ahead of time.

Sandwiches such as ham and cheese or egg salad can be stored in a cooler and pulled out for a fast lunch. Other options to prepare before moving day: pasta salad, hard-boiled eggs, quiche, or make-ahead sandwich rolls.

Snacks

“Since many of your dishes might be packed up and your appliances might be unplugged for moving day, I’d prepare a healthy shelf-stable snack,” suggests Megan Gilmore, author of No Excuses Detox.

Look for recipes that are packed with fiber and healthy fats to sustain everyone’s energy levels. A few to try: date energy balls, peanut butter and honey chewy granola bars, and muesli snacking cookies.

“If you don’t want to prepare anything yourself for moving day, there are plenty of easy and healthy snacks available, too,” adds Gilmore.

Reach for apples, unsweetened dried fruit, Larabars, or pre-sliced carrots with store-bought hummus.

Yogurt topped with almonds and granola can provide a creamy snack with a crunch. If you want to set out protein bars, look for selections that are high in protein and low in sugar, such as Country Archer’s Frontier meat-based protein bars.

For a savory spread, try cheese with crackers such as Mary’s Gone Crackers or Simple Mills almond flour crackers.

Ice cold watermelon is also a great energizer. Cut up a watermelon the day before the move and place it in a cooler until you’re ready to share it.

Beverages

To keep helpers hydrated, purchase plenty of bottled water beforehand and keep it chilled in a cooler packed with ice.

Also stock up on 100 percent fruit juice and electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade to provide an ample supply of energy. Cold brew coffee in a can, like High Brew, can help provide a quick fix in the morning and throughout the day.

Avoid sugar-packed soft drinks and alcohol while loading and unloading.

Dinner

“When meal time rolls around, you might find it easiest to dine out so that you don’t have to worry about clean-up during your move,” explains Gilmore.

If you’re relocating to a different part of town, check online to see what options are available in your neighborhood. “One of my go-to convenience options is a salad from Chipotle,” adds Gilmore. Load it up with black beans, fajita veggies, salsa and guacamole for a filling meal.

Takeout from a local place may be another crowd-pleasing option. If you’re in the mood for a buffet-style meal, select sides like baked potatoes, steamed vegetables, and macaroni and cheese.

If a deli is nearby, consider a spread of sub sandwiches and pasta dishes.

And while pizza for lunch may weigh down workers in the afternoon, it can be the perfect way to end a long moving day. In fact, it is probably expected.

Important Tips to Have a Successful Winter Move

For whatever reason—the closing date on your home’s sale, arrival of a new rental opportunity, a new job located in a new place—you might have the misfortune of having to move during the difficult winter months of the year. Fret not, because with just a little diligence, preparation, and help from a moving company, your winter move will be a snap.

Check the Weather Forecasts

Don’t be caught off-guard. Knowing which days there will be more difficult conditions like freezing temperatures or heavy snowfall will allow you to plan accordingly and avoid delays, accidents, or other complications from moving during winter.

Pack Correctly

Make sure that you utilize waterproof packing materials like plastic bags and wrapping that can protect your valuables in the event that snow, moisture, or condensation gets into your boxes. Remove batteries from any electronic devices, and take precautions with liquids that could freeze, expand in size, and end up leaking on other items.

Check and Plan the Route

In a major city, like Toronto, you absolutely need to know when rush hour occurs and how adverse weather conditions will accentuate gridlock. There are, however, alternate routes that are safer and more reliable that can keep you on track and on schedule.

Dress Appropriately

Have the right gear to make the time you have to spend outside as comfortable as possible. Make sure that you have your winter coats, sweaters, gloves, and any other useful items (thermoses, etc.) on hand rather than packing these key items away.

Prepare Your New Home

Ensure that the entrance driveway and paths to your new home will be shovelled and unobstructed on your move-in day. You can have a snow shovel or even a plough ready for this contingency. The thermostat of your new home can also be checked before you move in to ensure the home you’re moving into is properly heated.

Take Care of Pets

As much as you love your animals, they need proper care during a move for their safety. It might be a wise investment to place your beloved cat or dog in a daycare-type animal care service for a day or longer. This way, you are free from worrying about walking them, litterboxes, feeding, or any other duties that could cramp your style during a move.

When dealing with smaller animals like hamsters, gerbils, reptiles, fish, and so forth, made sure you dedicate special attention to moving them in a safe manner that doesn’t expose them to extreme temperature or environmental shocks.

Firemen Movers Can Help

Are you looking for a professional moving company that has invaluable expert experience in all aspects of winter moving? Firemen Movers is a reliable, trustworthy company that knows how to make your move smooth, convenient, and stress-free. Contact us today for more information or to get a quote on our services