Hello World! Welcome Friends! Purchasing a new home for the first time is very exciting, but it can come with a whopping price tag. There’s the down payment, closing costs, and then you need to ask yourself should I look for moving companies near me or do the move myself. Luckily, there are ways to reduce some of these fees so that you can have some money left over to redecorate.
Closing costs
So you’ve found your dream home, got approved for the mortgage and your offer is accepted by the seller. This is great news. But after having to shell out some serious coin, the last thing you want to face is another hit to the wallet with closing costs. Closing costs on a home can run into the tens of thousands. Probably not something you wanted to hear. But, here’s something you may not know; if the seller is very interested in moving and unloading the home, you may be able to negotiate with your realtor to have some, if not all of the closing costs covered by the seller.
Things to look for before signing a contract
While you are very excited about becoming a homeowner, don’t lose sight of the task at hand. You want to move in and set up and enjoy your home. So it’s very important to take a close look at the house before signing away possibly 30 years of misery. Many sellers are now quite savvy at hiding flaws in their home to potential buyers. Staging is an art that many have learned well. Make sure that you spend the money on a home inspection, even if the state you are moving to does not require it. A home inspector checks the foundation, the roof, the plumbing, the wiring, as well as for the presence of mold. These are all things that, if left undetected and you take home ownership, can cost you thousands. This way, if anything does turn up and you still want to buy it, you can renegotiate the asking price or have a credit issued at the time of your closing.
Moving expenses
If you are moving locally, you have to decide whether to hire professional movers or rent a truck on your own. If you are looking to cut costs, you have to also weigh in whether or not you have the time to move the items yourself. Doing it on your own will definitely help you save money but just remember that you’ll also do the loading and unloading on your own. If your move is long-distance and you want to use professional movers, just make sure that you do your research on several companies for their rates and their reputation. That last thing you want is a phone call that your furnishings are lost in transit. Another way to save money on your move is to pack the boxes on your own. You should stay organized during this process and pack room by room. This way when the boxes arrive, all you need to do is to place them in the labeled room and unpack.
Saving money on packing supplies
The last thing you want to hear is that you’ll need a few hundred dollars more just to pack your things up. This is an area that you can really save some money and that’s great news. Instead of purchasing boxes from the moving company or your local hardware store, try contacting your local supermarket or retailer and ask them if they have any unwanted boxes. Chances are pretty good if you plan ahead, a few weeks before your move, you can catch their shipment dates and get all the boxes you want for free. Also, instead of spending money on bubble wrap and paper to pack your items you can use newspaper, towels, sheets and even coffee filters. The only thing you may have to part with a few dollars on is the packing tape.
The decision to buy a new home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your lifetime. Just make sure that you cover all the bases to ensure that the asking price is fair, that the home is in good condition and that you hire movers that are trustworthy. If you do this, then you’ll unpack and take your first breath and realize you’re home.
Click the links below for any posts you may have missed!
The Sunday Showcase from Make it Pretty Monday
Shopping for the House: Latest Purchases
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Thank you for stopping by for a little visit! Have a lovely day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
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