Tips for Home Buyers: Get your move on!
Just the thought of having to move again is giving me hives. I swear it’s one of the most stressful and exhausting things ever. Well, there’s nothing like getting a grip and getting organized to calm moving anxiety. Here are some tips to help you reach home moving ecstasy.
Make a list, check it twice. You know, that Santa is not a dumb guy. Having a list not only keeps you organized, but I’m convinced it keeps you sane. When you start to feel frazzled, just reference your list for a moment of “Ok, I can do this!” UPack.com has a great moving checklist broken out in what to do in the eight weeks before you move.
Say bye-bye! Now’s the time to give up your old junk. Think about it, the less you own, the less you have to move! My personal rule is that if we haven’t used it in our house for a year and there’s no significant emotional connection, out it goes. Not only will others be able to use what we’re just storing, charitable donations make an excellent tax write-off! Are you a hoarder? There are different levels of hoarding. Extreme cases require an “intervention”. Find out what kind of hoarder you are from the Clutter-Hoarding Scale, developed by the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD). If you’re a hoarder, now’s the time to get help… BEFORE you move.
Outsource it. Well, you’ll still have to do a lot of the work, but there are variety of moving professionals you can pay to help. These professionals range from people to pack and organize for you to just the regular old movers. Go here for tips on investigating moving companies.
Keep your receipts. The IRS lets you deduct your moving expenses if you pass the distance and time test. According to the IRS, reasonable moving expenses include the cost of traveling and the cost of packing, crating, and transporting your household goods and personal effects from your former home to your new home. And don’t forget about charitable donations! These too are tax deductible. Check the IRS’ publication on “Determining the Value of Donated Property” for more information. You usually need a receipt from the organization you donated to along with a listing of what you donated.
Don’t forget about Felix and Fido! If you think you’re stressed, chances are your pets are just as stressed (or even more). MSN has a great article on what to remember and watch out for when moving with pets: “Help Fido have a stress-free move”
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