New Jersey Real Estate TipsReal Estate Tips September 3, 2015

Long Distance Moving with Pets: How to Care for Them on the Trip

Long Distance Moving with Pets: How to Care for Them on the Trip

Moving isn’t always easy and long-distance moves can be particularly stressful. You have to figure out how to get yourself set up in a new town or state, hundreds of miles from your current location, sometimes with very little guidance. Many people tend to forget how difficult a move can be on a pet – not just the idea of having a new home, but the stress of the trip in moving day itself.

Driving or Flying?

Some people send their belongings on a moving truck and then fly themselves to their new locations. While this may be ideal for the people in your life, it may not be best for your dog or cat. As a matter of fact, it almost never works for families with multiple pets as there are often “one pet” restrictions to consider. Older animals and those in poorer health may also become stressed when separated from you.

Driving is a great option if you have older pets or simply want to keep the family together. You can keep a closer eye on your loved ones and make sure they are not overly stressed or taxed by the journey. You can also control the frequency of driving breaks for using the bathroom, feeding, or assessing for car sickness.

Plan the Actual Trip Carefully

You’re going to want to take special care in planning the actual trip. If you were driving with only people, you could squeeze more hours into the day, take less frequent breaks, and not worry about which hotels you stop at. Here are a few tips that will make the entire journey more enjoyable:

  • Carefully plan your route. If it would normally take two days, plan for three or four and split your time up accordingly. Moving adds pressure to your timeline, and having pets in the car may make that pressure feel worse. Give yourself plenty of extra time to get to your new location.

  • Make sure you are booking pet-friendly hotels and make sure your hotel takes your type of pet. A lot of hotels assume you’ll have a dog but may not allow for a cat (or a guinea pig or a snake).

  • Make sure you carry your supplies where they can be reached easily – food, bowls, bottled water, familiar bedding for the hotel, medical records, and some of your pet’s favorite foods and treats. The food and treats are important because you’ll want to have a favorite to entice eating in strange places.

Don’t assume that because your pet does well on short car rides that he’ll be OK on a full or multi-day journey. Talk to your vet about things you can do to ease your pet’s anxiety (medications, Feliway for cats, etc). The smoother your trip, the easier it will be for your pet to settle into your new home when you arrive!

 

New Jersey Real Estate TipsReal Estate Tips May 15, 2015

Preparing Your Children for the Home Sale Process

Preparing Your Children for the Home Sale Process

Children are often easy-going, but when it comes to moving to a new home you might be surprised at how anxious, worried, and upset they can become. The younger they are, the more difficult things can be emotionally, as they’re confused about change to their routines. Older children are more attached to friends and other people. So what can you do to prepare them for the home sale process?

Timing is Everything

Do you really need to move right now? Are you moving far enough away that your child will have to change schools? If so, can you wait until the school year is over so that your children have time to adjust over the summer? Have you recently had a major emotional event (death, divorce, etc) that your children are dealing with? If so, you may want to postpone a move that isn’t absolutely necessary for a little while as you deal with other emotional issues. Sometimes a few weeks or months can make a huge difference.

If you can’t wait – because of work or money issues – make sure your talk about the move is always positive. Save your concerns and negativity for private discussions far out of the range of little ears.

Communication and Involvement

Whatever you do, don’t spring a surprise move on your kids. Make them as much a part of the process as everyone else in the house. Mark the move date on the calendar and start an exciting countdown. Let the kids decorate their moving boxes and help with the packing of their own toys. You might even consider letting them draw floor plans for their new rooms.  Do whatever you can to make them feel as though they’re a part of the process – even if that means giving them a little bit of healthy busywork.

Socialization

Think about the things you can do to help your children make new friends in your new neighborhood. Find out about clubs, sports teams, social groups, or even summer-camp programs your kids can use to not feel isolated if you move between school years. The sooner they start meeting new people, the more comfortable they’ll feel.

Rituals are Important

Don’t let all of your family rituals go by the wayside during the hectic moving process – packing, unpacking, etc. If Friday is always family pizza night, then make sure you have pizza on Friday. If Monday is always family game night, then pull out a quick game. An hour of family down-time won’t hurt anything and will give you all the break (and reassurance about routine) you all need.

Talk to your real estate agent if you have concerns about your children and the moving process. They’ve worked with tons of families and can give you more tips to make the process a little easier!

New Jersey Real Estate Tips January 10, 2015

Moving Costs Money: How to Budget for Moving Expenses

Moving Costs Money: How to Budget for Moving Expenses

Nothing like stating the obvious, right? Moving costs money. But it’s not just the cost of a down-payment on your mortgage or security for a rental. There are quite a few hidden costs associated with moving that can really add up.

Insurance Changes

We’re talking about both automobile and homeowners. You need to call your insurance agent right away to make sure things are set up for your move. If you are buying a new house, you’re going to need to have a new policy written. If you’re a renter, you’ll need to have your address updated. The same goes for your automobile insurance. Unfortunately, a change of address means a change of “territory.” For some that might mean a decrease in premiums but for others it may equal an increase. Find out early so you can shop around, if necessary.

Fixes to the Old Property

Odds are you’ll need to make at least a few repairs to your old residence, whether you own it or rent. The agreement you made with your buyer, or the terms of your lease if you rent, will dictate what needs to be done. Do you need to hire a plumber for a repair? Do you need to steam the carpets?

Utility Changes

The utility industry often charges at least a small fee for transferring service from one area to another. Make sure your existing company serves your new area because you may have to start with a new company. Consider your water, sewage, electricity, gas, and even internet, cable, and phone services.

Boxes and Packing Supplies

We often think we can get enough packing supplies from stores and friends, but there never really are enough boxes to go around. Plus, you’ll need some specialty items to keep your fragile pieces safe – like bubble wrap or special containers. While you may be able to borrow, and your mover may provide some supplies, you’ll likely need more than you can initially get your hands on. Put some money in your budget for extras so you don’t end up losing any of your valuables.

Hiring a Mover

It’s not a necessity, but if you are making a big move with children and pets you may find it’s simply safer (and saner) to hire a moving company to help. Yes, it costs money but they will also insure your move against damage and do all of the heavy lifting. This means lower potential for injury for you, less stress, and an overall more pleasant experience. You’ll want to get quotes from different movers in advance; and check reviews.

Leaving your old place and buying a new home isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it in the end. Add a few of these line items to your budget in the months before your move and you won’t have nearly as much sticker shock as you get closer to the big day.