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What do you think of when you look at your house? Our home is located in Central Florida. We have what looks like a typical Florida home for these days. But as of late, we have outgrown our space. It can be overwhelming to consider moving and finding a forever home. There are so many things to consider when purchasing a new home.
Time to Dream
If you could imagine anything in a home, what would it be? That’s the place to start your planning when purchasing a new home. You could puruse magazines, look for design features you like, and make lists of the things you would like to see. When you visit a city, don’t hesitate to stop in and look at their listings! I learned about a brilliant realtor in Jacksonville, FL that is a Ramsey endorsed local provider. Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty, Erin E. King MBA specializes in the rich historic district of Jacksonville. They offer something others don’t in a very specialized, historic town.
Ask questions and learn the areas from someone who is trusted. I found some amazing inspiration at Ortega Real Estate. The homes are breathtaking and full of ideas. Jacksonville has some incredible history.
Sometimes the thought of an agent can be daunting. Is it going to cost me extra? Are they going to try to sell me things I don’t want? I can tell you that there is a lot of legal that goes into buying a home. It is a tricky path and having someone in the know on your side can be a bonus. An agent can only benefit from you if they are doing a good job.
The trick is to find someone who specializes in your area or more specifically what you’re looking for. When they know the specifics of the area, they know the places to avoid!
Explore the Area
Restaurants, activities, shopping, and landscape are some things to consider. Do you have kids? Investigate schools and extracurricular as well as how many kids you will find in the neighborhoods.
Are you considering hiking the mountains? Finding seashells at the beaches? Kayaking the rivers? Get out and explore what your favorite areas have to offer!
Make a Packing Plan
Now comes the fun part. <Insert giant sigh here.> One thing I fail at miserably is knowing how much stuff I have and how long it will take to pack. It is highly advisable to make a clean sweep of all the rooms in your house and plan a yard sale to get rid of all the stuff you discover that you never use!
Then start the great organizing fest. Room by room, box boy box. Be sure to wrap and label so when movers come; and I assure you they will be worth it; they will be able to easily pack and reorganize in your new home.
Prepare a Checklist
I know that sometimes when I am making big plans, my brain can’t turn off. If I make a plan, set up a checklist, think ahead, it becomes like a brain dump and I can think straight and sleep again. A checklist like this can be super helpful. There are tons of free, customizable checklists available online. You can list people you contact, tasks for each room, lists of people you need to hire, or even consider delegating tasks and write down who has the job. Download yours here!
Think Ahead
Something to consider when you are moving is you are going to need to find new everything! Dry cleaners, dentist, doctors, grocery store, accountants! Join a local Facebook group and begin asking for recommendations. This is the best way to determine if a business is worthy of your patronage.
Do locals know the hidden gems? The restaurant that is the hot treasure is not to be missed. There may be activities that are special to an area that only digging a little deeper will expose.
You can also check out Google Reviews. They are an amazing tool and full of great customer replies. Do your research because sometimes, not finding a good business can be a deal-breaker.
Moving Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
When you consider these things when purchasing a home, with a little bit of dreaming, a plan, and possibly some help, your moving experience can be quite amazing. Look forward to what’s to come and enjoy the ride!
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