Merit Homes - A Journey with Heart, A Home with Merit

There are many reasons why homebuyers love new construction. They get to move into a brand-new house that has the latest and greatest finishes and will likely have little maintenance in the near future. While the process may seem straightforward, there are lots of things that buyers need to be aware of. Having a real estate agent in your corner can help you avoid the many headaches associated with going the new construction route. 

Selecting the Right Builder

Most agents are very familiar with the various builders in their area. They understand which builders have the best price points, who specialize in certain styles of homes (production, semi-custom, custom, etc.), what materials a builder uses, and whether the builder has a reputation for having good or bad quality or is responsive to service requests after-closing. 

By sitting down with an agent and explaining your goals and requirements, they can save you a lot of time by immediately narrowing down the list of builders who are best suited for your project.  

Selecting the Right Community, Floor Plan, and Lot

Agents help guide buyers through the selection process to ensure that the floor plan, community, and lot aligns with the buyer’s individual needs. There are some floor plans and communities that may be hard to resell. An agent will be able to point out these potential challenges. An agent can also help identify poor lot orientations or difficult soil conditions. 

Selecting Options

When you visit a builder to tour a model home, you will likely be presented with a model that has all of the optional features and upgrades. This is intentional as the builder’s number one priority is to sell each house for the highest possible price. Not every upgrade adds significant value to the property. A real estate agent can help their clients pick the best options to maximize their investment. An agent also knows which options are highly marked-up in order to assist with negotiating a better deal. 

Having an Advocate in Your Corner

The on-site agent at the model home may look and sound like someone who is there to help you. However, this representative works for the builder and is there to represent their employer’s best interests. Agents are licensed professionals bound by law and professional ethics, while the builder’s sales representatives are not constrained by those requirements. A good quality agent will be able to see through what is truth and what is a sales pitch.

Once you have reached a decision on which builder to use and which model you would like, it’s time for the real work to begin. Now it’s time for your real estate agent to negotiate with the builder and lock down the purchase of your new property! 

Moving can be a very stressful event. Without proper planning you can find yourself struggling to get everything done. You’ll forget important steps like contacting the utility company to transfer electric service into your name or making arrangements to ship your motorcycle. I’m here to help! I’ve created this moving checklist to help keep you organized and not forget any important moving details. 

How to use this checklist:

• Complete all of the steps based on the schedule below.
• Use the notes sections to keep track of important information you need to remember such as dates, account numbers, who you spoke to, etc. 
• Every move is different. Use the additional checklist spaces to add items that apply to your unique situation.

Eight Weeks Out

• Book your cross-country movers
• Start decluttering and organize your house 
• _______________________________
• _______________________________

Six Weeks Out

• Throw away, donate, or sell all unwanted items
• Make a home inventory list
• Notify important people/companies (to provide your new address)
  • Utilities
    • Cable __________________________________
    • Phone _________________________________
    • Internet ________________________________
    • Gas ___________________________________
    • Electric ________________________________
    • Other __________________________________
  • Bank
  • Doctor
  • Family, friends, and loved ones
  • Other _______________________________________
• _______________________________
• _______________________________

Four Weeks Out

• Start Packing 
• Submit Change of Address/Mail Forwarding to Post Office
• _______________________________
• _______________________________

Two Weeks Out

• Make your personal travel arrangements
  • Flights _____________________________
  • Rental Car __________________________
  • Hotel/Airbnb ________________________
  • Other ______________________________
• Set up in your new location
  • Medical – new doctor, dentist, etc.
  • Contact new utility companies
    • Cable __________________________________
    • Phone _________________________________
    • Internet ________________________________
    • Gas ___________________________________
    • Electric ________________________________
    • Other __________________________________
• Deal with smaller tasks, so the week of the move is as pleasant as possible
• _______________________________
• _______________________________

Packing

Most of your effort will be put into packing your belongings. You want to ensure that things are packed properly in order to avoid damage. This is where most people procrastinate. You never realize how much stuff you have until you start putting it into boxes. Starting early can help you avoid rushing around at the last minute. Ask Matt about his recommendations for moving and packing professionals. 

Additional Packing Tips:

• Pack similar items together, this will help you streamline the unpacking process. 
• Use pillows, towels, and clothing as a cushion to protect fragile items.
• Don’t overload the boxes. This could make them heavy to lift or make the bottom fall out. 

Pre-Arrival Cleaning

The last thing you want to do after a long drive across the country is to clean the house yourself. There is nothing better than being able to move into a freshly cleaned space. We’ve got you covered. Our team of house cleaning professionals will complete a pre-move clean of all our clients’ homes prior to their arrival. 

Bonus Tips to Make the Move a Success

• Stop buying groceries five days ahead of your move. Try to use as much of the food you have so you have less to take with you. 
• Pack liquids separately to avoid damage to other boxes and furniture.
• If you are taking your fridge, defrost it at least two days in advance of your move.
• If you have kids (or pets), hire a sitter for moving day.
• Cancel or redirect regular home deliveries (meal kits, subscriptions, etc.).
• Hire a cleaner to do a final cleaning of your departure residence.
• Secure parking for the movers at both your departure residence and new home. 

We’re in This Together

It’s easy to forget everything involved with a successful move, and little things often slip through the cracks.  I hope that you find this checklist helpful. If you have any questions during your move, please let me know. I look forward to supporting you every step of the way.