No-Fail Guide To Finding A Mover That Won’t Take You To The Cleaners

We’ve all heard the horror stories about movers who didn’t deliver (literally) what they’d promised, or the priceless vase from Great Aunt Edna that got broken in a move. Here are seven things to help you find the best mover that you can.

Identify only licensed, insured, and bonded moving companies.

Think about what you’re moving. What is it worth to you to know that it will get to your new home safe and sound? Licensed, insured, and bonded companies take the extra step to ensure that your things get to your new home, because they’re held responsible if they don’t.

Ask for estimates from two to three companies.

Shop and compare prices. Invite a mover’s representative to inspect the contents of your home.

They should be able to tell you how long the move will take, what it’ll cost, and the size of the truck you’ll need. Long-distance moves can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $10,000. This is a large investment, so treat it like you would any other – and shop around.

Be sure of what you’re buying. Typically, movers charge by weight and mileage. If you can get a flat rate, you’ll probably be better off. Get definite dates (in writing) of when the contents of your home will be picked up AND delivered.

Get extra liability protection.

Declare the value of the contents of your home with the mover before you move. Otherwise, your furnishings will be valued at $1.25 per pound as a lump sum. This means that a truckload containing the contents of your home that weight 3,000 pounds is only worth $3,750. Heaven forbid that it should happen – but could you replace the things you need for that amount? This is why declaring the value and adding extra protection are so important in ensuring your sanity during your move.

Stick around.

Stay with them as they inspect, pack, fill out the inventory, and weigh the contents of your home. The weight is particularly important because this is used to figure the final cost in most long-distance moves.

(Part 2) How To Avoid Being Beaten Out By Other Buyers Who May Be Competing For Your Dream Home...

Timing is everything.

In an active market, timing is everything.

In the good old days, you might have the luxury of viewing a home several times – even dragging your relatives to see it... before you actually made an offer.

“He/she who hesitates is lost” aptly explains buyers who dally to make a buying decision today. And don’t forget that being pre-approved for a loan has leveled the playing field for a majority of buyers. If they’re all equally qualified financially, the best offer (as interpreted by the seller) gets the property.

So, what can you do to arm yourself to the teeth with added value to capture a seller and counteract offers from other buyers?

Get Pre-Approval.

First, make sure you’re financially pre-approved by a Lender for the loan you’ll need and be prepared to document this fact to a seller if requested.

Be Honest.

Be honest with the seller about your interest in purchasing the property. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t negotiate a fair purchase; but it also doesn’t mean that you’ll act nonchalant and noncommittal either. Sellers often choose one buyer’s offer over another based on the level of personal interest and commitment the buyer appears to have to the seller’s home.

Communicate.

Lastly, make sure you fully communicate the desired outcome to the real estate consultant you’re working with. The consultant will then evaluate the best tack to take in terms of price, purchase terms, and negotiating tactics to help you realize that goal.

The next time you’re inclined to wonder what evil trick the seller might be up to, better look behind you first...to see if other buyers are trying to pull the rug out from under your dream home!

How To Avoid Being Beaten Out By Other Buyers Who May Be Competing For Your Dream Home...

You’ve found your dream home, so you’ll make an acceptable offer and live happily ever after...unless another buyer beats you to the punch!

In a competitive marketplace, this can not only happen, but can potentially have a far greater impact than any negotiating gambit the seller would hurl your way. Yet, more buyers erroneously fear the seller more than they do other competing buyers!

That’s why it’s important to make sure your offer strategy includes a strong stance against other potential buyers and their offers. There are several factors that make buyer competition a threat in today’s real estate market.

It’s a sellers’ market.

First, in a competitive market with relatively few quality properties available, “dream home” category houses will become hot properties – often as soon as the for sale is planted in the yard.

Most buyers want to purchase a home that requires very little fix-up. They comment, “I want to bring in my toothbrush and immediately set up housekeeping.” And to obtain these turnkey benefits, buyers are willing to pay a premium. That can translate into not only a full-price offer, but one that exceeds the seller’s listed price.

Here’s What It Helps To Know About Interest Rates, Points, And The “Mysterious” APR

When you get a mortgage, there are three important terms for you to remember.

• Interest Rates


• Points


• APR
  

I’ve combined these three terms here because they’re related, and you’ll understand them better if I explain them together.

Interest Rate: “Interest Rates” are the price that Lenders charge for the use of their money. So, when interest rates are high, it’s because Lenders are charging you more to use their money right now.

Again, it’s a trade-off between now and later. Lenders are only going to give you so much money to use over the next 15 to 30 years (the life of your mortgage). They work backwards from that figure using interest rates. If you have a higher interest rate, you have less money to spend now. If you have a lower interest rate, you have more money to spend now.

Points: I want to tell you about a funny word – it’s one of those words that doesn’t mean what you might think it means when you hear it. (Like when the waiter at the restaurant asks you if you would like your “check,” and somehow you know that what they really mean is your bill, but you say, “Oh yes, thank you.”)

When you hear the word “points,” what do you think of? Maybe points in a football game? Maybe a test score? Well, some smart person in the mortgage industry started using the word “points” to mean 1% of your entire loan amount, that you get to pay up front, as a fee for certain things.

So let’s say your mortgage is for $200,000. One “point” would mean $2,000.

Now I’ll tell you about the third term and how it relates to the first two.

APR: “APR” stands for “Annual Percentage Rate.” That sounds friendly, too, doesn’t it?
The APR is what you get when you add the interest rate, the points, and all of the other fees together and then calculate what the loan will cost you each year, based on all of the fees added together.

Inside Secrets Of How To Get A “Yes” When You Borrow

Lenders approve loans based on their impression of your ability and INTENT to pay it back. To figure this out, they look at five things: creditworthiness, income, job longevity, job stability, and future income prospects. We’ll tell you how to make sure you look good in each of these things, so that you’ll get a “YES” when you want to borrow money for your new home.

1. Creditworthiness

Creditworthiness is your history of borrowing and repaying against things like loans, credit cards, rent, and whether you’ve ever filed for bankruptcy. Find out what credit bureau the Lender uses, then call or visit that same bureau for a copy of your credit report. Some are even available online.

This is to make sure that there are no errors or surprises that you’ll have to explain to the Lender. If there are mistakes, it can take a few months to resolve, so it’s good to have a compelling explanation ready when the Lender sees it! The best way to demonstrate that you are “creditworthy” is to pay your bills in full and on time, particularly for the year or two before you want to get a loan.

2. Income

Lenders want to know that you have a history of sufficient and consistent income – so that you’ll be able to repay the loan. So, when you submit your paperwork to a Lender, make sure to take a letter verifying your employment (how long and what your salary is), your last couple of paychecks, and your last couple of W-2 forms.

3. Job Longevity

Lenders are looking for borrowers who have a stable source of income. If you can show that you’ve been employed at least a year in the same company, you should be fine.

4. Job Stability

Again, lenders like stability – they tend to think that your loan payment behavior will reflect your employment behavior. So, don’t make lateral moves between companies just for the sake of change. If you make moves, do it for promotion, or to earn more money.

5. Future Income Prospects

Because most loans are paid back in 15 to 30 years, Lenders are interested in people who will have income for that amount of time. Young professionals, or those with high-demand skills, are the most appealing to Lenders because their income will only increase over time. If you can demonstrate that you have a career plan that only gets better over time, you’ll be in a strong position to borrow.

So essentially, pay your bills on time, stay with an employer, have a career path that shows potential, and you’ll be sure to get a “YES” when you borrow.

Lenders are required to tell you what the APR is on any loan that they’re offering to you so you’ll know what the real interest rate is, including all of the additional costs.

So, when you’re calling around looking for the best rates, make sure and ask what the APR is on each loan you’re being told about!

Things To Ask Yourself When Looking At A Home (Cont)

6. Is it in the right school district?

Will your children walk to school, take a bus, or will you have to drive them? Many school districts have a reporting system that indicate the qualifications of teachers and administrators, and demonstrates the performance of students. You can contact the school district office for more details. If the home meets these basic requirements, then start to look for how many things from your wish list it has.

For example, does it have a garden or deck, does it have an oversized tub in the master suite, does it have a separate laundry room, is there a fireplace? What’s the condition of the house?
Remember, you can paint, decorate, gut the interior, replace shingles with slate, add a deck, add a pool, pave the driveway, and even plant flowers. But, it’s rare that you want to move a home. There is some truth in that adage, “You can change everything about a home except its location.”

Money-Saving Secrets You Can Use When You Buy A Home...

1. Choose a low down payment loan.

There is no law that says you MUST put 20% or even 10% down. There are some loans that require as little as 3% or even zero down. This is attractive for three reasons: It’s hard to save for a large down payment, you could earn more interest on that money than you’re paying in interest on the loan, and it’s nice (and sometimes necessary) to have cash on hand after buying a home.

2. Have someone give you money to pay closing costs.

A relative, church or nonprofit organization can give you money for closing costs.

3. Ask the seller to pay some of your closing costs as part of your offer.

Sellers are usually allowed to contribute to a buyer's closing costs.

4. Do not pay too much insurance at closing!

Most Lenders require 14 months hazard insurance paid at closing, so be ready. What happens to that extra money? It sits in your escrow account until you sell the house. It’s safe there, but it often earns no interest.

5. Remember, the homes that you’re looking at don’t belong to your agent.

You must be straightforward about your likes and dislikes in order for the agent to do the best job for you. Your agent should show you everything available that meets your requirements. Don’t make a decision on a house until you feel that you’ve seen enough to pick the best one. Review the Multiple Listing printout with your agent to make sure that you are getting a COMPLETE list.

6. Shop around for your home insurance.

A little shopping might help save you money.

7. You can deduct money paid for discount points from your gross income before computing your tax.

See a CPA for more information.

Things To Ask Yourself When Looking At A Home!

When you’re looking for a home, ask yourself these six questions to ensure that it meets your basic needs.

1. Is it within the right distance to work, church, family, and friends?

One of the first things a real estate consultant will ask you is about location. Think about where you like to shop, where you work, where you worship, and where your friends and family live. Some people are willing to commute a little further to work in order to live closer to family and friends. Others, particularly those who like to sleep in, prefer to live closer to the office.

2. Does it have enough bedrooms and bathrooms?

How many children do you have, or do you plan to have others while you’re living in this home?

Do you have three teenaged daughters? If so, you probably don’t want to be sharing a bathroom with them! Do you have frequent visitors in your home? Do you need a separate guest room? A separate bath?

3. Is there enough storage space?

Do you need a basement or attic? Do you change your floral arrangements and décor with the passing of the seasons? If so, you will probably need storage space for the items currently out of season.

4. Is there parking?

Is a garage absolutely necessary? For how many cars? Could you live with a covered outdoor space or will dedicated parking space suffice?

5. Is it safe?

Are you willing to live near a toxic waste site or municipal garbage dump? Would your children be safe playing near a busy intersection? Is it in a high-crime area? Local papers and police departments can provide the crime statistics for a neighborhood.