Three Month Packing Plan Before You Move to a New Home

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While everyone doesn't have the luxury of three months or more to prepare for a move to a new home, the earlier you get started with the packing process, the better. If your family is moving for a new job or just wants a change of scenery, starting three or more months in advance will give you the least stressful way to pack everything safely and ensure easy unpacking once you get into the new house.

Three Months Before Move

Begin the purge. Go through all of the rooms and storage space in your old house and throw out, give away, donate or sell everything you do not want or need to take with you. The less stuff you have to pack, the better. Selling things you no longer want can even get you some more money to make the journey to a new house easier and more fun.

Two Months Before Move

Pack or repack all the stuff that is already in storage in your house, attic, cellar or garage. First, make sure it is something you really want or need to keep. Next, repack it so it will stay safe, dry and unbroken during the move. If the existing boxes are deteriorating or unstable, pack the items in new ones or use plastic bins for long-term storage. The handles will help as well.

Also pack everything you do not need to live in the last couple of months before you move to your new home. Empty as much of the furniture as you can.

One Month Before Move

Every member of the family should lay aside the items they possibly can't live without for a week and get a suitcase or bin that will fit in the car when the move finally takes place. Everything else should be packed by room in sturdy containers, labelled with the room it should be put in and what is inside. This will make unpacking much easier. Neatly stack small furniture, boxes, bins and bags near the front door in the order they should be loaded on the truck. If you are using a moving company, they will appreciate the extra effort, though it is not necessary.

Moving Day

If you are using a moving company or truck service to move your belongings, they will move it onto the truck in the order you dictate. Put the stuff you need last on the truck first. Usually, you should put the furniture at the end so it can be offloaded and put in the correct rooms before you start struggling with piles of boxes.

If you are moving yourself with a rental truck or your own large vehicle, the same rule applies. Also, be sure to have plenty of rope and padding to secure and protect pieces from shifting or falling as you drive. Pack all the things you will need right away, such as some clothes, medications, toiletries and a few toys for the kids, in your car or suitcase just in case something delays the move.

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House or Land? Choose the Right Home Ownership Path in College Station/Bryan, TX

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When most people talk about moving to a new home, they start looking for an existing house to make their own. Other options also exist and could actually be a better choice for people who want new construction and a unique style or structure. If a new neighborhood is being constructed in the College Station or Bryan, TX area, you might want to put your name in for one of the brand new houses. Another option is to purchase empty land and have a house custom built.

Buying an Existing House

Purchasing a house that is already completely built is the most popular way to change where you live. Some benefits include:

• All 'new construction' kinks are already worked out and fixed
• No waiting for contractors or builders to finish things
• Get to know the neighborhood and people before deciding where to buy
• Established landscaping surrounding the house

Older homes may lack proper insulation, have out of date utilities or require a lot of remodeling inside to suit your tastes.

Buying an Under Construction House

When a development company breaks ground on a new community or neighborhood, it lays out the streets and the property chunks and then usually has a selection of home styles for buyers to choose from. Benefits for buying in an under-construction neighborhood include:

• The latest materials and building practices used
• Choice of materials, colors and finishes throughout the house
• Everyone in the neighborhood is new so no worry about existing cliques

Unfortunately, there will be no large trees or established landscaping to enjoy and construction may drag on in the community well after you move in.

Buying Land and Having a House Built

If you want to be a part of the home building and design process from the first shovel full of dirt to the last touch up on the trim paint, buying a piece of land and having a home built may be the right decision for you. As long as you choose a property that is the right size for your needs, doesn't flood or have other issues and is in an area you like, you shouldn't have any problems with it.

Building the house, however, can be a headache even if you find the most professional and experienced builders. Be sure to have a frank and open discussion about what you want and what is possible before building begins, and always get everything in a signed contract. Waiting for the construction to be complete may be the most difficult part.

No matter what method you choose for home ownership in the College Station and Bryan, TX area, you will end up being a part of a friendly and enthusiastic community. Although all the wonderful neighborhoods make it easy to find a home your family will love, excellent lot and new construction opportunities also exist.

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10 Surprises When Moving to College Station or Bryan, Texas

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The Bryan and College Station area is friendly, fun and quintessentially Texas. The two cities blend together into one cohesive place that the locals just call BCS. Although it is undeniably a great place to live, work and raise a family, some people moving in from other parts of the country might experience a bit of culture shock.

10 Surprises When Moving to College Station or Bryan, TX:

1 – It's hot and humid, but sometimes not.

Because these Texas cities are farther south and west, they do experience plenty of heat and humidity. People moving from the north or east who expect everywhere in Texas to be a sauna 365 days of the year will be surprised to need winter coats and rain boots.

2 – People are incredibly friendly.

Don't be shocked to get a "Howdy" from perfect strangers on the street. Good manners and an open smile are the way of life around there.

3 – Texas is really, really big.

There is still a lot of open land in Texas and the cities and towns may be more spread out than in other, smaller states. Driving across the whole state is a road trip in itself.

4 – Most people are conservative.

With Texas A&M topping the "Most Conservative Schools" list from Princeton University, it's no wonder the surrounding area would be the same. Many people conservative politically, socially and religiously. Patriotism and Christianity are omnipresent.

5 – Texas pride is a powerful force.

People who live here are proud to be Texans and display this pride with flags, home decoration and on their clothes and vehicles as well.

6 – High school and college sports are popular.

People in this region feel a strong sense of pride for their high school and college sports. Football is huge around here and the crowds can grow to legendary proportions. During a home game at Kyle Field, every part of town will know when the home team scores from the roar of the crowd.

7 – Things center on Texas A&M University.

In autumn, winter and spring, the shops, restaurants and bars are filled with the students from the University and other nearby colleges. Traffic is nearly impossible on game days or during a special event on or off campus. Things quiet down some in the summertime.

8 – Quintessential "cowboy stuff" exists.

Cowboy boots, cowboy hats, lucky horseshoes and cattle horns on the front of big pickup trucks. These things are more than just movie props or costumes for some people in this Texas region.

9 – Barbecue, Tex-Mex and beer are food groups

Texans are serious about the barbecue, especially lots of steaks and other meat, genuine Tex-Mex food and beer. There are plenty of unique craft beers being produced in the region. Local wines are another favorite taste sensation.

10 – The spirit of Aggieland is all about tradition.

Texans are proud to be from Texas, the United States in general and be a part of the Aggieland tradition. Texas A&M University leads much of the tradition around College Station and Bryan with the Silver Taps and Muster calls daily.

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How to Check Out the Neighborhood Before You Buy

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The most gorgeous dream home in the world is only as good as the neighborhood and neighbors surrounding it. It is easy to fall in love with a property from the professional photographs on real estate websites and by driving by for an open house. Unfortunately, the greatest home may turn into a nightmare if the neighborhood is not what you expect after the move.

To be sure the community suits your lifestyle and interests, it is important to check out the surrounding area and the other people who live there before you buy. Location is as important as the house itself unless you plan to stay inside all the time.

Research Statistics or Contact the Authorities
Finding school system information, demographic data and crime statistics for different areas is relatively easy on the internet. These things are the minimum basic pieces of information you should have before deciding to buy a home in a particular neighborhood.

While it may be comforting to know that violent crime and theft is minimal around your future home, it does not give you the full picture of what it is really like to live there.

Get Involved With Online Communities

Different neighborhoods, towns and regions frequently have social networking communities online. These can be found on social media like Facebook or through message boards like City-Data.com. Talking with people who actually live in the neighborhoods you think about moving to gives a lot more information than some statistics.

Ask what they like and dislike about the area. Find out how the kids like the schools and local activities. Don't be shy about expressing your concerns or asking anything that would affect your move.

Visit the Neighborhood at Different Time and on Different Days

If possible, take multiple drives to check out the area around the house you might buy. Don't visit only during the weekday when most people are at work and the kids at school. Weekend drive-bys will give you even more information because these are the days people are home and more active. It is better to find out before the move that the guy on the corner mows his law every other day at 7AM, or a group of teens turn their open garage into a rock stage three nights per week.

Introduce Yourself to Neighbors

While it is impossible to interview everyone on the street to see if they will be a good friend or a bother, introducing yourself to a few people near the house for sale may help you get a better idea about the friendliness of the neighborhood and their opinions about living there. Stopping to say "Hi!" to anyone outside when you drive around the block is not only a great way to get information but also to gauge how welcoming the community really is.

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Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley!