Home search have you feeling overwhelmed?

Let us help you get that little bit of anxiety under control! Take a look at the RISE Home Buying Guide below to get helpful tips, lists, and advice! Have additional questions? Just reach out!

  • Start choosing a moving company. Always look for good reviews. Read bad reviews to see if they would apply to you. (For example, some moving companies have great reviews for local moves but not-so-great reviews for cross-country moves. 
  • Check with your CPA or tax professional to see which expenses are tax-deductible and what documentation you may need.
  • Contact the school district where you’re moving to check on how you register your child(ren) for their new school!
  • Get as much information you can about the city you may want to move to. The RISE City Guides are a great place to start! 
  • Find a Realtor® to market your current home. (Hey! Why not give us a call?)
  • Estimate the amount you can spend on your new home. Getting pre-approved is a great way of doing this!
  • Check out child care facilities in your new city/town
  • Book your movers
  • Start making a list of people/companies you need to notify
  • Begin filtering through belongings that you do not plan on bringing with you
  • Start advertising unwanted items through local marketplace websites
  • Finalize your home search
  • If your move is of some distance, check with the local DMV for licensing and registration procedures
  • Start planning for things you may need to buy after your move
  • Start looking into utilities, heating fuel providers, etc
  • Apply for transfer of school records/transcripts
  • Arrange for any temporary or long-term storage
  • Arrange and place aside any receipts, appraisals, etc for any high-value items you will be moving
  • Arrange for donation or disposal of any items you are not moving and were unable to sell
  • Finalize schedules with your real estate agent, landlord, etc and arrange any interim or temporary housing if needed
  • Reconfirm your reservation with the moving company
  • Get a change of address kit from the postal service
  • Gather any personal documents such as medical records, religious records, marriage certificates, etc (most useful for moves of long distance)
  • Notify utilities at your current address of expected service termination and shut off dates
  • Notify utilities at your future address of your expected service commencement dates.
  • Obtain veterinary records and familiarize yourself with any animal licensing requirements/restrictions at your new address
  • Cancel any recurring services such as laundry pickup, dog walkers, landscapers, etc
  • Pack your “open first” box. These are items you will need before any others such as new locks, empty hangers, razor knives for opening boxes, etc
  • Arrange for child and pet care for the few days surrounding your move
  • Check with your moving company about removing doors, railings, etc. Make sure all paths are clear and that you have arranged a place for the movers to park their truck
  • Inspect the new yard for any weaknesses or holes in fences or gates. We don’t want Fido escaping on day one!
  • Ask for a copy of the local fire department’s safety certification for the house you’re buying. If the municipality doesn’t require one, do your own testing of alarms and detectors. 
  • Change locks in your new property. Reset garage door openers and remotes. 
  • Check all items after the move. Compile a list of any damages and submit claims immediately. Most moving services have a very finite window for making claims.
  • Change your address with your bank, credit cards, DMV, emergency contacts, doctors offices, etc. 

Homebuyer's Checklist

Moving In Shopping List

  • Paper towels
  • Paper plates
  • Plastic/reusable cups
  • Plastic utensils
  • Snacks
  • Toilet Paper
  • Shower Curtain
  • First Aid Kit
  • Flashlight
  • Batteries
  • Extension Cords
  • Towels
  • Picture hanging nails/kit
  • Hammer
  • Screwdrivers
  • Tape Measure
  • Pen/Pencils
  • Box cutter/blades
  • Broom
  • Glass Cleaner
  • All purpose cleaner
  • Disinfectant
  • Degreaser
  • Scrub Brush
  • Trash Bags
  • Reusable Towels
  • Bucket
  • Mop
  • Toys
  • Diapers/Supplies
  • Formula
  • Snacks
  • Extra blankets
  • A couple of outfits
  • Carrier/Crate
  • Leash
  • Toys
  • Treats
  • Food
  • Bowls
  • Litter Box
  • Litter
  • Litter Scoop
  • Poop Scooper
  • Make sure heat, air conditioning, and water heater all function prior to moving items in. It will be more difficult to fix these items with the home full of boxes.
  • Start with the kitchens and bathrooms. As you move in, you’ll need to eat, use the bathroom, shower, etc. 
  • Do any cleaning now. Most homes are transferred in “broom-swept” condition but not thoroughly cleaned. Clean as you move. Now is a good time to line shelves with anti-slip mats for your items
  • Make shopping lists, notes, etc as you move in. If there are any issues with the home in the first 24 hours, contact your Realtor® immediately!
  • Involve your family. Give everyone a task and make sure everyone is helping out. Putting too much on one person can make the move in very overwhelming. 
  • Carefully break down boxes as you may want to re-use them for storage.

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