Page 11 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – March/April 2021

MOVER’S HANDBOOK
5 Tips for
Moving Sight- Unseen
Research and planning ahead are important when moving without seeing your new home beforehand. In a perfect world, we’d all have the smoothest moving
experience possible. That includes plenty of time to find that dream home or apartment, perform a thorough inspection and know exactly what we’re getting before the keys are handed over. Unfortunately, things don’t always go so dreamily and many people have to move into a new place sight-unseen. This doesn’t have to be a nightmare, though, especially if you know how to handle this process. Here are five handy tips to keep in mind:
1. Research Galore
As Rent.com pointed out, the first step of any sight- unseen move is to do plenty of research. Several
online tools can help you learn about your new home and community. Even if you can’t physically see the home, you can always do a walkthrough via Skype. Google Maps, meanwhile, lets you see the surrounding neighborhood and identify specific amenities like restaurants and shops. You also might ask friends who lived in the city about their experience and what parts of town are best or fit with your needs.
2. Know What You Want
Another part of the research process is knowing where you want to live. Do you need to be around a school, or maybe near a certain roadway? Would you prefer a short commute or something longer? Are you interested in one specific neighborhood, perhaps because of certain shops or a relaxed atmosphere? Finding these answers will go a long way to narrowing your efforts. It might help to make a list of what you want so your search is as efficient as possible.
Shutterstock: Andrey Popov
3. Find an Ally
As mentioned previously, it’s a good idea to rely on acquaintances who’ve lived in the area to answer questions. Barring those folks, you should rely on a real estate agent or, for apartments, a property manager. These individuals are going to be a huge source of information and guidance, and they can help you get acquainted with an area while also handling their fair share of the moving logistics. It’s important to have someone in the new town or city to serve as your eyes and ears, and one of these agents can take a huge weight off your shoulders.
4. Make Plenty of Time
No matter where you want to move, it’s important to begin the process of finding a new home as quickly as possible. When you wait around, you make your search less effective. If you give yourself enough of a head start, you’ll be able to collect as much information – pictures, videos, reviews, etc. – as possible. You’ll also need to stay organized during this lengthy process and having more time will only make things easier. Creating files for pictures and videos or having a running calendar or to-do list will ensure you’re not wasting precious time staying up-to-date.
5. Consider AAA
Even with these tips, moving sight-unseen can still be stressful. But you can make it even easier on yourself with a membership to the No. 1-rated road service nationwide, AAA. Working alongside Atlas Van Lines, AAA offers affordable prices. Plus, members can save hundreds of dollars when they receive full valuate protection, all for no extra charge. Together, Atlas and AAA make a fast, inexpensive move a real breeze.
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