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Summer: a hot time to move
By Jean Newton
With summer on the horizon it's almost time to pack those suitcases for a vacation of sun and fun. Some people will be packing boxes and watching moving vans pull into the driveway, instead. Traditionally, summer is the most popular season for moving.
"People tend to move after their children finish school and get to their new place before the new school year begins," said Realtor Cristina Page, with Coldwell Banker Palo Alto Midtown.
Other Realtors echo Page's thoughts, and that's one of the reasons why so many real estate signs are visible these days. According to Realtor Mark Burns of Fine Homes & Estates Seville in Cupertino, sellers are still slow to grasp that the best time to move is anytime except summer.
"Since we still have a tendency to move in summer, the inventory swells and prices flatten out or decline in June, July and August," said Burns. "That prevents some sellers from ever getting out of the gate, in terms of selling first, then buying the replacement home. Vacations also reduce the demand for properties as well, adding to the summer doldrums of real estate. When you're out of town, you're not buying property."
Burns finds the trend to move in the summer has changed somewhat over the past 20 years, because of the work environment, especially in Silicon Valley where layoffs and downsizing now make daily headlines. Since people are no longer staying at their jobs 30 to 40 years, and many high-tech workers average only one to two years per job, Burns said new opportunities can spring up at any time.
Moving can be a daunting, as well as an exciting experience. Cristina Page believes good planning and a good attitude will make moving a positive experience for everyone. "Involving all family members so that everyone has a role, according to what each person can do, is really helpful during the process. I tell people to make a schedule and plan ahead to control the stress factor," she said.
If summer is the choice for a move, there are several things to do that coincide with the For Sale sign going up in front of the house. Realtors are a good resource for providing everything from experienced tips for moving to finding a reputable moving company.
"It's important that sellers and buyers not wait till the last minute to secure a moving company. They usually need at least a month lead time to schedule a move, so start the process early on in the sale or purchase process," said John King, of Alhouse King Realty Inc. in Palo Alto.
"Another way to get ahead of the game is to start the process of boxing things up as part of the process of preparing your home for sale. That way, your home looks less cluttered and you've got half the packing done. You might consider hiring a storage facilities company to deliver a bin to your driveway and then take it to temporary storage until you need it," said King.
King, who provides a list of helpful tips for moving as part of his listing package and a list of referrals for moving companies with good track records, said taking an inventory of everything that goes out the door is essential. "Making a list and even taking photographs is one way to assure that when your belongings arrive you will have a record of everything that should be there," he said.
Relocation specialist Kathy Stakey, of Coldwell Banker in Saratoga, agrees. She recommends her clients pack whatever may be necessary to improve the showing of the home. "My most common advice is telling clients they are going to be packing everything under any circumstances, so these are the things they need to pack now to make sure the home shows well."
In addition to telling clients what to pack, Stakey advises clients to make sure they understand the actual cost of moving, as opposed to the estimate that can be very different. "I have seen some very disgruntled folks after everything they own is on the moving truck and the cost is appreciably greater than the estimate," said Stakey.
Another important caveat is to choose a moving company that is licensed, bonded and insured. Realtor Mark Burns urges his clients to check the listed references and ask questions about claims for damage, lost items, delays or cancellations. Additionally, he said, "More insurance on your belongings is always better than coming up short, especially regarding artwork, expensive furniture and electronic equipment."
Some important questions to ask when calling references include:
* Did the crew show up at the agreed upon time?
* Was the crew careful and willing to move things without complaint?
* Did the crew come prepared with the proper packing materials?
* How close was the estimate to the actual amount paid for the entire move?
* Were any items damaged during the move? Did the movers offer to pay for the damage or deny responsibility?
After checking references carefully, it's time to gather estimates from several moving companies. Be sure to read the fine print in the estimate and the moving contract.
Next week's article will examine the estimate process with information on the difference between binding and nonbinding estimates.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
