Author Archives: steveh

We infrequently need to work on our homes’ plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, and other household appliances and equipment. When we move, we tend not to take the time to learn about these systems in the new home before we move in. Usually, if the home inspector tells us everything is in working order, that’s the end of the conversation.

A Good Home Inspector

A home inspector looks at a home’s structure and mechanical systems to provide you with a clear picture of their state. Along with the assessment, the inspector should be able to provide some direction for needed repairs and updates. 

As the home buyer, you should accompany the inspector, ask questions and take notes on where things are located. A good inspector will take the time to answer any questions, provide insights that you might not have thought to ask about and provide a detailed report.

Equipment Owner’s Guide

An owner’s guide is important for maintaining and performing minor repairs to household mechanical systems. If the previous owner does not have the guides, obtain the equipment’s brand, model number, and manufacture date. Most brands have owner’s guides available online in PDF format that you can look up. Review these and familiarize yourself with the basic functions of the equipment.

Perform an online search for user reviews and recalls. What you find can help you prepare for potential equipment issues. It is common for people to ignore or not be aware of product recalls.

Local Ordinances

For most municipalities, there are local ordinances regarding household mechanical systems. While local contractors should be well-versed in these, homeowners who plan to make any changes will benefit from becoming familiar with them as well.

Things like replacing a water heater may not require an inspection, but relocating it (even by a little) may. These nuances can trip up homeowners and yet are easily avoided with a little research.

How Different Can It Be?

If you are new to home buying, the household mechanics are also new. But, if you’ve lived in a single-family home for a while, you may feel as though you already have a handle on it and can deal with the systems after you move. 

Let’s start with a simple thing. Heating, ventilation & Air conditioning (HVAC system) control panels are incorporated into the household thermostat. Most thermostats have a “fan only” setting. But, if the HVAC system is not wired for “fan only,” that setting has no effect. This can be different between two houses in the same neighborhood as well as across the country.

Different parts of the country can have different systems. For example, heat may be supplied electronically or via natural gas or oil. Each method has requirements. Moving from the southwest to the northeast can present unfamiliar mechanical systems.

Moving from the northern states to Florida means experiencing mechanical systems that are installed in very different locations. In the north, everything is well insulated indoors to protect from the cold. In southern states like Florida, there are more options for installing and maintaining systems. 

If you are moving long-distance and cannot be present with the home inspector, you should request photos of the mechanical systems and where they are located. You should inspect these systems yourself at the earliest possible time to become familiar with where they are and their accessibility. Don’t wait until there is an issue to determine where they are and how to get to them.

Ready to make a move? Contact us for a free moving estimate.

A homeowners association (HOA) is an organization that manages and regulates a community or neighborhood of houses or condominiums. An HOA aims to establish and enforce rules and guidelines to maintain a uniform and desirable appearance of the neighborhood, ensure the common areas and amenities are maintained, and help preserve property values.

Quality of Life

The importance of homeowners associations lies in the fact that they provide a framework for cooperation and collaboration among community residents. By establishing rules and regulations, the HOA can ensure everyone is on the same page regarding maintaining the neighborhood’s appearance and quality of life. This can lead to a greater sense of community and a higher quality of life for all residents.

Property Values

HOAs also help to protect property values by enforcing rules and guidelines that prevent residents from engaging in behaviors that could negatively impact property values. For example, an HOA might establish rules regarding the types of buildings or improvements that can be made to a property, or rules regarding the types of businesses that can be operated within the community. By enforcing these rules, the HOA can help maintain a consistent level of quality and desirability within the community, leading to higher property values.

Common Areas

Beyond rule enforcement, many HOAs are also responsible for maintaining common areas within the community. The scope of these responsibilities varies by HOA but can range from mowing grass to maintaining streets and some structures such as community centers, pools, or parks. 

Non-Governmental

While some HOA activity may appear redundant with local governments, Home Owner’s Associations are non-governmental organizations. They are established, and their enforcement power is granted contractually.  When moving into a community with an HOA, part of the legalese is an agreement to abide by the HOA covenants and by-laws. Property can only be transferred to new owners who agree to this as part of the property sale.

Know the HOA Covenants & By-Laws

Before finalizing a new home purchase, buyers should obtain the HOA covenants, read them thoroughly, and ask any questions that arise. Failure to understand the rules of the community can lead to conflict with neighbors and potential fines from the HOA.

Ironically, one of the attributes that may make a neighborhood aesthetically appealing to new buyers can also be a source of frustration once they’ve moved in. Some HOAs regulate the colors of elements of the home, the types of exterior lighting, or plants. This has the impact of creating a visually appealing community. But, once moved in, a homeowner may want to paint trim a color the HOA disapproves of or wants a certain type of tree that is unacceptable to the HOA. This leads some homeowners to conflict with the HOA and their neighbors.

As mentioned above, Home Owners Associations are responsible for enforcing the adherence to the Covenants & By-Laws. Since these are non-government organizations, the enforcement is done through fines and, if necessary, court. If the Conenants may be too restrictive for a potential homeowner, it would be best to look for neighborhoods more aligned with how they would like to live. 

Once you are ready to move to your new community, let us help you. Contact us for a free moving quote.

Moving involves many activities, and even after unloading the truck into your new residence, you still have more things to do on your moving checklist. There are several things to do once in your new home to help finish getting you settled in. So take a deep breath and get ready to take care of those essential things after you have moved. 

The list of essential things to do after moving is not and should not take you too long to complete. However, the following items need to be completed soon after you have moved: 

Organize Your New Home

Chances are, once you unload the truck, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of boxes and items you still need to unpack. With everything you have to do after moving, you may have little time to relax. However, the sooner you organize your new home, the sooner you will get to be able to kick back and relax. 

To start organizing, go through your new home and move boxes to the room where you will unpack them. This way, as you have time, you can go to a room and start unpacking a box at a time. Until you have fully unpacked and organized everything, take advantage of every spare moment you have. 

Change Your Mailing Address

Make sure you continue to receive your mail at your new location. Once you know your new address, change your mailing address at the post office. Changing your address should be one of the first things you do when moving and can be done in person or online. You will be able to set a date when the mail should be delivered to the new address.

Register Children at a New School

If there is time, before your move, check the schools where you are moving to ensure you know the process for registering your children. Then, once you have moved to a new school district, you will need to get your children enrolled in their new school as soon as possible. Some school districts will require proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or utility bill. As a new resident, getting the appropriate documentation quickly can be difficult, so plan ahead. 

When packing, make sure to keep all essential records and paperwork packed separately. These items should include current school records, shot records, and anything else required to enroll at the new school. Keeping these items separate from other packed paperwork reduces any delay in getting your children registered while you search for the necessary paperwork. 

Register Your Vehicles

Did you bring a car with you when you moved? Did you move out of state? If so, you will need to register your vehicle in your new state. Even if you moved locally, you would need to update your address with the Department of Motor Vehicles. 

In addition to registering your vehicle, you must also transfer your driver’s license to your new state and address. Also, don’t forget to contact your insurance company to update your address and your policy. 

We can help make your move as stress-free as possible. Call us today for a quote and additional information about how we can help you with your upcoming move.