5 Ways Agents Make Moving Stress-Free
Fortunately, working with a real estate agent can reduce your stress and ensure the move is a successful one for various reasons. Qualified and reliable real estate agents who have connections with related businesses can make things go much smoother.
How Can Agents Make Your Moving Day Easier?
Your real estate agent can walk alongside you to make the entire buying and moving process as simple as possible. They’ll navigate challenges so you can focus on enjoying your new home.
1. Help You Decode the Complexities of Today’s Market
If you’ve already closed on a home before, you know how much paperwork you must complete. A skilled agent helps you navigate the unique regulations in New Orleans.
Agents are familiar with aspects like homeowners associations (HOAs) and can navigate rules, fees and potential fines so you know what to expect. You should also be aware of usufruct and adverse possession laws. While it isn’t likely you’d run into them, a skilled agent can ensure you don’t.
Another problem in today’s market is that homes can be in short supply. If you find a property in an in-demand neighborhood, you might find yourself in a bidding war. A skilled real estate professional can help you understand when the cost goes too high and how much to bid for the best chance of securing the home of your dreams.
2. Guide You From Start to Finish
Whether you require movers to transport your belongings to your new home or you need to tap into other services, most agents have a list of potential companies.
If you try to find movers, house cleaners, inspectors and other professionals you might need to hire when buying a new home, you could spend hours online researching. An excellent agent saves you time by giving you a list they've already vetted.
3. Protect Your Best Interests
Finding the perfect neighborhood in New Orleans is a matter of matching your vibe to the location. The city has diverse areas with varied local culture. For example, if you choose a home in the French Quarter, you might care about nearby restaurants and bars or a thriving music scene. On the other hand, the Garden District offers quaint eateries and a more relaxed pace with small front yards and beautiful landscaping.
An agent can ensure you buy a house in a neighborhood where you’ll thrive. Give them your list of must-haves, and they’ll pull properties with those elements for you to look at and consider. They’ll know the ins and outs of everything from school districts to local nightlife.
By the same token, they can guide you away from areas that might not match your lifestyle. The best thing about NOLA is that there is something for everyone.
4. Assist You in Spotting Potential Issues
Over 50% of New Orleans sits a few feet below sea level, which makes a few areas more prone to flooding from heavy rain or hurricane surges. Fortunately, the city has a levee system to drain much of the water away, and many neighborhoods are well out of the flood zone. Your agent can guide you to the best areas.
A skilled agent can walk through the house with you and point out older things, such as a furnace that could need to be replaced soon. They’ll notice signs of roof condition, which affects the property value — a new roof increases home value by about $17,807, whereas an older roof can significantly help knock down the buying price. Agents will also look at factors like possible leaks, mildew and mold accumulation, siding damage and similar issues. When you know what you’re facing, you can zone in on those problems with your home inspector to ensure they are repairable.
An excellent agent will help you navigate asking for a repair budget, canceling the contract or hiring a roofing contractor to address damage before you move in. You can also ask the homeowner to fix any issues in your offer.
5. Resolve Snags During the Process Quickly
Buying a home comes with many potential snags. For example, new homebuyers might run into issues with their loans. Agents know underwriters and can reach out to see what can be done to speed the process along.
More minor issues can also become complicated, such as figuring out when to order trucks, turn on utilities and have repairs done. Many real estate agents have contacts to help you navigate the additional services you need to reduce stress.
Talk to your agent about the best timing for each thing and who their go-to people are. Because they work in the industry, they likely know how long it takes the water company to activate your meter, if the electric company flips a switch from the home office and whether cable can be hooked up before you arrive in town.
An Expert in Your Pocket
Teaming up with the right agent gives you an advantage for your upcoming move. You’ll understand the thriving city better than if you tried to navigate new areas on your own. A real estate professional will share contacts and help you schedule the necessary tasks to move into your house. Having someone hold your hand as you move through things can reduce stress and make moving a pleasure.
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