Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home (57 page)

Read Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home Online

Authors: Ilona Bray,Alayna Schroeder,Marcia Stewart

Tags: #Law, #Business & Economics, #House buying, #Property, #Real Estate

BOOK: Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home
3.39Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
With a TIC, you really have to trust your buying partner. The law will allow either of you to sell your share of the property without the other’s consent, unless you make a separate arrangement. That means you could find yourself with a new housemate, perhaps one you don’t like. Also, each of you owns an undivided portion of the entire property—you own 60% of the entire house, not just the large upstairs unit you and your co-owner have agreed you’ll live in. You’ll have to separately agree on who lives where.
If one of you dies, the other doesn’t have any right to the deceased’s share of the property. Instead, that person’s share will pass according to the will or living trust or, if there is no such document, according to state law (which would normally give the property to a close family member). Discuss all these issues before purchasing, and write up a separate written agreement—preferably with an attorney’s help—covering the use and possible sale of the property. For a refresher on the legal and practical issues of joint ownership, see Chapter 9.
Get Ready, ’Cause Here I Come: Preparing to Move
 
Even as you’re busy with these preclosing tasks, you have another logistical issue to take care of: moving. Don’t wait until the last minute to plan for how you’ll transition from your old home to your new one.
Renters: Give Notice
 
If you’re renting, you’ll need to give your landlord proper notice that you’re moving out. How much notice varies by state, but if you’re a month-to-month tenant, one month is normal. If you can afford to pay both rent and a mortgage for a little while, plan some overlap. This will lower your stress in case the sale is delayed or repairs take longer than expected. It will also allow you to focus on the sale instead of on the move—more time reading agreements and handling contingencies, less time searching for boxes and bubble wrap.
If you have a roommate who won’t be coming along, be sure to work out details such as finding a replacement for you and getting the security deposit back.
 
CHECK IT OUT
 
Every Tenant’s Legal Guide,
by Janet Portman and Marcia Stewart (Nolo), covers the legal rules and procedures for ending a tenancy, including situations where only one tenant is leaving.
 
Arrange Your Move
 
Even if you’ve always used three friends and a pickup truck, your first home might be the time to consider hiring a mover. It’s much easier (especially if you’re moving in or out of a space with a lot of stairs), usually faster, and not always more expensive.
Within the “move your stuff for money” arena, you have several options. The most expensive is the full-service mover, who packs everything for you and whisks it away. Another option is to pack everything up yourself, then have the mover pick it up—this tends to be cheaper. Finally, there are companies that deliver storage units to you, then pick them up and ship them to your new pad. These are typically the cheapest, but of course you do most of the heavy lifting.
 
TIP
 
Need to access a condo unit using an elevator?
If so, Mark Nash cautions, “You’ll probably need to plan ahead for moving day by reserving use of the elevator. And you can do this only after you’ve paid your move-in fee.”
 
If you decide to use a mover, get in-person, written quotes from at least three different companies. If you’re being quoted extremely low rates over the phone, be suspicious—reputable moving companies are usually in line with each other, and looking at the goods allows them to make reasonable estimates based on the amount of stuff you actually have.
If you’re moving a long distance or interstate, choose an interstate mover licensed by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Ask for a license number, and look up basic information at
www.protectyourmove.gov
(by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). Your state may also have licensing requirements for in-state movers, and it’s a good idea to check up on those.
Long-distance moves are charged by weight. Plan for the truck to be weighed twice—once when it’s full of your stuff and again when it’s empty. And know this: Movers regulated by the DOT can’t charge you more than 10% over a given nonbinding estimate, so don’t let the mover pull a fast one.
 
TIP
 
Can you can live without your stuff for a few days?
Some movers offer a discount if you’ll allow a pickup or dropoff that coincides with another customer’s. For example, if you can wait three days for someone moving to the same area, the company can move you together.
 
If you decide to move yourself, you may want to rent a truck big enough to accommodate your worldly goods, especially if you’re going a significant distance. You might also want to call friends and family now, to ask for help.
 
CHECK IT OUT
 
For more moving help and quotes, see:
•
www.moving.com
, where you can compare up to six prescreened movers’ rates
•
www.homebulletin.net
, a directory unaffiliated with any moving companies
•
www.mymovingquote.com
, another directory
•
www.movingease.com
, which gives quotes from four top movers: Allied, North American, Wheaton, and Bekins.
 
 
Get the Kids Ready
 
A move can be traumatic for little people. According to child and family therapist Debbie Essex, “One of the reasons moving is tough on children is that they’ve usually had very little input into the process—they just feel like their lives are being disrupted. You can help counter that by letting them play some small role in decision making, for example, choosing a new color to paint their bedroom or
where to place their bed or the posters on their wall.” Here are some other ways to help make the transition easier.
•
Share it.
If you live far away but you’ve got pictures of the new place, show them. If you can drive by, do it. For the younger ones, remind them frequently about the new move. Reading children’s books about moving can also help.
•
Keep the comforts close by.
Pack comforting items—toys, games, pictures, whatever—in easily accessible places.
Children’s Books on Moving
 
Here’s some comforting material for kids of various ages:
•
Because of Winn-Dixie
, by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick; Ages 9-12). A stray dog helps Opal make new friends among the unusual residents of her new hometown.
•
The Monster in the Third Dresser Drawer & Other Stories About Adam Joshua
, by Janice Lee Smith (HarperTrophy; Ages 4-8). A spunky boy copes with moving, the strange boy next door, and a new school.
•
Moving Molly
, by Shirley Hughes (William Morrow & Co; Baby-Preschool). Molly’s new neighbors help her adjust to her new country home.
 
 
Though you may be tempted to get rid of a ratty blanket, don’t do so now if it’s something your child treasures.
•
Get schools squared away.
Particularly if it’s the middle of the school year, do what you can to make your child’s transition comfortable. Order school records. Find out whether your child is likely to be ahead of, or behind, the current curriculum and whether adjustments should be made. Take the little one to see the new school.
•
Make sure there’s time to say goodbye.
You may wish to plan a going-away party, or just go out to your favorite local restaurant.
•
Get medical and dental records.
If you’re going to be changing providers, make sure you have records to hand over.
•
Research activities in the new home.
Especially if you’re moving during the summer, research opportunities for the kids to get involved in activities that will help them make friends.
 
Get the Pets Ready
 
For those of you with furry, scaly, and many-legged friends, here are a few important tips for making the transition:
•
Arrange transport.
Moving companies don’t take pets, so plan ahead. If you’re moving a long distance, some animals can be shipped as cargo on airplanes, in a pressurized (though dark) cabin. If driving, make sure your car is equipped to handle your pet comfortably. You may wish to get a nervous cat a pet-carrier or make sure the pets in your aquarium will get sufficient fresh water or oxygen during the transport.
•
Get vet records.
Get a copy of your pet’s medical records, if you’ll be seeing a new animal-care provider.
•
Get a new license or tags.
Get your pet a new identification tag—some pet stores have engraving machines. Also get a current animal license (if applicable), or update the current license to reflect your new address. If your pet is found wandering, authorities will be able to contact you in your new location. Finally, if your pet has an identifying microchip, update your contact information with the microchip company.
•
Set up space.
Keep your pet’s immediate physical needs in mind as you pack, keeping food, a litter box, or other tools accessible.
•
Make sure enclosures are safe.
If your new house has an enclosed area like a fenced yard where the pet will stay, make sure there are no escape routes or hazards. You can check this out when touring the property with your home inspector.
•
Don’t leave animals alone.
Unlike humans, animals don’t understand why you packed up and shipped out. Leaving pets alone in a new environment can cause them anxiety. Plan to be home as much as possible in the first few days.
 

Other books

Lady Thief by Kay Hooper
Let Go by Michael Patrick Hicks
Getting It Right! by Rhonda Nelson
Mistletoe & Michaelmas by Rose Gordon
Matagorda (1967) by L'amour, Louis
In the Garden of Disgrace by Cynthia Wicklund