How to Find a Realtor

How to Find a Realtor

So you’ve decided to move. Perhaps your family has outgrown the house or your company is relocating you to a new city. Of course, T-N-T Moving Systems can expertly handle your move, but before you hire us, you will need to find a realtor. 

Whether you are staying in Charlotte or moving across the country, finding a trusted real estate agent can be challenging. According to several local agents, the real estate market in Charlotte is competitive with more buyers than sellers. So finding an agent that will fight to get you in your dream house is essential.

Whatever the reason you need to buy or sell your home, you need to find a qualified realtor to handle the transaction. Here are 6 tips in finding the perfect realtor for you:

1.      Ask Around. Ask friends and family for recommendations. You can even ask an agent you are interested in to provide a list of recent clients. This is a good way to find out how the real estate agent works. Be sure to find out what the asking price of the house was and then what the selling price ended up being. Another question to ask is about how long the house was on the market. These indicators can tell you a lot about an agent. 

2.      Research your Agent. Do a google search and look up the agent’s license. A quick search online will show you if there has been any disciplinary action or complaints made. You can look up North Carolina real estate agents here: www.ncrec.gov

 

3.      Check out their Credentials. Realtors tend to specialize in particular areas of real estate. Locations, price range, and whether you are buying or selling matter. Some real estate agents only work with buyers and some only work with sellers. These specialties can come in handy and a good real estate agent will look out for your best interests. 

4.      Experience. This is an important factor. Purchasing a home will most likely be the largest financial transaction of your life, so finding an agent that has done this multiple times before will avoid unnecessary headaches. Ask the agent how long they have been in the business and if real estate is their full time job. 

5.      Current Listings. Browse around their website and look at their current listings. This is a good indicator of whether or not they are a fit for you. A good web presence is key in the real estate market these days. Most buyers look online first, and you want to make sure your agent can capture their attention.

6.      Houses Nearby. Location Location Location is the key to buying and selling real estate. You need an agent that knows the area. If you ask your agent about recent houses that have sold in the area, they should have an insider’s view. They should be able to give you a few details. This will show you that they know the area well and are staying on top of the market. 

Moving to a new house is challenging, but also exciting. Once you’ve found the perfect home, call us for an estimate. We are a full service moving company. Our services include packing, loading, unloading, transporting, storing, and specialty moving. T-N-T Moving Systems can handle local or long distance moving.

Tips for Moving on a Budget

Tips for Moving on a Budget

Moving can be overwhelming and expensive, but it doesn’t have to be! Whether you are moving locally or many miles away, there are ways you can save on basic moving expenses. T-N-T Moving Systems has been moving people in and out of the Charlotte area for 20 years. And have learned a few tips to pass on.

Things you can Do Yourself

If money is no object, you could hire movers to take care of the whole process from providing supplies to packing to transporting. But if a full service move is not in your budget, consider doing a lot of it yourself.

Get Free Packing Supplies. Get creative with finding boxes. Local grocery stores are a good place and sometimes people on craigslist will just give away boxes after they move. You can also use things around the house, like baskets, hampers, or drawers.

Get Rid of Stuff. Moving is a great time to weed through your belongings and trash or donate things you no longer need. T-N-T has compiled a list of local charities to make it even easier. Getting rid of unwanted stuff will save you money when you move because there is less stuff to move. You can even consider hosting a garage sale to add to the moving budget. 

Hire Professional Movers. This may seem counter intuitive if you are trying to save money, but the convenience and peace of mind of hiring professionals is worth it. Six reasons to consider:

·         They’re Fast. Especially if you prepare your house well for the move. Making sure everything is packed and taken apart. And there are walkways to remove furniture.

·         They Show Up at the Same Time. It can be hard to coordinate friends and family on moving day.

·         They bring a Truck. Based on how much stuff you have to move, a professional moving company will bring the right size truck.

·         They bring Tools. They will bring hand trucks and tools to help move big bulky items. They can take apart furniture.

·         They don’t Break as Many Things. Not only do professional know how to protect your stuff during a move, they are less likely to break something. It can be an awkward situation if a friend breaks something during a move.

·         You don’t have to Feed Them. It’s only polite to feed your friends and family when they help you move. But these costs can really add up, especially if a lot of people help. If the move happens in stages, more than one meal may be required. 

Start Packing Early. This will save you time and money on moving day. They more organized you are before the movers come, the less time it will take to move. Most professional moving companies charge by the hour for local moves, so time is money on moving day. 

Moving from one home to another or one city to another can be an exciting time. But the expense and stress of moving can dampen the excitement. Use these tips to stay organized and on budget. Call T-N-T Moving Systems anytime at 704-523-1455 for a free quote or click here.

How to Get Your Deposit Back!

How to Get Your Deposit Back!

Moving to a new place can be exciting. Perhaps you are moving on from renting and buying your first home. Even if you just moving into a new rental, you will want to make sure you get your security deposit back. Getting your full deposit back can help offset the cost of moving. Here are some of our top tips:

• Plan Ahead. This is easier said than done. But, hopefully, you had the foresight to record any damages that the property already had before you moved in. It’s even better if you snapped photos of the damage. This way you won’t be liable for any of those damages when you move out.
• Know the Law. States have different laws about getting your security deposit back. In North Carolina, the landlord typically has 30 days to get you your deposit or send you an itemized list of damages. Sometimes, the landlord can get an extension to up to 60 days. North Carolina does not allow landlords to charge you for normal wear and tear. But for more information check out the NC landlord tenant rights brochure.
• Fix any Changes or Damages. Sometimes during the course of living, damages occur. Perhaps a pet ripped a screen door or maybe you decided to paint a room in zebra stripes. Whatever the changes or damages, it might be cheaper to repair them yourself than to have the landlord take care of it. 
• Hire Professional Movers. Letting the pros at T-N-T Moving Systems move your stuff will save you time and there's less chance of damage to the property. When letting your friends and family help you move, you are liable for their mistakes. If they ram your couch into the wall and cause a hole, you’ll have to repair that before you can get your deposit back. So play it safe, and hire professionals with liability insurance.
• Clean. After moving everything out, this might be the last thing you want to do. That’s why we recommend hiring professionals to the heavy lifting. You can stay back and clean out the old place. Be sure to wipe down all surfaces, thoroughly clean appliances, dust the blinds and ceiling fans, and clean the floors. Take pictures as well in case any discrepancies occur with the landlord.
• Do a Walk Through with Landlord. Set up a move-out walk through with your landlord. Take pictures as well to ensure that there won’t be any discrepancies. Ask if there is anything that you need to fix and offer to fix them. If the landlord gives you no reason for keeping part of the deposit, try to get the deposit back at this meeting.

Hopefully these tips will help you get your full security deposit back. It can help you recoup part of the cost of moving or help you splurge on new furniture for your new place. Whatever you decide to do with it, you will be happy to have it. And remember, we give free estimates. Our services are a la carte, so you can pick and choose what you need us to do. Call us today at 704-523-1455.