Things That Sound Like a Good Idea Until You're Moving 

There are a lot of things you can do in preparation for moving, that will make your life tremendously easier. There are, however, a handful of things that sound like great ideas right up until moving day arrives. As a great instructor once told me, there are times where “you have a wonderful plan” and then the “good idea fairy comes” and sprinkles in ideas that ruin that plan. Let’s unpack a far from comprehensive list of things I have seen that fall into the “good idea until we had to move”.

Buying Furniture Before You Arrive 

This one could be seconded by counting on your friend or realtor to measure for said furniture, both of which fall into similar bins. It’s extremely hard based on photos to truly determine what furniture is actually going to fit into your house. If you’re having it shipped to where you currently live, it’s also difficult on furniture to move it. I know you’re playing Tetris in that moving truck or really trying to max that household goods weight, but you’re a worse mover than you think. One quick tip on this is that at least iPhones (I don’t trust a green message bubble anyways), have a measure function on them, if you absolutely have to purchase furniture before arrival or have a key piece in mind maybe you’re not sure you should keep for the move or not, use this. It allows someone to generally very accurately measure out a space with their iPhone, where it excels is they can draw out those measurements in 3d and send the picture over. Also, don’t bank on the current owner of the house letting you have furniture shipped to their home 1-2 weeks before closing. Think of the disaster your garage is as you’re preparing to move and then imagine having to work around someone else’s stuff, amongst other reasons. 

Choosing a house based just on the photos

The opposite mistake is eliminating a house before you've even seen it because of the photos. Now this doesn’t mean go start looking at every house, but realize the biases. When I’m posting pictures of a house, they are curated. I am trying to sell you this house, I am showing you all the best it has to offer. In an ideal world you are able to travel to where you will be purchasing a house if moving to another state and see homes in person. If not, at minimum have your realtor take videos, and don’t be scared if you like a house to request more detailed videos on a follow up tour. Quick tip: I recommend the app Marco Polo, some Realtors already use it. It’s great because you can be added to a group where the video can be watched live stream, but if for some reason you or your spouse are not available or service is bad, the videos are uploaded and can be watched later. It’s also great if you end up with two houses that feel like close competitors to go back and re-watch the home tour videos. 

Thinking you’ll unpack everything in a week 

The pure ambition of “I’ll knock this out quick” and the building out an extensive Pinterest board of projects you plan to do within the first month. Look, some people are more efficient than others, and that's great. I’m not sure I’ve ever finished fully unpacking a house. I still have boxes hidden in corners of stuff I feel obligated to move and store (looking at your Super Nintendo). Point being it’s going to take you a bit of time to settle, a lot of the little stuff always takes longer. Give yourself some time. Also, that seemingly simple Pinterest or YouTube project is a great aspiration to have, but let yourself knock out the basics first. Think about things that you’re really going to want and prioritize those projects. An example that’s often overlooked is, if you’re buying a new house it will probably not include any window treatments (I’ve also bought a two year old house that did not, don’t know how they did that). Point being, that’s probably a priority, also it’s a cost a lot of people don’t factor in. Make a realistic gameplan and be ok letting certain things take a bit longer than expected. 

Judging Commute Times at 2:00 AM 

Finally, with all the great mapping data and technology in this day and age, there are settings in most any mapping software to see traffic patterns based on specific times. So, if you’re the crazy person reading this at 2:00 AM, you’re probably the same person saying “that commute isn’t that bad” looking at houses and pulling up traffic at 2:00 AM. I usually use google maps for this and you can set the time to reflect heading to work around your specific commute time and home. That will give you a much more realistic expectation of what commute times are before deciding if a house is right for you. Traffic at 2:00 AM is not real life. 

Bonus Good Idea Fairy Recommendation 

Buying 47 storage totes because you’re finally going to get organized this move.... we know the truth.

The Truth About Working With a Real Estate Agent 

There are certain things you just don’t learn until you peek behind the curtain. The military recruiting commercials have never once shown someone sitting behind a computer typing reports, but people in the military know the truth. That range took a lot of work to coordinate and a lot of paper. As I've dived into real estate, I've realized there are plenty of assumptions and preconceptions about the industry. Some are true. Some definitely aren't. I think most people view real estate agents as somewhere between a used car dealer and the recruiter who swore your first duty station would be Hawaii. Maybe you’re not completely wrong, but hopefully a little. 

The first thing to highlight and understand is that your agent works for you. You are entering into an agreement with them, where you will compensate them ultimately based on their success in finding you a house or selling your current home. You should never feel stuck with your Realtor. If they aren't meeting your expectations, that should at least be a conversation. It’s also at times shocking to me the amount of people who feel obligated to work with a Realtor just because they showed interest and commitment. Don’t be scared to openly interview your Realtors and find someone who you not only trust but feel like you can have a good working relationship with. Bottom line, you’re the boss. Be reasonable with some limitations, your Realtor is going to have other clients and a family more than likely, while they should be responsive, they aren’t going to be 100% available, but you should always feel like a priority. One more important nugget is to understand who you will actually be working with. If you’re interviewing with a Real Estate agent who manages a team, will you be working with them or the team member? Ensure you have a full understanding of that and are comfortable with your arrangement.

As my teacher used to always tell me “do your homework”, yet somehow my kids claim to “never have homework”... strange. That said you’ll be not only doing yourself a massive favor but also your Realtor in their ability to help you by doing your homework. Zillow breaks a lot of hearts. I'm convinced there isn't a couple alive where one spouse doesn't immediately fall in love with houses 20% over budget. Some homework you can do before you even begin your search is; talking to a lender and understanding the difference between loan value you’re approved for and what monthly payment you’re comfortable with (don’t forget to factor in insurance and tax into that monthly mortgage payment estimator), researching areas you want to live including school zones if that’s a factor, deciding a maximum commute time, etc. These are all things you can do before you fire up your favorite house search engine and begin the hunt. 

That homework transitions straight to the fact that even though it would probably be my number one superpower of choice, I have still not refined my ability to read a mind. So, the more we are able to have honest discussions on the parameters and requirements for you to find a house you like the better. I can promise it’s a little frustrating, for everyone, when you get 20 houses deep and that’s when it’s shared that a three car garage is a must. That said, sometimes priorities shift as you’re looking at houses and realizations are made, so also don’t be scared to speak up and re-work a game plan. If you get to a house and you know it’s not going to work, there is nothing wrong with determining that early and moving on. Convey how you’re feeling about houses throughout and it’ll allow your agent to dial in future listing recommendations. 

Realtors should be really good at helping you buy or sell a home. That's their specialty. They should be knowledgeable about the market, the process, and the resources available to help you make informed decisions. That said, MOST Realtors are not home inspectors, structural engineers, plumbers, etc. Your Realtor may have some experience having dealt with similar issues but should always recommend getting expert advice. That said your agent probably has trusted local contacts who they have worked with in the past they can recommend. No, I’m not getting any kickback from Bob the Builder, but I can promise you if he does a bad job or drops the ball for someone I’m not recommending him again. That said, don’t be scared to get a second opinion or strike out on your own. Your Realtor probably isn’t maliciously trying to misguide you, but getting second opinions rarely hurts. 

Some closing thoughts. While this write up is far from comprehensive, hopefully it gives just a little bit of insight without dragging on too ridiculously long. Thanks for wasting just a bit of your time today, and if you didn’t learn anything else I will leave you with this. Did you know, pterodactyls are actually not classified as a dinosaur but are instead technically a flying reptile. Follow-up fun fact, no dinosaurs are not reptiles.

Welcome to Your Local Real Estate Resource

This website is built specifically for your local market—not a national portal. Whether you're buying, selling, or just exploring, you'll find tools and insights tailored to your community, backed by real people who are here to help.

🔍 Search for Homes in Your Area

Use our Home Search tool to explore listings that match your needs. Filter by location, price, and features to find homes that fit your lifestyle.

👉 Start Your Home Search

📊 Stay Informed with Market Reports

Our Market Reports give you up-to-date insights on pricing trends, inventory, and recent sales in your neighborhood. It’s a great way to stay ahead—whether you're buying or selling.

👉 View Market Reports

💰 Know Your Home’s Value

Thinking about selling? Use our Home Value tool to get a quick estimate of your property’s worth in today’s market. It’s fast, free, and a great starting point.

👉 Check Your Home Value

👋 Talk to a Real Local Expert

This isn’t just a website—it’s backed by real humans who know your area and are ready to help. Visit our About Us page to learn more about your local agent and how they can support your real estate journey.

👉 Contact Us

Thanks for visiting!
We’ll be updating this blog regularly with tips, insights, and local updates. And if you ever have questions, just reach out—we’re here to help.