Moving is often described as one of the most stressful things you can do in life, especially if you have come to be settled in one place and have picked up a lot of possessions without realising. These must all be gotten rid of or moved. Below are some of the best ways to take the stress out of moving. Go minimalist while you sort your possessions It is easy when moving to be intimidated and to just jump right in and try getting everything packed up room by room without a plan beyond, for example, “kitchen, bathroom, bedroom”. However, if you go down this route then it is likely that after one day’s packing you will find that you have half the house still to do the next day but no cutlery, cooking equipment or toothbrush! To avoid being short of the essentials, plan a minimalist survival kit for a couple of days, of the kind you might take on a camping trip: toiletries bag, plate, cup and fork, phone, phone charger and headphones. This is just an example list, but consider what you can go without. If you are happy to order takeaway or a delivery service that means you can pack away all crockery and your microwave. If you need tea or coffee to get through the day, you can either keep your kettle out through the packing process and pack it last, or hold off and get coffee later in the day made somewhere else. If you are travelling to another country you should get rid of any unnecessary belongings since long distance moving companies are more expensive than local ones for transport space. See what you can live without Moving house will always take work, but you can make it a chance to declutter and make your new home a tidier place. Once you have your necessities sorted for the sorting and packing process, go through your house room by room, starting by the place you go least often and think carefully about how much you use each of its contents. If for example you bought an exercise bike that does not get much use, you may want to think about whether your new house puts you at a distance to cycle to the shops, or even to work. Selling and giving away old possessions is easier than ever in this day and age as you can give things of decent quality away to either charity shops or online sharing services. If you find it hard to get rid of something try picturing where in your new home it would conveniently go. If it is hard to imagine this can be a sign the item should go. If you start in the room you visit least you will likely get into the mindset of shedding things as you go through the house and come to items you have more of a sentimental attachment to but do not use. Find the best, most efficient movers in your area When you are ready to move, with the things you need and want, don’t leave the move up to chance. Use a comparison site such as compare the man and van to ensure you get trusted and reliable movers who handle your belongings with care. These services can also give you a clearer idea of the average prices of movers in your area, so you can spot a good deal.

For almost every purchase in life, cheaper is not necessarily better value. Yet, when it comes to homes, buyers often deceive themselves into thinking that, if there are similar sized homes in the same location, then the lowest priced home is better value. This is not true and potentially an expensive mistake. Value is not cheaper. Value is spending wiser and investing in the future. Economists judge value on three criteria: efficiency, effectiveness and economy, whilst investment is about future returns. Taking these in turn: Efficiency: Is your new home the best design for you and your lifestyle? How far is it to work, shops or schools? Is the public transport good enough? Can I get to see my friends and family as easily as I would like? Are the bedrooms big enough for a decent sized wardrobe? Effectiveness: Does the kitchen/living space create a family hub? Where will the children do their homework? Do I have a utility area? Where is the visitor parking? Do I have a useable private garden with patio? Do I have a good-sized balcony or terrace in my apartment? Economy: Are the kitchen appliances up to expectations? Do I have fast broadband? Do I have a well-specified home with quality doors, furniture and fittings? Investment: Am I part of a much larger development where my home has little individuality? Will my new home hold its premium because I am in a good area with few new homes? Is the quality of my home including fittings, sufficiently good to ensure that it will present well when I sell? On many larger developments, you are probably paying for a house type that has been repeated many times and similar to homes on other developments built in the area. And, as every small compromise adds up, the positive advantage of ‘cheaper’ is outweighed by the negative impact of the home’s imperfections. It may not be good value and will certainly not be a wise investment. If you want real value, you have to look beyond price. At Troy Homes, the directors are involved from the outset to ensure the homes are designed with the customer in mind. Invariably their homes are bespoke, to ensure they fit the location and market. Even as the site is built, they may need to make changes to improve the home. They invest all their own personal knowledge and drive for excellence in every home. And this is reflected in the Troy Home you buy – every detail has value with the focus on exceeding customer expectations. When you search for property online, your criteria will be limited to location, price, size, new/old, etc. These are all important, but they are one dimensional. Such a yes/no, black and white search needs a holistic approach – is this the best home for me for now and in the future? What will my home be worth when I sell? Will it be unique and desirable? If you can positively answer these questions you would have bought a value-for-money home. By Richard Werth, CEO of Troy Homes

Those who buy and sell property often know when is the exact right time to buy. Entry points are the easier part of the equation since most investors instinctively know a good deal when they see one. However, investors struggle with realising when is the right time to get out of an investment. If they hold on for too long, they may miss the absolute top at which to sell. At the same time, selling too early could cause the investor to miss out on potential profits. Here are some ways to know when an investment property should be sold. One of the primary considerations does not even relate to the market for the property itself. Rather, it relates to other potential investments and opportunities. The most important thing that an investor has going for them is their capital. There is never an unlimited supply of capital, and investors will continuously need to decide where their capital is best deployed. While the real estate investment may be profitable, there may be another investment that could potentially make even more money. For example, when the equities market is consistently offering a higher rate of return, it may be better to scale back in the real estate market. Alternatively, if there is another property that offers the prospect for higher income, it may warrant shifting around the property portfolio. This is known as the opportunity cost of real estate investing, and it is one of the most important considerations as an investor’s money may be tied up for a long time. On a similar note, changes in property prices or other investments may also change an investor’s asset mix. Optimally, investors should have a diversified and varied portfolio that is spread across many asset classes. This is to act as a hedge against an uncertain economic environment. For example, real estate may underperform when the equity markets are stronger. If there is a wildly profitable investment, it can mean that a majority of an investor’s portfolio consists of real estate. While realising profits is generally a good thing, diversification of portfolio is desirable as well. At a certain point, when the value of real estate holdings dwarfs other assets in a portfolio, it may be time to either take some profits or shift around investments. In addition, investors need to be aware of the current taxation environment for investment properties since that will affect the total mortgage payment on the parcel. In the UK, the taxation credit for financing costs for investment properties is being phased out and will result in a much lower credit by 2020. This means that investment properties may become less profitable depending on how they are financed. Different countries treat financing costs in various ways, and a change in the taxation structure can make the difference between a profitable investment and an unprofitable one. In addition, investors must also be aware of the potential profit on their property and what taxation rate it would mean they have to pay. As a result, investors should be closely following any possible change in the tax structure to see if it benefits or hurts their property investments. Finally, an investor should always consider their own personal financial situation when deciding whether and when to sell an investment property. While real estate investments have many positive attributes, liquidity is not one of them, unless investors can borrow against the value of their property. If an investor has a certain upcoming life event that may require more liquidity, it may be a wise idea to sell an investment property. While investors should not hastily exit investment opportunities, there are just some occasions that necessitate selling. However, life events may also mean that it would be more beneficial to maintain a property that can lead to passive income. Thus, changes in personal situations do not always mean that selling is the correct decision.