If you are moving to a Dallas home, you can, with prior planning and these tips, make your move a smooth, less stressful experience. After you have gathered recommendations from friends and checked out moving companies on the web, you should narrow your choices to three or four. At this point you can avoid moving mistakes by using these guidelines to make informed, intelligent choices.

1. Insist on an in-home survey and estimate. Movers have to actually see what needs to be moved and be aware of items requiring special attention, such as pianos or valued art pieces. In addition,, by meeting the mover’s representative in person, you can get a feel for the way customers are treated by the company. It is also important that you disclose at this time any details, such as elevator availability, street restrictions, etc., to avoid unpleasant surprises on moving day.

2. Beware of too low a price. While price is certainly a major consideration in making your selection, you need to question a low-ball estimate, Are there hidden charges? Is the firm reliable? Does it value your business? Is it a licensed, insured mover? Check the web at www.protectyourmove.com for this information and for a record of customer complaints.

3. Avoid the busy season. Good moving companies are especially busy in the summer and in the first and fourth weeks of the month. Plan ahead and reserve early to get the mover and time frame you want. Remember that the best deals can usually be found in the winter and in the second and third weeks of the month.

4. Sign a contract. Do not begin a move without first signing a binding agreement which spells out all the services you are to receive and the total amount you’ll be expected to pay. Do you have insurance options? What is the charge for that? If you’re not comfortable with the document, trust your instinct and don’t sign!

5. Have a budget. Be informed and realistic about your overall moving costs. Be sure to include travel to your Dallas home, any hotel and meals expenses, auto transport, and insurance.

6. Do unto others… Your movers will respond well to smiles and a positive attitude

They also appreciate offers of coffee, water, soft drinks, and tips for quality service.

Dallas has many reputable and reliable moving companies who want your business and will work with you to make your moving experience as stress-free as possible. By following these six steps, your relocation to your new Dallas home can actually be rewarding!

Learn more about buying a Dallas home.

Learn more about popular Dallas communities.

Good schools, low crime, parks and recreation, cultural activities, community events, and lots of kids…these are all things you would want if you are raising a family. Plano TX has all this and more, which is why it has been ranked among the top 10 American cities as the ‘Best Place to Grow Up’, by US News And World Report. Here is what they have to say about Plano TX… 

Plano, Texas: With 7,000 faculty and staff members serving 55,000 students in this Texas community, the Plano Independent School District has achieved national recognition for its strength. The Department of Education has handed 24 of its schools National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence awards, and 99 of its seniors were named semifinalists in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program. “We have a wonderful park system here in our community that has always been very much focused on youth sports, whether it is soccer or baseball or basketball,” says Mayor Phil Dyer. Meanwhile, the community’s less costly lifestyle-median home prices are just $213,900-means there should be enough cash left in the budget for the 50-minute trip to Arlington, Texas, for a Dallas Cowboys game.

Learn more about Plano TX and how you can live here by visiting TexasHomeCentral.com.

Places topping the list have a local economy which is stable and the housing market hasn’t been hit with huge home price declines.

Dallas has a concentration of high-tech companies, corporate headquarters and wholesale trade markets. Ft. Worth has had more than 900 major business expansions or relocations there over the past decade, according to the site. The median price of an existing single-family home in the area was $145,800 in 2008, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Dallas, a richly diverse city, offers a thriving culinary scene, a leading arts district, professional sports, trendy entertainment districts and endless shopping opportunities. As the Southwest’s leading business and financial center, we boast the largest wholesale market in the world, and lay claim to being one of the top convention cities in the United States.

Tulsa OK claimed the #1 spot this year followed by Dallas/Ft Worth, Pittsburg PA, Raleigh/Durham NC, Huntsville AL, Houston TX, Albuquerque NM, Lexington KY, Little Rock AR and Oklamona city OK.

Learn about Dallas real estate by visiting TexasHomeCentral.com. 

Seven out of ten pet owners consider their pet part of the family. Here are some tips for moving your pets to their new home.

Cats and Dogs
Cats and dogs can be taken in your car. If so, remember to take along the following items:

• Food
• Water
• A leash for letting your pet out of the car.
• Newspaper or sheets to keep your car clean.
• Animals can get carsick and will require frequent stops along the way.
• Make sure you check ahead to see if the hotel where you are staying allows pets.

Depending on the animal’s temperament and size, it might be better to have it shipped by air. Be sure to check if your destination has any local requirements or restrictions on animals. If you ship your pet by air, make sure someone can meet your pet at the destination airport and take care of it until you arrive. Kennels provide this service and if necessary can keep your pet until you have completed your move. (more…)

Renting a truck and moving yourself can make sense for many people. The amount and type of household goods, distance of the move and costs are all factors in that decision process. Here are some guidelines for additional help.

Setting a Move Date
Once you have decided to move it is important to plan your move. The amount of notice you will need to reserve a rental truck will vary depending on the time year and the time of the month you plan to move. Rental trucks companies tend to rent more trucks on weekends rather than during the week. The end of the month is always a busy time. Not to mention that summer months tend to be more demanding than winter months. Pricing can also be affected by the volume of trucks in need. For example, it would be less expensive to move mid-month during the middle of the week in October.

What Truck Size Do You Need?
Most rental agencies provide a size-guide. Remember, it’s always better to error on the side of caution and rent a larger truck, then running the risk of not having enough space, especially if you are moving a long distance. Even if you are moving a short distance, too small of a truck could result in making multiple trips. Trying to switch truck sizes at the last minute will only cause delays.

How Much Will It Cost?
The cost to rent a truck varies greatly. There are many factors that affect the cost, such as: distance being moved, time of year in which you are moving, size of truck, fuel expense, one way fees, insurance coverage, towing an additional auto and packing materials. It is important to compare costs between rental truck companies. Make sure each of the contracts provide the same services, so the fees can be properly compared. (more…)

Death, Divorce and Moving are the three most stressful experiences in life. There are two very different kinds of needs that people have when moving and buying a Dallas home. First, there are the transactional needs, like finding the home that is just right for them, finding a seller who is realistic, negotiating the price, filling out the paperwork, handling the escrow, and arranging for the move. Then, there are the emotional needs that are involved when moving, and this is where the biggest stress comes in. Any competent real estate agent will handle the transactional needs for you, but if your emotional needs remain unfulfilled, you’ll be frustrated and may not act in your own best interests. The ideal real estate agent is one, who is competent with paperwork and numbers but can also guide, direct, and counsel you through the emotional ups and downs of moving.

‘6 Ways To Beat The Stress Of Buying A Dallas Home.’

1. Begin with the end in mind. Have an ultimate scenario of where you’re trying to be. What will life be like when you get there? How will it be better than where you are now? Dwell on that picture and write it out, fill up at least a page about how it feels in the new place. This is imperative. Having the goal in front of you at all times energizes you to achieve it, in spite of setbacks and frustrations. Emotions will run high and you need an anchor. You too must focus on that future goal when anxiety threatens to get the better of you. (more…)

There is much doom and gloom reported about the real estate market these days. The media makes it hard to decipher whether the doom and gloom is local or elsewhere. No, I wont get up on my soap box this time though I am very tempted. If you are thinking about buying a Dallas Fort Worth home, it is difficult to know if the time is right. There are many factors that go into a buyers decision to buy. The Dallas real estate market is NOT like the rest of the US. Here’s a list that will help you to make that decision.

Ten Top Reasons To Buy A Dallas Fort Worth Home Now

1. Plenty of home inventory to chose from.
2. No bidding wars on homes in Dallas.
3. Home sellers are welcoming offers.
4. No pressure to make really quick decisions.
5. Home inspections are welcomed. Home sellers and REALTORS® expect you to be cautious.
6. Lots of brand new homes with incredible incentives being offered by home builders.
7. You can actually negotiate with home sellers for repairs and help on closing costs.
8. No real estate investors pushing prices up.
9. Good, reliable FHA loans. No funny financing!
10. Real estate continues to be an excellent long term investment in Dallas.

According to a study by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 60 percent of a homeowner’s wealth is from the equity they have built in their home. A Federal Reserve study has shown that the average homeowner’s net worth is 46 times the net worth of the average renter.
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Have you ever wanted to tour an area before visiting in person? Maybe you’re accepting a new job and now relocating to Dallas. Leave it to Google to come up with a cool new toy that allows you to drive around the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex long before hopping on that flight into the DFW Airport.

Google Street View is a fantastic tool that allows you to do just that. You can find it on any Google Map, well, almost any. You can find it at maps.google.com or even in our map-based home search on our website. Most Google Maps mash-ups do not have this implemented but that will probably change before too long once more web developers catch on to the cool factor of Google Street View.

Almost all of the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex is available on Google Street View, though areas north of 121 in North Dallas like McKinney and Frisco are not available yet. Same is true for the areas north of 121 and 114 in the Tarrant County like Coppell, Flower Mound and Lewisville though I think this will change very soon. Check out this example of Beverly Drive in Highland Park which is just north of downtown Dallas Texas.

If you are relocating to Dallas and would like a Free Relocation Package for any of the cities that make of the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are relocating across town, like Flower Mound to Frisco and you buy a home with us, you can use our moving truck for free. Click here for more information on using our moving truck for free.

If you could sue one company to become an overnight millionaire, which would it be? Hopefully your answer was none because you are NOT a greedy person that thinks the world owes you something.

Apparently a Pittsburgh area couple’s answer was Google. They have sued Google Inc., saying a picture of their home that appears on Google Map’s Street View violates their privacy, devalued their property and has caused them mental distress.

Google’s Street View function shows street-level images of homes & businesses in quite a few places across the country. Cool, right?

This couple didn’t think so. The couple suing the Google, claim the reason they bought their home was a desire for privacy. They claim that the images of their house on the Google website included their driveway which is labeled “Private Road,” and were likely shot from that vantage point, which meant the Google photographer trespassed. So, where does the mental distress come in? What, because someone drove on your road, you had countless sleepless nights? And the depreciated home value? Do they think a picture will steal their home’s soul and therefore it’s worth less?
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You have to really start appreciating the Texas Real Estate market when Texas has four of the top twenty real estate markets. A recent article in BusinessWeek listed the best housing markets and in it, Austin-Round Rock, Beaumont-Port Aurthur, San Antonio and El Paso all made the list. Of course that is just telling most of us what we already knew. Below are the stats for those Texas markets.

Austin-Round Rock
Median home price: $188,200
One-year change: 9.67%
Five-year change: 28.82%

Beaumont-Port Arthur
Median home price: $129,100
One-year change: 9.44%
Five-year change: 33.27%

San Antonio
Median home price: $154,700
One-year change: 8.41%
Five-year change: 39.39%

El Paso
Median home price: $135,800
One-year change: 7.94%
Five-year change: 54.54%

*The price appreciation data was provided by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. Unless otherwise noted, third-quarter 2007 median home prices were supplied by the National Association of Realtors.