What’s Your ‘Mover Persona’? Find Out and Get Personalized Strategies for Peace of Mind: #MABA #Massachusetts #RealEstate #HomeOwner

 If you’re preparing for a move, you deserve advice and support that’s customized to your situation. Why? Because taking care of the “little” details can make a big difference when it comes to boosting your pre-move peace of mind. The average American moves nearly one dozen times in their life and it’s all-but-guaranteed that each of those times will feel like a unique experience.

 Whether you’re moving into a condo all on your own, settling into a family home with kids, upsizing, downsizing, or just-right-sizing, every move is a learning opportunity. Start by scrolling through these six “mover personas” to find the one (or two or three!) that fits you. Next up: With your new strategy in place, feel calm, cool, and collected when you open the door to your home.

First-time homebuyers: Maximize this milestone

 As a first-time homebuyer, you get a place to call your own, the freedom to design it as you wish, a nice investment that can pay off over time—and the responsibility of taking care of your new house. Talk about a milestone! It can feel like a steep learning curve, especially when you start talking about homeowners’ insurance, which is a must-have if you are financing the home. The good news is that this “to-do” is much easier to manage than you might think, especially when you get guidance you can trust. Allstate can help you design custom coverage at an affordable price, and there are even special discounts available for recent homebuyers and first-time buyers who choose newer construction.

 Once the keys are in your hands and the moving truck arrives, focus on keeping the celebratory spirit alive. Prioritize settling into the spaces that mean the most to you, whether that’s the chef-approved kitchen, your bedroom retreat, or even just the extra closet space your city apartment was lacking. As you do this, you might want to put your own touch on the spaces with furniture or artwork. With Personal Property Coverage from Allstate, you can also protect your new heirlooms. Your Allstate agent can help you understand your Personal Property Coverage limits to make sure you have enough coverage for the things that are most important to you—think collectibles, antiques, musical instruments, sports equipment, or jewelry.

Moving with kids: Make it memorable

 Moving with kids can be a wonderful opportunity to make memories even if the actual logistics are a bit more complicated. If you have young children, it’s wise to make arrangements for them to spend some time out of the unpacking zone so you can focus on making the space family-friendly ASAP. Plan to do this by scheduling movers while the kids are at school, asking if they can have a sleepover at a nearby family member’s house, or trading off with your partner or a trusted friend to take the kids out on a field trip for a few hours.

 Even just a little time sans distractions can go a long way when you’re in the zone! Your children may have some anxiety around saying “goodbye” to their old home, especially if it’s their first move. Ease the transition by setting up their rooms first (which means you’ll want to pack those rooms last!), complete with their artwork on the walls and favorite bedding. Then remind them that, yes, your new home may be different but different can be a good thing, too.

 If this all has you thinking about life and the importance of looking out for your family, this may be a good time to think about making your home the safest it can be for your family. Allstate offers discounts for being proactive about your home safety, including for installing protective devices like fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and burglar alarms.

Moving in together: Communication is key

 Taking the next big step in your relationship? Stress has no place during this exciting time. When you’re consolidating two households into one home, there will probably be some little details to sort through you may not need two rice cookers, or perhaps your co-inhabitant’s leather recliner doesn’t quite fit your minimalist vibe. This can be a great chance to work together and carve out your unique combined aesthetic.

 You’ll want to start by valuing each other’s opinions and listening to the reasons why the other person may want to keep an item that isn’t exactly your  taste. (It could have real sentimental value!) There is a good chance you’ll also have multiple vehicles to park in that new garage. That makes this the perfect time to explore savings opportunities by combining insurance policies. With Allstate, you can save up to 25% when you bundle home and auto insurance.

Long-distance movers: Strategic packing pays off

 If you’re moving across the country or even across your state, planning is the key to success. (There’s no running back and forth during the moving process!) This starts when you’re packing up your belongings: Take the time to clearly label boxes and pack essential items at the back of the truck. Then, before you actually move from Point A to Point B, check with your agent to learn more about your coverage during the move to avoid unexpected stress throwing your day way off track.

 Once you arrive at your new address, you can get to your must-haves first thing and then work your way through everything else. As you settle in, read up on what easy home improvement options can help you save money on your home insurance policy—like setting up a connected home system with moisture sensors or an automatic shutoff of the main water valve in case of emergencies. Allstate makes it easy to plan your move and check out customized coverage and savings through quick, online tools.

Downsizers: Look at the big picture

 Less space means you’ll need fewer things. That’s why your first step should be donating, selling or passing along items that you don’t need in your new home. Some of this can go quickly. But downsizing, especially when it comes to those sentimental items, can be easier said than done. If donating feels too impersonal, consider giving family members first dibs on items that don’t make the cut. That way you can rest assured your special items found good homes.

 There may be things you are still reluctant to part with, which is when it helps to look at the big picture: When you don’t need as much room in your home, you can make space for other things in your life. For example, how does a boat, RV or motorcycle sound? Between savings on your payments in your downsized home and discounts when you bundle insurance policies, these new “toys” can be a pretty sweet deal and a great upside to your downsized space.

Moving on a budget: Focus on a few strategic shifts

 Home prices may be high, but there are still savings to be found with other moving-related tasks. Case in point: DIY-ing the actual moving process can save you hundreds of dollars. (Even if you have to pay some helpful friends with post-move pizza, you’ll still come out on top!) Once you’re in the home, look for bargain ways to furnish the new space, such as by browsing online marketplaces or using local consignment stores for big deals on gently-used products. Bonus you’ll be supporting your new local economy and might even meet some neighbors in the process.

 One of the easiest ways to save money for doing what you already do is by getting a homeowners quote with Allstate. Recent customers who switched their home to Allstate saved hundreds five hundred and three dollars on average, to be exact. With Allstate, you’ll have access to discounts for paying on time or enrolling in autopay and for things like staying claim-free and installing protective devices in your home. That means you’ll get up to forty percent savings on your premium, year after year.

So, which persona fits you? Whether you’re a long-distance mover with kids on a budget or a couple of first-time homebuyers downsizing together, a little planning can go a long way toward ensuring you have a smooth move. And with personalized coverage from Allstate, you can rest assured that you’ll be covered every day after move in day too.

DISCOUNTS NOT AVAILABLE IN ALL STATES. Savings and discount amounts will vary. Other terms, conditions and exclusions may apply.

¹$503 Average annual savings based on new customers surveyed in 2021 who reported home savings when switching their home policy to Allstate.

Realtor.com produced this campaign as part of paid advertising services for Allstate Insurance Company. Realtor.com does not endorse or recommend any particular insurer or service provider, nor any of the products, rates, or offerings of any insurer, broker, or insurance professional.

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First Time Home Buying in Massachusetts

MABA Buyer Agents help first time home buyers reduce the stress and frustration normally associated with buying a home or condo – especially for first time home buyers.

As a first time homebuyer in Massachusetts, you can turn to our non-profit organization to help you understand and navigate the complexities of the entire Massachusetts real estate transaction, from mortgage pre-approval until you are handed the keys to your new home or condominium. Each of our member buyer's brokers and agents works only for their buyer-clients and never for the seller of the home or condo that their buyers want to buy.

MABA Buyer Agents will take the time to learn about you and your real estate goals, help you understand your options, including first time home buyer programs, properties and/or condominium associations, estimate real property values and put together a negotiating strategy to help you increase the odds of getting your offer accepted in our competitive Massachusetts real estate market. After advocating to get your offer accepted, your MABA buyer's agent will be there for you at your home inspection and help you protect your deposit through the inspection, purchase & sale and financing contingency periods.

You can buy your first home or condo with confidence knowing that your MABA buyer agent is committed to saving you time and money and helping you make your best home buying decision.