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Moving Medicine
For many physician families, buying a home from another state isn't unusual. I've actually done it twice! Residency, fellowship, attending positions, military transfers, and career opportunities often require making major decisions on a tight timeline.
Sometimes that means purchasing a home after a virtual tour. Sometimes it means trusting your Realtor to be your eyes and ears on the ground. And sometimes it means closing on a home weeks or months before you're actually able to move in.
The excitement of finding the right home is real. But once the closing documents are signed, many buyers ask the same question:
Now what?
If your new home will sit vacant before you arrive, here are several ways to protect your investment and your sanity :)
Nothing creates a bad first impression like arriving to a home without electricity, water, internet, or air conditioning.
Before closing, confirm:
Scheduling these services in advance can prevent delays and headaches when moving day arrives. When my family moved after fellowship, I wanted a security system that would allow me to monitor from afar. I could see my property and give people like painters and carpet cleaners access before move in day. In order to have a security system, I also needed internet.
You may have received keys at closing, but you don't know who else has copies.
Consider:
Many homeowners coordinate this within the first few days after closing.
Even well-maintained homes often benefit from a professional cleaning before move-in.
This is especially helpful if:
It's much easier to clean an empty home than one filled with moving boxes. Plus, a clean home feels more like a clean slate.
One of the fastest ways for a vacant home to look neglected is an overgrown lawn. Plus, some cities have laws about grass height and other landscaping.
Before you arrive, arrange:
If you're moving during peak growing season, even a few weeks can make a noticeable difference. Call ahead to get on the schedule of a reputable lawn service.
Vacant homes can attract unwanted guests.
A preventative pest treatment can help protect against:
This is particularly important in warmer climates or rural areas. When we moved into our home, I was so excited to see the yard... only to be swarmed by mosquitos. Enjoying mealtime outside always helps me balance the chaos of moving boxes everywhere.
Technology has made long-distance homeownership much easier.
Consider:
These tools can alert you to problems before they become expensive repairs.
Even if technology is in place, there's no substitute for a trusted person physically checking the property.
A Realtor, neighbor, friend, or property manager can periodically verify:
Think of this as having local eyes on your investment. Before committing to our Realtor, we were upfront on our moving timeline and that we would need some help in the gap between closing on the home and arriving in our new city.
One of the smartest things you can do before moving is build a list of trusted service providers.
This might include:
Having these contacts established before an emergency arises can save significant stress later. Ask your Realtor for recommendations or join local facebook groups to see who people are using. When we purchased our home, we used the same pest control and trash service as the seller. We knew we could look into other options upon arrival but this was one less thing to research.
Buying a home sight unseen requires trust.
The best relocation-focused agents don't disappear after closing. They help connect clients with local resources, coordinate vendors, monitor timelines, and serve as a local point of contact during the transition.
For physician families balancing credentialing, licensing, call schedules, and cross-country moves, having someone local who understands the process can make all the difference.
Because buying the home is only one part of the move.
Successfully settling into it is what truly makes it feel like home.
Moving Medicine