Relocate to Florida
Your quick guide to help your move to The Sunshine State stress-free and fun.
The iconic beaches, the beautiful warm weather, the low cost of living, the vibrant nightlife, and the rich history that adorns the picturesque 27th state in our union. Whether you’re moving to Florida for a great job opportunity in one of our hundreds of high-tech occupations, looking to enjoy your golden years in warmth and comfort, or simply looking for a change of pace – Florida has so much to offer her residents, and she’s ready to welcome all newcomers with open arms.
First and foremost, relocating to Florida requires getting in touch with an accomplished and experienced real estate professional. Finding a high-quality and knowledgeable real estate agent is your key to finding the right city, the right neighborhood, and locating the place that meets all of your specific needs, wants, and dreams – and it also allows you the opportunity to identify deal breakers or wants that can be more flexible. At the end of the day, setting boundaries and expectations is critical to finding your new home and empowering your real estate agent to work hard on your behalf and advocate for you throughout the relocation process. A quality real estate agent will do more than simply find a great home – they will connect you to quality services and give you some great insight to your new neighborhood.
However, no matter how great your real estate agent is, there is still a certain level of responsibility on every new Floridian to explore and discover their new home, as well as take care of some of the basic logistics such as getting a new driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter registration, homestead exemptions, and so on. Your real estate agent can also help walk you through these critical steps. Florida is filled with so much gorgeous scenery and incredible shops, eateries, iconic landmarks, and endless adventure – picking the place to call home can make you feel like a kid in a candy shop. Here, we will help connect you with some of the must-see, must eat, must visit, and must do in some of Florida’s incredible cities and communities. From parks to theater, dinner to amusement parks, and everything in between – start to uncover and discover the wonder of Florida for yourself!
...and welcome home!
before the move
before the move
before the move
before the move
before the move
big day!
8-10 Weeks Before Moving Day
While at 8-10 weeks out it may seem and feel like an eternity until moving day, time runs out FAST.
Therefore, to minimize stress, we have come up with a few things you can take care of ahead of time to start crossing tasks off your list of things to do before moving day.
At this point, we mostly recommend spending your time researching moving companies and services you may require, asking questions you may have, as well as crunching numbers to get your finances sorted out.
- Research moving services and figure out what services you will need for your move.
- If you are renting, check your lease agreement to confirm you can break the lease and provide a written notice to your landlord stating you are moving and the date you will vacate the property.
- Before hiring professional movers, make a list of questions to ask them (including references, liability coverages, years of experience, cancellation policies, etc.) to make sure they are properly insured, qualified and the right fit for you.
- Crunch numbers and come up with a relocation budget based on what you can afford. Keep in mind that the further you move, the more costs you will have to incur.
- If you are moving neighborhoods and are unfamiliar with the one you are moving into, visit your new community at least once before the move to learn more about its various amenities and locate nearby grocery stores, gas stations, etc.
- Request time off work on moving day, preferably on a Friday so you get the rest of the weekend off to finish up the last few details and rest after a long day.
- Choose a school for your children and request transcripts from their current school if the new school requests them.
- Determine if you need to ship a car. If so, start looking into car shipping companies.
- Organize a moving binder/folder that keeps track of important phone numbers, receipts, schedules and other details.
- If you are moving out of your current area, start researching services you will need to set up new accounts in (i.e. doctors, banks, schools, gyms, etc.).
7 Weeks Before Moving Day
Having just under two months until moving day, it's time to start getting estimates, comparing prices, booking moving services and preparing items you plan to sell or donate.
Additionally, if you require flights, now is the perfect moment to book them as you will get one of the best deals for your destination!
- Contact a minimum of 3 licensed moving companies and obtain estimates.
- Plan how to move fragile, large and unusual items, as some movers may not be able to relocate certain objects.
- If you plan to do the move without the help of professional movers, or if you predict needing extra assistance, ask friends and family to help well in advance so they mark moving day on their calendars.
- Book a rental truck if you will transport the items on your own.
- Plan a garage sale and/or post classified ads to sell items you won't need anymore and start decluttering your property.
- Reserve a storage unit if you're looking for temporary storage space while unpacking to contain your clutter and focus on other moving details.
- Look up customer reviews for each moving company you are considering hiring for the job.
- Create a floorplan of your new home to plan furniture and appliance placement.
- Check on potential tax deductions in the area where you live and where you are moving.
- Get updated pet records.
- Compare prices of moving companies and ask about any additional fees or charges. If you need to travel while professional movers transport your items, make any necessary travel arrangements, such as booking flights.
5-6 Weeks Before Moving Day
With just over a month left until the big day, it's time to start packing!
Additionally, at this time you can start organizing and labelling your boxes for easy identification at your new place and sorting through your items to pack your non-essential and seasonal items first.
If you are moving out of your current area, remember to cancel or update your local memberships to avoid paying any or additional cancellation fees.
- Schedule the movers.
- If you're moving out of town, spend quality time with family and friends.
- Order all the moving supplies you will require to pack up your items.
- To save on packing supplies, go to your local grocery, liquor and office supply stores and collect free boxes.
- Create an inventory sheet to keep track of all your items before they are transported to your new home.
- If you have any tax-deductible moving expenses, such as donations to charities and expenses incurred due to a job-related relocation, keep track of these.
- Label your moving boxes by color or code and the room it's destined for to save time and stress when organizing your new home.
- Start to use up items in your fridge and pantry. With any food items that you are sure you will not use, consider donating them to a local shelter or food bank.
- Start packing a little bit every day, to avoid stressing about last-minute packing.
- Update all your local memberships (such as any gym, club or organization) if you are moving out of town to avoid incurring extra fees for cancelling or freezing an account too late.
- Take photos of wiring connected to your electronics to remember how to reconnect them at your new home.
- Place all hardware in small bags and label each one for easy identification.
3-4 Weeks Before Moving Day
A few weeks before moving day, it's time to begin seriously packing your belongings.
If you live in a condo building, it's also a good idea to book a moving elevator to ensure its availability. Whether you live in a tall building or a bungalow, you should also check with your local authorities to make sure that a moving truck is allowed to park and if a parking permit will be required.
Additionally, book transitional lodging and return all borrowed items to its owners, if applicable.
Overall, during these last few weeks before moving day, you will be checking off a multitude of different small tasks to clear your schedule for the last two weeks in your current home!
- Measure furniture to ensure it fits through doorways, elevators and other tight spaces.
- Purchase moving insurance to protect your belongings during the move.
- Check with your municipality to see if the moving truck will require any parking permits.
- Gather all financial records, legal records, birth certificates, passports and other important documents. Make sure to personally carry them during your move to avoid losing them or having someone taking them.
- If you live in a building, book the moving elevator.
- Arrange for cut-off and activation dates on both properties for the following utility companies: (1) Telephone, (2) Cable, (3) Gas/Electricity/Water, and (4) Garbage.
- Begin seriously packing. We recommend you pack non-essential and seasonal items first.
- Forward the mail to your new address.
- If you need a temporary place to stay between homes, search for and book housing.
- Confirm date and time with the moving company.
- Return library books, DVD rentals, and any other items.
- If you have any indoor plants, decide whether you would like to keep them or give them to a friend or relative to take care of.
- If you are moving within the same area where you currently live and have small children, consider hiring a babysitter for moving day and book their services.
1-2 Weeks Before Moving Day
The last two weeks at your current home will mostly consist of packing and finalizing a few details.
Take this time to pack everything and organize yourself as best as you can for an easy transition in your new place.
Moving day is almost here, so enjoy your last few "sleeps" in your current abode!
- Dispose flammables that can't be transported appropriately: fireworks, aerosol cans, propane tanks, household liquids, oil cans/paint/thinner, etc.
- Update your bank account and credit card billing addresses.
- Clean your current house, including appliances and pantry, to avoid paying a charge.
- Confirm any travel arrangements for your family members and pets.
- Update your address with any subscriptions you receive.
- Pack kitchenware and other essential items.
- If you have any manuals or warranty information of items that are included with the sale or rental of your current home (i.e. appliances, electronics, etc.), leave these at a spot that is easy to find for the new owners or tenants.
- If your new home needs to be repainted before settling in, hire professionals and schedule a date and time for them to go.
- Inform your doctor's office about the move and, if necessary, transfer medical records to your new doctor.
- Order new furniture and decor for your new house to ensure they will arrive on moving day or soon after.
- Label any items you need to access easily.
- Prepare a list of emergency service technicians in your new area in case anything goes on in the new house that you need taken care of immediately.
Moving Day
CONGRATULATIONS, moving day has finally arrived! It will be a busy day, but very worth it in the end. Make sure you get a good night's sleep the night before to feel well-rested on this exciting day.
Along with the following checklist, here are a few tips on how to prepare for moving day:
- Wake up early to be ready for your movers.
- Dress casually with comfortable and stretchy clothing if you are assisting with the lifting of boxes and furniture.
- Make sure your phone is fully charged.
- Prepare some food in advance for a couple of meals to save money on buying out.
- Have some cleaning supplies (such as wipes, a broom and a mop) handy to clean-up any spills or marks endured during the move.
Overall, try to relax and enjoy this delightful day!
- Have all your suitcases and essentials packed up.
- Make sure all pictures are removed from the walls.
- Make sure all appliances are emptied of contents.
- Unplug all electronics to have them at room temperature before loading on the moving truck.
- Withdraw some cash to tip the movers (10-15% total fee), if you plan on doing so.
- When boxes arrive at your new house, check for any damaged or lost items.
- Walk through your "old" home and make sure windows are shut and locked. Also, make
- sure the water is shut off, the lights are turned off and the A/C is turned off.
- Keep the movers on task to avoid wasting time.
- Prepare an essentials box containing:
- Toilet Paper
- Snacks
- Scissors
- Garbage bags
- Towels
- Dish soap
- Plates, cups and utensils
- Change of clothes
- Pet food and dish
- Double-check your "old" house during a final walkthrough to make sure nothing has been left behind. Also, take pictures to have proof of the condition you left the house in.
- Make sure everything is unloaded from the trucks and pay the movers.
- CELEBRATE IN YOUR NEW HOME!
