I’ve Decided to Move to Florida! Now What?

So you’ve decided that the Sunshine State is the place for you! Congratulations! Now it’s time to plan your move. Moving to a new state can be a daunting process. Where do you even begin? In this chapter, we’ll cover a few important pre-moving tasks such as deciding if you’re going to sell your current home and assessing what belongings you’ll be taking with you to Florida. 

Deciding What to Do with Your Home Before You Move to Florida

If you’re a homeowner, it’s important to decide what you want to do with your current property before making plans to move to Florida. Generally, your choices are:

• (1) sell your home,
• (2) keep the property to use in the summertime
• (3) possibly rent it out

Depending on your circumstances, one may be a clear choice for you. If you’re unsure about renting out your property or selling your property, understanding the pros and cons of both can help you make that decision. Renting your property can provide soft income, build your equity, and allow your property to appreciate in value. However, renting your property can also create a lot of headaches. This is especially true if you’re moving to Florida from a faraway state. Dealing with renters and everyday issues, like lawn maintenance or broken appliances, can be difficult and time-consuming. Selling a home may take a little longer than finding a suitable renter, but it can free up capital and give you the buying power you need to solidify your move to Florida. To help you make this decision, it’s important to speak with a trusted real estate agent. A real estate agent can help you assess the current real estate market, understand the value of your home, conduct a comparative market analysis, and much more. 

What You Need to Know Before Selling Your Home 

Selling your home is a multi-step process that requires a lot of preparation and organization. Before you sell your home, there are a few key things to remember. First, you want to work with a real estate agent you can trust and has your best interest in mind. Your real estate agent works as the liaison between you and the buyer and/or buyer’s agent. Selling a home without a real estate agent can be a complicated and messy process, especially if you don’t have any previous experience in real estate. Your agent will help you come up with a listing price that works best for you and your circumstances. For instance, if you’re working on a tight timeline and you’d like to move to Florida sooner rather than later, your agent can help you come up with a number for your home that’s “priced to sell” which can help move things along faster. 

After conducting a proper comparative market analysis and assessment of the value of your home, you and your agent can arrive at the listing price that’s right for you. Homeowners have a lot to do before their property hits the market! You need to prepare your home for viewings and open house events, which means that personal items and any clutter need to be removed. You’ll also want to consider addressing any minor repairs in the home to make the inspection process a lot smoother. While this may sound like a lot of work, once the sale of your home is complete, you can focus on your next adventure: your move to Florida! 

If You Don’t Need to Sell Your Home 

If you don’t have to sell your home to move to Florida, you’re already ahead of the game! You can begin to focus on other things, such as what you’ll bring with you to Florida and your search for the perfect home. In order to find the best possible home, it’s essential to hire a Florida real estate agent that’s familiar with multiple areas. For instance, if you know that you’re interested in Palm Beach County, be sure to work with an agent that has a lot of knowledge about properties in Jupiter, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and the surrounding areas. We’ll talk more about how to find the right Florida real estate agent in an upcoming chapter in this guide. However, the sooner you find a realtor and begin to form a relationship with them, the easier it’ll be to find a great home in Florida. 

What About All Your Belongings? 

Now that you’ve decided what you’ll do with your current property, what about all your stuff? Deciding what to bring and what not to bring to Florida can create a lot of stress and anxiety. Thankfully, considering a few key points can help with this dilemma. First, think about the type of home you’re moving from and the type of home you’re moving into. For instance, if you’re moving from a single-family home in New Jersey to a condo in Jupiter, Florida — it’s time to downsize. You won’t need certain items, like lawn equipment or tools, because landscaping and other repairs will be taken care of for you in a Jupiter condominium. 

Next, consider your seasonal belongings. Soon-to-be Florida residents that are moving from up north can sell or donate things like winter coats, snow boots, and chains for tires on icy days. These items will no longer be necessary for Florida! Since there are basically two seasons in Florida (summer and spring) anything that’s used for winter can be removed from your list. Finally, consider your attachment to your belongings and how you envision your moving process. If moving all of your furniture to Florida seems costly and inconvenient, you know that having an estate sale and selling your belongings will work best for you. There are plenty of amazing furniture stores and art galleries in Florida, so finding items for your new home won’t be a problem. If you’re attached to family heirlooms and you have antique furniture that you can’t imagine selling, start contacting moving companies that can help you create a plan to transport your belongings safely to your new home. By considering all of these points, you can begin to formulate a list of what to bring and what not to bring to Florida.