South Florida seems to have a never-ending supply of condo units available, and condo living is a huge element of the Palm Beach real estate scene. However, moving into a condo is slightly different than moving into a single family home, and therefore you need to plan for it in different ways. Have no fear—we have all of the tips and tricks you need for a successful move into a Palm Beach condo!
First, you need to figure out what you are going to be taking with you. Before you call a moving company and get a quote, you need to de-clutter your apartment and get rid of what you don't use or need prior to moving. There is no sense in lugging around excess belongings with you. Sell it, donate it, leave it on the side of the road—whatever you don't want should be tossed so you have an honest idea of what you have and what will be coming with you. It will save you time for packing and money. This is a good moment when moving to a condo from a house or an apartment to make a floor plan. Measure the furniture and leave behind or put to storage what won't be moved.
Reserve an elevator. Condo living revolves around community, and you have to consider you probably aren't the only person moving in on a given day. For this reason, many Palm Beach condo buildings have an elevator sign up to reserve the elevator for a four-hour block to get moved in/out and avoid overlapping with another move, lengthening the process for everyone. Play it smart and make a reservation.
Get moving quotes. Once you get your belongings narrowed down to things that will definitely be coming with you, you have an idea of how many rooms worth of stuff you have. Moving companies often determine rates by how many rooms are being moved, so the less stuff, the less money for you. You can also see if the condos work with any moving companies specifically. Read reviews, and purchase moving insurance so that your items are protected in case anything happens in the moving process.
Change your address and get your mail forwarded. That means to notify health institutions, school/ day care, gather records (school, doctor, dentist, pets, etc.) cancel subscriptions, change postal address, utilities, phone, inform your boss, colleagues, friends and relatives, your bank, credit card institutions, and any other companies that need your current info. Also, don't forget you will need to update your driver's license upon moving as well.
Look through the condo paperwork. Each building has their own rules and regulations, such as pool hours, parking, guest policies, and more, and you want to ask questions to management if something is unclear. Violations to the condo policies could result in hefty fines, so it is better to be safe than sorry.