Everybody knows that coordinating a move into a new home involves a lot of planning. The good news is it doesn’t have to be such a daunting task. If you follow some tips it can make the process go a lot more smooth when you use them as a checklist. If you are lucky enough to be booking movers then you are in even better shape. Here are 10 tips to assist as you plan your move.

Internet – This is often forgotten by many. If you would like to have internet service as soon as you move in, make sure to schedule this well in advance so that you can assure a timely appointment with the service provider.

Electricity – This is similar to your internet, yet typically easier. Contact the electric utility service company and alert them that you will be setting up an account in your name as of the day you take ownership. Provide necessary details for account setup.

Hire Movers – Do this well in advance so that you have time to gather a few estimates and have the best chance of scheduling them for the dates that you need.

Cleaning – If you have the opportunity to get into your new home before moving day, give it a deep cleaning. This is much easier to do early on before all of your belongings are delivered.

Inspect belongings – Especially if you have hired movers, inspect your items after they have been delivered. Make sure everything is intact as you set each box in its correct room.

Stay organized – It is always best if you have like items grouped together in clearly labeled boxes. This makes it much more streamlined when you unpack. Unpacking all of the essentials first like bedding, clothing and toiletries then tackle secondary items afterwards.

Rekey the locks – You never know how many copies were made and who has them so for peace of mind you may want to have them rekeyed.

Locate circuit breaker – Don’t wait until you blow a fuse at night to find the panel. Locate this ahead of time so you are not fumbling in the dark when and if you need to access it.

Window treatments – Adding blinds or curtains add function and privacy while reflecting your personal taste. If you haven’t decided on any when you move in, use some linen to temporarily provide you with privacy.

Meet the neighbors – Take a break from unpacking and walk outside and introduce yourself to the neighbors. Say hello to anyone you see outside and you will start to feel right at home and part of the community.

Spend some time in downtown Fort Lauderdale and you will see many different parcels of land either currently under construction or fenced off with building plans for the near future. In particular, the south of downtown area is the next area of focus for development with many of the downtown proper parcels already being accounted for.

Recently, 955 South Federal Highway has sold. This was formerly the Broward County’s building code enforcement staff quarters and now Skyland Management has purchased the building for $3 million and is planning on renovating the nearly 24,000 square feet of office space on top of the two level parking garage. The sale also includes a 22,000 square foot lot which they will eventually develop as well.

Just a few blocks away at 2100 South Miami Road developer Eli Halali is planning a 5-story building to house 12 condos along with ground floor commercial space. “We’re hoping to break ground in September,” Halali said of the unnamed project. “I love the area because it’s close to downtown, it’s close to the 17th Street Causeway, and you’re right there by the airport and Port Everglades,” he said. “I think it’s one of the best locations in Fort Lauderdale.”

Additional projects are also slated for the South Federal Highway and South Andrews Avenue corridor. Specifically, Harbor Park Apartments at 1919 Southeast 10th Avenue will house 310 rental apartments. Alliance Residential Company has also just opened their 394 unit apartment property “Broadstone Harbor Beach” at 1721 Southeast 17th Street.

Another larger development includes 501 Seventeen, a mixed-use project with a Whole Foods supermarket and nearly 250 apartments for rent. The development will sit on the 3-acre site at the corner of Southwest 17th and Federal Highway. “We’re still in the approval process,” said Hugo Pacanins, managing director of multifamily development for Ram Realty Services of Palm Beach Gardens, the company behind 501 Seventeen. “We’re hopeful it will get done later this year, so we can start construction next year.”

We all know that moving from home to home requires a lot of planning. There are many things to do like sorting through your belongings, tossing some items and packing the rest. Even if you can hire the best professional moving company, there are still some good tips on what not to do so that you can have the smoothest of moves. Here is a list to hep.

Don’t wait til the last minute – Gathering estimates will take you time. You will want to interview a few companies to find out what they all offer for services as well as find the best price. If you wait too long then you will run the risk of being forced to pick one based on availability rather than price.

Don’t be cheap – While you don’t want to overpay, keep in mind that you do get what you pay for. Good movers who have trained staff that are licensed and insured do cost more but will be good for peace of mind. Should there be any issues, they are more likely to handle them properly and make good on the situation.

Don’t forget to ask questions – When you are researching companies and getting estimates, make sure to ask some important questions. Ask questions like if they are licensed and insured, what insurance do they offer on your belongings, how is the staff trained, or can you get references are all good things to ask.

Don’t fall for fakes – Not all companies that you find online are good quality or reputable. Here are a few red flags for fake movers:

• No federal motor carrier number for interstate moves
• Mover will not meet you at home to provide written estimate
• Trucks are unmarked or generic
• Avoids questions about claim process or insurance

Don’t pay in cash – Most companies will charge you at the time of delivery when the move is completed. For larger, out of state moves, sometimes a deposit may be asked of you but is typically small and doesn’t exceed 20% of the total cost. Avoid companies that demand cash payments.

Do your homework – Be sure to do some fact checking on your own. Check references, review services offered and research the company online. For interstate moves see if they are licensed to do these types of moves as well.

Downtown Fort Lauderdale is heating up with more and more development brewing. Recently, the Stiles Real Estate firm is moving forward with their plans for more residential units, retail and a 25 – story tower of office space.

Stiles has recently met with the city’s Development Review Committee to discuss their plans specifically for 348 apartments along with over 25,000 square feet of retail space at 212 SE Second Avenue. It was shared that they had paid over $13million for the Bank of America building located on site. They also have been pre-leasing an office building nearby on Las Olas Blvd which was part of a deal with Broward College in efforts to replace its two older buildings.

Details of the proposed development include nearly 400,000 square feet in the office tower which would be slated to open in fall of 2020 including 17,000 square feet of ground floor retail. This office building would be the largest in downtown Fort Lauderdale since 200 Las Olas Circle, also built by Stiles.

Over the past decade there was a void of office space development due to the changing economy, however, with a revitalization of Fort Lauderdale’s downtown and improving markets the demand is on the rise.

Terry Stiles, Chairman had said earlier this year that the office building would help revitalize the area “by bringing new and exciting entertainment and dining options to the ground level as well as open venues for gathering.”

This certainly helps with the city’s overall plan to make downtown a “live-work-play” destination and having it all in a walking distance is key shared Barry Wolfe, VP of investments for Marcus & Millichap. “To be living downtown and still having to drive everywhere, it becomes more challenging,” Wolfe said.

Stiles has reportedly built more than 4 million square feet on or near Las Olas Blvd. These projects include Bank of America Plaza at Las Olas City Centre, Plaza at Las Olas and Amaray Las Olas.

Once you have been previewing homes and find one that fits your criteria then it is time to act quickly and submit an offer. This is a pivotal and quite exciting time during your home buying process as you have high hopes to strike a mutually agreeable price and terms for your next home. Once you submit your offer, one of three things will happen. It will either be accepted, countered or rejected. Here is a closer look at the possible outcomes.

Offer is rejected
If your offer is rejected, then the seller may feel that your proposed price and terms are just too far off from their goals that they are not willing to negotiate. If this happens, you may want to move on as it may be likely that there is too large of a gap between you and the seller.

Offer is countered
If your offer is countered then you fortunately have another chance to continue to negotiate. At this point consider if the seller’s offer is what you can agree on or if you may need to go back and modify the terms a bit more. This can go back and forth until you either agree on terms or one party decides to walk away.

Offer is accepted
Once your offer is accepted, now things become more real and exciting. Here are the basic things that will follow after the acceptance and signed offer.

• Financing – Now is the time to follow up with your mortgage broker who had pre approved you and alert them of the terms of your deal. Your lender will also make arrangements for a home appraisal to verify that the price you paid is a fair market value.
• Home inspection – A home inspection is a really wise idea as it is a really detailed look “under the hood” of the home. Depending on what is found by the inspector, you may ask the seller for some fixes, ask for a concession or simply pass on the home altogether.
• Homeowner Insurance – Lenders will want to see that you have an insurance binder for the home. Shop around for rates and don’t be afraid to negotiate. Sometimes you can save when you bundle things like home and auto plans.
• Proceed to closing – As you progress towards the closing date things happen behind the scenes and you may be contacted for some questions or information. Your lender will be preparing your loan paperwork, your attorney will be preparing your closing documents and title company will be doing research. Your job is to make sure that you have your down payment funds ready. Just before your closing appointment, you will typically do a final walk through of the home to inspect the condition and see if any changes were completed that were specified in the contract. You will then proceed to the closing and finish by signing all necessary documents. Once completed, you are officially a homeowner!

These days trying to find the perfect home can be challenging with such light inventory. Even when the right home comes available it can be stressful to act quickly. However, there are several things that you can do as you weather the seller’s market. Here are 5 tips to consider as you are house hunting.

Prequalification
Taking care of this step right away is always best. Typically one of the first questions that your agent will ask is if you have been prequalified by a mortgage agent. This will put you in the best playing field as all will know you are able to get a home loan.

Show you are serious
Getting prequalified for a home loan should be the first thing one does anyway. However, getting this step completed and having your pre qualification letter ready is the best thing you can do. Submitting a copy of this with your offer will help solidify your profile as being a qualified buyer. This will show the seller that you mean business and are financially sound.

Be flexible
In a tight real estate market like this, it can be wise to remain flexible. This means when submitting your offers on a competitive property, put your best foot forward and try to limit the amount of contingencies in the deal. Being more flexible will give you a better chance that the seller will want to continue negotiations with you ending with you being the winning bid.

Be readily available
With so many active buyers and so few homes available – time is of the essence. It is important to stay in open communication with your agent and respond quickly to follow up on any requests. Quick and clear communication will help facilitate the deal and show the sellers that you are serious.

Don’t play hard to get
In a seller’s market, it is not the ideal time to play hardball. If there are any other offers on the table and you show that you are not willing to budge, chances are the sellers may want to move on to the next offer. Be open to compromise so that you can show that you wish to keep the deal moving forward.