YOU ARE RENTING A PROPERTY IN THE USA. WHAT ARE THE MAIN STEPS TO TAKE BEFORE AND AFTER THE MOVE?

1. If the property is in a gated or secured community, verify the process to gain automatic access, as well as to all service providers, such as landscaping, swimming pool, pest control companies etc.

2. Beforehand, plan and check with the homeowner’s association (HOA) on which days of the week you can move in.

3. Check which services (utilities etc.) will be under your responsibility, then register/sign up with these companies no later than the day you move in (so as not to risk being without the service) and set-up the auto-pay for these expenses: water, electricity, internet, cable TV, landscaping, pest control, gas and any other expenses that your property incurs. The services under your responsibility should be listed in your rental agreement.

 4. Most lease contracts in Florida require tenant to get insurance (for property’s inside contents). Contact an insurance broker to obtain a quote and details. 

5. Notify the post office (USPS – United States Postal Services) about your change of address, requesting the forwarding of your mail from your old address to the current one: https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm (you will need to pay a $ 1.00 fee). 

6. If the maintenance of the lawn / garden is under your responsibility, check if the property has an irrigation system (“sprinkler”) and verify that the timer has already been set. Otherwise, the owner of the property will charge you for damages if these are not kept healthy.

7. Shutters (hurricane door and window protections): Check if the property has these protections and ask the owner for guidance on how to use them. Typically, homeowners are responsible for the property’s insurance (external only) and the tenant for placing the protections in the event of a hurricane. If tenant does not do so and there is damage to the property, the tenant will be responsible for compensating the owner for the damages. 

8. Check which days of the week you can place the trash and recyclable cans outside the residence, and where you can store them on other days.

Important Note: The actions above, as well as possibly others, will be under customer’s entire responsibility (including verifying if other actions are also necessary).  By no means is your real estate agent’s responsibility to remind you or even verify this information. Our recommendations are courtesy of Florida 360 Realty, and are not limited to the ones described.