Moving to Palm Beach County? Your First-Week Checklist

Finding the home is only half the move. After hundreds of rentals here in Palm Beach County, I can tell you the first week is where people get tripped up — so here's the checklist I give my own clients.

Before the truck arrives

Book your mover or rental truck early — good local movers fill up at month-end, which is when most leases turn over.

Order boxes and tape a few days ahead, not the night before. A standard 2-bedroom needs roughly 30–40 boxes.

Set up internet before move-in day. In most of Palm Beach County that's Xfinity; in fiber pockets AT&T may be available. Either way, an installation appointment booked a week out saves you a week of hotspot life.

Move-in day

Photograph every room before the furniture goes in. It takes ten minutes and it's your best protection when the deposit conversation comes up at the end of the lease.

Confirm what your lease requires: many Palm Beach County landlords require renters insurance, and some require proof before they hand over keys.

The first week

If your new home has a pool, get a weekly service started right away — a Palm Beach pool can turn green in days in the summer heat.

Same for the lawn: in rainy season the grass grows faster than you think, and many HOAs send letters fast.

Change the AC filter. It sounds small; your electric bill will say otherwise.

One page that saves you the phone calls

I built a Moving Concierge page on this site with the local companies my clients use — movers, boxes, furniture rental, pool service, landscaping, even a deposit-free move-in option for qualified renters. It's all at patrickbensimon.com/moving-concierge.

Questions about a move? Call my assistant Lily at (561) 765-7536, or reach me directly at (561) 779-1473.

— Patrick Bensimon, Bensimon Palm Beach Realty