Moving to Boca Raton: Your First 30 Days Checklist

The search is over, the boxes are in, and now the practical part begins. Most of my relocation clients ask the same question the week after they arrive: what am I supposed to do first? Here is the checklist I give them, in the order that tends to work.

Week one: the paperwork

• Driver's license and vehicle registration. Florida expects new residents to switch both within a short window after establishing residency. The state's motor vehicle office publishes the requirements and the documents to bring. In Palm Beach County, the tax collector's offices handle both.
• Voter registration, if you are a citizen, which can be done online.
• Homestead exemption. If the home you bought is your primary residence, Florida's homestead exemption may reduce your property tax bill, and it comes with other protections. The filing goes to the county property appraiser, and there is a deadline early in the year, so do not let it slip. For what it means for your specific taxes, your CPA is the right person to ask.
• Update your address with your bank, your employer, your insurers, and the federal postal service's mail forwarding.

Week one: the essentials

• Utilities. Electricity is typically through the regional power company. Water and sewer are through the city or the county, depending on where the home sits. Set up both before move-in day if you can.
• Internet and cable. Options vary by building and community, and some associations include a provider in the fee.
• Association registration. Gate access, parking decals, amenity cards, and the resident portal all come from the association's office. This is also where you learn the rules for trash days, deliveries, and contractors.

Insurance and hurricane readiness

Your homeowners or renters policy should already be active from closing or move-in. Now is the moment to read it once more and confirm what is covered.

Hurricane season stretches across the summer and fall. Do the preparation while the sky is blue:

• Know your evacuation zone. The county's emergency management office publishes the zones and the routes.
• Learn how the home's protection works: impact windows, shutters, or panels, and where the hardware is stored.
• Put together a basic supply kit: water, non-perishable food, medication, flashlights, batteries, cash, and copies of key documents.
• If the home has a generator, learn how to run it safely.
• Sign up for county emergency alerts.

For renters, confirm in the lease who is responsible for putting up shutters and preparing the home.

Getting to know the area

Give yourself the first month to explore before you settle into a routine. The beaches, the downtown area around Mizner Park, the parks and nature trails, and the shopping around Town Center are the obvious starting points. Drive your commute at the hours you will actually drive it. Visit the neighborhoods you did not choose, so you know what is nearby. If you rented first, this is the month that tells you where you want to buy.

For newcomers from abroad

If you are arriving from another country, a few items belong on the list early: opening a US bank account, understanding how your tax situation changes, and getting the identification numbers you will need for everything from utilities to leases. These are exactly the questions where a specialist matters. I connect my clients with a cross-border tax advisor, an immigration attorney, and a banker who work with international newcomers regularly, so you get correct answers rather than forum guesses.

And then, breathe

The first month is a list. The second month is your life here. If something on this checklist is unclear, or you want the names of the professionals I mentioned, you can reach me here. My relocation page and the Newcomer's Guide cover what to know before you arrive.