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Tips for Buying a Home in Miami

Tips for Buying a Home in Miami

It seems like everyone in South Florida comes from somewhere else. Recently, the tri-county area eclipsed 6 million residents with many of these people coming from other parts of the country or the world. We are proud that our home is a bustling, burgeoning place. Many people need advice on how to buy a home, which is where we step in. Check out these tips on how to purchase a home down here.

You Are Probably Going to Need a Realtor

The internet is useful for many wonderful things. A surge of reality based websites have come onto the scene in a big way, with Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com leading the pack. We understand the temptation to go it alone, but that might not be the best choice. Realtors are more knowledgeable about the neighborhoods and suburbs of the city, and prices you might be able to get. They can be your point men on tax and insurance information, as well as the legal side of the purchase.

When you get a realtor, it is important to keep a few things in mind. People say that they want a bulldog who can lower the price or a whiz who knows all the facts. A realtor should listen more than they talk, and knows what they do not know. If someone claims to have all the answers, they are probably not telling the whole truth.

Prices May Shock You

We understand that there are many parts of the country where the cost of property and homes have not risen substantially since the Louisiana Purchase. You will find that this is not the case in South Florida. Miami is an incredibly desirable location, and you may have to look for a home that is slightly smaller than you would otherwise be able to get.

Inspect Everything

The elements of South Florida are fairly unique. There is a very good shot that the conditions down here are not like where you are from. Since this is the case, you might need to look for different possible defects. You will need to do a roof inspection, a build to code inspection, a wind mitigation inspection, and a check for termites should be completed. Air conditioning is an absolute must in this neck of the woods, and moisture gets absolutely everywhere. You ought to be prepared for this.

Miami Hurricanes Are Not Just a Football Team

We are right in the middle of the crosshairs for many different storms, and you should be prepared for that. If a house has storm shutters or the doors are reinforced, you are in a better place. Should this not be the case, read up on how to protect yourself and your family when the worst befalls you.

Check the Schools

If you have kids, this is an absolute must. Certain areas of the city have schools which are safe, good, and will prepare your kids for the future. Others do not provide the same learning environment. Miami has quite a few magnet schools, and it may be worth looking into to see if you can get your child into one of those. In any case, check the zoning of where you will be moving to.

If you have any questions about moving to Miami, do not hesitate to contact us. We have been in Miami for a very long time. You will be grooving with Joe’s Moving.

Best School Neighborhoods in Miami

Best School Neighborhoods in Miami

Miami is home to 7 of the top 100 public high schools in the country according to the most recent reports.  People have come to Miami for the weather and for business, but now they are coming so that their kids get a good education. As part of our service to you, we want to help you explore the area, and make sure your kids are getting the education that they deserve.

Weston

This wonderful area of Miami is tucked up against the Everglades. Many people report a very suburban feel to the city, and we must say that we agree. Weston is in the northern part of Miami, and has around 65,000 residents. Their public high school, Cypress Bay High School, is in the top 300 of all public high schools in the US. If you think that your child is bright enough for AP, this may be the route to go, given that 76% of students are tested.

In addition, Weston is the home of Imagine Weston, a tuition free public charter school. A host of elementary schools can prepare your children for the next steps. Weston schools are safe, and can prepare you for the stages of their lives to come.

Aventura

This part of Miami is in the north, and relatively close to the shore. Residents of Aventura are more likely to have a Master’s Degree and a Bachelor’s degree than the national average, and this city’s dedication to pedagogy really shows in its dedication to public schools.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools administers the Aventura schools. Dr. Michael Krop Senior High School earned a silver medal from the U.S. News and World Report. Recently, the Aventura City of Excellence School has opened. It is a K-8 charter school and has recently excited many in this fast-growing community.

Bay Harbor Islands

The town of Bay Harbor Islands has very few residents, but it feels like a city. This place is always thriving and humming along, and we understand why. Almost every part of this city has a view of the ocean. Despite the fact that this place has fewer than 6,000 residents, Bay Harbor Islands has fantastic schools.

The schools have incredible test scores, which is made all the more impressive because they are constantly improving. The Ruth K. Broad Bay Harbor K-8 Center is the most prominent among them, since it beats the state average in English, Math, and Civics. When students matriculate from this learning center, they go to Miami Beach Senior High School which is among the top 750 high schools in America.

Key Biscayne

Key Biscayne is one of the nicest parts of Miami, and this extends to the schools. MAST Academy is one of the top 100 schools in the country. 98% of the students take the AP Exams, and 81% of them pass. The Key Biscayne K-8 Center is also incredibly highly rated.

If you have any questions about Miami or the schools that serve our students, ask us today. Joe’s Moving is happy to help all of those who are moving to or from our city. You will be grooving with Joe’s Moving.

Top 7 Tips for an International Move

Top 7 Tips for an International Move

51.7%, more than half, of all residents of Miami-Dade County were born in another country according to official US Census Data. We are proud of how open our city is, and we believe that our diversity is our strength. As part of our dedication to the people who want to move here, we are providing a guide to moving internationally.

  1. You Do Not Need Every Item You Have

Generally, if you have more items, it will cost more to move it. Take a good, hard look at everything you own, and ask if you really need it or cannot get it in the country you are moving to. That quilt that Grandma made is irreplaceable, but you can buy a new TV at your destination.

  1. Organize Everything on One List

Moving is a stressful time, and a little bit of organization can go a long way. Try to compile all of the information that you need on one document, and back that document up. It is easy for things to get lost in the maelstrom that is moving, so simplifying is vital.

  1. Create a Checklist of Everything That Needs to Be Done

One of the first things that should go on your one sheet is a list of vital actions to take. Doctor’s appointments, insurance information, and schools’ records need to be obtained. There is a very long list of things you have to do, and going through it methodically will be crucial to a smooth transition.

  1. Label Everything

On your master list, you are going to want to keep a record of every box that you are bringing with you. Labeling all of your boxes with their contents is a good way to understand what you have and what you are missing. Plus, when you unpack, you will know what to unpack first.

  1. Check, Double-Check, and Triple-Check Your Documents

The people at immigration are rarely a forgiving group. Before you depart, you need to know exactly what you will need to present for them. You should be able to find some guides online about what you need to depart your country and what you will need when you arrive. We also recommend backing up these documents. If your copy is a physical copy, it may be a good idea to scan these and store them digitally. Your visa is especially important here.

  1. Storage Is Your Friend

If you are moving short-term, consider putting your furniture in storage. For a move that is fewer than two years, storing your furniture with a company is wise.

  1. Prepare for Culture Shock

In your home country, chances are you have a favorite grocery store or restaurant with your favorite foods. You speak the language of everyone around you, and you know the culture of your hometown inside and out. When you moving to a new country, you are leaving all of that behind. You may need to take language lessons, or talk to someone from that country to understand a little bit more. In some places, showing up to a party two hours late is the norm, while in other it is a grave insult. These are things you need to know.

At Joe’s Moving, we are experts in helping people move internationally. If you have any questions, please let us know. Call us, and our friendly, experienced, and highly-professional staff will help you with your move abroad.

Tips for Setting Up Your Miami Home for AirBnB

Tips for Setting Up Your Miami Home for AirBnB —

AirBnB has accommodated more than 60 million people in more than 30,000 cities around the world, according to their statistics. There were about 15.8 million overnight travelers in Miami, from the Miami Herald.  Both of these facts combined means that setting up your home for AirBnB could be quite the investment. Read more tips below.

1.Ask Yourself What You Want

Some people want different outcomes from their rentals. Some owners want to meet some new people and get some extra money now and then. Others want to have a stable secondary source of income. Another group wants AirBnB to be their main source of income. All of these require different time commitments, and come with different initial costs. If you want to get the most from AirBnB, you need to recognize what you want from it.

2. Safety First

This one is important. It is also important to recognize this as a two-way street. The purpose of the profiles is so that everyone is who they say they are. You are letting this person into your home, or your apartment. The site provides you a platform to communicate with your guests, and ask questions. If you are not comfortable with it, you do not have to accept someone.

At the same time, a potential guest would not want to stay in your place if they thought it was unsafe. When you want to travel, you do not go to the dangerous part of town. A potential guest can check which neighborhood you are in, and see the state of your house.

AirBnB handles all of the money. Since this is the case, you know that things will be transparent. Guests are allowed to rate hosts, and hosts are allowed to rate guests. If someone has done something wrong, you can say so. That applies to both you and then.

3. Know the Standards

When you arrive in a hotel room, you expect certain things. For example, you need clean sheets, clean towels, a clean floor, WiFi, etc. None of these items are free, which is something you need to keep in mind. The addition of something as simple as a coffee maker will direct many potential guests to your page.

4. Presentation Matters

When you put a room, house or otherwise on AirBnB you are selling something. People want to see pictures, they want to know exactly what you have and do not have, and they want to see a full fridge. If you click on a hotel’s website, and you see only dark, awful pictures, chances are you are not going to stay there. In the same vein, you need to take nice pictures and put your best foot forward.

5. Know the Law

If you get money from AirBnB and you do not pay taxes on it, you will be in hot water. In certain cities, AirBnB is not covered in leasing agreements. Landlords ought to be informed when you decide to rent out via the site. AirBnB offers certain guarantees for liabilities to hosts, but that is not to say that everything is covered. Look up pertinent laws before you decide to rent.

At Joe’s Moving, we are dedicated to your moving needs. Call us when you need quick, efficient, and highly-professional movers.

Things No One Tells You About Moving Close to the Water

Moving close to the water. Living near the ocean

In the US, there are millions of beachfront homes. We definitely understand the appeal of living by the sea. The quiet crash of the waves upon the sound is a sweeter sound than many symphonies, and there is nothing quite like the sight of the sun rising over the sea. That being said, there are a few things that you need to know about owning a home on (or near) the water.

You May Not Have Exclusive Access to the Beach

Property is nine-tenths of the law, as the old saying goes. Property law in regard to beachfront homes is sometimes hard to disentangle. According to the State Constitution of Florida,  all beaches below the ‘mean high-water line’, otherwise known as wet sand, are public. Court cases have established the right of the public to use the dry sand when the public has been using a beach for the past 20 years without objection from the landowners, or through customary use, which is to say the peaceful, ‘ancient’, use of the beach by the public.

In the case Stop the Beach Renourishment vs. Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that when the government replaces eroded beach, the public owns the beach. Essentially, there is no right for waterfront property to contact the water.

Hurricane Season Comes Once a Year

People have many misconceptions about hurricanes. Everyone sees the massive storm on television. When they do broadcasts about the storm, they emphasize the heavy winds. Actually, the most damaging part of the storm is the storm surge. This is the massive tide of water that the storm pushes up the beach. A storm surge can cause flooding.

It is a good idea to know what to do before a hurricane hits. Having supplies on hand and knowing how to secure your home is paramount. A check of your home for leaks before hurricane season starts is a good idea. Sand dunes and stilts also go a long way towards protecting your home.

The Elements Are Not Always in Your Favor

There is nothing quite like the crisp smell of the salt breeze. However, as you sit out on the patio sipping a drink, your home is taking abuse. The salt winds bring crystals to the flashing and other exposed metal, which does not lead to good conclusions. Similarly, windows need to be cleaned pretty often. Electrical wires corrode very quickly, so make sure you have moisture-proof coating.

Natural Landscaping is the Best

Nature gives us many resources. The resources most applicable here will not only beautify your home, but will protect you. Saltbushes will provide a natural windbreak for you. Succulents firm up the ground, and provide a little green. Keep in mind that the plants will be in direct sunlight a lot, will face a lot of wind, and are salt-tolerant.

Generally, we find that the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to living on the beachfront. After all, it is incredibly common down here in South Florida. When you want to move to a beachfront home, call us. Joe’s Moving is your local Miami movers. You will be grooving with Joe’s moving.

 

How to Choose the Right Storage Unit Size

How to Choose the Right Unit Size

People use storage units for all sorts of items, and if you wish to utilize a storage unit there are many different things you need to consider. As part of our commitment to you, we have prepared four tips on how to select the right storage unit for your unique needs.

  1. Make a list, check it twice

Before you purchase space for storage, you need to know exactly what you are storing. Planning a little ahead goes a long way into picking the right size for you. For instance, you need to know if you will be storing anything that is irregularly shaped, or how many boxes you will need. Make a list of all the things that you will be storing, and get them squared away before you show up to the storage space. This is practical not only for your own organizational purposes, but also for estimating how much space you need. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, you can even break out a tape measure and gauge the size of your possessions yourself.

  1. Know what you want

This may seem fairly obvious, but you need to ask yourself what you are using the storage space for. Some people just want to put their belongings in storage for months at a time, and will not access it until they are moving out. If you are one of these people, feel free to cram as many of your belongings into the space as you can. The other group needs to be able to navigate around, and be able to pull out certain items as they need them. These people may want to consider buying a little bit more space, so that there is some room to create aisles or otherwise get access to everything in storage.

  1. Ask to see

Many storage facilities are not shy about their offerings. Often, you can see a few sample storage spaces. Here, you can walk around the space, stretch your arms out, lie down, do whatever so you have a better estimate as to what you are getting yourself into.

  1. Visualize

Before you get to the storage facility, it is important to figure out how much space you might need while you are still at home. A 5×5 is about the size of a small closet, and will fit a chest of drawers, a cabinet, and other small assorted item. A 5×10 can fit a mattress, some cabinets, some furniture, and a few other things. A 5×15 is about the size of a small 1 bedroom apartment. A 10×10 measures roughly the same as a single bedroom. A 10×15 could fit a compact car if you needed it to, and a 10×20 is akin to a multi-bedroom residence.

If you have any questions about storage, do not hesitate to call us today. Here at Joe’s Moving, we ensure that our warehouse is of the highest standard, in terms of security, cleanliness, and organization. You deserve peace of mind. If you want to take a look for yourself, come on down and see with your own two eyes.