Letter of intent on new property

[Wendy Van Camp]

Hi, 

I want to do a 1031 exchange on an investment property I will have held for 2 years as of 4/1/18.  

First, should I wait until after that date to enter into a realtor contract to sell the property to insure that I get the presumption that my intent has been to hold it as an investment property?  It was previously my primary residence before renting it out.  

Second, I have identified a property that I would like to acquire with the proceeds of the exchange.  If I enter negotiations and submit a letter of intent to the sellers BEFORE the relinguished property is under contract, will that invalidate the 1031.

Thx!