AJ Moving Help — Free Resource
YOUR COMPLETE
FLORIDA MOVING GUIDE
How to pack the right way, dodge the surprises that ruin move day, and actually enjoy settling into your new place.
SUPPLIES YOU ACTUALLY NEED
Before you pack a single item, get these on hand. Missing any of these on moving day creates real problems — especially in Florida's heat and humidity.
Florida tip: Use packing paper, not newspaper.
Newsprint ink transfers to white furniture, light-colored items, and dishes — especially when the paper gets damp in transit. Unprinted packing paper costs a few dollars more and saves hours of cleaning.
HOW TO PACK — ROOM BY ROOM
The Core Rule: Pack Last-Used Last
Start with storage closets, garage, holiday items, and off-season clothing. End with kitchen, daily bathroom, and the clothes you wear every day.
Pack First (Weeks 3–4 out)
Storage areas, garage, books, artwork, off-season clothes, guest room, holiday decor
Pack Middle (Week 2 out)
Living room decor, extra linens, china, formal dining items, basement/attic
Pack Last (Days before)
Kitchen, daily bathroom, everyday clothes, electronics you use daily
🍳 Kitchen— Allow 2 full days for an average kitchen.
- →Wrap plates individually in packing paper, then stand them on edge in dish boxes — like records, not pancakes. Flat stacking causes breaks from weight and vibration.
- →Stuff the inside of each glass with crumpled paper before wrapping the outside. Use cell-divider boxes and pack glasses upside down.
- →Heavy items (cast iron, stand mixers, canned goods) go in small boxes only. A large box of canned goods can exceed 60 lbs and tear through the bottom.
- →Seal shampoo-style bottles and liquids in zip-lock bags. Even "closed" bottles open under truck vibration and pressure.
- →Do not move open cooking oils, vinegar, or liquid condiments in cardboard — wrap tightly in plastic wrap first.
- →Line every kitchen box with 2–3 layers of packing paper at bottom and top.
- →Do not pack perishables for a move longer than a few hours. Use them up or donate in the final week.
🛏️ Bedrooms
- →Use wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes — clothes travel on the hanger and arrive wrinkle-free. One standard wardrobe box holds about 2 feet of closet rod.
- →In Florida's humidity, avoid sealing clothing in plastic bags for more than a day. Trapped moisture causes mildew. Use breathable wardrobe boxes or fabric bags.
- →Remove dresser drawers or secure with stretch wrap. You can often leave folded clothing inside drawers if the dresser is light enough.
- →Wrap mirrors and framed artwork in packing paper, then bubble wrap. Mark "FRAGILE — DO NOT LAY FLAT" and transport vertically.
- →Keep jewelry, watches, and important documents in your personal vehicle — not on the truck.
🛋️ Living Room
- →Disassemble what you can. Remove legs from sofas and tables, shelves from bookcases. Put all hardware in labeled zip-lock bags taped to the furniture it belongs to.
- →Photograph your electronics setup before unplugging anything. The photo is your rewiring guide at the new place.
- →Transport flat-screen TVs standing upright — never flat on their face in the truck. Use original boxes or TV-specific moving boxes.
- →Bundle and label every cable before disconnecting. A strip of masking tape labeled "TV HDMI" saves 30 minutes of frustration at the new place.
🔧 Garage & Storage
- →Drain fuel completely from lawnmowers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, and generators. Florida moving companies cannot transport equipment with fuel — it's a fire hazard.
- →Remove propane tanks entirely. They cannot travel in a moving truck under any circumstances.
- →Wrap tools individually in packing paper and use small, heavy-duty boxes. Loose tools shift and puncture boxes.
- →Sort before you pack — most people have 30–40% of garage items they no longer need.
THE LABELING SYSTEM THAT ACTUALLY WORKS
- Assign each room a color. One roll of colored tape per room — on every box going to that room.
- Write on all four sides — not just the top. When boxes are stacked three high you can't read the top.
- Write: room name + contents + priority. "KITCHEN — Plates & Bowls — OPEN FIRST" tells the crew where it goes and tells you what to unpack first.
- Number every box (Box 1 of 47) and keep a quick list on your phone. Takes 5 minutes. You'll know immediately if a box didn't arrive and where to find anything specific.
- FRAGILE on top and at least two sides — every box with breakables.
YOUR "FIRST 24 HOURS" BAG
This bag or box stays in your car and never goes on the truck. It's the first thing you open at the new place.
MOVING DAY TIPS
Florida Heat — Start Early
Schedule movers for a 7–8 AM start. Temperatures in Florida are tolerable in the early morning and climb past 95°F by early afternoon — not counting humidity. The interior of a truck on a hot summer day can hit 120°F. Electronics, candles, vinyl records, medications, and soft plastics should ride in your car with AC, not on the truck.
Florida Afternoon Storms
Florida's summer rainy season brings nearly daily storms between 2–5 PM. If your move extends into the afternoon, have plastic furniture covers and trash bags ready for loading and unloading. Assign one person to watch the radar on their phone.
Have These Ready Before the Crew Arrives
- ✓Cash or confirmed payment method — verify accepted payment with your movers in advance
- ✓A cooler with water and sports drinks at both locations. Hydration for the crew keeps the move efficient.
- ✓Floor protection — old blankets, towels, or purchased floor runners in all high-traffic areas and entry halls
- ✓Your personal vehicle loaded: First 24 Hours bag, medications, valuables, heat-sensitive items
- ✓Building/HOA contact number in your phone in case of access issues
- ✓Pets secured, boarded, or with a friend for the day — a dog underfoot is a safety hazard for everyone
- ✓Children's supervision arranged — designate one adult solely for childcare, not box moving
Book These in Advance (Not on Moving Day)
Moving Company
Book 4–6 weeks out for a standard local move. During summer (May–September), book 6–8 weeks out. Quality companies fill up fast.
Elevator Reservation
For condos or apartment buildings, contact building management 2–4 weeks out. Most buildings limit moving to 2–4 hour windows. Confirm details 48 hours before.
HOA Rules
Get written HOA moving policy 2 weeks before. Many Florida HOAs restrict to weekday hours, ban Saturday moves, and limit truck sizes. Violations can cost $50–$500 in fines.
Parking Permits
In denser areas, moving trucks need designated space. Call your city/county transportation office — some require 5–7 business days' notice.
Before the Truck Pulls Away — Final Walkthrough
Items forgotten during a walkthrough are one of the most common and most avoidable moving day losses. Check every one of these:
COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
Starting to Pack Too Late
A 3-bedroom house packed properly — with wrapping, labeling, and inventory — takes 15–25 hours of work. That's two to three full weekends. Starting the week before your move guarantees chaos and damaged items.
The fix: Begin packing 4 weeks out. Start with storage areas and anything you use less than once a month.
Waiting Too Long to Book Movers
Quality Florida moving companies book out 4–8 weeks in advance during peak season. Calling a week out leaves you with whoever has availability — not always who you want.
The fix: Book as soon as you have a confirmed move date. Get written confirmation, not just a verbal quote.
Getting a Verbal Quote Only
Verbal quotes mean nothing. Extremely low quotes that seem too good to be true often lead to "surprise charges" added after your belongings are already loaded.
The fix: Get written estimates from 2–3 companies. Understand whether the estimate is binding, not-to-exceed, or non-binding.
Packing Prohibited Items
Florida movers cannot transport: propane tanks, gasoline, nail polish remover, bleach, lighter fluid, paint thinner, fireworks, or ammunition. Discovering these on the truck means they get left behind.
The fix: Ask your moving company for their prohibited items list before you begin packing.
Overpacking Boxes
A large box of heavy items can exceed 80 lbs — back injuries happen this way, and boxes tear through the bottom. This is one of the most common causes of damaged items on moving day.
The fix: Keep all boxes under 50 lbs. Heavy items (books, dishes, tools) go in small boxes only.
Not Measuring Furniture and Doorways
Large sectionals, pianos, and oversized dressers may not fit through standard doorways or stairwells. Discovering this on moving day, with four movers standing there waiting, is expensive.
The fix: Measure large furniture pieces and the doorways, hallways, and staircases at the new home before moving day.
Skipping Utility Setup at the New Home
Moving into a home with no electricity or no air conditioning on a Florida summer day is an emergency, not just an inconvenience.
The fix: Schedule utility activation at least one week before moving day. Confirm the AC is on and tested the day before.
Forgetting to Update Your Address
USPS mail forwarding does not cover everyone. Banks, the IRS, the DMV, insurance companies, and your doctor need direct updates — not a forwarding form.
The fix: Submit USPS change of address 1 week before. Then separately update: bank, insurance, Florida DMV (required within 30 days), employer, SSA, and all subscriptions.
YOUR MOVING TIMELINE CHECKLIST
Click any item to mark it done. Use this as your real working checklist.
4 WEEKS OUT
- Confirm your move date
- Book your moving company and get written confirmation
- Contact building management to reserve elevator (if condo/apartment)
- Get HOA moving policy in writing
- Check parking permit requirements at both addresses
- Review your moving company's prohibited items list
- Begin sorting every room: Donate, Trash, Keep piles
- Schedule a donation pickup or drop-off
- Start collecting packing supplies
- Pack storage closets, attic, and garage (non-gas items)
- Pack books, decorative items, artwork, and collectibles
- Pack guest room and formal dining items
- Start a box inventory list (number and note contents)
2 WEEKS OUT
- Submit USPS change of address at usps.com
- Notify bank, credit card companies, and investment accounts
- Update health insurance, auto insurance, and renter's/homeowner's insurance
- Schedule utility disconnection at old home (electric, water, internet, cable)
- Schedule utility activation at new home — confirm AC will be on
- Update Florida driver's license and vehicle registration address
- Notify children's schools and request records transfer
- Notify doctor, dentist, and pharmacy
- Return borrowed items (library books, neighbor's tools)
- Pick up dry cleaning and items at service businesses
- Defrost freezer (at least 24 hours before movers arrive — calendar this now)
- Take photos of electronics setups before unplugging
- Pack living room, most of bedrooms, and bathrooms (keep daily essentials out)
- Begin kitchen packing — dishes, glassware, small appliances
1 WEEK OUT
- Confirm date, time, and details with your moving company
- Confirm elevator reservation and any building deposits required
- Confirm parking access at both locations
- Call utilities to verify activation is confirmed at new home
- Arrange childcare and/or pet care for moving day
- Disconnect and prepare washer and dryer
- Pack all remaining boxes except your First 24 Hours bag
- Disassemble furniture that won't fit through doorways
- Wrap furniture in moving blankets (not plastic — traps humidity in Florida)
- Confirm AC is operating at new home
- Pack your First 24 Hours bag
MOVING DAY
- Set up cooler with water and drinks for your crew at both locations
- Lay floor protection in all high-traffic areas and entry halls
- Clearly separate any items NOT going on the truck — tell movers explicitly
- Load personal vehicle with First 24 Hours bag, valuables, and heat-sensitive items
- Be present and available throughout the move to answer questions
- Do a complete walkthrough before the truck leaves — every room, closet, cabinet, drawer
- Take final walkthrough photos and video of the old home
- Return all keys, garage openers, mailbox keys, and community access cards
- At new home: confirm AC is on before unloading starts
- Prioritize reassembling beds first so everyone can sleep tonight
- Review and sign all moving company paperwork before crew leaves
- Tip your movers (cash per person is standard)
READY TO BOOK YOUR MOVE?
We're a local Florida moving crew that shows up on time, handles your stuff with care, and doesn't hit you with surprise charges.