Intrastate Movers: What You Can Expect in a Local Move

Intrastate vs. Interstate Move

What’s Involved in Local Moving: Packing, Loading and Delivery

• Your local moving company will contact you, regarding your moving plan. For example, you’ll be asked about moving dates, the addresses involved and the types of services you prefer.
• A local move is generally charged by the hour, regardless of the services involved, whether it’s wrapping, packing, loading, carrying boxes to a moving van, etc.
• Although local movers can pack your belongings, you can save a considerable amount of money by doing your own packing. Another option is doing most of the packing but having specialty items packed by a mover.
• On the day when your belongings are loaded onto a moving truck, a walk-through will be done by the moving crew. They’ll also protect high risk areas of your house from damage, such as using padding on stair railings.
• A systematic loading process is involved in which all moving boxes are labeled, according to rooms.
• When a shipment is delivered safely to a client’s new home, precautions are made for unloading it, such as using carpet covers and protective pads during the move-in process. Boxes are placed in the proper rooms at the direction of the client.

Guidelines for Choosing a Mover

• When selecting a mover, check to see if the company provides arbitration for claim disputes and the type of protection it has regarding damages or loss.
• Be sure a moving company is registered with the Florida Division of Consumer Services and that their registration numbers are printed clearly on contracts, estimates and other business forms.
• Ensure a mover carries liability insurance, motor vehicle insurance as this is a requirement under Florida law. Furthermore, be sure a mover has coverage for workers’ comp.
• Make sure a company is known for meeting delivery schedules.
• Find out if a mover offers packing, unpacking, storage and other types of additional services.

Other Considerations and Warnings

• All intrastate moves in Florida require a written estimate and contract, according to Florida Statutes, Chapter 507.
• Give yourself more lead-time for your move to meet your needs.
• Consider that the average intrastate move in Florida involves from two to six weeks for planning and preparation.
• The cost for a local move entails factors, such as the number of items to be moved, cubic footage, appliance servicing, if stairs or an elevator is involved and other conditions.
• Although it’s rare, sometimes a mover can charge more than the amount of a written estimate. These special instances involve moves in which costs were unforeseeable. However, a mover cannot demand payment for charges exceeding the estimate before delivery.
• Because late spring and summer are usually the busiest seasons for movers, it’s better to plan your move during early spring or late autumn.
• As the busiest days of the month for movers are the first and last days of a month, clients usually pay more on these days. Therefore, schedule your move on other days.
• It’s typically cheaper to move during the week than during weekends.