Question 1

How far ahead should I book movers?

Accepted Answer

Four to eight weeks is normal for a local move. For a move between states, or any move from May to September or at the end of a month, aim for eight to twelve weeks — those dates fill first. Ask for the date in writing as soon as you've chosen.

Question 2

What's the difference between a binding and a non-binding estimate?

Accepted Answer

A binding estimate fixes the price unless you add things or services. A non-binding estimate is a guess. On a move between states, the mover can't make you pay more than the estimate plus 10% at delivery; anything above that is billed later, after at least 30 days. A binding not-to-exceed estimate is the best of both: the price can go down if the load is lighter, never up.

Question 3

What won't movers take?

Accepted Answer

Anything flammable, explosive or corrosive: propane tanks, gasoline, paint, aerosols, fireworks, ammunition, pool chemicals, many cleaning products. Most won't take perishable food or plants on a long move. Medicines, documents, cash, jewelry and keys should never go on the truck anyway — they ride with you. Ask your mover for their own list; it's usually in the paperwork.

Question 4

What is valuation, and do I need full value protection?

Accepted Answer

By default a mover between states is only liable for 60 cents a pound per item — a 10-pound laptop is worth $6 to them. Full value protection costs extra, and makes the mover repair, replace, or pay the current value of anything lost or damaged. Check your renters or homeowners policy too; some cover belongings in transit, many don't. Ask before moving day, not after. Full value protection is usually priced on the weight: the default value is often $6 a pound of the shipment, with a minimum. If your things are worth more, declare a higher value in writing on the bill of lading.

Question 5

How long do I have to file a claim for damage or missing items?

Accepted Answer

On a move between states you have nine months from delivery to file a written claim. The mover must acknowledge it within 30 days and pay or refuse within 120. Write the damage on the delivery paperwork before you sign, photograph it the same day, and send the claim in writing — a phone call isn't a claim. Local moves follow your state's rules and the contract; read the bill of lading.

Question 6

How do I check a mover is legitimate?

Accepted Answer

A mover crossing state lines must have a USDOT number. Look it up on the federal FMCSA site (search "Protect Your Move" or SAFER) and check it's active and matches the company's name. Ask directly: are you the carrier, or a broker who sells the job on? Read recent complaints, not just the star rating.

Question 7

What are the warning signs of a moving scam?

Accepted Answer

A large deposit up front, or cash only. A price given over the phone without seeing or listing your things. No USDOT number, or a company name that keeps changing. No copy of "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" on a move between states. A much lower price than everyone else — the classic move is to raise it once your things are on the truck. A price that's "only good today" or disappears if you hang up. A real price survives a night's sleep; pressure to decide on the call is there so you can't compare. Discounts stacked on a big number, with a fee hidden in between. Add the lines up yourself — the fee is often bigger than the discount.

Question 8

What is the Rights and Responsibilities booklet?

Accepted Answer

Movers taking you between states must give you the federal booklet "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" — usually as a link — before the move. It explains estimates, valuation, claims and what they can charge. If a mover never mentions it, that tells you something.

Question 9

What is a bill of lading?

Accepted Answer

It's the contract and the receipt for your things in one document. Read it before you sign on loading day: the price or estimate, the pickup and delivery dates, and the valuation you chose should all be on it. Keep your own copy with you, not in a box.

Question 10

Should I book with a broker or directly with a mover?

Accepted Answer

A mover (the carrier) owns the trucks and employs the crew. A broker owns neither — it takes your booking and sells the job to a mover, often one you've never heard of. Brokers are legal and must be registered, but the estimate is only as good as the mover who ends up with your job, and on moving day you're dealing with a company you didn't choose. The deposit usually goes to the broker. Booking directly means the company that quoted you is the one that turns up, and there's one company to hold to the price. Ask every company: are you the mover or a broker? Do your own crews and trucks do the job? Then look up the USDOT number at protectyourmove.gov — the listing says carrier or broker.

Question 11

What does a move usually cost?

Accepted Answer

National ranges for full-service movers in 2026: a local move (up to 100 miles) is roughly $500–1,200 for a studio or one bedroom, $1,200–2,500 for two or three bedrooms, and $2,500–5,000 for four or more. Around 1,000 miles or more: roughly $2,500–5,500, $4,500–8,500 and $8,000–14,000 for the same sizes. Stairs, packing, peak season and extra insurance add to it. Getting quotes compares your own quotes to the range for your move. If one quote is far below the rest, be careful: the classic scam is a low price that grows once your things are on the truck.

Question 12

Is there a cheaper way to move long distance?

Accepted Answer

Ask for return-trip (backhaul) or shared-load pricing. Most long-distance moves already run this way: the big van lines work through local agents — one packs and loads near you, a long-haul driver carries several households in one truck, and an agent at the other end unloads. A truck that would otherwise drive home part-empty is the cheapest space on the road. The question to ask an agent near you: "Do you have a truck heading toward [your destination] that week, and what's your shared-load price if I give you a delivery window?" The price of the saving is time: you get a pickup window and a delivery window rather than set days, and other people's things share the truck. The more days you can give, the better the price. Get it in writing: the delivery window, the price, whether the estimate is binding, and who is liable if it's late. Containers are the other way to pay only for the space you use. In The Packed Rabbit, Getting quotes sends every mover the same packet, so their prices can be compared side by side.

Question 13

How do military PCS moves work now?

Accepted Answer

A government-arranged move is booked through the military, not by hiring a mover yourself. Start with your local personal property (transportation) office as soon as you have orders — they counsel you and book the move. Since May 2026 the Defense Department's Personal Property Activity runs the program. It replaced a temporary task force set up after the department cancelled its HomeSafe Alliance contract in June 2025 over missed pickups and deliveries. You can also move some or all of your things yourself and be paid for it — a personally procured move (PPM). Ask your office about it before you start. If something is lost or damaged, file in the Defense Personal Property System: a quick claim for under $500, or a full replacement value claim. The Packed Rabbit's box photos and inventory are the record a claim needs.

Question 14

What is a PPM, and how do I get paid for moving myself?

Accepted Answer

A personally procured move (PPM) is when you move your own things — your car, a rental truck, or a company you hire — and the government pays you. You need valid orders and authorization from your origin shipping office first; anything spent before your orders isn't reimbursed. The incentive is 100% of what it would have cost the government to move the same weight (the Government Constructed Cost), up to your weight allowance. You can ask for an advance based on your estimated weight — overestimate and you may owe some back. Weight tickets are everything: a certified empty and full weight ticket for every vehicle. Estimates, manufacturer weights and online figures don't count. Without tickets you lose the incentive and get only your actual costs back. Keep every receipt. Submit to your destination shipping office (separating or retiring: your origin office). The Packed Rabbit's Count for the movers and receipts help you check the weight before you're at the scale.

Question 15

I'm moving on my own. How do I stay safe with movers?

Accepted Answer

Check the mover's USDOT number before anyone comes to the door, and book directly with the company that will do the job. Have someone there, or on a video call, while the crew arrives and while you pay. Give the crew an on-site contact — a real person they can call — so it's plain you're not handling this alone. Say "we", not "I". Never write that you live alone on a quote form, and don't post your moving date publicly. When the crew arrives, send someone you trust the company, USDOT number, truck plate and crew names. Text them again when the truck leaves. Keep your phone charged and on you. If anything feels wrong you can stop the job — and if you feel threatened, call 911. In The Packed Rabbit, the Moving alone, safely page does all of this in a few taps.

Question 16

How much should I tip movers?

Accepted Answer

Tipping is optional, but customary — very few people never tip. A common guide is $20–50 per mover for a day's work on a local move, and $50–100 per mover per day on a long-distance one. By the hour, $4–15 per mover. Some people tip 10–20% of the bill instead. Food and drinks are kind, but they don't replace the tip. Move day works it out for you once you say how many movers there were.

Question 17

The crew that unloads isn't the one that loaded. Who do I tip?

Accepted Answer

Both, separately. A move can involve more than one crew — packing, loading, unloading — and each one gets its own tip when it finishes. On a job that runs over several days, tip at the end of each day. Each crew only knows about its own tip, so nobody shares across them.

Question 18

Do I hand the tip to each mover or the boss?

Accepted Answer

Either is fine. Handing it to each mover yourself makes sure everyone gets what you meant them to. Cash is easiest and what most movers prefer. Cards, checks and payment apps can work — ask first. Look at the bill before you tip: if a gratuity is already on it, ask what it covers.

Question 19

How do I check an international mover?

Accepted Answer

International movers answer to the Federal Maritime Commission, not the agency that licenses movers between states. They must be licensed and bonded — $50,000 for an ocean freight forwarder, $75,000 for a US shipping company that issues its own bill of lading (an NVOCC). The bond is there to pay you back if things go wrong. Look the company up on the FMC's list before you pay anything. Warning signs: no physical address, a quote without an in-person survey, a price far below the others, no credit cards, or a cancellation penalty over 30%. Get written estimates from several after a survey. Ask whether port terminal charges are included — they're often left out — and whether the mover handles customs. You generally pay the destination country's duties. Delivery dates only count if they're in the contract. Many movers won't insure what they didn't pack, and some marine insurance only pays if the whole ship is lost — get the policy in writing. Problems: the FMC's consumer office mediates for free. Send form FMC-33 to complaints@fmc.gov, or call 202-523-5807.

Question 20

What are demurrage and detention charges when shipping abroad?

Accepted Answer

They're daily charges for not collecting your container from the port, or not returning it, on time. They add up fast, so have customs papers ready before the ship arrives. Under the Federal Maritime Commission's rule, only the person who contracted the shipment or who receives it can be billed. Ship lines and terminals must invoice within 30 days, and you have at least 30 days to dispute a bill.

Question 21

What size shipping container do I need to move abroad?

Accepted Answer

Inside, a 20-foot container holds about 33 cubic meters, a 40-foot about 68, and a 40-foot high cube about 76. Loads rarely use more than about 85% of that. Small loads can go in a shared container (groupage or LCL), where you pay for your share of the space and wait for it to fill. Moving abroad works out the size from the boxes and furniture you've actually entered.

Question 22

How do I take my pet to another country?

Accepted Answer

Start as soon as you know where you're going. Many countries require a microchip, vaccines, sometimes a blood test and a waiting period. A USDA-accredited vet signs the health certificate, often within a short window before travel, and many countries need it endorsed by USDA. The original travels with the pet. Each country's rules are on the USDA APHIS pet travel site, and they change, so check them for each trip.

Question 23

Can I still vote after moving abroad?

Accepted Answer

Most US citizens abroad can vote absentee in federal elections. Send a Federal Post Card Application to your election office at the start of each year, or at least 45 days before an election, and again whenever your address changes. Start at FVAP.gov. If your ballot hasn't arrived 30 days before an election, use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot.

Question 24

How do I change my address with the post office?

Accepted Answer

Do it at usps.com (a small charge to check your identity) or with the free form at any post office. You can start it up to 30 days early and pick the date it begins. First-class mail is forwarded for a year; magazines for a much shorter time, so change those directly. Watch for look-alike sites that charge much more — the real one is usps.com.

Question 25

When should I set up utilities and internet?

Accepted Answer

Book the internet install two to three weeks ahead — it's usually the slowest. Turn the old place off the day after you leave, and the new place on the day before you arrive, so you're never in the dark or paying twice for long. Write down the meter readings and photograph them on the last day.

Question 26

How do I pack dishes so they don't break?

Accepted Answer

Wrap each piece in paper; stand plates on their edge like records, never flat. Use small or dish-pack boxes with a layer of crumpled paper on the bottom and top, and fill every gap so nothing moves when you shake it. Mark it fragile and this way up, and keep it under about 40 pounds.

Question 27

How heavy should a box be?

Accepted Answer

Keep any box under about 50 pounds — under 40 if you're lifting it yourself. Heavy things go in small boxes (books, tools, tins); light, bulky things in large ones (pillows, lampshades). If you can't lift it comfortably, neither can the crew all day.

Question 28

How do I pack a TV?

Accepted Answer

The original box is best; otherwise a TV box from a moving store. Take the stand off, photograph the cables at the back, and bag the screws and taped to the TV. It travels standing up, never lying flat, with nothing leaning on the screen.

Question 29

How do I move a mattress?

Accepted Answer

Seal it in a mattress bag so it stays clean and dry. Move it on its side, not folded, and keep it off a dirty truck floor. Make the bed first thing at the new place — before anything else is unpacked.

Question 30

How do I move with pets?

Accepted Answer

On moving day keep them in a closed, quiet room or with a friend — open doors and strangers are how pets get lost. Update the microchip and their tags with your new address and phone before you go. Get vet records and enough food and medicine for several days. For a move between states, check the new state's entry rules — some want a recent health certificate.

Question 31

What should I do about medications during the move?

Accepted Answer

They travel with you, never on the truck. Refill early so you have a couple of weeks extra, and keep a written list of every medicine and dose. Ask your pharmacy to transfer prescriptions to one near the new home before you arrive.

Question 32

Can I move my plants?

Accepted Answer

Most movers won't take plants on a long move, and some states restrict plants coming in to protect their crops. Take a few in the car, give the rest away, or take cuttings.

Question 33

When do I need a new driver's license after moving states?

Accepted Answer

Most states give you between 10 and 60 days after you become a resident — it varies, so check your new state's DMV. Book the appointment early; registration and insurance often wait on the license. Bring proof of your new address, your old license and your Social Security number or card.

Question 34

When do I register my car in the new state?

Accepted Answer

Usually within 30 to 60 days of becoming a resident, often after you get the new license. Some states require an inspection or emissions test first, and your insurance must be updated to the new address.

Question 35

Do I need to register to vote again?

Accepted Answer

Yes — when you move, update your voter registration to the new address, and in a new state you register fresh. Many states let you do it online; vote.gov points you to your state's page.

Question 36

How do I get my security deposit back?

Accepted Answer

Read the move-out section of the lease and do exactly what it says — cleaning, carpets, holes, keys. Photograph every room, empty and clean, with the date. Give your forwarding address in writing. Most states set a deadline — often 14 to 30 days — for the landlord to return it or list the deductions.

Question 37

How long does a landlord have to return my security deposit?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the state, and the clock usually starts when the lease ends and you hand back the keys, not when you move your things out. New Jersey: 30 days, by hand or first-class mail, with an itemized list of anything deducted. If a landlord wrongly keeps it, a court can award you double the amount withheld. Virginia: 45 days, with an itemized list of deductions. You can ask in writing to be present at the move-out inspection, and it's worth doing. Everywhere: give your forwarding address in writing, keep a copy, and put the due date in your calendar. If it passes, send a short letter asking for the deposit or the itemized list within 10 days.

Question 38

What photos should I take when I move out, so I get my deposit back?

Accepted Answer

First, one unbroken video with your phone's own camera, which keeps the original date and location. Start outside the front door and say the date, time and address out loud. Walk every room slowly, then open every closet, cabinet and appliance. Then photos, room by room: the whole room from the doorway, each wall, the floor or carpet, the ceiling and lights, the windows and blinds, and any marks or holes. In the kitchen, the inside of the oven, fridge and dishwasher. In bathrooms, the grout, the toilet and the vanity. Finish with the meters, the thermostat, the smoke detectors, and every key laid out together. Send the photos to the landlord with your forwarding address and keep a copy. Do the same when you move in, before a single box comes through the door.

Question 39

How do I get the old place cleaned if I've already moved away?

Accepted Answer

Ask the landlord first. Some will arrange the cleaning and take the cost from the deposit; get that price in writing. Check the lease too: many require a receipt from a professional carpet cleaner. Book the cleaner for after the truck leaves and before you hand back the keys. Carpets take about 6 to 24 hours to dry, so leave a day before any inspection. For access, use a lockbox, the landlord or property manager, or a neighbor you trust. Pay by card and ask for an itemized receipt and before-and-after photos of every room. If you can't be there, ask the landlord for a video-call walkthrough or a written inspection report, and send them your own photos the same day.

Question 40

How much notice do I have to give before I move out of a rental?

Accepted Answer

Your lease says, so read it first. Notice is often 30 or 60 days, and missing it can cost a full month's rent. Count back from the day the lease ends, and give notice in writing in the way the lease names, often by mail or email. Keep a copy and proof it was sent. On a month-to-month rental, notice usually has to cover one full rental period; your state's rules set the minimum. The app works out the date from your lease's end date and its notice days, and reminds you 30 days before.

Question 41

What are stairs, long carry and shuttle fees?

Accepted Answer

Stairs and elevator fees: extra for each flight or for using a lift. Long carry: extra when the truck can't park close to the door. Shuttle: a smaller truck has to ferry things because the big one can't reach the house. Tell every mover about stairs, parking and distance up front, and get each fee priced in writing.

Question 42

What size truck do I need?

Accepted Answer

Roughly: a cargo van is about 250 cubic feet, a 10-foot truck about 400, 15-foot about 760, 20-foot about 1,000, 26-foot about 1,700. Add up what you're actually taking and allow about 15% extra for packing room — and size up rather than down. Movers convert at about 7 pounds per cubic foot, so a quote of 7,000 lb means they expect about 1,000 cubic feet. Divide their weight by 7 and compare it with your own count. Don't let a mover size it by bedrooms. "One bedroom" with 150 boxes is a two-to-three-bedroom load; give them your list, not a room count. This app works it out from your own boxes and furniture.

Question 43

When should I start packing?

Accepted Answer

Four to six weeks out, start with what you won't miss: books, out-of-season clothes, decorations, spare bedding. Finish one room before starting the next. Kitchen, bathroom and bedding go last, in the final two days, along with the Open First box.

Question 44

What goes in the Open First box?

Accepted Answer

Sheets and a pillow, towels, toilet paper and soap, phone chargers and a power strip, basic tools, scissors, cups and snacks, and anything the pets need. Mark it clearly, load it last so it comes off first — or take it in the car.

Question 45

How should I label boxes?

Accepted Answer

Number every box and write the room on the top and at least two sides — you won't see the top once they're stacked. Keep a list of what's inside each number (this app does that), and mark fragile and this-way-up where it matters.

Question 46

How can I make my move cheaper?

Accepted Answer

Move mid-week and mid-month, outside May to September, if you can. Take less — every box costs money to move. Sell or give away anything you'd hesitate to pay to carry. Get three written quotes based on the same inventory, and ask what each would charge for packing versus doing it yourself.

Question 47

What if my new place isn't ready when I move out?

Accepted Answer

Ask your mover about storage-in-transit — they keep the load on their truck or in their warehouse and deliver later. A portable container that stays packed is often simpler than unloading into a storage unit and loading again. Pack a separate box for the in-between weeks.

Question 48

How long will delivery take on a long-distance move?

Accepted Answer

Between states, movers give a delivery window rather than a day — often several days, longer in summer. Get the window in writing on the paperwork, and ask what happens if they miss it.

Question 49

Who else needs my new address?

Accepted Answer

The post office, your bank and cards, your employer, insurance (home, car, health), Social Security and Medicare, the IRS (form 8822), your doctors and pharmacy, the DMV, your voter registration, subscriptions, and any court or legal contacts. The Utilities and address screen keeps the list.

Question 50

How do I get rid of paint and chemicals before moving?

Accepted Answer

Most towns run household hazardous waste days or drop-off sites — search your county's name with "household hazardous waste". Never pour paint or chemicals down a drain or put them in the trash.

Question 51

Where can I donate furniture before I move?

Accepted Answer

Habitat for Humanity ReStore, the Salvation Army, furniture banks and local Buy Nothing groups — several will collect from your home for free. Book pickups three to four weeks out, and ask for a receipt if you itemize your taxes. Stained, broken or recalled items usually aren't accepted.

Question 52

A mover wants me to pay for their drive to me and back. Is that normal?

Accepted Answer

It's common when a company is based at the far end of your move: they charge for driving the empty truck to you, or for driving home empty afterwards. It can add thousands to a long move. You don't have to accept it. Ask for a one-way price, and say plainly that you won't pay deadhead or round-trip charges. A mover based near where you're leaving drives up loaded. Ask them if they have a job coming back the other way that week. A moving container avoids it entirely: the company carries the container, and you hire a local crew to load at one end and another to unload at the other. Whatever you choose, get every charge listed by name on the written estimate. A line called "round trip" or "travel" is the one to question.

Question 53

How do I check the mover's inventory before I sign?

Accepted Answer

A written estimate for a move between states has to describe your shipment and the services. The list the mover writes (often called a cube sheet or table of measurements) is what the price is built on. Put it next to your own list before you sign anything. Count the cartons by size, and read every piece of furniture. Things you aren't taking push the price up; things that are missing may not be covered. Check the weight too: divide it by 7 to get the cubic feet they're expecting, and compare that with your own count. On loading day, have each box number called out as it goes on the truck. At delivery, write anything missing or damaged on the paperwork before you sign it.

Question 54

Can I still get movers in a week or two?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes — especially outside May to September and away from the end of the month. Ask every company for its soonest pickup date. A moving container usually needs about a week. A rental truck and a labor-only crew can often be booked in a few days. Being in a hurry is when people get taken advantage of. Still check the USDOT number, still ask if they're the mover or a broker, still get the price in writing, and don't pay a large deposit. Pick a pickup date a day or two after you expect to finish packing, so one bad day doesn't sink the plan.

Question 55

How do I move an air bed or an adjustable bed?

Accepted Answer

Let the air out before the crew arrives; a full air chamber can burst under weight on the truck. Put the pump, hoses, remote and any power cords together in one labeled bag, and carry it with you. Without them the bed can't be set up the first night. Photograph how the hoses and cables connect before you take anything apart. Ask each mover whether they will take down and set up this kind of bed. Some won't touch the pump or the base; if yours won't, plan who will. An adjustable base is heavy and has a motor: lay it flat, never on its end, and keep it dry.

Question 56

How do I get a sofa around a corner or through a door?

Accepted Answer

Measure the sofa's depth and its height, not just its length. It goes through on its end or its back, so those are the numbers that matter. Take the door off its hinges; that buys about an inch and a half. If a closet or wall stops the door opening past 90 degrees, you lose width — measure the gap with the door as open as it goes. At a corner, stand the sofa on its end and "hook" it: the top goes around the corner first, then the base pivots after it. Take the legs and any loose cushions off first. A table that's long but not tall usually goes through on its side. Two people, one leading and calling the moves, lifting with legs, never twisting.

Question 57

How do I read a moving quote line by line?

Accepted Answer

Add every line yourself, top to bottom. A paperwork fee ("binding estimate fee", "booking fee", "administrative fee") can sit between two discounts and cancel them out. Find the company type in the fine print. "Broker" or "not a motor carrier" means they sell your move to a company you haven't met; ask who the carrier is and check its USDOT number. Find the delivery promise. "Up to 30 business days" or "first available date" is a window, not a date; ask for a latest delivery date in writing on the order for service. Check the deposit and payment terms. A large deposit, a non-refundable one, or cash or money order at delivery are warning signs. Pay by credit card. Compare their volume or weight with your own count. A quote built on less than you own grows on pickup day; anything you forgot can trigger a new estimate before loading.

Question 58

My employer gave me a lump sum to move. How do I make it last?

Accepted Answer

Get three written quotes before you spend any of it, and send each mover the same inventory so the prices compare. Ask for binding estimates. Plan for tax. A lump sum is usually paid as wages, so tax may be taken out first, or owed later. Since 2018 most employees can't deduct moving costs, and the 2025 federal tax law made that permanent (members of the armed forces are the exception). Put the lump sum in as your budget, so every quote and receipt is counted against it. Keep every receipt. Some employers ask for them, and they settle any dispute with a mover. Watch for the tactics that eat a lump sum: a big deposit, a fee hidden between discounts, and a broker's quote that grows on pickup day.

Question 59

What are the deadlines for a military moving claim?

Accepted Answer

Give written notice of loss or damage within 180 days of delivery. Note what you can on the delivery paperwork that day. File the claim within 12 months of delivery for shipments picked up on or after May 15, 2026, or 9 months for shipments picked up before that. The mover must answer within set times. If it denies the claim or doesn't answer within 30 days, you can transfer it to the military claims office. Photos of what was inside each box, taken before the move, are the evidence a claim rests on. Check the dates on your own paperwork; they decide. The Packed Rabbit is not affiliated with the Department of Defense.

Question 60

How do I measure furniture and doorways?

Accepted Answer

Measure the furniture's width, depth and height at the widest points — arms, legs and handles included. Measure each door's width and height, and the hallway and any turn on the way in. A piece often goes through on its side or end when it won't go straight. This app checks each piece against every door you've measured.

Question 61

What should I do first at the new home?

Accepted Answer

Before unpacking: medications out, the bed made, the bathroom usable, food and water for you and the pets. Then change or rekey the locks, test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and find the water shut-off and the breaker box.

Question 62

How do I move with children?

Accepted Answer

Ask the old school for records and the new school what it needs to enroll — proof of address, immunization records, birth certificate. Let children pack a box of their own and set up their room first. Keep a bag with their comfort things in the car, not the truck.

Question 63

How do I move with a wheelchair or medical equipment?

Accepted Answer

Medical and mobility equipment travels with you whenever possible, charged and with its chargers and tools. Tell the movers exactly which paths must stay clear and that equipment is never moved, unplugged or leaned on without asking. Tell your equipment supplier about the move early — servicing often doesn't cross state lines.

Question 64

Can I hire just people to load and unload?

Accepted Answer

Yes — labor-only crews load and unload a truck or container you rent. You're the one driving and responsible for the truck. Book them for both ends, confirm the hours and the number of people in writing, and have the truck and supplies ready when they arrive.

Straight answers about moving.

Videos

Moving abroad

Movers and quotes

Boxes, tape and supplies

Packing

Damage, coverage and claims

People, pets and health

Moving abroad

Addresses, services and the new state

When a mover lets you down

Paying for the move

Renting

Settling in

Long moves and military moves

Doing it yourself

Tricky things to move

More answers