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.

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.

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 or shared-load pricing. Movers that run the same corridor often — between military bases, say, or two cities they serve every week — will discount a load that fills a truck that would otherwise drive home part-empty. 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. Get it in writing: the delivery window, the price, and who is liable if it's late. Containers are the other way to pay only for the space you use.

Question 13

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 14

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 15

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 16

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 17

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 18

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 19

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 20

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 21

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 22

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 23

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 24

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 25

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 26

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 27

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 28

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 29

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 30

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 31

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 32

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 33

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 34

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 35

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 36

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. This app works it out from your own boxes and furniture.

Question 37

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 38

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 39

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 40

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 41

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 42

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 43

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 44

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 45

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 46

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 47

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 48

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 49

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 50

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.

Question 51

Does my renters or homeowners insurance cover my move?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes, partly — many policies cover belongings in transit but cap it, and some exclude moving entirely. Call your insurer, ask exactly what's covered while it's on the truck, and set up the policy at the new address to start on moving day.

Question 52

Should a mover see my things before giving a price?

Accepted Answer

Yes — a real price needs a real inventory, either in person or by video. A quote over the phone without seeing your things is one of the warning signs. Send every mover the same list (this app makes one) so their prices can be compared.

Question 53

Should I photograph my things before the move?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Photograph valuable furniture, electronics and anything fragile before it's wrapped, showing its condition. Photograph the inside of each box before sealing it — it's how you find things later and prove what was in it if it goes missing.

Question 54

What packing tape should I use — and what tape shouldn't I?

Accepted Answer

Use 2-inch clear carton-sealing tape around 2 to 3 mil thick, on a tape gun. Thin "economy" rolls (under about 1.9 mil) split and peel, and a box that opens on the stairs costs more than the tape saved. Hot-melt or natural-rubber tape grips cardboard best and holds in cold trucks; acrylic tape is fine indoors and doesn't yellow, but grabs dusty or recycled boxes less well. Don't seal boxes with masking tape, painter's tape or duct tape — they let go under weight or leave residue. Painter's tape is only for labels on furniture. Tape the bottom with an H: one strip down the middle seam and one across each edge.

Question 55

Which moving boxes are strongest?

Accepted Answer

Look for the box maker's certificate printed on the bottom flap. ECT 32 is a normal moving box; ECT 44 or a "heavy duty" or double-wall box is for books, tools and kitchen goods. Store-brand moving boxes from the big home and truck-rental stores are generally fine at ECT 32; pay for heavy duty only where the weight is. Reused grocery and liquor boxes are free and good for small heavy things, but skip any that are soft, damp or have held food — they crush and can bring pests.

Question 56

Where can I get free moving boxes?

Accepted Answer

Liquor and wine stores (strong, small, with dividers for glasses), Buy Nothing groups, Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor, office recycling, and friends who've just moved. Some truck-rental stores run box exchanges where people leave boxes they no longer need. Check each box is dry, clean and firm before you trust it with anything heavy.

Question 57

Are moving box kits and bundle packs worth it?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. Compare the price per box, not the price of the kit — and count how many of each size you'll really use. Kits often pad the count with sizes you won't need. Most people need far more small and medium boxes than large ones; large boxes get overfilled and become too heavy. Buy a little more than you think, from a store that takes unused boxes back, and keep the receipt. The Supplies screen keeps the receipt and the return date.

Question 58

How many boxes do I need?

Accepted Answer

A rough start: a studio 15–25 boxes, one bedroom 25–40, two bedrooms 40–60, three bedrooms 60–90 — more if you have a lot of books or kitchenware. Mostly small and medium. The Supplies screen works out a list from your own rooms and the boxes you've already packed.

Question 59

Packing paper or bubble wrap?

Accepted Answer

Plain packing paper does most of the job — wrapping dishes and filling gaps — and doesn't leave ink on things the way newspaper does. Save bubble wrap for the truly fragile: glass, electronics, framed art. Towels, linens and clothes make free padding and get packed at the same time.

Question 60

Should I use plastic bins instead of boxes?

Accepted Answer

Bins are stronger, stack well and survive rain, and some companies rent them by the week and drop them off. They don't fold, so you need somewhere to keep them, and a full bin gets heavy fast — use them for things you'd want protected anyway. Number and list them exactly like boxes.

Question 61

Do I need moving blankets?

Accepted Answer

For furniture, yes — wrap anything with a finish you care about, then hold the blanket on with stretch wrap, never tape on the wood. Movers usually bring their own; if you're doing it yourself, they can be rented with the truck. Stretch wrap also keeps drawers and doors shut and cushions together.

Question 62

Are wardrobe boxes worth it?

Accepted Answer

For hanging clothes, yes — they go straight from the closet rail to the box and back, with no folding. Fill the bottom with shoes or bedding, not heavy things. A trash bag over a bunch of hangers is the free version for a short move.

Question 63

I'm overwhelmed by the move. Where do I start?

Accepted Answer

Pick one thing for today and let the rest wait — a move happens one box at a time. Set today to Red on the home screen and the list shrinks to what genuinely can't wait. If you feel unwell — a bad migraine, chest pain, a fall — stop and call for help. The boxes will wait.

Question 64

My movers won't unload unless I pay more than the estimate. What do I do?

Accepted Answer

On an interstate move, federal rules cap what the mover can demand at delivery. With a non-binding estimate, you only have to pay 110% of the estimate to get your goods. With a binding estimate, you pay the binding price plus any added services you agreed to. Any other charges must be billed to you later. The mover bills them about 30 days after delivery, and you then have up to 30 days to pay. Offer the allowed amount, in the form of payment written on your estimate, and do it in writing if you can (a text or email counts). If the mover still won't unload after you offer 100% of a binding estimate or 110% of a non-binding one, it is breaking federal rules. Call local police and say the mover is refusing to release your goods after you offered the legal amount. Then file a complaint with FMCSA at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov or 1-888-368-7238. Federal law sets a civil penalty of at least $10,000 for holding goods hostage, and each day can count as a separate violation. Your state attorney general can also enforce these federal rules. Local moves inside one state follow state rules. Call your state's consumer protection office or moving regulator to ask what the mover can charge at delivery.

Straight answers about moving.

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

Doing it yourself

Tricky things to move