Cost & scope
Carry identity and financial documents
Keep passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, Social Security cards, immigration records, insurance policies, closing documents, checkbooks and other sensitive records with you. Place paper documents in a water-resistant folder or portable document case, and keep digital backups in a secure location. Do not put documents needed at closing, check-in or your first night inside a box that may be delayed or placed in storage. Before hiring a mover for a Florida intrastate move, verify its registration through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. For an interstate move, check federal operating authority through FMCSA’s Protect Your Move resources. Sources: https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Consumer-Rights-and-Responsibilities/Moving-Companies and https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move
Keep medicines and daily essentials accessible
Pack prescription medicines, over-the-counter essentials, medical devices and several days of necessary supplies in a personal bag. Keep medicines in their labeled containers and follow their stated temperature and storage instructions. Include glasses, hearing-aid supplies, mobility aids and any instructions another person may need in an emergency. If a medicine requires refrigeration or another controlled condition, ask a pharmacist or healthcare professional how to transport it safely. Keep the bag where it cannot be loaded accidentally.
Separate keys, devices and valuables
Collect house and vehicle keys, access cards, alarm information, garage remotes, phones, laptops, tablets, chargers and portable batteries before packing begins. Photograph cable connections if you will need help reconnecting equipment. Jewelry, small collectibles, family photographs and keepsakes with financial or personal significance should also remain with you. Create a short written inventory and avoid labeling an exterior bag with terms such as valuables or jewelry.
Check prohibited items before loading
Ask the mover for its written prohibited-items policy before packing. Policies may restrict hazardous, flammable, corrosive, pressurized, perishable or otherwise unsafe materials, but the exact list must come from the company handling the shipment. Remove questionable products and arrange lawful disposal or separate transport rather than hiding them in cartons. If belongings may be stored between addresses, review /resources/storage-options-between-moves/ and confirm which goods the storage provider will accept. Also request a written estimate, contract or bill of lading, applicable inventory, liability or valuation terms, payment conditions and claim deadlines before signing.
