Moving Tips

Last Updated: March 2026

The kitchen takes longer to pack than any other room in the house because every drawer and cabinet is full of items that break easily. Glasses, plates, bowls, small appliances, and knives all need individual wrapping before they go into a box. Most damage during a move happens because items were packed incorrectly or not packed at all. Safebound Moving & Storage has completed 35,000+ moves, and these are the preparation steps that prevent the most common problems. Get a moving quote or call 561-510-7191.

Packing Your Home Before Moving Day

Start packing the rooms you use least. Guest bedrooms, storage closets, and garages can be boxed up weeks before the move without disrupting daily life. Save the kitchen and bathrooms for last since you need those items until moving day.

Use quality moving boxes rather than old grocery store boxes. Moving boxes have uniform sizes that stack evenly in the truck, and the walls are designed to handle weight without collapsing. Pack heavy items like books in small boxes and light items like linens in large boxes. A common mistake is filling a large box with books, making it too heavy to carry safely.

Wrap every fragile item individually in packing paper before placing it in a box. Fill empty space with crumpled paper or towels so contents do not shift during transport. Label every box on the top and at least one side with the contents and the destination room. The crew places boxes in the room written on the label, which saves hours of sorting at the destination.

For the kitchen, wrap each plate and bowl in paper and stack them vertically in the box like records, not flat like a stack of pancakes. Vertical stacking distributes impact force across the edge rather than the flat surface, which reduces breakage significantly.

Moving Rates in South Florida

Safebound charges hourly rates based on crew size. Every move includes a 3-hour labor minimum plus 1 travel hour.

Crew Size	Hourly Rate	Minimum Charge	Best For
2 movers + truck	$135/hr	$540	Studio, 1BR
3 movers + truck	$180/hr	$720	2-3BR (most moves)
4 movers + truck	$225/hr	$900	Large home, estate

Packing yourself before moving day reduces the total billable hours because the crew focuses only on loading, transport, and unloading. A 3-bedroom home that takes 7 hours with full-service packing typically takes 5 hours when the homeowner has already packed everything. Request a quote to see the breakdown for your move.

What Movers Cannot Move

Federal regulations and safety rules prohibit certain items from going on the moving truck. Remove these from your home before moving day:

• Cleaning chemicals, bleach, and aerosol cans
• Gasoline, propane tanks, and lighter fluid
• Paint, paint thinner, and varnish
• Ammunition and fireworks
• Perishable food (open containers, frozen items, refrigerated goods)
• Plants in soil (for interstate moves, due to agricultural regulations)

Dispose of hazardous materials through your local waste management facility before moving day. Transport important documents, medications, jewelry, and irreplaceable items in your personal vehicle rather than the moving truck.

Preparing Your Home for the Crew

Before the crew arrives, complete the following so loading begins immediately:

• Disassemble beds and remove wall-mounted items like TVs and shelving
• Clear walkways and hallways so the crew has a direct path from each room to the truck
• If moving from a condo or high-rise, reserve the freight elevator and provide Safebound with the COI requirements (provided within 24 hours at no charge)
• Confirm parking access for the truck at both origin and destination
• Set aside items you are transporting yourself so the crew knows what to load and what to leave

The crew wraps all furniture in moving blankets before loading. Mattresses go into plastic covers. Large items like dressers and armoires are secured with straps inside the truck to prevent shifting during transport.

Reducing Your Moving Cost

The single biggest way to reduce your moving cost is to move fewer items. Every piece of furniture and every box adds loading time and truck space. Declutter before the move by donating, selling, or discarding items you have not used in the past year.

Timing also affects cost. End-of-month and weekend moves are the busiest periods. Moving mid-week or mid-month gives the crew more scheduling flexibility. Peak season in South Florida runs from November through April.

Packing yourself saves the most time on the crew's clock. If you pack everything before moving day, the crew handles only loading, transport, unloading, and furniture placement.

Licensed (USDOT 2900155 | MC MC00975408 | FL IM2839), insured ($750,000), and certified: BBB Accredited, ProMover Certified, AMSA Member, Forbes Featured. Safebound Moving & Storage serves Florida and the continental United States. Verify credentials at fdacs.gov or safer.fmcsa.dot.gov

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving

What do professional movers hate to move the most?

Professional movers find hot tubs, pianos, and pool tables the most difficult because they are extremely heavy and require disassembly or specialized equipment. Loosely packed boxes are also problematic because items shift and break during transport, which leads to damage claims. Properly packing and labeling every box before moving day makes the crew's job faster and reduces the chance of damage.

What is the hardest room to pack when moving?

The kitchen is the hardest room to pack because it contains the most fragile items per square foot. Plates, glasses, bowls, mugs, small appliances, and knives all require individual wrapping. A typical kitchen takes 2 to 3 hours to pack properly. Wrap each item in packing paper, stack plates vertically in boxes, and fill empty space with paper to prevent shifting during transit.

What do movers not recommend to move?

Movers cannot transport hazardous materials including cleaning chemicals, gasoline, propane tanks, paint, ammunition, and fireworks. Perishable food and plants in soil are also prohibited on interstate moves. Important documents, medications, jewelry, and irreplaceable items should travel in your personal vehicle. Safebound's crew will identify any prohibited items during the loading walkthrough.

Is it better to put clothes in bags or boxes when moving?

Wardrobe boxes are the best option for hanging clothes because they keep garments on hangers and wrinkle-free. For folded clothes, moving boxes work better than bags because boxes stack evenly in the truck and protect contents from crushing. Garbage bags tear easily and offer no protection. If using bags for soft items like bedding and towels, use heavy-duty bags and label them clearly.

How much do movers charge in Florida?

Safebound charges $135 per hour for a 2-mover crew, $180 per hour for a 3-mover crew, and $225 per hour for a 4-mover crew. Every move includes a 3-hour labor minimum plus 1 travel hour, making the minimums $540, $720, and $900 respectively. A typical 2-bedroom move with a 3-mover crew takes 4 to 5 hours. Call 561-510-7191 for a quote based on your inventory.

Does Safebound provide packing materials?

Yes. Safebound provides all packing materials when you select full-service packing, including boxes, tape, packing paper, and moving blankets. If you prefer to pack yourself, you can purchase boxes and materials separately or use your own. The crew wraps all furniture in blankets and secures mattresses in plastic covers regardless of the service level you choose.

Safebound Moving & Storage has completed 35,000+ relocations with a 4.9-star rating from 2,401 Google reviews. ProMover Certified, BBB Accredited, and AMSA Member. Get a free moving quote or call 561-510-7191.