A move in Florida comes with details most generic checklists breeze right past. Between getting a Certificate of Insurance approved for a Brickell tower, planning a freight-elevator window for a Tampa Channelside high-rise, clearing a guard gate at a 55+ golf community, and timing a snowbird arrival from up north, there is a lot to keep straight. Our crew runs these moves out of our Orlando office every week, so here is the realistic, week-by-week timeline our own team walks customers through, with the Florida details baked in.
4 to 6 Weeks Before Your Move
Lock Your Date and Get a Written Quote
Florida fills up fast in the dry season when snowbirds and out-of-state families pour in, so good crews book early. Reach out at least six weeks ahead in peak season. We send a flat written rate so there are no surprises on move day. Just give us your two ZIP codes and your date, and tell us if there is a coastal high-rise, a gated community, or a long out-of-state lane so Nicole can map the access.
Check Your Lease, HOA, or Building Rules Early
This is where Florida moves get specific. What you need to square away depends on where you are landing:
- Brickell, downtown Orlando, or Tampa Channelside high-rise: The tower almost certainly requires a Certificate of Insurance naming it as additional insured, plus a reserved freight elevator and a loading-dock window booked in advance.
- The Villages, Lakewood Ranch, or a Naples 55+ community: Most gated and golf communities have a guard-gate access list, vendor hours, and a notice requirement before a moving truck can roll through.
- Coastal beach condo or historic bungalow in Winter Park or San Marco: Tight parking, narrow stairs, and limited dock access mean we plan the carry and truck staging ahead of time.
2 to 3 Weeks Before Your Move
Florida Utility Transfer Checklist
Florida utilities are set largely by where you live, so most of this is about timing rather than shopping around. Here is how it breaks down across the major metros:
| Utility | Provider | Lead Time | How to Set Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Duke Energy, FPL, TECO, JEA by region | 3–5 days | Your area’s utility website |
| Water/Sewer | City or county utility (OUC, Tampa, Miami-Dade) | 3–5 days | Through your city or county utility office |
| Internet/TV | Xfinity, Spectrum, or AT&T Fiber | 7–10 days | Check coverage at the new address first |
| Trash/Recycling | City or county service (varies) | With your move-in date | Through your city or county solid-waste office |
| HOA/Condo dues | Your association | Before closing | Through the management company |
Sort Out High-Rise and Gate Access
If you are landing in a coastal tower or a gated community, plan the access before move day. A Brickell or Channelside building needs the freight elevator reserved and the loading window confirmed, and a 55+ or golf community needs your crew added to the guard-gate list. Confirm where our truck can stage, get the dock or gate hours in writing, and pass us any codes ahead of time.
Forward Your Mail
Submit a change of address through USPS at least 10 days before your move. The online form charges a small identity-verification fee, around $1.10, or you can do it free in person at any post office.
1 Week Before Your Move
Final Week Checklist
- Confirm your date, arrival window, and any special instructions with our crew
- Share elevator reservations, gate codes, COIs, and parking details with us
- Pack a move-day essentials box (see below)
- Plan truck staging for a tight downtown dock, a beach-condo lot, or a guard-gated entrance
- Give neighbors a heads-up if the truck will block a shared drive or a narrow lane
Florida Essentials Box
- Cold water, electrolyte drinks, and snacks for everyone, since a summer move day runs hot and humid
- A phone charger with a portable battery in case a storm knocks out power at either end
- Sunscreen, a hat, and a hand towel for yourself, since you will be in and out of the heat all day
- A couple of fans and rain ponchos in case an afternoon thunderstorm rolls through mid-load
- Important documents, medications, and valuables to keep with you, never on the truck
After You Move
Post-Move Administrative Tasks
| Task | Deadline | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get a Florida driver’s license | 30 days | FLHSMV, flhsmv.gov | New residents: 30 days to convert to an FL license |
| Register your vehicle in FL | 10 days of employment/enrollment | County tax collector | Proof of FL insurance and a VIN check required |
| Register to vote | 29 days before an election | registertovoteflorida.gov | Update your address with the county supervisor |
| Update insurance policies | ASAP | Your provider | FL auto plus renters, homeowners, or windstorm |
| Update bank/financial addresses | ASAP | Online banking | Checks, statements, tax documents |
One Florida item people skip: if you buy a primary home, file for the Homestead Exemption with your county property appraiser by March 1 to lock in the tax break, and look into windstorm and flood coverage early. A coastal address can surprise a first-year owner when storm season arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide a Certificate of Insurance for high-rise condo towers?
Yes. We are a licensed and insured Florida mover and we issue COIs for Brickell, downtown Orlando, and Tampa Channelside high-rises regularly. Send us the building’s exact wording 3 to 5 business days before the move and we will get it on file with the property manager.
Can you handle a gated or 55+ community move?
Yes. We move into The Villages, Lakewood Ranch, Naples, and gated communities across the state. Just get our crew added to the guard-gate access list and pass us the vendor hours, and we will plan the timing around them.
Are you a moving company or a broker?
We are a moving company. Florida Moving Brand uses our own trucks and our own W-2 crew on every job, statewide from the Panhandle to the Keys. We never subcontract or hand off your move, and your information is never shared or sold.
Do you handle out-of-state and snowbird moves?
Yes. We run interstate moves under our US DOT and MC authority, including the Northeast snowbird lanes, and we offer climate-controlled storage, about $85 to $240 a month by unit size, if your dates do not line up.