Moving from the Hudson Valley to Florida goes smoothest when you work backward from your move date. Start about eight weeks out if you can, add more lead time for a fall or winter move, and save the Florida paperwork for the first weeks after you arrive. Below is a week-by-week plan you can follow from Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh or anywhere else in the valley.
8 or More Weeks Before Your Move: Set the Date and Get an Itemized Quote
Pick a target move date and one or two backup dates. If you are selling a home or ending a lease in the Hudson Valley, line those dates up with your Florida closing or lease start before you lock anything in.
Next, walk through your home room by room and decide what is coming with you. A Florida home may have less storage, no basement and a smaller garage, so this is the right time to sell, donate or give away what you will not use.
Then request an Itemized Quote for your long-distance move. An Itemized Quote lists what is moving and what services you want, so you can see what drives the cost before you book. We handle your move from start to finish: one quote, one point of contact, and we stand behind every job. The move itself is done by a vetted partner mover.
6 Weeks Before: Book Your Date and Plan Your Vehicles
Once the quote fits, hold your date with the $49 refundable deposit. Fall and winter are popular months for moves south, so book sooner if your date falls between October and March.
Decide how each car will get to Florida. Some people drive one car down and ship another, and some ship every vehicle and fly. Either way, put the plan on your calendar now so it lines up with your pickup day.
If you need somewhere to keep your things between homes, ask about storage while you plan the move.
4 Weeks Before: Start Packing and Change Your Address
Pack the rooms you use least first, such as the attic, the basement, guest rooms and off-season clothes. Winter coats, snow shovels and snow blowers may not be worth the space in a Florida home, so decide on them now.
File your change of address with the post office and update your bank, employer, insurance and subscriptions. Ask your doctors and pharmacy to transfer records and prescriptions, and request school records if you have children.
Schedule utility shutoffs at your Hudson Valley home for the day after pickup, and schedule service to start at your Florida home before you arrive.
2 Weeks Before: Confirm the Details
Call to confirm your pickup date, your Florida address and any access details at both ends, such as a long driveway, stairs, an elevator or HOA move-in rules. Many Florida condos and HOAs require you to book a move-in time, so check the rules now.
Use up food you cannot move, plan meals for the last week, and set aside important papers, medications and valuables to travel with you.
1 Week Before: Pack an Essentials Bag
Pack a bag for each person with clothes, chargers, medications, toiletries and anything you will need in the first few days. Long-distance deliveries arrive on a delivery window rather than on a set hour, so plan to live out of this bag for a little while.
Finish packing everything except what you use every day, label each box with its room, and defrost and clean the refrigerator if it is coming with you.
Moving Day: Walk Through and Sign Off
Be at home for the whole pickup. Walk through every room, closet and cabinet with the movers, check the inventory before you sign, and keep your copy of the paperwork with your essentials bag.
Do a final check of the attic, basement, garage and shed, then lock up and leave the keys as planned.
When You Arrive in Florida: Delivery and New-Resident Paperwork
Be at your Florida home for the delivery window, check items against the inventory as they come in, and tell the movers which room each box goes to.
Then start on the state paperwork. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says new residents must get a Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency, and must title and register their vehicles within 10 days, using insurance from a Florida insurance agent. See the FLHSMV new resident page for the documents to bring.
If you bought a home, look into the homestead exemption. The Florida Department of Revenue says you must own the home and make it your permanent residence by January 1, then file Form DR-501 with your county property appraiser by March 1 of that tax year. See the Florida Department of Revenue exemptions page.
Finally, keep hurricane season in mind. NOAA sets the Atlantic hurricane season from June 1 to November 30, so if you move in those months, keep your phone charged and watch the forecast for your delivery dates. See NOAA hurricane preparedness.
Moving to Boca Raton or elsewhere in South Florida? See our Boca Raton moving page for local help once you arrive.
Hudson Valley to Florida Moving FAQ
How far in advance should I book long-distance movers to Florida?
Aim for about eight weeks before your move date, and earlier for a fall or winter move, when many people head south. Booking early gives you more dates to choose from. You can hold your date with a $49 refundable deposit.
When should I start planning a move from New York to Florida?
Start about eight weeks out, and earlier for a fall or winter move. That gives you time to sort your belongings, get an Itemized Quote, book a date and plan your vehicles without rushing.
How much does it cost to move from the Hudson Valley to Florida?
It depends on how much you are moving, your exact pickup and delivery addresses, your date, and services such as packing or storage. Request an Itemized Quote to see the cost for your own move, with each service listed.
How long will it take my things to arrive in Florida?
It depends on the distance and your date. Long-distance deliveries arrive within a delivery window rather than at a set hour, so ask what your window is when you request your quote, and pack an essentials bag to cover the gap.
What do I need to do after I move to Florida?
Get a Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency and title and register your vehicles within 10 days, according to FLHSMV. If you bought a home, check the homestead exemption deadline with your county property appraiser.
Is it a bad idea to move to Florida during hurricane season?
No, but plan for it. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, according to NOAA. Watch the forecast before your delivery dates and keep your essentials bag and important papers with you.
Plan Your Hudson Valley to Florida Move
Ready to set your date? Request an Itemized Quote online or call (855) 978-7317. We’re open 24 hours, and a $49 refundable deposit holds your date.
