A confident moving day begins before the truck arrives. Everything you need to pack smart, understand your estimate, welcome your crew and settle into your new space—with fewer surprises.
Save your progress on this device as you go. This checklist is a preparation tool, not a change to your signed moving agreement.
Progress is saved only in this browser.
Loose items create safety risks, slow the loading process and can damage other belongings. Here's what ready-to-move actually means.
All small, loose belongings must be properly packed into sturdy, closable boxes or bins before loading. Close each container securely and label the room, contents category and any fragile handling needs. Do not leave shoes, dishes, hangers, cords, décor or loose items scattered for crew loading.
We accept up to 10 trash bags per move when they contain lightweight, soft belongings such as clothing, linens or pillows. No pots, pans, dishes, glass, tools or other heavy or sharp items. Bags should be tied securely and not overfilled. The crew may require unsafe bags to be repacked.
Our team will pad and protect wooden furniture and fragile furniture pieces with standard moving protection at no additional charge. This does not include boxing loose belongings, custom crating or specialized packing unless listed in your estimate. Empty furniture so our movers can prepare it safely.
Put heavier contents in smaller boxes, label the destination room on two sides, and keep fragile breakables cushioned. Store screws and removable hardware in labeled bags. Please do not tape directly onto finished furniture.
Service charges and special handling must appear in, or be agreed through an authorized written update to, your estimate and contract before the work begins.
For beds and other standard furniture that need disassembly, this flat charge covers taking that item apart at pickup and reassembling it at delivery, when safely serviceable and included in the confirmed scope. Nonstandard or damaged furniture may need a separate assessment.
A single $35 handling charge covers all ordinary appliances on your disclosed moving inventory. Customers should disconnect, drain, defrost and prepare appliances in advance. Licensed plumbing, electrical, gas and other specialty connections are not part of ordinary mover handling.
Pianos, firearms or gun safes, pool tables and other unusually heavy, valuable or specialized items are not included unless disclosed and specifically listed on the estimate. Handling depends on the item, equipment, legal restrictions and access; further charges or a specialist may be required.
Adding large items, another stop, more boxes, stairs, a long carry or difficult access can change the crew, vehicle, time and cost. Ask the team for an updated written estimate instead of assuming undisclosed items are included.
Your team is scheduled within an estimated two-hour arrival window, not a guaranteed exact start time. Earlier moves may take longer than expected for reasons outside the crew's control. If that happens, we'll communicate the next available arrival window and try to send another available crew when feasible.
A shift into a later arrival window does not automatically produce a discount solely for lateness. Nothing on this page overrides remedies required by law or expressly promised in your written agreement.
When an earlier move finishes ahead of schedule, the crew may be able to arrive sooner. If you cannot accept early arrival, notify us ahead of time. Keep your phone available for dispatch updates and be ready within your confirmed window.
A customer or authorized representative age 18 or older must be present to review the moving paperwork, approve any documented changes, sign the bill of lading and address crew questions. Make sure someone can also meet the crew at delivery to review placement and final paperwork.
Point out the items in your estimate, anything fragile or already damaged, and anything not going on the truck. Show the crew the approved access route, elevators and parking. Keep pathways clear and pets secured in a separate space.
At unloading, tell your movers where each box and furniture piece belongs. A room-by-room plan makes the work faster and reduces damage risk. Standard placement is one placement per item; repeatedly moving the same item from room to room is not included in the regular unloading service and may require separate approval.
Check the truck and rooms for missed items where accessible, inspect visible condition, review the bill of lading and payment details, and report concerns to the crew leader and office promptly. Tipping is optional, never mandatory, and appreciated when you feel the team provided excellent service.
These are customer-preparation policies and general explanations, not a substitute for your signed estimate, bill of lading, valuation disclosure or rights under applicable law.
When you pack a box, our team cannot confirm whether the contents were properly cushioned or what was inside before pickup. Claims involving concealed contents or damage caused by improper customer packing can be limited under your agreement and applicable law. This is not a blanket waiver for loss or damage caused by the mover. Boxes professionally packed by the Southeast Elite packing team are documented as company-packed.
Pressed wood, particleboard and ready-to-assemble furniture can loosen, crack or fail at joints during handling, particularly after prior assembly. These pieces may be subject to special handling terms and applicable limitations. We cannot promise replacement-value coverage for structural failure inherent to their condition or construction; any exclusion is subject to the signed agreement and applicable law, and does not eliminate legally required mover liability.
Our trucks do not accept gasoline, propane tanks, flammable liquids or other prohibited hazardous materials. Remove fuel from equipment where appropriate and follow the manufacturer's safe-transport instructions. Tell us in advance about batteries, chemicals, paint, aerosols or other potentially regulated items; never conceal them inside boxes.
For covered Florida intrastate household moves, state law provides a minimum released valuation of $0.60 per pound, per article. For example, a 50-pound item at this rate has a maximum valuation of $30 for that item under the released-value option. This is not full replacement-cost insurance. Ask about any higher-value protection options before services begin and review your written valuation disclosure.
Florida consumer moving guidance ↗Once a truck and crew are dispatched, disclosed travel and fuel charges become nonrefundable to the extent permitted by the accepted contract and applicable law. For day-of-move cancellations, the stated minimum is 2 hours for a two-mover crew or 3 hours for a three-mover crew; the same crew-size minimum applies to labor-only and packing appointments. These fees must be disclosed and agreed in the written contract before they can be charged.
If you pay by debit or credit card, the transaction may appear on your statement as Roovet Technologies LLC, Southeast Elite's legal owner and payment-processing business. Review the accepted estimate and invoice for authorized charges and acceptable payment methods; ask about unfamiliar transactions before disputing a charge.
For Florida moves, valuation liability is not the same thing as an insurance policy. For interstate moves and moves governed by other states' laws, protection options and required disclosures may differ. Your signed contract and applicable law control if they conflict with this guide. If additional valuation protection is offered, obtain and review its price and written terms before service. For claims, record visible issues and contact the claims team promptly.
See Florida Statutes Chapter 507 for official state moving requirements.
Your shipment’s protection depends on whether you are moving within one state or crossing state lines. Choose the situation that applies to your move, then review the correct disclosures with your representative before you sign.
Moving from one state to another generally falls under federal FMCSA household-goods moving rules. Your mover must offer:
The choice must be documented. Neither type should be described as a separate insurance policy. Ask for the federal Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet and review your contract.
Federal FMCSA protection rules ↗For a move where pickup and delivery are both in the same state, that state’s rules and the approved tariff or contract may control the valuation choices, rates, liability limits and claims procedure.
Use the nine-state guide below. Your representative should confirm the authorized carrier, written valuation option and applicable documents for your specific route.
Find your state ↓Open your state to see what to confirm and visit its official regulator.
Florida requires written disclosure of the liability limitation and the opportunity to select additional valuation before moving services begin. Review the estimate and signed contract.
Official guidance: Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services ↗For regulated Georgia intrastate household moves, released value is $0.60 per pound, per damaged or lost article, at no additional charge. The customer must make a written valuation election; full value protection is also an option under the state rules and applicable tariff.
Official guidance: Georgia Department of Public Safety rules ↗Your signed bill of lading and the carrier’s approved South Carolina tariff control the selected liability option and any additional protection. The state advises customers to check coverage limits and the price of additional coverage before signing.
Official guidance: South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff ↗The North Carolina Utilities Commission requires a valuation selection in both the bill of lading and its addendum before the move begins. Basic Value Protection costs no extra, but offers minimal protection. Full Value Protection is available according to the Commission’s tariff.
Official guidance: North Carolina Utilities Commission ↗Virginia household-goods carriers must file their rates and customer policies with the DMV. A mover’s approved tariff and your estimate identify the available liability and optional higher-value protection. Do not assume Florida’s valuation terms automatically apply.
Official guidance: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles ↗The Louisiana Public Service Commission regulates within-state household-goods moves and provides consumer protections concerning written estimates. Request the mover’s actual valuation options and cargo-liability terms in writing before signing.
Official guidance: Louisiana Public Service Commission ↗Under Arkansas Rule 27 CAR § 110-1905, the maximum liability is generally the greater of $1.25 times the shipment’s weight or the declared shipment value, unless the shipper expressly releases the goods at $0.60 per pound per damaged or lost article. A properly completed bill of lading matters.
Official guidance: Official Arkansas Code of Rules ↗Tennessee requires intrastate motor-carrier authority and evidence of cargo insurance for household-goods carriers. That carrier insurance is not a customer promise of replacement-value reimbursement. Review the applicable written tariff, agreement and valuation before the move.
Official guidance: Tennessee Department of Revenue ↗Alabama intrastate household-goods carriers must maintain cargo insurance and have an approved tariff setting service rules and charges. The customer’s valuation and claim terms must be confirmed from the applicable tariff and moving documents; no single Florida-style default is promised here.
Official guidance: Alabama Public Service Commission ↗Check your estimate, any valuation addendum, bill of lading and any optional protection disclosures. Carrier cargo insurance, valuation liability and a separately purchased insurance policy are different things. For long-distance or interstate moves, check federal requirements; for local and intrastate moves, check the applicable state’s rules. Eligibility and scope of each service are subject to the carrier’s legal operating authority.
All small and loose belongings should be secured in properly closed, labeled boxes or bins. Up to 10 lightweight trash bags of soft items, such as clothes or pillows, may be accepted. Do not put glass, cookware or heavy items in bags.
Yes. Standard moving blankets and padding for wooden furniture and fragile furniture items are provided by the crew at no additional charge during a scheduled move. Packing small belongings into boxes is a separate service.
Standard disassembly and reassembly is $35 per item that requires this service. Appliance handling is a $35 flat service fee for all ordinary appliances on the disclosed move inventory. Any extra specialty servicing must be quoted in advance.
The two-hour arrival window is an estimate, not an exact appointment time. Earlier jobs can take longer. The team will communicate a revised window or seek another available crew when possible. A later arrival alone does not automatically provide a discount, subject to your contract and applicable law.
No. For qualifying Florida intrastate household moves, 60 cents per pound per article is the statutory minimum for a mover’s released-valuation liability. It is not full replacement-value insurance. Review your signed estimate and valuation disclosures, and ask about any additional protection options before moving day.
No. Local and intrastate household moves follow applicable state rules and the carrier’s authorized tariff. For example, Arkansas generally uses a shipment-weight-based liability limit unless the shipper expressly elects 60 cents per pound per article. Interstate moves generally offer Full Value Protection or properly elected Released Value Protection. Read the state-by-state guide and your signed valuation documents.
These items require advance disclosure and an itemized service charge or written confirmation. They are not included in a standard estimate unless identified on that estimate. Firearms and other regulated items require separate safety and legal review before acceptance.
Review your estimate, get your boxes ready and tell us about anything unexpected before the crew departs. We look forward to helping you settle into what's next.
Last updated November 10, 2026. These customer preparation guidelines are informational and apply subject to the specific written services agreed for your move. They do not independently amend your estimate, contract, bill of lading or statutory rights.
