Long-distance moves from Delray Beach to anywhere in Florida

Florida is a long state, and a move that never leaves it can still be a long-distance move. From Delray Beach, Orlando is in the middle of the state, Tampa and Naples are across on the Gulf coast, and Jacksonville and the Panhandle are up in the north.

A move like that is planned differently from a local one. We agree the pickup and delivery dates with you in advance, pack and load for hours on the highway rather than minutes, and confirm who will be at the new home to let us in.

Both ends have rules of their own. A condo here might limit move hours, and a gated community at the other end might need your name at the gate before the truck can enter, so tell us about both when you call.

Florida's moving law, Chapter 507 of the Florida Statutes, reaches any move with both ends inside the state, however far apart they are. The estimate and the contract both come in writing before any work, and if your goods will be held anywhere between pickup and delivery, they have to say where.

Once you've paid what the written estimate or contract says, plus any changes you signed, the mover has to hand over your belongings and put them inside the new home. Children's furniture, clothing and toys, and prescription medicines, can never be held back.

A mover may cap what it pays for loss or damage, though never below 60 cents per pound per article, and it has to put any such cap in writing when you sign and offer you the chance to buy more. Extra coverage has to show what it costs and say that you're free to turn it down. At the 60-cent floor, a 40-pound television is covered for $24, so read that part of the contract before moving day.

Hours on the highway are harder on a load than a short trip across town. Furniture goes in quilted pads and stretch wrap, beds and tables are taken apart, and the load is packed tight and strapped so nothing shifts on the road.

If you're packing yourself, use sturdy boxes in a few standard sizes and fill them so the tops don't sag under the weight above. If you'd rather hand it over, our packing services cover a full pack, a partial pack or just the fragile pieces.

Hurricane season lasts from June 1 through November 30 and peaks around September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. A move across the state in those weeks needs a fallback date, and our guide to moving in hurricane season covers what to plan for.