It happens more than you'd think. A lease falls through, a closing date moves up, a landlord sells the building, or life just gets busy and suddenly the move is Saturday. Here's how to pull off a local move in South Florida with only a day or two of notice.
I'm Kyle, one of the two guys behind Miles Above Moving. We're a small crew out of Pompano Beach, and we take a lot of short-notice calls around Broward and south Palm Beach.
Step 1: Lock in your movers first
Before you buy a single box, get a crew on the calendar. Truck and crew availability is the hardest thing to find last minute, especially on weekends and at the end of the month.
When you call or text, have this ready so you can get a price fast:
- Both addresses
- Size of the place (studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, etc.)
- Stairs or elevator at each end
- Your big pieces: beds, sectionals, dressers, appliances
- A few photos or a quick video walk-through
We're open 7 days a week, 7 AM to 8 PM, and we don't take a deposit to book, so a last-minute booking doesn't mean a last-minute payment.
Step 2: Call both buildings today
If either place is a condo or apartment, this is the step that can sink a rushed move. Many buildings in Boca, Fort Lauderdale and along the beach require:
- An elevator reservation
- Set move-in hours (some don't allow weekend moves at all)
- Their own move-in rules or forms to fill out before the date
Some buildings have their own move-in rules or forms, so call the front desk or management office for both buildings as soon as you know your date and ask what they need and how far ahead. Then send that info to your mover right away. Our condo and apartment moving checklist has the full list of questions to ask.
Step 3: Pack the smart way, not the perfect way
With 48 hours, you're not labeling every box by room and contents. Focus:
- Pack an "open first" bag with meds, chargers, documents, toiletries, a change of clothes and pet food.
- Use what you have. Suitcases, laundry baskets, totes and trash bags (for soft stuff like bedding and clothes) all work.
- Leave clothes on hangers and bundle them in a trash bag with the hangers poking out the top.
- Leave dresser drawers light. Soft items like T-shirts can stay in; heavy stuff comes out.
- Pack the kitchen last except for the things you truly won't use.
Grocery and liquor stores sometimes have free boxes, and hardware stores sell them by the bundle.
Step 4: Decide what's not coming
A last-minute move is the perfect time to cut. Every item you don't bring is time saved on the clock. Set aside anything broken, anything you've been meaning to replace, and anything that won't fit the new place. Donate what's in good shape and plan for the rest to be hauled away separately.
Step 5: The night before
- Unplug and defrost the fridge if it's coming.
- Take down TVs and wall mounts if you can, and keep the screws in a zip bag.
- Clear a path through the house and make sure there's parking close to the door for a 16-foot truck.
- Charge your phone and keep it on so the crew can reach you.
Step 6: Moving day
Be there when we arrive to do a quick walk-through. Point out anything fragile, anything that's not going, and anything that goes to a specific room. Then let the crew work. With two guys, a wrapped load and a liftgate truck, most local apartment moves go faster than people expect.
Don't panic about the weather
In South Florida, the bigger last-minute risk is an afternoon storm. Start in the morning when you can. During hurricane season, keep an eye on the forecast. Our heat, rain and hurricane-season tips go deeper on that.
Moving on short notice?
We're Kyle and Andrew, a two-man local crew based in Pompano Beach. It's $150 an hour for two movers and our 16-foot liftgate truck, with a $250 minimum and no deposit. If your move is coming up fast, call or text 954-408-4024 or send us your move details and we'll tell you right away if we can fit you in.
