Moving From Florida To Washington: Benefits, Cities, & Costs

It’s kind of a cliché to say this at this point, but Florida is crazy. Sure, there’s plenty of sunshine, but there’s also gators, Miami, and other hazardous wildlife such as native Floridians. If you’re looking for a change of scenery, we can get you as far away as possible.

Looking for movers (whether you’re leaving your state or just leaving your neighborhood) can be a bit of a pain. You have to search up companies, sift through reviews, and enter and re-enter all your personal info whenever you want a quote. Fortunately, iMoving is here to make the whole process easier.

We built our online platform with just one goal: Make a one-stop-shop for our customers to shop, compare prices, and book the moving help they need.

If you’re ready to make the move from Florida to Washington, read on for some helpful info, and use iMoving to book your movers in a few easy clicks.

A long-distance move can take anywhere from 2 and 21 days, but since you’re moving from Florida to Washington, you should expect a minimum of 7 days.

Under federal law, your long-distance movers can’t drive more than 400 miles a day, and the absolute minimum from Florida to Washington (Jennings to Spokane) will rack up 2,605 miles via the I-90.

It’s a common misconception that moving less stuff will take less time. In reality, it’s common for moving companies to bundle multiple moves into the same truck.

This takes up more time as your movers make pickups and dropoffs along the way. On the other hand, if you manage to fill up an entire trailer with just your belongings, you can expect much faster transport.

Your Florida to Washington move will cost you anywhere from $2,215 – $12,012, but what really goes into the final price? Here are some of the common factors that affect the cost of your cross-country move:

1. Distance

When you’re planning a long-distance move, the actual amount of miles will really affect the final price of your move. Long-distance movers will calculate your quote based on how far they’ll have to travel, and how much they’ll have to haul. Unfortunately, Florida and Washington are as far apart as you can get (while still staying in the lower 48).

2. Weight/Volume

The other half of the distance + size calculation. It’s more expensive to move a 5-bedroom home than a 1-bedroom apartment.

Movers will typically assign a weight value to all your stuff, or they’ll math out the cubic feet of all your belongings. If you want to save big on your quote, downsize before shopping for movers.

3. Packing Services

Packing is one of the most annoying and time-consuming parts of your move, so it makes sense that moving companies offer packing services to make life easier.

Just remember, it’s usually an add-on that costs extra. Can you put a price on your sanity? You’re the one moving from Florida; you tell us.

4. Time of Year

Here’s some insider advice: Don’t schedule a move when school’s not in session. The summer months command a hefty premium for professional moving, and it’s the busiest season for the whole industry.

Between the college kids moving in and out and the families taking advantage of the lull in schoolwork, you’re better off looking for a move during fall, winter, or spring.

5. Specialty Items

If you’ve got a piano, pool table, antiques, or artwork, you’ll want to make sure it’s extra safe and secure during transit.

Your movers can bring all the necessary equipment to pack this stuff up, but they may have to build custom crates around certain items that just don’t fit. Expect to pay more for the extra service.

6. Insurance

It’s rare, but accidents happen. If any of your stuff gets lost, damaged, or destroyed, you’ll want to be reimbursed. Unfortunately, the legally required, bare-minimum insurance coverage offered by most movers is only for $0.60 per pound. If you want to get the full value of that broken laptop, you’ll have to pay for full-value coverage.

7. Access Fees

Some places are easier to get into than others. Think about the walk you take from your front door to your street. Is it a pretty straight shot, or do you have to deal with stairs, elevators, long hallways, or all of the above? If your movers have to deal with an obstacle course, you’ll have to deal with access fees.

8. Gratuity

With today’s inflation making us roll our eyes (30% minimum for your latte? No thanks.), it’s hard to stomach another gratuity tacked on to another common service.

But the fact of the matter is this: Moving is hard work, and tips have been accepted (and expected) in the industry since the industry started. Set aside 15-20% of your total cost, to be divided up between your whole moving team.

• Job prospects: Florida has a pretty sizeable economy, but Washington has a lot of big tech. If you want to join the ranks of Patagonia-wearing venture capitalists, the Evergreen State is basically the go-to outside of Silicon Valley.

• Natural beauty: Some people are a big fan of swamps. Some people. For everyone else, there’s Washington. Tons of breathtaking mountains, forests, and untouched wilderness if you want to go all Cheryl Strayed out there.

• No income tax: Florida doesn’t have a state income tax, but it’s actually a no-individual-income-tax kinda deal. Washington’s policy is a bit farther reaching: No individual income tax, and no corporate income tax, either.

• Health and wellness: Think of your average “Florida man”. Now, think of your average “Washington man”. Which one do you think is wrestling alligators and crushing Coors light, and which one do you think is hiking the Cascade range and doing yoga?

• Politics and Policy: We don’t want to get sucked into some kind of political culture war here, so we’re gonna just stick to the facts. Some parts of Washington are pretty darn blue, and some parts of Washington are pretty darn red. There’s a place for everyone.

• The Great Outdoors: This is pretty much the number 1 attraction when it comes to Washington. Whether you’re into hiking, skiing, hunting, or fishing, the whole state is an outdoors paradise. It’s majestic.

• Seattle and Urban Life: If the outdoors isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of city life to enjoy. Seattle is still just as cool as it was in the 1990s, and with a growing tech scene, there are also plenty of places to find work.

• Harass our Northern Neighbors: Washington is right next to Canada. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can cross the border, explore a (kinda) different way of life, and then hop back to the US when you get tired of everyone being so polite and friendly.

• Wine Tasting: More people are getting to know Washington through its wine scene. It may not be as expansive as the California wine industry, but it’s growing a bit every day and giving some of those Golden State snobs something to worry about.
• Quiet on the Coast: Florida’s beaches are full of tourists, and they can get a little chaotic, to say the least. On the other hand, the beaches in Washington are quiet, secluded, and almost undiscovered. Just don’t go telling the whole world about it.

A move from Florida to Washington is a long haul, but we’re with you every step of the way. Of course, planning this kind of cross-country move means getting started on the right foot. Fortunately, the iMoving marketplace can help.

Tell us more about your move, and shop from over 1000 vetted and verified Florida to Washington movers. Let’s get you packed, and let’s get you on the road!