7 Tips for a Smooth Move to Miami, FL

When you think of Miami, Florida, your mind probably goes to the palm trees, beaches, and nightlife, but Miami is also rich in art, culture, and influences from all over the world. Not only is Miami a beautiful beachside city and popular vacation spot for tourists, but the “Magic City” consistently ranks among the world’s top 150 places to live. With Miami’s eclectic flavor and diverse culture, you’re sure to enjoy your new life here.

Whether you’re relocating to Miami to retire or for a new job, it’s a good idea to enlist the help of experienced Miami movers and learn everything you can about your new city to prepare for your move. As a top-rated moving company with local Miami moving experts, we know how to prepare you for a smooth move to Miami.

1. Prepare for Miami Weather

The weather in Miami is humid and tropical. Most South Florida locals would agree that it’s essential to get a place with air conditioning, but heating isn’t vital. It’s no secret that the weather in Miami is warm year-round, but what you may not realize is that Miami has what is known as a tropical monsoon climate. While the word monsoon refers to seasonal changes in the atmosphere and the resulting precipitation, these changes are sometimes accompanied by a rapidly rotating storm known as a hurricane.

If you’ve never lived in hurricane country before, you may not have thought much about planning ahead for that kind of emergency. The CDC website provides recommendations for residents of hurricane-prone areas like South Florida regarding having emergency supplies on hand as well as an evacuation plan. You may also want to familiarize yourself with ways to protect your Miami home during a hurricane, such as securing windows and using sandbags.

Not all hurricanes are emergencies, but inclement weather can still interfere with your upcoming move, especially if you’re attempting to move by yourself. Keep in mind that the storm season in Miami runs from June through November, so if you’re moving during the summer or fall, you may end up dealing with strong winds and heavy rain. Thankfully, these deluges are usually brief, and professional movers in Miami such as our teams at Suddath are, of course, trained to move during typical Miami weather conditions. In fact, Suddath has been servicing moves to Miami since 1952.

2. Look into Parking Permits and Public Transportation

The heavy traffic in Miami makes walking and public transportation popular alternatives to driving a vehicle everywhere. That said, the public transportation system can be tricky for newbies, so it’s a good idea to peruse their website before venturing out.

One of the transportation methods in South Florida is “Freebee,” a free shuttle service supported by advertisers who advertise with signs on car doors. Keep in mind that you’re still expected to tip when utilizing Freebee.

Since public transportation can be inefficient in certain areas, many Miami residents need a vehicle for commuting to work. If you have a car, you will probably want to look into getting a parking permit since finding free parking is often next to impossible.

3. Consider Brushing Up on Your Spanish

Miami is an international city and true melting pot of people from all over the world. As many as 80 different languages are spoken in Miami, but English and Spanish are the top two. It’s estimated that up to 70 percent of Miami’s residents speak Spanish at home, so you’ll hear it a lot. Although brushing up on your Spanish isn’t a necessity, it will be nice to understand some of what you’re hearing in the background as you go about your day in the city.

Not only that, but Spanish is a useful second language to learn in Miami for purposes of international commerce. That said, the people of Miami are very welcoming, so it’s easy for anyone to fit into this beautifully diverse city.

4. Dress Up to Fit In

Miami residents tend to be more formal in their dress when going out at night, so be prepared for dress codes at many of the upscale clubs and restaurants. It’s not just the house rules that will have you reaching for a jacket before a night out on the town. Miami establishments tend to keep things cool indoors, so being prepared with an extra layer for the air conditioning is recommended. Light jackets and sweaters are an essential part of every Miami resident’s wardrobe. Let’s just say there’s a reason why Don Johnson was always wearing a sport coat in the popular 1980s series Miami Vice. And just like Don, you can skip the tie.

5. Anticipate Visitors

Something that might surprise you about living in Miami is that you may get frequent visitors—and we aren’t just talking about the regular influx of tourists. Once your friends and family find out you’re moving to Miami, they’ll be blowing up your phone, wanting to come and visit. If you’re on the fence about whether to choose a new home with a guest room, you should probably go for it because you just might need the extra space.

6. Stay Organized with a Moving Checklist

Daydreaming about life in Miami can be exhilarating, but don’t forget there is work to be done before you reach your destination. Once you’ve scheduled your move with Miami movers, the sooner you get started with planning and packing, the better. The following timeline can help keep you on track for making the arrangements for living in your new city. This checklist will also ensure that you are packed up and ready on moving day:

8 Weeks Before Moving Day

Schedule an in-home moving quote (if you’re enlisting the help of a professional mover).
Take inventory of your belongings to determine what stays and what goes.
Start packing items from your garage, shed, attic, and basement.
Create a list of repairs you’ll need to complete before the move.
Figure out which Miami area schools your children will be attending.

6 Weeks Before Moving Day

Donate, sell, recycle, or discard unwanted items.
Consider having a garage sale.
Obtain copies of school and medical records.
Begin to pack up the house, room by room.

4 Weeks Before Moving Day

File your change of address form with the United States Postal Service.
In addition to setting up mail forwarding with the Post Office, you’ll want to notify certain places directly about your upcoming change of address, such as credit card companies and insurance companies.
Make arrangements for transporting your pets and live plants.
Once you know your exact move-out date, contact your current utility providers to notify them that you are moving.
Also, contact Miami utility providers to set up services at your new home. Florida Power and Light (FPL) provides Miami’s energy services, and the city handles water and sewage. Trash and recycling pickup is dealt with by Miami-Dade county.
Contact local cable and internet providers such as AT&T.

2 Weeks Before Moving Day

Gather together important documents that will travel with you instead of on the moving truck.
Sketch a layout of your new home or peruse photos or a floorplan to decide where you or the movers will position the furniture in your new home.

1 Week Before Moving Day

Settle any outstanding accounts with local businesses.
Set aside everyday items to keep with you during the move, such as clothing and toiletries, phones and chargers, medications, and your car keys.
Gather up items you’ve hidden around the house, like spare keys.
Refill any prescriptions.
Pack an “Open First” box with essentials like cleaning products and toilet paper.
Deep clean your current home or hire professional cleaners to do a move-out clean.

Moving Day

Leave keys and garage door openers for the new residents.
Be available to direct movers and answer any questions they may have.
Double-check moving documents such as inventory lists and “bills of lading.”

Don’t have time to pack? Some Miami moving companies, including Suddath, offer professional packing services that can save you a lot of time and headache.

7. Hire a Miami Local Moving Company

We’ve talked about planning for your exciting new life in Miami and preparing for your relocation, but sometimes the most challenging part of a move is the actual move—the logistics of moving your stuff. That’s where we come in! Suddath is a full-service moving company that handles local moving, long-distance moving, and international moves and is one of the highest-rated movers in South Florida.

Unlike some other local moving companies, our Miami movers provide a dedicated move coordinator who will walk you through each step of your move. Whether you’re moving from the next county or another country, your move coordinator will offer you updates to give you peace of mind throughout the relocation process. Your dedicated coordinator can discuss the many services we offer, including packing solutions and climate-controlled storage options.

If you’re traveling from another country, your move coordinator can also help you with details such as:

Prepping for customs
Document preparation
Custom crating
Overseas freight
Moving your vehicle
Transporting a boat

Although any move comes with some uncertainty and a period of adjustment, the relatively laid-back lifestyle and friendly people you will find in Miami will help ease you through the transition to your new city.

Read more in our Miami moving guide or contact Suddath today at 305-742-0102 for a free moving quote.