A Homeowner's Guide to Moving in the DMV Area
Family-owned for over 25 years. Every move handled in-house by our own crews, from packing to placement. No subcontractors. No hidden fees. Serving DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Fully Insured ✓
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All crews in-house, no contractors
25+
Years serving DC, MD & VA
24/7
Monitored storage facility
$0
Hidden fees, ever
We've Been Moving Families Since Before GPS Was a Thing
In and Out Movers is a family-owned company, and that matters in ways that go beyond the brochure. The same leadership that started this company over 25 years ago is still here, still taking calls, and still sending crews on jobs. When something goes wrong on a move, you deal with us directly, not a call center.
Every move is handled entirely in-house. We do not broker jobs out to day-labor crews or independent contractors. The people who show up at your door are our employees, background-checked and trained by us. That consistency matters on moving day more than most people realize until something goes sideways on a move handled differently.
We carry full liability and cargo insurance on every job. Free in-home estimates are standard practice for us because it's the only accurate way to quote a move. A phone estimate based on bedroom count misses the piano on the third floor, the narrow stairwell, and the parking situation at your destination.
The DMV is a specific place to move. Traffic patterns, HOA rules, elevator reservations, permit requirements for moving trucks on DC streets -- we've navigated all of it. If you're relocating within Dale City, Ellicott City, or Centreville, we know the neighborhoods, the loading zones, and the timing that makes those moves go smoothly.
Family-Owned and Operated
Direct accountability from ownership on every job. Not a franchise, not a broker.
25+ Years of DMV Experience
Thousands of local, long-distance, and commercial moves across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Fully Insured on Every Move
Full liability and cargo coverage. You're protected from the moment we touch your belongings.
No Hidden Fees
The price we quote after an in-home estimate is the price you pay. We'll note every variable upfront.
24/7 Monitored Storage Facility
Climate-controlled, secured, and monitored around the clock for short or long-term needs.
Every Type of Move the DMV Throws at You
From studio apartments to full office relocations, our in-house teams handle the full scope. Here's how each service works and what to expect.
Local Moving
Local moves within the DMV are typically priced by the hour. A two-bedroom apartment move usually runs 3 to 5 hours with a two-person crew, depending on the number of floors, elevator access, and how packed things are before we arrive.
Packing before the crew arrives cuts your time significantly. We'll do a walkthrough on estimate day and flag anything that's likely to add time -- oversized furniture, tight hallways, or parking situations that require extra carry distance.
Read more about what local movers actually do and how the billing works.
Long-Distance Moving
Long-distance moves are typically quoted by weight and mileage. We conduct an in-home inventory before quoting, because a quote based on bedroom count is rarely accurate for long hauls.
One underappreciated factor: delivery windows. Most long-distance moves have a 1 to 5 day delivery spread. We'll tell you your window upfront and communicate as delivery approaches so you're not waiting without information.
Before booking, it's worth understanding why reviews matter for interstate moving companies and what to look for when comparing options.
Commercial and Office Moving
Office moves have a different set of priorities than residential ones. Downtime costs money, so timing and sequencing matter. We work with building management on both ends to coordinate elevator access, loading dock reservations, and after-hours moves when necessary.
Server rooms, reception furniture, and workstations each need different handling. We'll do a pre-move site visit for any commercial job to build a floor plan and itemized move schedule.
We also handle restaurant equipment moves, which require specialized disassembly, crating, and reinstallation knowledge.
Packing and Unpacking
Full packing service means we supply the materials and pack everything from kitchen contents to wall art. Partial packing means we handle the hard stuff -- fragile items, artwork, mirrors, electronics -- while you box up the rest.
The single biggest cause of damage on moves is inadequate box packing, not transit. Boxes with air space shift and crush. We pack boxes tight, label by room, and make sure fragile items are double-wrapped and box-within-boxed when necessary.
- ✓ Professional-grade packing materials supplied
- ✓ Specialty wrapping for artwork, antiques, and mirrors
- ✓ Room-by-room labeling system for easy unpacking
- ✓ Unpacking and furniture placement available at destination
Storage Solutions
Our storage facility is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's used for in-between-home situations, staging periods, and business inventory overflow. Items stored with us stay in our inventory system and are tracked individually.
Short-term storage is often needed when closing dates don't align. It's common for sellers to close before their new home is ready. We can move you out on closing day, store your belongings, and deliver to the new address when you have access.
If you're comparing options, read about the real differences between PODS vs full-service movers in Rockville before deciding which storage approach fits your situation.
International Moving
International moves involve customs documentation, crating requirements, and shipping container coordination that most local movers don't handle. We manage the origin side of international moves and coordinate with established international shipping partners for the ocean or air freight leg.
Lead times for international moves are longer than most people expect. Ocean freight typically runs 4 to 8 weeks port-to-port depending on destination. We'll walk you through the customs requirements for your specific destination country during the estimate process.
For reference on international moving regulations, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection publishes guidelines on what can and cannot be shipped overseas from the U.S.
Senior and Specialty Moving
Moving a parent or elderly family member out of a longtime home is a different kind of job. It takes more time and more patience than a standard move. Our crews are briefed on senior moves specifically, which means going at the right pace and treating the process with appropriate care.
Downsizing from a large family home to a smaller space requires planning before move day. We recommend walking through what goes and what stays at least two weeks in advance, so the crew knows exactly what is and isn't moving.
Our full overview of senior moving services explains the process and how we coordinate with families when the move involves more than just the homeowner.
25+
Years in Business
3
States Served Daily
24/7
Storage Monitoring
$0
Hidden Fees, Ever
What Actually Makes a DMV Move Go Smoothly
Book early, especially in summer
May through August is peak season across the DMV. School-year end-dates, military reassignments, and federal fiscal year transitions all pile up in the same window. If you're moving June through August, booking 4 to 6 weeks out is not overcautious -- it's realistic. Moving companies with in-house crews have finite capacity, and summer weekends fill first.
DC parking and truck permits
If you're moving to or from a DC address, parking for a moving truck often requires a permit from the District. We handle this coordination, but it requires lead time. Last-minute moves in DC are harder to execute cleanly for this reason alone. The DC Department of Transportation manages moving truck parking permits for the District.
HOA and building rules in Virginia and Maryland
Many HOA communities and high-rise buildings require elevator reservations and restrict moving hours to 8am to 5pm or similar windows. Northern Virginia in particular has many planned communities with specific move-in rules. Contact your HOA or building management before scheduling to confirm their requirements, then tell us what they are.
Your Moving Day Checklist
- ✓ Two weeks before: Confirm HOA or building elevator access, finalize packing plan, notify utilities at both addresses.
- ✓ One week before: Pack non-essentials. Disassemble furniture you want moved flat. Set aside items that are NOT moving.
- ✓ Day before: Clear pathways, protect floors with cardboard if needed, charge your phone and keep the charger accessible.
- ✓ Move day: Walk the crew through the house first. Point out fragile items, anything that's staying, and parking situation at destination.
- ✓ At destination: Do a room-by-room walkthrough with crew lead before they leave. This is when to flag anything before the team disperses.
Ready to Plan Your Move?
The best place to start is a free in-home estimate. A phone quote gives you a ballpark; a walkthrough gives you an accurate number and no surprises on moving day.
We schedule estimates 7 days a week. Most walkthroughs take 30 to 45 minutes, and you'll have a written quote within 24 hours. For emergency or last-minute moves, call us directly -- we'll tell you honestly what we can accommodate.
Free
In-Home Estimate
7 Days
Scheduling Available
24 hrs
Written Quote Turnaround
What We'll Discuss
During your free in-home estimate, we go over every detail that affects your move.
Volume and access conditions
Stairs, elevators, long carries, and parking at both addresses.
Special handling items
Pianos, safes, antiques, artwork, and anything fragile or oversized.
Packing and materials needed
Whether you need full packing, partial, or materials only.
Storage requirements
If dates don't align between your old and new homes, we discuss storage options.
Timeline and scheduling
Your move date, flexibility window, and any building or HOA time restrictions.
The American Moving and Storage Association recommends getting at least two written in-home estimates for any move. We agree. Moving.org (the public resource from AMSA) has useful guidance on how to evaluate those quotes.