Moving guides from a Sparks moving family

Every guide is written by a family that has moved Northern Nevada households since 1941, and each one points to the official federal or Nevada source behind it. Pick the group that matches where you are in the move, then open the guide.

Guides for choosing a mover and reading the paperwork

Start here if you are comparing movers or holding a written estimate. Federal rules decide what a mover must put on paper for an interstate move, and these guides translate those rules into things you can check yourself in a few minutes.

The guide on binding and non-binding estimates explains how each type of estimate works, and how to check a mover's USDOT and MC number shows you the public lookup anyone can use. Two more cover released value and full value protection and the bill of lading.

• How to choose a moving company
• Questions to ask a mover before you book
• Mover vs moving broker: how to tell
• Your rights and responsibilities when you move
• How to file a moving damage claim

Guides for planning, timing and checklists

A move goes smoothly when the work is spread over weeks instead of the last weekend. These guides give you the order of tasks, from the first phone call to the first week in the new home.

The 8-week moving checklist is the one most households print. How far ahead to book movers covers lead time, and planning a move on short notice is for the weeks when the date arrived faster than expected.

Northern Nevada has its own calendar. Winter storms on the Sierra, summer heat and the end-of-month rush all change how you plan, so there is a guide for the best time of year to move, one for each month from January through December, and four for Lake Tahoe and Truckee by season, starting with winter at the lake.

Guides for packing, boxes and heavy items

The packing guides work item by item, so you can read only the page for the thing in front of you. Dishes, TVs, mirrors, books, artwork and a whole kitchen each have their own steps, and packing room by room gives the order that keeps the house usable until the last day.

Heavy and awkward pieces have their own guides too, such as how pianos are moved, pool tables, hot tubs and refrigerators. If you would rather hand the work off, the packing service page shows what our crews wrap and box, and full packing vs packing it yourself helps you decide.

Guides for storage, long-distance moves and life changes

Storage questions come up on almost every move that does not land on the same day the keys change hands. Vault storage vs self storage explains the difference in plain terms, and what storage in transit means covers goods held between pickup and delivery.

For long moves, what goes into a long-distance moving cost and pickup and delivery spreads show how weight, distance and scheduling fit together. Households in transition have their own set, including downsizing for seniors, estate moves and moving for a new job.

Businesses are covered as well, with guides on office IT and equipment, FF&E and laboratory moves.

When you would rather talk it through

Reading helps, but an address and a floor plan answer questions faster than any article. O'Brien's offers a free, no-obligation in-home estimate with 10 free heavy-duty boxes yours to keep, or you can call the office at 775-359-6683 on weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm.

You can also run the numbers yourself with the moving tools, or browse the moving FAQ for short answers. Ask for the written estimate, read it against the guides above, and decide at your own pace.