Apartment moving – everything you need to know

Congratulations! You did it! You searched, you toured, and now you’re ready to move. Before you start packing up your current apartment to move to your new one, exploring the local movers, and planning a goodbye party, let’s make sure you have covered everything. Because while moving day is exciting, there are some challenges you might face. For example, moving into a new apartment is everything but easy, especially when stairs, tight corners, and doorways are involved. That is why hiring local movers who are specialized in moving apartments, not just moving in general is a must. From packing a box to moving heavy furniture to knowing what ended up where you can consider this your ultimate guide to moving day.

Before we dive into the whole guide, let’s take a moment to tell you that even though moving an apartment might seem easier than moving a house, it is usually the other way around. People tend to think that since apartments in most cases have less stuff and are smaller, they will have less trouble packing and moving. Don’t fall into this trap, because believe our experienced local movers when they tell you that apartments move might be a lot more complicated because not only that it is physically harder to get all the pieces of furniture through the building, but you also have the neighbors and landlords who have to be notified and cooperative during the moving day, which is not always the case, frequently there are no parking lots, etc.

Don’t think that we are trying to scare you here and make you regret that you even decided to move in the first place since it is obviously the other way around. We want you to have the most successful move ever, but you won’t be able to do that if you don’t take this apartment relocation seriously! That is why our local movers’ main advice is to invest enough time and energy into this process since it is something that the rest of your life depends on and there is no need that you start the new phase of your life on the right foot when you have our local movers to guide you through the whole process. 

If you are ready like our local movers are, let’s listen to their ultimate guide to a successful apartment move.

Make a moving checklist

This is tip number one according to our local movers. You can’t do anything else properly unless you first sit down, think about the journey that is ahead of you and write all the tasks that you should finish along the way down. There is a long way to go from finding local movers to finally throwing a goodbye party and being at the doorstep of your new home. However, if you do it right, this journey might not be as overwhelming and stressful as you expect it to. When you are aware of all the things you are supposed to do, you can organize and prioritize and soon you will notice that you have 80% of your moving tasks checked.

Give proper notice that you’re moving out of your apartment

This is something that can’t be overlooked since it can cause you a lot of trouble later. Your lease will specify how much notice you need to provide your landlord or management company that you are leaving. Typically, that is 30 days — but some properties require 60 or 90 days. Your lease will also specify how you need to give your notice (it is usually required in writing). Make sure to get it all correct, or you could find yourself paying additional rent for an apartment you no longer live in. Waiting for your local movers to arrive and remembering that you have not given proper notice would probably make you freak out and with a good reason.

Keep your present and future landlords and neighbors posted

Missing this tip could potentially cause a lot of problems for your local movers and therefore, make your move a lot more complicated, long and expensive. If you live in an elevator building, you will have to reserve time to move out of your current building and into your new one. Emailing the landlord/property manager of both buildings as soon as you narrow down what time you will have your local movers arrive (if applicable) and when you intend to be out/in each place is a must if you ask our local movers. The sooner you lock that down, the more flexibility you will have with preferred timing when reserving elevators – given most buildings do not allow for moves to occur during the weekend.

Get in touch with local movers

As we mentioned a few times, apartment moves can be a lot more complicated than you would expect them to, and getting help from apartment movers when you decide to take this big step is probably one of the smartest choices that you can make. As local movers, we know that there are plenty of reasons why people choose not to hire professional movers and handle the job by themselves, budget being one of the biggest, but we also know about all the things that can easily go wrong without the help of the ones who have experience and knowledge when it comes to this. That is why exploring your options when it comes to local movers and the services they can provide you with is definitely the step that you don’t want to miss.

Collect and provide all the paperwork before the moving day

If you plan to hire local movers, which we highly suggested you should consider in the previous tip, then make sure you receive Certificates of Insurance (COI’s) from your local movers to provide both buildings before the actual moving date. If you fail to do this, chances are you will not be able to legally move your items out. If you are moving items “yourself,” then most buildings request you sign a waiver acknowledging your responsibility for any damages to the elevator or building that might arise during moving day. When we say paperwork, your local movers here also want to remind you of utilities and address change since these are things that are usually forgotten along the way, and dealing with them in a timely manner can make a significant difference regarding the success of your apartment move.

Make a plan for repairs

Your lease should also document the specifics of the condition you’re required to leave your rental in. You should definitely deal with any repairs before your local movers arrive and the actual move takes place. This might mean patching nail holes in the walls, painting walls back to their original colors, and fixing any other damage the apartment has sustained since you moved in. If you have swapped out any light fixtures or blinds, for example, you’ll have to reinstall the originals. Make sure you understand what you are on the hook for, then decide what you can fix on your own. For everything else, hire a professional. Before your local movers arrive both your old place and the new one should be ready for relocation and there is nothing that should be left for the actual moving day.

Make a decision on what you should keep and what you should toss

Moving is a great time to sort through your belongings and get rid of things you no longer want or use. Not only that this will make your relocation a lot faster and easier, but your local movers’ services will be a lot more affordable, too. As you are going through stuff, set aside a few boxes for donations. The items will be put to good use by someone who needs them, and you can claim the donations when you do your taxes.

If you have difficulty parting with things, there are some questions to ask yourself when trying to determine if you want or need something and your local movers are going to share them with you: Do I use this?; Do I like this?; Would I still want to keep this if it had been free?; Am I only keeping this for sentimental reasons?; Would I miss this?. Answering yourself these few questions will be pretty helpful when deciding whether you should keep or toss something.

Clean both places top to bottom

Most rentals have specific requirements for cleaning your pad before you leave. This is also something that is supposed to be done before your local movers arrive.  From scrubbing out the fridge to shampooing the carpets, most landlords want the apartment spick and span for the next renters. If you are up to the task, stock up on the necessary cleaning supplies early. If you’d rather avoid the hassle, hire a professional cleaner to take care of the cleaning for you. Of course, when it comes to your new place nobody wants to come to a messy and dusty apartment, which is why you should go there a few days before your local movers seal the deal and come to unload the moving trucks and make sure that everything is ready for you and your family to feel cozy and comfortable. 

Determine the essentials for the new apartment

Another optional thing to consider is making a list of what items you will need to purchase or have delivered on moving day. We all like to put something new into our new home and even though we know that your budget suffered because of renting or buying the new place, hiring local movers, etc., you will probably want something new in your apartment, too. For example, if you need to purchase a TV for your living room, you should arrange it in advance, given that the cable/Internet guy will be around to install it on moving day or later. It is a lot easier to make sure that these new items arrive at your new place after the moving day than to have your local movers move them as well and make your move not only a lot more expensive but also a lot more exhausting and long.

Take pictures

Since we talked about many things that you are considered to do before you leave your old apartment, make sure to take pictures of your old place before your local movers arrive and your new place as soon as you arrive and before the local movers unload the moving trucks and take everything in. Having photo evidence will prevent you from being charged for damages created after you moved out (and can prove the clean condition you left the apartment in). In your new apartment, take photos or a video to record any pre-existing damages. Report any issues to your new landlord immediately, even if you don’t want the damages fixed. Photo evidence is key to ensure you get your security deposit back.

Your local movers consider that these 20 tips are enough for you to have the smoothest and the fastest apartment move ever. We know that when you go through them now, they might seem like a lot of work, but when you start checking the boxes one-by-one, you will be thankful that you listened to us and prepared well before your local movers arrive. When the moving day is already there and the things are happening fast you don’t have much time to think and work, since it is a lot smarter to just be there for your local movers and make sure that they can do their job uninterruptedly.

If you are still searching for good apartment movers and if you think that the help of professional local movers will make your apartment move easier to handle, Down The Block Movers are one of the best local movers in the area. Our local movers are always at your service and we will be more than eager to get to know you and find out everything that you expect of our local movers, and then, we will make sure to do everything in order to meet your expectations. We are looking forward to hearing from you!