Living in NYC means that moving will inevitably be a part of your life. Regardless of whether you’re moving every year to find that perfect place or you’re moving for the first time in 5 years, the process can be stressful even for the most organized people. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to make moving a lot faster and smoother.
Create a Moving Checklist
There are so many tasks involved in the moving process that it’s easy to forget everything you need to get done. Creating a guide can help keep you on track and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
What you need to do depends on your circumstances, but the most basic tasks include:
- Deciding whether you’re going to hire professional movers or do DIY
- Transferring or canceling your utilities
- Purchasing packing supplies
- Finding new health providers if necessary
- Updating all of your information with your new address
- Transferring your child to a new school if you’re moving out of your old district
If you have pets, you should also collect your pet’s vet records. Once you find a new office, you can provide all of the information.
Set Your Budget
Moving isn’t cheap. Even if you go the DIY route you still need to buy supplies, rent the truck, and so on. You should ideally figure out your budget a few months before you plan on moving. That way, you’ll have some time to cut back on your spending and really save up.
When creating your budget, overestimate how much you think you might need. That way, you’ll have some wiggle room in case you need more supplies than you expected or you can’t move into your new apartment immediately. Whatever your base budget, multiply it by 1.5 or even 2 as there will always be some last minute items you need to get or something you forgot to budget. In general, an NYC move costs at least $500 and that’s for a studio apartment. If you have a lot of things you want to bring with you, the costs will only go up.
Once you’ve created your budget, stick to it! Keep all moving related receipts and expenses in a folder and create a spreadsheet to track everything to make sure you stay within your means. Or you can use a budgeting app for something a bit more automated.
Research NYC Moving Companies
Sure, you can always rent a truck for your move, but do you really want to navigate a large truck through NYC traffic? Or what about carrying your bed or sofa up or down several flights of stairs? If you’ve ever done a DIY move yourself, you know how much energy and strength it all takes.
While it might cost you more, consider hiring professional NYC movers to take the actual moving part off your plate. They will do all the loading and unloading for you and, of course, deal with the driving and parking aspect, too. Many companies also offer additional services like packing, storage, packing materials, and more so you can have a one-stop shop for all your moving needs.
Start researching companies at least eight weeks before your move and get quotes from three to five different companies so you can compare their offerings and prices. When doing your research, check the website for something called a USDOT and NYDOT number. Both of these are proof the company is a registered business. You can use both of these numbers on the affiliated Department of Transportation site to ensure the company is up-to-date on all their insurance and registration while also checking for any accidents or issues.
After you’ve narrowed down the moving companies to three or four, call all of them to ask questions and for a quote. Most professional companies should be similar in price so if you see one that is significantly cheaper, consider it a red flag. You can always ask for deals or discounts especially if you’re moving outside of the May-September window.
Declutter Early
Even if you live in a small studio apartment, it’s almost impossible not to accumulate stuff. A move is the perfect time to purge yourself of all the clutter in your home. Go through each area of your place systematically and go through all of your belongings, that includes all the little knick knacks!
Separate your belongings into two piles – keep and toss. Only keep items that you use often and love. For clothes, get rid of anything you haven’t worn in over a year. For things like tools, small kitchen appliances, etc. ask yourself what purpose this item serves in your life. Would you go out and spend money on it again? If not, then get rid of it. For larger items like furniture, you should first figure out if it will even fit in your apartment. Even if it does fit, it might take up too much space or maybe you want to go with a different style. Whatever the case, the more you can pare down your belongings in a move, the better.
Start Packing Early
Packing is quite possibly the most time-consuming process when done properly. But the more organized you are when packing, the easier it will be to unpack and get settled in your place. Instead of waiting until a few days before your move, start planning your packing early. Find or buy your packing supplies early on so if you do run out you have enough time to stop by a store to pick up more. From there, set up a packing station with all of your supplies. That way you won’t waste any time looking for the scissors or tape.
When packing, start with things you don’t use often and group them together. For example, you can easily pack up your books without any disruption to your daily routine. Seasonal clothes are also a great place to start as you probably won’t have to worry about wearing a winter jacket in the middle of August. Spend some time every day to pack a box or two. Leave all the essentials for the day before so you don’t have to dig through your boxes looking for toothpaste. Speaking of essentials, make sure to pack these separately from your regular moving boxes. Think about what you would pack for a 3 night trip somewhere and pack a suitcase or bag accordingly. Don’t forget things like charging cables, medication, and so on.
When packing, keep similar items together. For small items, put them in resealable bags or containers so they’re not loose in a box. The same goes for cables. Use some zip ties to keep them together and then place them in a plastic bag. You should also pack liquids together to prevent them from damaging valuables during your move. To prevent leaks, use a piece of plastic wrap around the top.
Plan Your NYC Move
Planning an NYC move doesn’t have to be difficult. Work with NYC Great Movers and we’ll take on the hard part of actually moving your stuff. We can even help if you need storage, packing help, or packing supplies. Reach out and we’ll walk you through the process and create a plan that works for your needs and budget.
FAQ
What happens if I don’t pack everything before the movers show up?
If you use professional movers, everything needs to be boxed before it goes on the truck. Should there be items that are not properly packed, the movers will have packing supplies with them, including boxes. You will be charged per box that is used.
Do I need to disassemble all my furniture myself?
Movers can perform basic disassembly and reassembly. So that means taking off the legs from a table. For more complicated items like murphy beds, you will need to do it yourself or call a professional.
How do I dispose of bulky items?
NYC has large item curbside removal. You don’t need to set an appointment, just put out your large items on the curb on trash day.
