[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/6-tips-and-tricks-for-moving-in-nyc\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/6-tips-and-tricks-for-moving-in-nyc\/","headline":"6 Tips and Tricks for Moving in NYC","name":"6 Tips and Tricks for Moving in NYC","description":"No matter where you live, moving isn\u2019t fun, but there\u2019s something especially aggravating about moving in New York […]","datePublished":"2019-02-18","dateModified":"2025-10-28","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/#Person","name":"Great Moving (Kevin)","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NYC Great Movers","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","width":600,"height":363}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/6-Tips-and-Tricks-for-Moving-in-NYC.jpg","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/6-Tips-and-Tricks-for-Moving-in-NYC.jpg","height":800,"width":1204},"url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/6-tips-and-tricks-for-moving-in-nyc\/","about":["Moving Tips"],"wordCount":1835,"keywords":["Brooklyn movers","movers","movers in New York City","movers nyc","Moving","Moving in NYC","New York City","NYC","NYC Movers","reliable movers"],"articleBody":"No matter where you live, moving isn\u2019t fun, but there\u2019s something especially aggravating about moving in New York City. You have to deal with horrible traffic, limited parking situations, get a COI for some high rises, and do a lot of research before choosing a moving company (hint: check us out).While a lot of things are out of your control, such as the weather and just the general NYC environment, there are some tips and tricks you should follow in order to keep your sanity.Negotiate Move-in\/Out DatesYou won\u2019t always get a yes, but it doesn\u2019t hurt to try and see if you can plan your moving day on a weekend instead of a weekday. Depending on your landlord, they might be willing to push it a couple of days. Of course, this is all dependent on whether or not there\u2019s another tenant in place. If that\u2019s the case, then you have no option but to move out on the actual date. Move-In\/Out Date TipsSituationBest StrategyNeed More Time to Move OutAsk to extend by 1\u20132 days and negotiate daily rent instead of a full month.Early Move-In RequestAsk during the off-season (like winter); some landlords may offer a free week.In Between ApartmentsUse movers with short-term storage to bridge move-in and move-out gaps. If you are able to stay at your apartment later, be prepared to pay some additional money. A lot of landlords might insist on a full month\u2019s payment, but if it\u2019s only going to be an additional day or two, try to negotiate them down to only paying for the two days. If they still insist, just move out. If you can\u2019t move into your new apartment immediately, see if the professional NYC movers you\u2019re using also offer storage solutions. Many provide both short and long-term options. The best part is that they will move your belongings in and out of storage. Just let them know the dates and they\u2019ll do the heavy lifting – literally!When moving into a new place, there\u2019s probably a lot more leeway, especially if you end up moving in the winter. If you want to move in early, ask if it\u2019s possible. Again, depending on the season, many might even throw in the week before your actual move-in date for free. There\u2019s no harm in asking!Get Everything Packed EarlyWhether you\u2019re hiring movers in NYC or not, waiting until the last minute to pack everything will just add unnecessary stress to something that is already stressful. Yes, packing isn\u2019t fun, but instead of spending a whole day putting everything into boxes, start packing as early as possible. Start with the non-essentials first and continue down the line. That way, once you\u2019re ready to move, you don\u2019t have to scramble to make sure everything is packed. And, most importantly, make sure to pack your essentials in an easy-to-access bag so you don\u2019t have to go rooting around your boxes afterwards. Average Time to Pack by Apartment SizeApartment SizeAverage Packing TimePacking TipsStudio4\u20136 hoursStart with non-essentials, pack daily to avoid last-minute stress.1 Bedroom8\u201312 hoursUse color-coded labels for rooms, and keep essentials separate in a bag.2 Bedroom16\u201324 hoursPack one room at a time, take photos of electronics for easy setup later.3+ Bedroom24\u201336+ hoursConsider hiring help or starting weeks in advance; declutter as you go. You\u2019ll want to start packing at least a month before your move-out date. This will give you plenty of time not only to pack, but also to declutter properly. After all, the less stuff you have, the easier the packing and unpacking will be. Plus, it could save you money on moving costs as the movers will need to spend less time loading and unloading everything!Keep an Inventory of your ItemsIn addition to labeling your boxes, you should absolutely keep an inventory of all the items in each of the boxes. It\u2019s time-consuming, but it helps you keep track of all your items in case something gets broken or lost. Make sure to label and mark your boxes as well, so you can reference your labels. That might be something as simple as numbering them or using a color-coded system, whatever works for you. Just make sure to put in a description of the items in the box, take a picture of fragile items, and then save it to your computer and cloud storage for easy access.Moving is also a great time to throw away or donate old items that you never use anymore. The less you have, the easier it\u2019ll be on you and your movers. The best part is that you can use whatever money you earn by selling your items to put towards your moving budget, so you\u2019re not dealing with as many out-of-pocket expenses. And while donating items won\u2019t give you immediate cash on hand, if you keep the receipts, you can write them off on your upcoming tax forms.Clean Your ApartmentIf you want to get your security deposit back in full, then you need to make sure that your apartment is nice and clean. Depending on how long you have lived in your place, it might take a day to a few weeks. Some common actions to take include:\u2022 Painting your walls white\u2022 Covering up any holes you might have put in the walls to hang up cupboards, etc.\u2022 Deep cleaning all the rooms in your apartmentMake sure to take detailed pictures of your apartment once you\u2019ve cleaned everything up, in case you need to show your landlord. Apartment Cleaning Checklist Before Moving OutTaskPurposeRepaint or Patch WallsRestores original appearance and avoids deductions for wall damage.Deep Clean All RoomsEnsures the apartment looks move-in ready for inspection.Take Photos After CleaningProvides proof of condition for full security deposit return. In general, you want to get your apartment as close as possible to when you first moved in. Of course, this might not be possible, especially if you\u2019ve been living there for several years. Luckily, landlords cannot withhold your security deposit for standard wear and tear such as gently worn carpets, loose door handles, stained bath fixtures, grout and mold, etc.And speaking of pictures, once you move into your new place, make sure to take pictures of the current state of the apartment, so when you move again, you don\u2019t get docked for potential issues that were already there.Get Your Utilities Set UpWhile most apartments in NYC will already have electricity, hot water, and heat set up, you\u2019ll still need to get your cable internet and gas set up. It can usually take days, though some people have waited weeks to get these essentials set up. For a no-hassle move, call your utility providers in advance and get them to set up either on the day of the move or the day after. It might seem overwhelming to do everything at once, but in the long run, you\u2019ll have everything you need to get up and running in your new place in a few days. Common NYC Utility Setup TimelinesUtility TypeTypical Setup TimeTips for Scheduling in AdvanceElectricity1\u20133 daysCall your provider at least a week in advance; confirm meter readings and transfer dates.Gas2\u20135 daysSchedule early, especially in winter; check if your building requires a gas safety inspection.Internet \/ Cable3\u201310 daysBook installation as soon as you have a move-in date; consider weekend appointments to avoid weekday delays.Hot WaterImmediateUsually included in NYC apartments; confirm with the landlord if setup or activation is required. If you\u2019re moving on the weekend, make sure you schedule for the following Monday, as most utility companies will not send out a service person on the weekend. Also, if you\u2019re moving around holidays, call the utilities company in advance to see if they are closed and schedule for the next available time.Get MoversYou can\u2019t and shouldn\u2019t do everything yourself. Moving is hard work, and you can easily injure yourself trying to carry heavy boxes or furniture in and out of your moving van. And that\u2019s not even the worst part! You have to deal with NYC traffic, finding a parking spot close to your new place, and handling all of the logistics of moving, such as checking to see if you need a COI or not.Information to Prepare Before Hiring NYC MoversInformation NeededWhy It MattersNumber of RoomsHelps movers estimate time, truck size, and crew needed.Large Furniture ItemsEnsures proper equipment and protection for bulky or fragile pieces.Number of BoxesHelps movers plan load time and truck space efficiently.Building Floors & Elevator AccessDetermines labor intensity and whether extra movers are needed.Packing Assistance RequiredLet’s movers bring materials and allocate time for packing services. There are many affordable and reliable movers in New York City. Just make sure to book them in advance, or you might end up with very few choices. When you call movers, make sure you have the following information prepared:\u2022 Number of rooms you\u2019re moving\u2022 Number of big items (bed, table, couch, etc.)\u2022 Number of boxes\u2022 Number of floors in your current and new building, and whether it\u2019s a walk-up or has elevators\u2022 If there are any items that the movers will need to packAnd while movers are good, they\u2019re not psychic. Make sure to label all boxes with fragile items in big, large letters and protect them with bubble wrap, and once you get to your new place, direct them on where to place the items, especially heavier things like furniture.While moving to a new apartment won\u2019t spark joy for most people, following these tips can at least make it a lot more bearable.FAQHow far in advance should I book my movers?In general, you should book your movers at least 3-4 weeks before your move date. If you\u2019re moving during a busy season, you might need to plan on reserving movers 5-6 weeks in advance.What comes included in a standard moving package?Every company offers a different \u2018standard\u2019, but in general it includes loading and unloading of your boxes and furniture, and some basic packing of items like your TV, glass countertops. Some companies even offer wardrobe box rentals for free.My move date changed, what do I do?Make sure to contact the moving company at least 2-3 days before the move date to let them know. Most companies have a 24-48 hour cancellation\/rescheduling notice. If you need to make any changes, do so before this window of time, as you won\u2019t be charged a fee."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"6 Tips and Tricks for Moving in NYC","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/6-tips-and-tricks-for-moving-in-nyc\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]