The start of a new year is full of exciting possibilities, including moving to a new apartment. Of course, changes also mean challenges and the moving process, if nothing else, can be difficult to say the least. Luckily, if you plan on making a move to a new NYC apartment in 2025, there are plenty of strategies you can use to make it easy. Spoiler alert, one of the strategies is to not do everything yourself and hire an NYC moving company. Whether you plan on moving in January or July, these steps can help simplify the process for you.
Create a Checklist
There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to an NYC move. Sure, you might know that you need to pack, but there are so many small steps in between packing and moving into your new place. Creating a checklist allows you to think about every part of your move and create a general timeline of when you need to complete these tasks. Plus, when you break down the moving process into smaller steps, it becomes less overwhelming since you can spread it out over a month or two instead of a week or a few days. In addition to the packing, you should make sure to include the following on your checklist:
- Purchasing moving materials – you need more than boxes to make a move. Don’t forget to buy things like tape, packing paper, bubble wrap, and so on
- Changing your address – once you have signed the lease on your new apartment, make sure to update all the billing and mailing addresses for your credit cards, online shopping info, and the post office for mail forwarding
- Building moving policies – many luxury buildings require something called a certificate of insurance from a moving company. In many cases, building management won’t let the movers use the elevator if they don’t have a COI. Make sure to know the moving in and out process to avoid issues.
- Transfer utilities – as soon as possible, update your utilities on your move. For electric and gas, call up Con Edison to let them know that you are moving and see if you can avoid double paying for your old and new apartment when you move. For your cable and internet, try to shut service off before your move to avoid double paying.
- Transfer medication to a new pharmacy – if you take any medication, make sure to have your information moved over to a pharmacy near your new apartment to avoid disruptions.
It’s all too easy to forget these little things, so make sure to write them all down and create a calendar event so you remember to do them.
Hire Professional NYC Movers
Unless you have a very tight budget, hiring professional NYC movers is definitely a must in a place like NYC. Even if you do all the packing and unpacking yourself, handing off the loading, driving, and unloading of all your belongings is sure to make your NYC move stress-free. Experienced movers can get your stuff moved in a few hours and can easily navigate NYC traffic. Plus, you don’t have to lift a thing besides a few items you want to make sure makes it to your new place. That means no heavy lifting for you, which reduces your chance of getting injured.
You shouldn’t just hire the first NYC moving company you find on the internet. Take some time to do your research to make sure they are legitimate. There’s nothing worse than getting scammed, turning a stressful situation even worse. When choosing a moving company make sure to:
- Ask for recommendations from friends and family first
- Read online reviews especially on places like the Better Business Bureau
- Reach out to multiple companies for quotes
- Confirm they have the appropriate license and insurance.
All professional movers are required to display their Department of Transportation (DOT) number on their website. New York also requires professional movers to have a NY State DOT number as well. Check the site and when you find the number, look the company up on the DOT website. There you can check to make sure the company is up-to-date on its insurance and license and read any complaints or issues.
Declutter Before You Pack
You’re starting over in a new apartment so why bring items you don’t need or use? While this extra step might take more of your time in the beginning, in the long run you’ll save both time and money. Take time to go through each room and sift through everything you own. Sort items into three categories: keep, sell, and toss. When choosing what to keep, only take items that you use consistently and are still in good condition. There’s no reason to bring an old shirt with you if it’s riddled with holes. Similarly, if something is in good condition but you don’t use it, consider selling it. You can use the money you make to offset the costs of your move. Anything left over, give away or donate.
While you’re decluttering, make an inventory of every item you plan on keeping. Include a description, the number you have, and make note of any damage by writing it down and taking pictures. Keep this inventory somewhere easily accessible online and make sure you can also access it offline so you can keep track after the move.
Create a Budget
It might sound obvious, but so many people run into unexpected expenses during a move. When creating a budget, it’s important to be realistic not only of how much you can spend but also how much things cost. Hiring professional movers will cost at least $200. While that might seem low, that’s on top of every other moving expense including your first and security, broker’s fee if applicable, packing supplies, and more. If you can’t move into your new place immediately, you also have to factor in storage costs. And don’t forget all of the new items you’ll need to get for your new place.
Of course, a budget is only one half of the equation. You also need to track your spending to make sure you don’t go over your budget. You can easily do this with a spreadsheet or the many online budgeting apps where you can categorize your spending. Either way, it’s important to know how much more you can spend so you don’t end up spending more than you can afford.
Leverage Technology
In this age of smartphones, there’s no reason why you can’t find some useful apps that will help with your NYC move. Simply search the app store to find something that fits your needs. For example apps like Sortly can help manage your inventory, Pierre can help track your spending based on the budget you set up, and Room Planner can help you with interior decorating for your new place. Heck, even the camera app nowadays can double as a measuring tool so you can get the exact dimensions of your new apartment to create a basic floor plan.
Besides apps, if you have smart home devices, you can pre-program them for your new apartment to help get you set up. Newer buildings might have automated lighting setup or heating/cooling options so you can make sure your place is ready for you when you move.
Make Your 2025 Move Stress-Free
There’s no reason you need to stress about your move. There are so many tools, services, and strategies to help you be more efficient. By following the steps above, you can stay organized so that moving day is a breeze. And by hiring NYC Great Movers, we can do the heavy lifting of moving your stuff for you so you can just relax. Reach out to us and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have about our process.
FAQ
Do I need to clean my old apartment before I leave?
If you want your security deposit back, you should definitely take the time to clean your old apartment. Better yet, hire professional cleaners if you have the money. And don’t neglect doing a deep clean of your new place once you’re moved in.
What should I pack in my essentials bag?
Pack what you would for an overnight trip. That means essentials like clothes, toiletries, medication, phone chargers, etc. Make sure to also pack important documents and maybe even some snacks and water.
