If you’re moving into an apartment building, Graber says to ask about its policies and restrictions around moving. “Many have specific elevator reservations and insurance requirements—the earlier you know about them the better,” he says.
Similarly, if you’re planning on hiring any additional workers on or around the time of your move, it’s best to obtain the COIs for their work in advance as well to avoid last-minute scrambling. You’ll also want to make sure the company sends additional COIs for any additional follow-up visits. For instance, we hired someone to wall-mount our television right after we moved. The technician had to return to our apartment a second time to address it being slightly off-center, so having them send a second COI for us to submit to building management was handy.
Moving yourself? Make sure you use a properly sized vehicle for your needs
Kyle Stockford, a Boston-based tasker on Taskrabbit who specializes in full-service help moving, claims that the right equipment can make or break your moving day. “Try to visualize your items being stacked and packed to determine the fit and what vehicle you require,” he says. Once you’re ready to pack up the truck or van, Stockford recommends starting with your biggest items first. Since it can be tough to imagine all of your items fitting into a vehicle beforehand, he notes that loading things largest to smallest “always makes things run smoother.”
Don’t procrastinate packing
Did you know that if you pack yourself, it takes two weeks on average to pack a two-bedroom apartment?
Ayoub shares this surprising stat while pointing out that it typically takes three or more weeks to pack a three-bedroom apartment or house. (I personally packed up my one-bedroom apartment in about five days, but having a few extra days would have made that last night way less stressful.)
“People often underestimate the time it takes to pack, as well as the importance of using packing boxes and materials made for moving,” Ayoub insists. (She lives by the packing motto “Start early!”) To make the process more streamlined, she advises making a clear schedule of what rooms need to be packed prior to the moving day. “Start with items and furniture that are not part of your daily routine so packing becomes more manageable versus leaving it to the last-minute,” Ayoub adds .
One exception to the pack-early ethos? “There’s a very good chance that you’ll need cleaning supplies and basic tools during the packing and moving process,” says Valentino. “Pack this stuff last, and put it somewhere that will be easily accessible on the other end.”
Skip the cardboard boxes
Really just trust me on this one and rent reusable bins from a moving company with good reviews. What’s more, between carbon emissions on the physical relocating and all the trash created along the way, it’s time we keep sustainability at the forefront when moving too “Cardboard boxes vary in quality and need to be ‘built’ with tape,” Graber explains. “Reusable bins are sturdier and don’t come with the tasks of assembly, break down, and recycling or disposing of them. Just unpack and the company will return to pick them up,” he says. Many companies will provide special pencils and labels on the bins so you can keep track of the contents of each vessel, or you can easily purchase these items for a few dollars online. Also inquire if your moving company has wardrobe bins so you can load your clothing directly on hangers into these containers to save you time. Bonus: Reusable bins are an environmentally-friendly choice.
Invest in the tools for success
Along the lines of opting for sturdy moving bins over traditional cardboard boxes, Ayoub frequently sees people underestimate the value of proper packing supplies, overpacking boxes and trying to fit too much into a flimsy container. “It’s common to want to pack boxes to the brim, but distributing weight evenly across boxes is key to avoid overpacking large boxes with heavy items,” she says, pointing out that this can lead to damaged items. Picture frame boxes and specialized boxes for items like stemware and dishes are money well spent: “These purpose-specific boxes make all the difference in ensuring your belongings arrive safely and in one piece,” Ayoub adds.
Color-code your boxes
To crank your organizational prowess up a notch, Ayoub says that a simple yet effective strategy for maintaining order while you move is color-coding your boxes with labels. “Assign each room or area a specific color and label boxes accordingly with large stickers or colored tape,” she says, noting that this makes it incredibly easy for both you and your movers to know exactly where everything belongs once it arrives at your new home. Doing so can save a huge amount of time and eliminates the guesswork in unpacking, especially when you’re looking for a specific item, she adds.
Consider your furniture carefully
To pull off a successful move, furniture merits a little extra TLC. “Think about what furniture came into your home in one piece and what was built inside. Will all of your furniture fit through the doorways in your home?” Graber says. “Raise any concerns in advance so that your movers are prepared,” he continues.
