Hitting the Easy Button For Your Next City Move
The stress of moving in the city is something almost all of us are familiar with. There are so many unique variables involved, and an endless list of tasks that need to be checked off. Whether you’re moving just a few key things, or completely uprooting your life and all your belongings, the secret is being organized, and creating an airtight strategy for the entire moving process.
For our Independence Issue, we reached out to our friends at Moved, a free moving concierge service, for some key tips about stress-free urban relocations. They were kind enough to give us solid tips for: Before, During, & After the move. See below:
BEFORE THE MOVE
> Always collect multiple moving quotes from moving companies that have 4-5 star reviews. You want to have optionality to ensure you’re not getting overcharged.
> Always understand exactly what’s included in each quote – you don’t want to run into any surprises on move day.
> Make sure you understand and follow your building’s moving requirements. You will likely have to reserve the elevator (and arrange for the movers to complete the job within that reservation window) and process paperwork like COIs which building’s require from moving companies to protect the building against any potential damages.
> The standard level of insurance required by law covers items at 60 cents per pound. Not great, at all. We highly recommend purchasing third party insurance to provide extra security on any potential damages during transit.
> Pack each box with items that are located in the same room. Why? To make unpacking easier. Also, place labels your boxes (we suggest a color-coding system if you’re very organized) that suggest which room they belong to. When the movers are unloading your items, you can then easily direct them as to where each box belongs.
> Pack a bag that you should keep on-hand with items that you will need immediately once you arrive at your new place (phone charger, underwear, pajamas, socks, water bottle, laptop, eyeglasses, etc.). Why? Two reasons. 1. You don’t want to have to shuffle through all boxes to find these items, and 2. If there are any issues with the move and the movers aren’t able to deliver your items on the same day, you’ll want these items on-hand.
DURING THE MOVE
> Meet the movers: Be friendly. They’re nice people with a challenging job. Tell them which objects are most meaningful to you so they take extra precaution when handling those items.
> Most people move during summer months. Which means you may not have your air conditioning turned on when the movers arrive to deliver your items. You should be prepared with water. Lots of it.
> Make sure you have all paperwork completed and you’ve received your keys for your new place prior to the movers arriving. Delays in the move can oftentimes cost you extra.
AFTER THE MOVE
> Unpack efficiently by starting with the essentials and going room-by-room. We suggest starting with the kitchen and bathroom as they tend to have the most necessary items.
> Don’t rush the decorating. Many people want to unpack boxes and get them out of the way as soon as possible. But, not every space is the same. You should live in the space for a bit before deciding where decor should be placed.
> Take a break from unpacking and check out your new neighborhood.
(Moved is a free moving concierge service that makes moving easy by giving you a digital application to complete any moving-related task and a personal assistant to coordinate the details of your move. Through Moved, you receive multiple moving quotes from vetted 4-5 star moving companies and can securely book movers within minutes.)
Illustration by Louie Chin
If you liked this story, check out more in our Urban Transplants issue.
