It’s finally time to make the move – the date has been confirmed, the new place has been found and everything seems to be going exactly as planned. Now it’s time to make sure that you won’t dive into the preparations for your move without a proper plan set in motion – so put down those boxes, at least for a moment.
Moving is an exciting project, you are starting the new chapter of your life – but getting to that chapter often seems too tedious to go through alone. Tight corners, narrow hallways and doorways are just some of the unique apartment moving obstacles that you need to overcome in order to have your move successfully completed.
Add in some stairs to the equation and you are looking at a much more difficult move than you might’ve bargained for. This is why we are here, to help you find the best building movers near you and make your apartment move easy, and a pleasure for everyone involved.
Preparing For Your Apartment Move
- Don’t forget to review your lease agreement – you might’ve said goodbye to your neighbors, but you still have some paperwork to catch up with before you actually leave. You will have to give some sort of notice, depending on the agreement, so before you start doing anything, make sure to do this first.
- Contact your renters insurance to let them know you are moving, also.
Supplies And Packing
- Start hunting for packing supplies at least 3-4 weeks before your moving date. You will need a lot of supplies, don’t forget tape and markers, labels, boxes, bubble wrap and more.
- Don’t forget to purchase basic tools like a hammer and screwdriver.
- Measuring tape is another must for measuring your doorways of your old and new place to see if everything will fit nicely and be moved easily.
- If something happens to not fit and can’t be disassembled, your building movers near you will have to get creative. Hoisting furniture often comes with a large fee, so it might even be more sensible to sell or donate the furniture that has to be hoisted.
- Don’t forget to change your address two weeks before you move. You will also want to update your records, subscriptions, etc.
Boxes
Boxes are a necessity of every move, local or long distance. They can also get pretty costly, so you need to get creative especially if you are on a budget
- Consider purchasing only special boxes like wardrobe boxes, tv boxes or dish packs. They will make your entire move much easier to handle, so spending some extra money here will definitely pay back after the move.
- For regular boxes, consider finding them at your local businesses that will give their leftover boxes for free. Your neighbors, friends or colleagues might have some leftover boxes from their previous moves.
- You can also opt to use what you already have around your home, like plastic bins, laundry baskets, suitcases etc. Do make sure that you are only packing unbreakable items into these makeshift boxes as you don’t want your items to get damaged during the move.
- You can ask your movers about purchasing packing supplies from them – but they are usually overpriced so you might have more luck with them elsewhere.
When Should You Start Packing?
Packing Boxes
- Your box will always need to be sealed with tape once it is packed.
- Start by wrapping your items individually before placing them in a box.
- Seal liquids with plastic wrap under the cap before putting them inside a box.
- The heaviest items always go on the bottom – lighter items on top.
- Never overfill your box. Heavy items go inside smaller boxes, like books.
- Don’t underpack it – if it has a lot of space leftover, try filling up the rest with some cushioning.
- You can use newspaper, linens or towels to line your fragiles before packing them up.
Organized Packing
- Pack one room at a time and try to start with the least used room. Then proceed in the same manner throughout your house.
- Always start with the most difficult items to pack, and finish up with unbreakables, children’s toys or clothing.
- Keep similar items together, in the same box. You don’t want to mix your kitchen items with your children’s clothes. That doesn’t make much sense.
- Labeling your boxes by room, a brief description of the contents, the top side of the box etc. will help you during handling and unpacking as well.
- Labeling your boxes by number and having a spreadsheet with your boxes can take organization on another level making unpacking as easy as ever.
What You Shouldn’t Pack
Restricted Items
Some things will not be taken by your building movers – and you should know not to pack them for the truck and take them with you or dispose of them before the move.
- Flammables and explosives
- Firearms of any kind
- Toxic liquids and solids
- Plants
- Perishable foods
- Medication
If you have any specific items you would like to ask your building movers near you about – then definitely go for it. You don’t want to be surprised on the moving day when you find out your movers will not move one or more items.
Essentials Kit
What you shouldn’t pack before your move are also essentials that you will need as soon as you set foot in your new home. Your essentials kit should include:
- A change of clothes
- Toiletries, paper towels and toilet paper
- Your phone and charger
- Medication, eyeglasses, etc.
- Child and/or pet necessities
The Importance Of Decluttering
Getting rid of your unwanted items has never been easier. This is the perfect time to go over everything you’ve come to accumulate over the years and get rid of anything you no longer wish to use or own.
- Make piles for items to sell, donate, toss or repair.
- Consider selling your items online or hosting a garage sale.
- Think of decluttering as making space for new items and paying less to move less items.
Moving Into Your Apartment
There are some things you need to do regarding your new apartment before you make the trip. Don’t forget these vital aspects of your relocation as they can make or break the entire experience for you and everyone involved in the process.
- Two weeks before you make the move, set up the utilities at your new address. You also want to do the same but for your current apartment, and shut down the utilities the day after you leave.
- Ask your current and future building for their moving requirements so you can forward them to your moving company.
- Some building managements require reservations, proof of insurance, specific move out or move in times, special protection, etc. so make sure to do that on time.
- If you currently live, or are moving to a gated community – you will need the code for the gate to let your movers know before they arrive on the special day.
- Clean your old apartment as soon as everything is moved out.
- Don’t forget to ask about your security deposit.
Before Your Building Movers Near You Arrive
You will have to make some preparations before your movers arrive. Doing as much as you can before the move will ease the entire process and make it a bit more enjoyable for everyone involved. If you want to speed up your apartment move and have it completed with ease, consider doing the following before your movers arrive:
- Break down your furniture and try moving what you can into your living area.
- Place boxes as close as possible to the entryway of your apartment.
- Take out some cash to pay for the move or tip your movers after.
- Have some water and snacks on hand – you and everyone else will appreciate it greatly.
- Make sure that your building movers have a designated parking spot somewhere near your building.
- Wrap what you can in plastic wrap, so your movers don’t have to.
Get A Free Quote From Chicago’s Best Building Movers
We offer free, detailed moving estimates, all-inclusive pricing and no hidden charges. Our Chicago building movers near you are dedicated to providing you with an amazing apartment moving experience during which you won’t have to lift a finger or worry about a single thing.
Get in touch with our amazing relocation specialists, and find out exactly how easily you can secure the best building movers near you to help tackle your upcoming relocation.
You can get a free quote over the phone by giving us a call, or simply requesting an online quote by filling out our form on our website. We will be more than happy to be involved in your upcoming building move – just give us a call and we will take over!