Apartment moving tips that save you money

Apartment moves are billed by the hour, so anything that slows the day down costs you money. The good news is that most of it is easy to avoid. We move a lot of apartments, so this is the same advice we'd give a friend.

Reserve the elevator first

If you only do one thing on this list, make it this one. Sharing a service elevator with other residents on a Saturday can add an hour to your move before anyone has carried a single box. Ask your leasing office to reserve it for your move.

Save a parking spot close to the door

The walk from the truck to your door is one of the biggest things that decides how long your move takes, and it's the one people most often forget to mention. If your buddies have to park further away than they need to, you're paying for every extra trip down that sidewalk. Save a spot close to your door if you can, and tell us about the walk, the stairs and your floor when you book.

Sort out the certificate of insurance early

Most buildings want one from your mover before they'll let anyone start. Ask your leasing office about it when you book, because they keep office hours and won't be rushed on moving morning. Send us their sample and we'll take it from there, at no cost to you.

Be fully packed before we arrive

Have every box packed and taped shut before your buddies get there. If they've loaded everything they can and they're waiting on the last few boxes, that's time you're paying for. Furniture goes quickly. It's the loose things, like lamps, cables and the junk drawer, that eat the clock.

Boxes beat trash bags

Trash bags feel faster when you're packing, but they're much slower to move. Six or seven large boxes stack on one dolly, where only one or two bags fit. Bags also tear, and whatever's inside them is less protected.

Take apart what you easily can

Simple things like a bed frame or the mirror on a dresser are worth taking apart ahead of time, and the tools often came with the furniture. If you're comfortable putting them back together at the new place, that saves time too. Anything you're not sure about, leave for your buddies. Taking furniture apart and putting it back together is already included in our rate.

Plan for the washer and dryer

We're movers, not licensed plumbers. Like most movers, we'll ask you to sign a waiver before we disconnect a washer or dryer, and then we're happy to help. Your building's maintenance team may be able to disconnect them for you, so it's worth asking.

Clear a path

Move the small stuff out of the way before we arrive, so your buddies can pad the furniture and start carrying right away instead of rearranging the room first.

Label boxes by room

On moving day, where a box is going matters more than what's in it. "Kitchen" or "Bedroom 2" gets every box to the right place on the first trip.

Small steps add up

Doing all of this can cut your moving time a lot, sometimes by half. A low hourly rate isn't much of a deal if the day runs long, so the hours are where you really save. And if you'd rather skip packing altogether, our packing service usually sends the same buddies who'll move you, so they already know your home and your plan.