How to Move Apartments
Whether you are an apartment moving veteran or this is your first time there is a lot to remember. As if you need another thing on your list right? Moving can cost you a lot of time, money, and stress. Never fear though we are here to help you make the move to your next rental a breeze. Our rental moveout checklist is the perfect way to organize your next move and prepare you for a stress-free move-in.
Apartment Moving Services
In order to initially reduce your stress, you’ll need to decide first how you plan to make your move. There are three types of moving services that you can choose from:
Do-it-yourself(DIY):
By far the most cost-effective, DIY moving lays all of the pressure and work on your shoulders. You will be the one to pack, rent the truck, load the truck, unload the truck, and put away all of your stuff. Here are some tips if you choose to do it yourself.
Combo Method:
With this option, you will hire professionals to load and unload the moving truck. This can be less strenuous on you, but you will need to provide all the boxes, supplies, and truck for the professionals to use. Read our detailed list of packing services here
Local Moving Company:
This option will cost you more than other methods but it is the easiest option. The stress of your move will be significantly reduced. Some companies specialize in local apartment moving and will be a huge asset in your move. You will be able to focus on your other to-dos while a moving company does the hard work for you.
Your apartment movers from one apartment to other
Here at Top Notch Movers, you know which option we prefer, but let us tell you a bit more about why it’s in your best interest to hire a moving company. When you live in an apartment you often have HOA’s or ownership groups that have rules and regulations that you are unaware of, and these can complicate your move.
Our decades of experience provide unmatched knowledge of those rules and regulations and can make your move uncomplicated. Our services even help those moving apartments within their own building. It seems like an easy task at first but save yourself 1,000 trips and hire a professional.
Here are some other things to think about for local apartment movers:
- Bulky and heavy items- These can be awkward to move. Most damages to items like televisions, couches, bed frames, dressers, and entertainment systems occur during moving. Leave these difficult items to the professionals.
- Time constraints- If you need to be out of your apartment by a specific time or on a specific day, then movers take the difficulty out of moving so you can focus on preparing your apartment for cleaning checks and repairing holes.
- Packing– Are you ready to buy boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and other supplies? We provide packing services and can do all the organizing for you. Once the move-out day arrives we will pack the truck to ensure minimal trips are needed to complete your move.
- Supplies– Other things to think about are wrapping and packing different items. Do you have blankets for the tv, plastic wrap for the furniture, and bubble wrap for other breakables? Moving companies can handle bringing these items and do the work for you as well.
Let us handle the heavy lifting (literally) for you as well as all the other necessary things to finish your move easily.
Rental Move out Checklist
Below you will find a detailed rental move-out checklist with timeframes to best organize your move and prepare you for moving day without procrastinating.
Two Months Away
- Determine the day of the week you will be moving. Weekends are the most popular moving days so if you’re hiring a moving company maybe choose a weekday.
- Request a day or two off from work. You may want more than one day in order to unpack and organize your new digs.
- Determine how much you want to budget for the move. This includes the moving company, down payments on your new apartment, cost of supplies, moving insurance, etc.
- Take measurements of your new apartment and determine a layout for where you will place everything.
- Research and book your moving company.
One Month Away
- Time to get a little more organized. Go through the things in your house and start to separate them into three categories: keep, sell, donate.
- For the things you want to donate begin to make small trips or a weekly trip to your local donation spots such as Goodwill, The Salvation Army, or Savers.
- Begin listing things to sell on local Facebook groups, Craigslist, and Letgo.
- Make sure to notify these places about your new address
- USPS
- Amazon
- Credit Card Companies
- Bank
- Your HR Department
- The DMV
- Any magazines or newspapers you subscribe to
- Begin gathering boxes for your move. You can do this at local grocery stores, retail stores, liquor stores, and the Craigslist free section.
- Start packing non-essentials (if it’s summer pack your winter clothes and vice versa) appliances you won’t be using, and any books you aren’t reading.
Two Weeks Away
- Change your utilities over to your new apartment i.e. water, gas, electricity, city bills.
- Make sure to take pictures and inventory of your valuables so you have a reference to check after you have moved.
- Talk to your current landlord about your security deposit
- When will they check your apartment?
- How long after will you receive your security deposit?
- Do they need your new address, PayPal, or Venmo?
- Talk to your new landlord and find out any information you may need for moving. Do you need to rent elevators or any other things?
- Find someone to take care of children and/or pets for you so that you can be less stressed during the move.
- Make any repairs to walls, carpets, or any other areas so you aren’t dinged on your security deposit.
One Week Away
- Reconfirm with your moving company to make sure they have the date, address, and pricing information correct.
- Cook freezer meals or plan easy meals so you don’t need to grab takeout every night while you pack and get ready to move.
- Finish packing up everything except the essentials.
- Take out cash to tip your movers. Generally, about $5 per hour they helped you is sufficient.
Day of Move
- Wake up early to assure that your new apartment is ready to be moved into. Take pictures and a video of your new apartment so you have it show to move-in conditions.
- Make sure you have keys, garage remotes, or gate codes so you can get into everywhere you need to go.
- Double-check all of your boxes, furniture, and other items are all there before the movers leave.
- Spot clean your old apartment and make sure it’s ready for the next tenant.
- Take pictures and videos of your old apartment to be able to document the condition you left the apartment in.
- Unpack the essentials that you need to get you through that evening and night.
- YOU DID IT!
Even though it seems like not a lot of stuff moving apartments is a lot to take on for anyone. We understand the difficulty of any move and that’s why we have provided this checklist for you to be ready for your next apartment move and ready to enjoy your new digs in less time. When you are ready to move we hope that we will be your first call and you can trust a local apartment mover like us! Are you ready today? Take our quiz to see how we can help.
