Let’s Move Your Apartment!

When moving apartments — whether it's across town or across the country — you're going to have to pack and make sure everything is properly shipped. Depending on your new location, you might be required to hire professional movers. Taking this into account, here's some advice for moving your apartment.

What to do in advance

Moving is an enormous undertaking, and the more preparation you do in advance, the easier it will be. There are a few things to take care of well before your moving day, including:

1. Reserve your chosen moving company’s services as far in advance as possible. If you have the flexibility to move on any day of the week, choose a weekday for your moving day — it’s usually less expensive than a weekend move. If you reserve during peak season (May through September), plan even farther ahead.

2. Choose an apartment that’s close to work and school. You’ll spend less time commuting and more time doing things that you enjoy.

3. Make sure your new place will be ready for your arrival; this includes making sure that utilities are connected and that there’s no damage or problems that need fixing before you can move in.

4. Keep all of your important documents — insurance policies, bank statements, birth certificates, etc. — together so they don't get lost or misplaced during the move.

What you'll want on moving day

Moving to a new apartment can be an exciting venture, but it can also be a stressful and exhausting time. The more prepared you are, the easier your move will be. Here's what you'll want on moving day.

1. Boxes

You'll need some boxes, so get some from friends, family or your local liquor store (they're usually happy to give them away). It's best to have different sizes for different items — heavy things in small boxes, lighter things in bigger boxes. If you can find wardrobe boxes, those are great for packing clothes without having to fold them over and over again.

2. Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap is useful for protecting breakables during a move, especially if you're driving it yourself in a truck or van. It keeps your belongings safe and ensures they arrive at their destination in one piece. Be sure to use enough bubble wrap so that the glassware isn't touching any other objects inside the box — this is especially important when stacking boxes on top of each other.

3. Packing Tape

You'll need this to seal your boxes closed after they've been packed up and loaded onto the truck or van. You may want to use some extra tape around the outside edges of the box.

Helping the movers help you

The most important thing you can do when moving is to make sure your movers know what they need to do.

Not sure how to do that? It's fairly easy. Just follow these steps:

Don't forget the details: Make a list of all the items you want moved, along with additional information about the items so that your movers can better plan for how long it will take them to move everything and how much space everything will take up in their truck.

Put your best foot forward: In order to help the moving process go as smoothly as possible, make sure you're on time and ready when the movers arrive.

Make sure that everything is packed in boxes or otherwise secured so that it won't get broken during the move.

Communicate: If you have any questions about whether something can be moved or what kind of special treatment an item might require, ask! Your movers may not be able to answer every question, but they'll appreciate knowing what you need and what you're concerned about.

Make a plan: Decide where you want things to go in your new home so that you can direct your movers once they arrive at your new place.

Reviewing the items on the inventory list

You should have received an inventory list from the movers in advance of their arrival. This is a comprehensive list of all of your belongings and their current condition. Now that everything has been moved into your apartment, you should take one last glance at this list to make sure everything is there and in good shape. If you notice anything missing or damaged, contact the company as soon as possible so that you can file a claim for reimbursement for any missing or damaged goods.

A little preparation can go a long way

Moving to a new apartment doesn't have to be stressful. A little preparation can go a long way toward making your first few days in your new place more enjoyable, and even fun.

The key is organization — start early, set goals for yourself, and create a plan for getting things done. If you're organized, you might even find that packing up your apartment and moving is pretty easy.

The best way to combat the challenges of moving is to plan ahead, take it a step at a time, and most importantly—try to relax. A little preparation can go a long way and help you achieve a less stressful moving experience. You deserve it!