With tight quarters, needing the go-ahead from the landlord, limited parking, and affecting many nearby neighbors, apartment moves present challenges when compared to doing the same thing from a single-family home. You can make the process far more quickly and efficiently with the following tips.
Read the Paperwork
Study any documents given to you by the landlord before your move, such as your lease.
- If you’re moving in, it may detail the procedures you have to follow that will not disturb current residents, scheduling restrictions, needed reservations, whether you or the landlord are responsible for getting utilities turned on, and what you can bring into your new place, such as pets or plants.
- If you’re moving out, it also defines how much notice you need to give and what condition the apartment must be in if you want to get your security deposit back. If you’ve been at the place for many years, move-out rules may have changed since you signed the original lease, so always double check with your landlord.
Check with the Landlord
Before finalizing your moving day schedule with the movers, check with your landlord. They can advise you of potential tie-ups caused by other moves on that same day and inform you of any arrangements or regulations that you need to know when moving in or out. For example, if you’re using moving containers, they can let you know if and where you can set them up near your apartment. They may also need to get a copy of your mover’s Certificate of Insurance.
You’ll also need to schedule a final walk-through once your place is emptied of your belonging. This is where your landlord determines how much, if any, of your security deposit they will hang onto to cover any repairs, repainting, or cleaning. Take pictures so you have documentation of what your apartment looked like when you left it.
Reserve the Space
Apartments can be tight on space so you’ll need to block out a parking spot or two the night before for the moving van. If your landlord doesn't reserve spots, you can always park your car there. Many complexes also require that you reserve the elevator ahead of time so they can warn current residents.
Measure the widths of entries, doorways, stairwells, elevator openings, and external pathways to ensure that your possessions can fit through them without damage. You don’t want to discover at the last minute that the sofa you’ve carried up two flights of stairs is much too long to make the final turn into the hallway that leads to your apartment.
Do you have any questions about moving apartments? Or are you looking for professionals to take care of the process for you? Then give us a call at True Friends Moving Company. We can help with all your moving needs!