Photo by Madison Olling on Unsplash
Them: “I’ve moved 9 times in 7 years.”
You: “Same.”
Both: *look at each other with a tearful understanding*
Sound familiar? From hoisting couches up narrow staircases to draining your savings on broker fees, the stress of moving in New York City seems to outweigh everything that’s good about it. But, being advocates of fresh starts, we’ve compiled our top tips to make moving day a little easier so you can focus on your sweet new space.
Tip #1: Get the Administrative Tasks Out of the Way
Moving isn’t all physical — there are a lot of organizational to-dos that can easily be checked off in the weeks or months prior. Once a week, knock one of these tasks out to avoid any last-minute panic attacks.
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Change your address, which you can do online right here. Keep in mind it takes ten days to process.
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Set up Wi-Fi ahead of time. Find out who the provider is from your landlord or property manager, and schedule them to arrive the day you’re moving.
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Find out your other utility information and set those up ahead of time as well.
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On that note, cancel your old utilities so you stop getting billed the day you leave.
Tip #2: Get Rid Of Stuff (That You Don’t Use)
There’s a reason ‘Marie Kondo’ is now an accepted verb and adjective. Cleansing your current apartment of things you don’t like or use anymore really does relieve stress, and makes room for new design opportunities. Here’s how to purge your apartment before your move, Marie Kondo style:
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Start by evaluating all the stuff you haven’t touched or thought about in the last six months (clothes, furniture, As Seen On TV cooking supplies). Chances are you won’t need it in your new spot. Be strong during this process.
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From there, sort sustainably. Rather than sending everything off to a landfill, sort it into a few piles: trash, consignment, and donation. One for you, one for the planet.
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Getting rid of quality furniture? Keep in mind it can take weeks, sometimes months to sell yourself (but if you sell furniture on Kaiyo, we’ll come to pick it up and sell it on your behalf). Sure, selling that sofa in advance might mean you’re couchless for a few weeks, but it’s worth the extra cash and peace of mind.
Tip #3: Arm yourself with good supplies, and good movers
For the love of God, transport your items in boxes that won’t break. There’s nothing more stressful than spilling your prized possessions because of a poorly-taped, flimsy box. Also, have a solid moving team hired and briefed to avoid any miscommunication (this does happen).
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Find boxes at bookstores, grocery stores, and restaurants. Don’t be shy, just ask!
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For a more sustainable packing option, you can use services like Gorilla Bins, which will deliver bins to your old spot and pick them up from your new one.
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Check the weather. Nothing like a flash hurricane soaking your upholstered armchair. Have umbrellas, tarps, and raincoats on hand if rain’s in the forecast.
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When it comes to movers, decide how much you’re willing to spend. From friends (free-ish) to legit moving companies (upwards of $400), set aside a budget so you don’t run into any costly surprises.
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Tip your movers. This will depend on how many movers worked and for how many hours.
Tip #4: Measure Your New Place
While you’re purging old items, avoid a last-minute headache from realizing your West Elm table just doesn’t fit in your dining room (if you have one, that is).
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Grab some measuring tape and measure the furniture you plan to take, as well as the dimensions of your new apartment.
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Measure doorways to ensure items can actually fit through.
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Keep a simple Google spreadsheet of sizing to stay organized.
Tip #5: Create a First Day Moving Kit
Because your stuff is going to be stowed in boxes, it will be hard to access first-day essentials like soap and toilet paper. Plus, most apartments aren’t particularly clean when you move in, so a wipe-down will likely be in order (ah, New York). Set aside a few bags with these supplies so that you’re not running to the deli every ten minutes.
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Toilet paper
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Paper towels
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All-natural surface cleaner
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Shower curtain
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Hand soap
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Dustpan
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A basic toolkit
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Box cutter
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Water & snacks
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Beer (you deserve it).
Tip #6: Install Your A/C
This isn’t necessary for winter moves, but if you’re moving in the summer, get that guy set up and running ASAP. Otherwise, you risk exhausting yourself before you unpack.
Moving in New York is a serious accomplishment. While it’s physically, emotionally, and financially taxing, it’s also an important opportunity to create a new space to feel right at home.
If you’re looking for quality used furniture to fill your space, check out what’s new on Kaiyo.
