Whether you’ve already experienced the anxiety of frantically packing as your NYC movers show up or you’re planning a residential or commercial relocation for the first time, knowing ways to streamline the process and keep things on a positive note is essential. Even though we gladly walk all or customers through the process and let them know what to expect, sometimes blips still happen, and it often entails one of the things outlined here. Check them out and take steps to avoid the pitfalls, so your move goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Moving Will ALWAYS Take Longer than You Think
We handle relocations every day, so it’s easier for us to size up how much is being loaded and unloaded and give a fair estimate of the amount of work that needs to be done. Even moves of just a few miles involving the belongings of a single person averages a minimum of three or four hours. If more people and rooms are being taken care of, it really is an all-day affair, no matter how quickly our team works. That said, moving too quickly can lead to carelessness and injury, so it’s far better for everyone and your belongings when movers pace themselves.
2. You MUST Give Yourself Several Days or Weeks to Pack
Please don’t wait until the last minute to pack. It never ends well. Give yourself a couple of full days to do it, even if you’re only in a one-bedroom or studio apartment. Add an extra day or two for each additional room you need to pack. That way, you can properly protect your items as they go into boxes and your movers won’t be waiting on you (charging by the hour) as you frantically box things up.
3. Good Boxes Protect Your Belongings Better
In an effort to save cash, many people turn to recycled boxes for their moving needs. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this, provided the boxes are in good condition, many are not. If you notice dents on the corners or creases on the box, don’t use it. Those are signs the box will inevitably crumble and either damage the belongings inside or cause a stack to tumble. One other thing to look for in boxes is uniformity. The closer in size and shape your boxes are, the easier it will be to stack them in the truck, so less time is spent arranging them to transport well.
4. Labeling Your Boxes Saves Time
If you put really clear labels on each box, your movers can make sure each one is placed in the right location of your new space with ease. This saves your team time because they won’t have to stop and ask what goes where, and it’ll save you time because everything will start out right where you need it to be. It’s also a good idea to label fragile boxes, so your team can take extra precautions.
5. Give Lots of Details When Booking and Do Some Prep
You know your area better than anyone else. If parking can be difficult, scope out a good spot and grab or reserve it in advance. If you’re moving something heavy or the team will have to deal with obstacles like stairs, make sure that’s known in advance. It’ll change how many people are sent to help and possibly the tools they bring with them.
6. Keep People and Pets Away from the Movers
If at all possible, have children and pets stay somewhere else during the relocation. It’s all too easy for someone to get under foot and either get hurt or cause one of your team members to be injured. Some people want to help, either for the sake of being kind or to speed things up. Unfortunately, this often slows the team down instead. Moreover, trucks have to be loaded in a very specific way to create balance. If things aren’t loaded properly, stacks may topple, belongings can get damaged, and the truck can actually tip over! Please, give your team the space they need to work and resist the urge to help, no matter how good your intentions may be. That said, you shouldn’t leave either. They may have questions for you and need you to stay close.
7. Empty Your Drawers
Leaving your dressers, desks, and other furniture full doesn’t make the move easier. In fact, it makes the pieces heavier, more difficult to move, and belongings can spill out. Make sure you empty everything as part of your packing prep.
8. If You Can’t Be without It, Keep It with You
If at all possible, keep valuables with you. This includes your jewelry, the vase you received from your grandmother’s estate, your medications, or anything you consider to be valuable. Odds are, your items will arrive in perfect condition if you’ve packed and labeled them properly, but if replacing an item is impossible or difficult, you’ll probably feel better transporting it yourself anyway.
9. Kindness Matters
Moving in NYC is grueling. Your team will arrive ready to work and handle all the heavy lifting. They’ll bring their own tools and water to stay hydrated, but it will still be a physical drain. If you can do things to make their work easier, such as ensuring a restroom with soap and towels is available, providing backup water (or even snacks!) to help keep them fueled, and try to stay in a positive mindset, it will go a long way to making the work much more pleasant and the process smooth for you. Tips are also greatly appreciated. The Today Show mentions doing a flat-rate of $20-30 per mover for traditional relocations and up to $40 for more difficult ones, while other sources suggest 5% being given to each person on the team is more appropriate. For this reason, it’s good to know how many people will be helping in advance and hit the ATM before their arrival, so you can make sure each person who helped knows that you appreciated their contribution.
10. Reputation Matters
Do some research before you hire anyone. There are plenty of fly-by-night companies that will swoop in and collect your cash, but they may not handle your belongings with the care and concern they deserve. One way to know in advance what working with a particular company will be like is to check online reviews, especially on sites that vet their reviews to ensure authenticity. For example, we have a perfect five-star-rating on Yelp, with more than 100 people chiming in.
Hire Experienced Movers
At Metropolis Movers, we know what it takes to ensure your relocation goes off without a hitch. Based in Brooklyn and specializing in both local NYC moves as well as long-distance moves, we have the experience to make your relocation go as smoothly as possible. From the moment you contact us through long after the last box is brought into your new home or business, we’ll do everything we can to earn our next five-star rating from you. Give us a call at (718) 710-4520 or request a free moving quote online to get started.
