You might think that because an apartment is smaller than a house (usually), moving in will demand a smaller list of to-dos. Not necessarily, experts warn. In fact,apartment and condo moves come with their own set of challenges – and house buyers can avoid them entirely. While many steps can be delegated to professionals, there are still some things that you, the future apartment owner, can and should do in the meantime. At least, if you want to move smoothly.
Stay Calm
It seems obvious, but it must be said: take a breath before undertaking this apartment move.
Psychology Today names moving to a new home among the single worst stressors in life. That’s true no matter where you’re moving. And even the smallest living space can cast a very large shadow of stress, both physically and emotionally.
So light a scented candle and sip some chamomile tea. You’re going to need them if you don’t want this move-in to turn into a nightmare.
Touch Base With Your New Landlord
A long and hopefully fruitful relationship of paying rent is about to begin!
But why wait until you’ve moved in? Many apartment and condo buildings come with specific rules that may impact you severely on the day – and such details need to be ascertained ahead of time. Reach out to your landlord with this in mind.
Are there tricky parking regulations at your building? Is there a limit on elevator usage? Is a certain staircase out of bounds due to essential maintenance works during your move-in appointment?
Find out now – not when your moving truck is already parked outside waiting to unload.
Prebook a Parking Space
And assuming your apartment building doesn’t have any restrictive, perhaps Draconian parking policies (see tip #2), that doesn’t always mean there’ll be a free spot come moving day.
Remember, it’s not only you who’ll need to park – it’s also your moving crew, complete with large, lengthy truck. What can you do to ensure this? If your apartment building is in reasonable proximity to your old home, why not drive up ahead of time with the express purpose of saving a spot?
The experts at True Friends Moving Company agree.
“Apartment complex parking can be limited. If possible, try to save space for the moving truck by blocking a parking space or two overnight with your car.”
Protect Your Deposit
Moving from one apartment to another? Here’s a bonus tip.
Getting your security deposit back is reliant on your old home being in a clean condition. Needless to say, although your attention is firmly on your new place, take some time to make sure your former property is pristine.
The best time to do that? Once all your furniture and belongings are loaded onto the truck and the old space is clear. Have a look around, and keep an eye out for any imperfections. If there’s time, spend it patching, painting, anything to fix blemishes and give your old landlord no reason to withhold what’s owed.
Over to the Pros
Of course, other than that, your involvement need not go much further.
Why? Because most professionals will be ready to handle your move on a comprehensive basis. Here are just some of the tasks you shouldn’t have to worry about:
- Item protection
- Packing
- Furniture assembly
- Floor protection
- Secure transport
The entire idea, after all, is that professionals shoulder the burden of tough manual labor for a streamlined, faster experience – so there’s less work for you.
Final Takeaways
By following the tips above, you should be en route to an apartment move that doesn’t pose much in the way of difficulty. Yet there’s one final hiccup that often keeps imminent condo owners up at night: the financial factor.
That’s exactly why your search for professional movers needs to be specific. Don’t just find capable crews – find ones you can trust. The best companies offer flat-rate pricing policies designed to ensure that all costs are upfront and transparent. By sticking with them, you can plan your move safe in the knowledge that prices won’t spiral out of control.
True Friends Moving Company
700 East Old Hickory Blvd
Nashville
TN
37115
United States
