5 Unconventional Tips for Moving in New York City
There are plenty of places to find moving tips online: articles that tell you how to find a good moving service, when to start packing, and how to purge your belongings. But, there are certain nuances about moving in New York City that a generic list of moving tips won’t cover. Since we’ve been moving our customers in and out of apartments around New York City for decades, we’ve compiled a list of moving advice for New Yorkers that you won’t hear everywhere else.
Measure you new place before you leave your old one.
Our first piece of advice comes from plenty of experience. If you’re moving out of one apartment in New York, don’t assume that the doors, hallways, and staircases will be the same dimensions as the ones in your old place. In fact, it’s best to just assume that they won’t be. Apartments in New York come from all eras–from brand-new high rises to pre-war walk-ups, and everything in between, which means there’s no such thing as a standard hallway width. Measure all passage ways and doors before you pack your current place to ensure your sofa and box spring will fit into your new home.
Have it hoisted.
If you have something you really can’t bear to part with but that won’t fit into your new place (or our of your old one say, if you purchased a piece of furniture that was built inside your apartment), you have options. There are actual hoisting services (and a furniture elevator) in New York City that can remove your furniture out of your old place or into your new one if you have something you love that won’t fit through the staircase.
Don’t just leave it on the curb.
One of the beautiful things about New York is that you can buy or sell almost anything on Craigslist. New Yorkers are constantly moving (or at least it seems that way), which means there’s always a market for second-hand items, even your pre-loved Ikea sofa or gently used boxspring.
But if you have to, you can.
If you can’t find a buyer for your old furniture, you can legally leave up to six “bulk” items on the street, as long as they’re placed on the curb the night before your trash collection. Any sooner, or any more items, and you could face a fine from the city.
Don’t pay for moving supplies.
Another great thing about New York’s transient culture is that you’ll rarely have to pay for moving supplies. Hop on over to Craigslist again, and you should be able to find plenty of perfectly good boxes being offered up in the site’s “free” section.
Moving in (or out of) New York City? Get in touch with American Movers for your free moving quote, here.
