Moving in New York City: Doing it Correctly in Three Steps

So recently I have been helping my college move from midtown to the financial district, needless to say when your moving one apartment in New York it can suck, we are in the process of moving ten. Last summer we moved over fifty apartments to new building in the financial district and received three tickets in one day. We did not use a professional service last year because the school though it would cheaper to use students and a few U-Hauls. By the end of the move they realized it may have actually cost more to move so many apartments that way. So this year we are using the cheapest company we could find and it was well worth it!

Intense! Movers in NYC lets local artists use their trucks as a canvas

Step 1
Plan your move according to your move out date! Do not leave your apt on the very last date of your lease having not packed! This happened recently with a good friend of mine. She recruited seven people to help her move out of her apartment but her roommates were completely packed up and ready to move out and we had to wait on her to finish packing before we could finish loading up the truck. Trying to be completely packed at least three days in advance is a good rule of thumb, you never know what may come up and slow you down in the process. If you are completely packed up in advance just live out of a suitcase for a few days. Some people may not like that idea, just pretend your on a vacation in the big apple, living here you rarely get to do super fun things tourists do when they visit. The cool part about being a tourist in your city is that it is YOUR city! you know lots of secret places tourist never get to visit!

I came across this last spring unexpectedly in front of Brooksfield Place

Step 2
** Recruit** close friends and colleagues to help you. The average New Yorker stays in one apartment for two to three years tops. We move around a lot, people will understand if you need help odds are they will ask you to return the favor. Just try your best to make things fun and enjoyable, a friend of mine took everyone out to lunch after we had packed up their apartment so we could rest in between segments of the move. Another friend of mine broke out cold treats for everyone that was helping her move in July, we were all extremely grateful. It is also important to make sure everyone who is helping you is well hydrated because moving can be a draining process mentally and physically.

Just throwing this out there, Shake Shack is a good incentive to help someone move.

Step 3
So you have a handful of friends that are available to help out. Now what?
Everyone needs a job, Do not be afraid of delegating. The strong muscle beach characters will be great for doing the hauling but keep in mind someone has to stay with the truck or else you will get a ticket in no time flat, in the city. I typically leave one of the smaller girls with the truck and she will text the truck owner or renter if the cops are anywhere near the truck. If moving in or out of a walk up apartment building I would highly recommend on person per flat and create a work chain. This allows haulers to get more done in less time and without going up and down so many flights of stairs. One of the future renters of the future apartment should be in the apartment with a volunteer if possible and begin organizing things within the apartment by room as they come in.

This guy would have made a great hauler, too bad he got arrested during flood Wall Street

Of course you could just hire a moving company to help you move but they can be rather pricey, then again moving isn't cheap. Keep in mind however that if you hire a company someone still has to watch the truck, otherwise the moving company may try to make you pay for any tickets they get.

Step one is by far the most important seeing as the packing of the moving truck tends to take the longest time. So be packed and ready for everyone to help you move so it goes as quickly as possible. Good luck with your future moves and remember to try to have fun with it!