Moving in New York City
How you move is up to you
Everything is fast paced in a city that runs 24-7, and your home or office move is no exception.
Moving challenges in New York City are unique. With the tight rental market, you have to act quickly to snap up a place that fits your needs. Once you decide to move, the clock starts ticking and the whirlwind begins: finding boxes, packing, renting a truck, enlisting volunteers, strategizing an NYC parking place. Then your possessions have to be carried up and down stairs, along sidewalks, and through cramped corridors, narrow doorways, and crowded elevators.
Regardless of the weather, deadlines at work, or a sprained ankle, the move timeframe is set in stone! Real estate and related services are in high demand, so any unanticipated delay translates to more cash out of your wallet.
Enlisting a professional moving company can mean the difference between a hectic, stressful move and a smooth, efficient one. Movers, Not Shakers! has been helping New Yorkers relocate since 2002. In 2021 alone, our moving services gave 2,500+ clients peace of mind with our seamless, customer-oriented process. We know NYC through and through, so we can help conquer your specific move in the most effective way.
How New York City Neighborhoods Affect Your Move
Diversity is a hallmark of NYC, and the neighborhoods are as varied as the people. Our team moves clients throughout all NYC boroughs and the Tri-State, and we know that the moving challenges in New York City are unique to each neighborhood and even to each building.
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Roads are one aspect of the NYC borough or neighborhood that impacts your move. A NYC apartment on a busy thoroughfare presents challenges to parking and unloading. Sometimes a bus or bike lane is the only available spot; with NYC parking rules, parking tickets are all but guaranteed! Narrow side streets may leave no room for trucks. This can mean parking around the corner and carrying your items longer distances. Cobblestone streets in historic neighborhoods pose difficulties for furniture dollies, slowing the move.
To complicate matters, challenges are often building-specific. A fifth-floor walk-up may require more move time than an air-conditioned fortieth-floor apartment with elevators. Historic buildings often have narrow hallways and tight corners to negotiate. Each building’s management imposes its own rules for moving. Some require lining floors with Masonite and elevators with protective pads. Elevator use times can be restrictive, and service elevators may be accessible only through basement “dungeon” entrances involving stairs.
Movers Not Shakers has seen these hurdles and knows how to handle them. The parking zones, walk-ups, and furniture sizes are no problem for our team of experienced movers.
Next Day or Next Month, We’re Ready to Move
We know timing is important, especially in New York. Our expert crew is ready to make even the most complex move easy.
Local or Long-Distance, Let’s Get Moving!
We’re based in Brooklyn and can help you with local moves around NYC or long-distance moves in or out of the city.
Packing, Unpacking, Storage and More
For over 20 years and 20,000 moves, Movers, Not Shakers! makes your move stress-free – with as little or as much help as you need.
Neighborhoods We Serve
If you are relocating to or from NYC or moving locations within NYC itself, MNS is ready to help. Headquartered in Brooklyn, we also serve the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx, plus the surrounding areas in Connecticut, New Jersey, and upstate New York. We are your go-to NYC moving company, even if the move’s other end is in Florida, Maine, or as far west as Chicago!
Average NYC Moving Costs
Every move, big or small, involves some expense. Packing materials, parking, truck fuel, and tolls are costs familiar to anyone who’s been through a relocation. The professionals at MNS know the NYC moving ecosystem and can customize your package to keep expenses under control. Our confidence in estimating costs means that unlike many NYC moving companies, we can bill at a flat rate. Customers can rest assured that hiccups in the move will not bring surprises on the final invoice! Get a quote here.
Some cost considerations are unique to moving in NYC, so bear them in mind when deciding when and how to move:
NYC Apartment Size
Small units are the norm; the typical NYC apartment offers less than 800 square feet of living space. Small is advantageous here—limited space means fewer belongings to accumulate. The fewer the items to pack and haul, the cheaper your move will be.
Moving Supplies
Your possessions need careful packing if you want them to travel safely. If you plan to buy boxes or gather used ones, make sure you have a way to get them home and up to your apartment. Boxes, tape rolls, and bubble wrap take up space, so consider whether you have room for them. You’ll need a way to dispose of them on the other end too.
Moving Supplies
Your possessions need careful packing if you want them to travel safely. If you plan to buy boxes or gather used ones, make sure you have a way to get them home and up to your apartment. Boxes, tape rolls, and bubble wrap take up space, so consider whether you have room for them. You’ll need a way to dispose of them on the other end too.
Renting plastic containers is a convenient, sustainable option. Have them delivered a few days ahead of the move and picked up afterward.
Contact New And Old Buildings
Next, you should contact management at both old and new buildings. Inquire about paperwork required to apply for a move. Request specific instructions regarding elevator accessibility, parking rules, and floor protection. Good news, if your building is in NYC Movers Not Shakers most likely has experience with any rules or regulations your building might have for the moving process!
Planning Your Move
Once you decide to move, everything happens quickly. Good planning will guarantee a smooth process without unexpected (and costly!) delays.
Schedule Movers
When you’ve decided to relocate, your first step is to contact your NYC moving company right away. Even without a firm move date, you can communicate your needs and get quotes. This will put you on your moving company’s radar as a client with intent to do business in the near term. Schedule early to secure the services of a reputable NYC moving company
Contact New And Old Buildings
Next, you should contact management at both old and new buildings. Inquire about paperwork required to apply for a move. Request specific instructions regarding elevator accessibility, parking rules, and floor protection. Good news, if your building is in NYC Movers Not Shakers most likely has experience with any rules or regulations your building might have for the moving process!
Plan Your Pack
If you’re doing your own packing, gather supplies early and pace yourself to finish before the movers arrive. For rented crates, order well in advance to guarantee arrival when you need them.
If your moving company will be packing, call to confirm day and time. Donate or dispose of items not moving with you—you’ll save packing time and avoid having those items show up at your new place!
Movers Not Shakers offers both self pack and packing services for your move based on your budget and desired level of involvement.
NYC Certificate Of Insurance For Moving
Certificates of Insurance are necessities for moving into most NYC apartment buildings. These provide documentation of your NYC moving company’s insurance policy, guaranteeing coverage in the event of building damage or employee injury. Each building will have its own form, so be sure to request and share it with your moving company right away. You’ll need the certificate before you can receive moving day approval and possibly even to reserve elevator time.
Moving In NYC Is Easier With MNS
Will you or someone you know be moving in NYC soon? Call (800) 718-0081 or contact us for a consultation. MNS tailors our service to help you overcome the challenges of moving in New York City!
