Apartment Moving Services – What to Expect?

As exciting as moving to a new apartment can be, it comes with many challenges. Moving can be very stressful, from looking for a new place and packing all your belongings to shipping your furniture to your new address.

You may think apartment moves are easier and more manageable than house moves because there’s less space and fewer belongings to pack and carry. However, apartment moves come with a different set of challenges.

Unless you live on the ground or the first floor, carrying boxes and bags down the stairs and into the moving truck takes time and effort. Then, after everything has been packed, shipped, and delivered, you now must carry it into your new apartment, which might be on the fifth floor in a building with no elevator. These are just some of the things you need to consider when moving to a new apartment.

For this reason, and many more, you should think about hiring an apartment moving company that will take care of the entire moving process. Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about apartment moving services and how to choose the best movers for apartments.

Full-Service vs. Self-Service Apartment Moves

When it comes to movers for apartments, companies usually offer full-service and self-service apartment moving services.

Full-Service Apartment Moves

Full-service moving refers to movers who handle the entire relocation process for you. They come to your apartment, pack up all your belongings, load them into the moving truck, drive to your new apartment, unload your belongings, and unpack everything. In other words, you won’t have to lift a finger. This type of service also includes disassembling and assembling furniture.

There are many advantages of full-service apartment moves. By allowing a professional apartment moving company to handle the entire moving process, you can relax and focus on other things. You’ll have time to go to your new apartment and clean up before the movers arrive with your furniture and other belongings. However, since full-service moves are all-inclusive, they cost more than self-service moves.

Hiring a full-service moving company is a good idea when you don’t have time to pack. If you have a demanding job, or if you’re moving with your family, there will be other matters that require your attention. You also won’t be required to do any heavy lifting. If this is your first time moving to a new apartment, this type of moving service might be a better solution. Full-service moving companies are the best answer for interstate and international moves.

Even though full-service apartment moves are more expensive, they’re worth the price in most cases.

Self-Service Apartment Moves

Self-service apartment moves refer to when you do all the packing and unpacking by yourself. The movers for apartments are only responsible for driving the moving truck and transporting your belongings from point A to point B. Not only do you have to take apart and pack all your furniture, but you also need to carry it to the moving truck.

When the truck arrives at the new apartment, you’ll be responsible for carrying your belongings from the truck and into your new home. Unpacking boxes and reassembling furniture is up to you as well.

Self-service moving is more affordable than full-service moving since you’re technically only paying to transport your belongings. If you don’t have a lot of belongings, or if you’re moving with multiple people, self-service moving might be a better option for you. Self-service moving is ideal for local moves or even for small-to-medium interstate moves.

But if your new apartment is on the third or fourth floor of a building with no elevator, you may want to reconsider.

Another form of self-service moving is renting a moving truck. However, this means you’ll have to do everything yourself, from start to finish.

How Much Does Moving Apartments Cost?

Moving to a new apartment comes with different types of expenses. When it comes to the moving company, you can always try to find cheap apartment movers. However, there will be costs you won’t be able to avoid, no matter which company you opt for. A professional move usually costs at least $1,000, but the overall price can be much higher.

There are various factors that can determine the cost of moving apartments. The most important ones are travel distance, shipping volume, packing services, storage, moving time, and extra traveling fees.

The Travel Distance

The greater the distance between your current and future apartment, the more you can expect to pay. Local apartment movers charge less for moves ranging from 50 to 100 miles. These types of apartment moves are priced by the hour and the number of movers hired.

If you’re moving to a new state or even across the country, expect to pay much more. Long-distance moves of approximately 1,000 miles usually cost around $4,000 to $5,000. International moves are likely to cost even more, especially if you’re going overseas.

The Shipping Volume

The amount of furniture and number of boxes greatly impact the price of the move as well. An apartment moving company will usually charge you for the space your belongings take up in the moving truck. That’s why you should always sell or simply get rid of things you won’t need to make room for furniture you’ll be bringing to your new apartment.

Packing Services

Some moving companies charge extra for packing and unpacking services, while others include it in the total price. Assembling and disassembling furniture can also incur additional fees. The best professional full-service movers for apartments don’t charge you extra for these services.

Storage

Depending on how much time you have to move into your new apartment, you may be required to keep your belongings in a storage unit. Some moving companies offer to keep your belongings in their storage units until you’re ready to claim them, but this usually costs extra. The option to keep your belongings in storage is convenient for long-distance moves.

Moving Time

Many people aren’t aware of the fact that the price for moving over the same distance can vary depending on the time of the year. If you want to avoid increased moving fees, don’t move during summer. The best time to move is winter when moving fees are the lowest. Moving in spring or fall is slightly more expensive, but it’s still cheaper than summer moves.

Extra Traveling Fees

There are certain traveling fees that only come with apartment moves. For example, if the movers need to carry your belongings down several flights of stairs, you may be charged an additional fee. The same can happen if there is a long distance between your apartment and the moving truck. Some companies even charge an elevator fee. Still, it’s better to have an elevator at your disposal than go up and down the stairs a dozen times.

Why You Should Hire a Professional Apartment Moving Company

There are many reasons why you should hire a professional apartment moving company.

Anyone who has ever moved can agree how stressful moving is, whether it’s a short-distance or long-distance move. Contrary to what some people might think, apartment moves are no less stressful than house moves. Hiring a professional moving company will take the stress off your shoulders, giving you peace of mind that your stuff is in good hands.

Professional movers for apartments have the necessary experience, knowledge, and equipment. They know how to take apart and assemble furniture and pack your belongings so they’re safe during transport. Not only that, but they will be able to complete the entire packing and moving process quickly and efficiently. They also know how to pack items and furniture properly without wasting a ton of packing supplies.

Speaking of moving supplies and materials, the movers will bring everything they need to pack up your apartment. You won’t need to spend extra money on bubble wrap, furniture covers, boxes, tape, and similar necessities.

Homeowners who live alone can greatly benefit from professional apartment moving services. This is especially true if they are elderly individuals who wouldn’t be able to move furniture by themselves. The movers do all the heavy lifting for you, so you can preserve and direct your energy towards other matters. If you’re moving to a new apartment that’s far away, all the more reason to hire a professional moving company.

Apartment moves can be tricky when it’s time to carry larger furniture to the moving truck. But the real trouble begins when a piece of furniture can’t fit through the door. It’s helpful to have professional movers in such scenarios, as they will know exactly what to do.

Most professional apartment moving companies are insured. In other words, if something gets damaged during the transportation, they will be obligated to pay for it. Unless you’re moving across the hall, you need professional moving services.

How to Choose the Best Apartment Moving Company

When you’re planning to move, it’s recommended you do some research on local apartment movers. Even if you’re moving to a different part of town, you need to find a reliable moving company for small moves. If you’re planning a long-distance move, make sure the moving company you choose offers interstate and international apartment moving services.

It’s also important to choose an apartment moving company that’s licensed and insured. You want your belongings handled by professionals, so it’s perfectly fine to ask for the company’s license and insurance policy.

You’ll want to find movers for apartments who will treat your belongings with care. Look for positive customer reviews on their websites and forums to see if their previous customers would recommend them. Communication also matters, which is why you should hire a company with friendly staff who will listen to your requests.

It’s a good idea to hire a moving company with many years of experience. That way, the movers will know how to take apart and transport any type of furniture. You may need to ship heavier furniture, like a piano or a pool table, which requires special skills.

Finally, look for cheap apartment movers who offer competitive prices and different types of services. Make sure they won’t charge extra for shipping supplies and packing materials. Most movers offer free estimates on their websites, which you can use to see if they’re offering a good deal.

How to Prepare for Moving Apartments

Whether you choose a full-service or self-service apartment moving company, you’ll have to prepare your furniture for the move.

If you opt for the latter, you’ll need to take apart all your furniture, protect it with bubble wrap, and pack it in boxes. On the other hand, if you choose full-service moving, you won’t have to worry about these matters. However, just because you won’t have to do any packing or carrying yourself doesn’t mean you can’t prepare your apartment for an easier move.

If you’re worried about more delicate objects, you can always pack some stuff yourself. Packing smaller items like dishes, books, and smaller appliances shouldn’t be challenging. You can also clean all the furniture before it gets disassembled and put into boxes. That way, you won’t have to clean it when it arrives at your new apartment.

Another thing you can do to speed up the moving process is clear the way for the movers. Move anything that might get in their way between your apartment and the moving truck.

Some movers will come to your house a few days or weeks before the move to estimate how many people they will need for the job. That’s why you need to talk to a mover at least a few weeks before the relocation date. That way, you’ll be able to schedule a moving date that works best for you.

When the movers arrive at your apartment, you can stay there and supervise the moving process. Just make sure not to bother the movers. They already know the fastest and most efficient way to pack your belongings.

Find the Best Apartment Moving Company

Moving is never easy, even if it’s from an apartment in the same building. You have to worry about packing all your belongings, safely carrying them to the moving truck, and driving to your new apartment without any problems. That’s why it’s much easier to hire an apartment moving company.

If you’re looking for local apartment movers or interstate/international apartment moving services, Three Movers is here to help. We offer exceptional full-service apartment moving services for short-distance and long-distance moves. If you have any questions about our services, or if you want a free quote, feel free to contact us.