5 Factors to Consider when Moving in to Your New York City Apartment

When moving into a New York City apartment, keep a few things in mind to help streamline the process. Know about everything from parking regulations to moving company fees when moving to your new area. Here are 5 helpful hints about relocating to the big apple:

1. Type of Apartment Building and the Move

Manhattan is known for all kinds of apartments: from brownstones to luxury high rises. A walk up apartment building is a typical New York City dwelling. With no elevators, they can make for a trickier move-in. Find out what the mover’s policy is about walk-up buildings. Some companies have different pricing structures for moving furniture, boxes, rugs or other items up stairs.

If the building is not a walk up, observe where the service elevators are located. Ask the facilities manager about accessing the elevators during your particular move-in day. Some property owners require that you reserve the elevators during scheduled moving times.

2. Transportation Issues on Moving Day

Most renters opt for public transportation over the expense of maintaining a vehicle in the city. Take note of the mass transit outlets in your area including buses, subways, and rail road terminals. Even if you will be using a moving van, or hiring a company, you may still need to help coordinate public transportation for friends; or for getting around locally yourself.

If you are coordinating transportation for people coming from Long Island or New Jersey, learn more about the Long Island Rail Road, the PATH train, and the various bridges and tunnels going into Manhattan.

3. Unpacking and Parking in New York City

Investigate the parking rules for your particular street. Find out if alternate side of the street parking will be in effect the day of your move. If so, this could affect your unloading process. The New York City Department of Transportation is a good source for obtaining specific parking rules and information about driving routes in the city.

If your building contains a parking garage, gather all the details about utilizing this amenity. Explore how to get parking stickers or what the validation process is for friends and moving company workers.

4. When to Schedule Your Move to NYC

Most NYC moving companies are quite busy during the summer months. You are likely to pay more for services like rental vans and movers during this peak season. If at all possible, schedule your relocation during early fall.

But whatever time of year you choose, conduct the bulk of your move during off-peak commute hours. New York City streets are even more congested during the morning and afternoon rush hours.  

5. Which NYC Moving Company to Choose?

Choose the appropriate transportation company for your new area. Depending on what borough of New York you are moving to, you are likely to encounter diverse zoning and parking laws. For example, several neighborhoods prohibit trucks that are over a certain weight limit. Furthermore, some movers only have licenses for areas like Brooklyn or Staten Island and not Manhattan. Be sure and find out such information to avoid any problems impacting your move.

One last tip, do a quick search about any moving company with the Better Business Bureau to check its reputation.