WHY ISN'T MOVING FUN?

Your new apartment is the fulfillment of your plans for a better life.  So shouldn’t the upcoming move be a pleasant experience? Unfortunately, at this stage of the purchase, you may have experienced trouble with the boards, or the lawyers, or the contractor*. But now is the time to rise above these irritating matters. A little strategic planning can make the rest of the transition enjoyable. It’s easy to avoid the mistakes most people make in planning their move.

At this point, most people are over budget. But be wary of hiring a mover  simply because he offers a bargain price. In the moving industry, the better movers earn about 40% more than beginners. Usually this is reflected in the price, giving meaning to the cliché “you get what you pay for”. Unless you have good nerves, and furniture that is functional and sturdy rather than expensive and decorative, you may want to eliminate the bargain bid from the outset. Consult our section “How to Choose a Mover”. No matter whom you choose, take replacement insurance. If you’ve chosen well, you’ll have experienced movers who will make the move run like clockwork. You will find that you need to participate only very minimally in the move.

Unless you’re a happily obsessive person who enjoys the process of organizing, you’ll find unpacking to be the unpleasant part of moving. No matter how well the movers might label boxes, when the move is over, you’ll be facing piles of boxes everywhere, requiring you to look at each box closely in order to identify it. To avoid this, before the move begins have the movers pack several boxes with those personal things to which you’ll need immediate access (or pack them yourself). Then, using colored markers, scrawl a big “X” on each side (or have the movers do this). Use a different color for each person in your household. You’ll now be able to spot these things a mile away.

Another unpacking problem easily avoided is finding the porcelain lids, figurines, and other small items. Traditionally these are all packed in the same white paper used everywhere for wrapping and cushioning. Not infrequently, finding such items becomes exasperating. If the mover packs such things in colored paper, this problem is eliminated. This reduces your unpack time by at least 20%. Carry your remotes personally.

Finally, unpack as soon as possible. It’s a job that requires extra hands. So ask friends, or hire the movers. You will feel established and in control once you are not living out of boxes. And looking back, you will find that it was actually—well, almost—fun.

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Next: CHOOSING A MOVER

Brownstone Brothers
Moving & Storage
Tel. 718-665-5000


*Always check personally as to the exact progress of your renovations. Contractor’s estimates are often overoptimistic. Many times we’ve had to reschedule a move at the last minute because the customer put off visiting his new apartment and, one day before the move, found that the floors were not finished.