7 Tips for Tenants on Moving Day:

You’ve read our tenant’s ultimate moving checklist and you’ve been preparing for your upcoming move. You’ve contacted your utility companies, changed your address, and updated your renters insurance. But as moving day gets closer, there are a few more things you’ll need to do.

Our tips below will help prepare you for a smooth moving day. We want to make sure you avoid some common moving day nightmares. We’ve heard from tenants who are all set to move and then can’t get into their new place because they never made sure their keys worked. It’s also common for tenants to have a moving truck, but no place to park. We want to make sure this doesn’t happen on your moving day.

Check out our 7 tips to prepare for your big move.

Before moving day

Schedule Professional Movers

We recommend hiring professional movers. Professional movers ensure your moving day will go well for a few reasons.

First, they have all the right supplies. They have boxes, wardrobe boxes, tape, moving dollies, trucks, a ramp on the truck, and the right crew. With the right equipment, crew, and expertise, the move will be easier and faster.

When you use professional movers, there’s a lower chance of damage not only to your belongings, but also to your rental property. As movers carry large furniture, they are careful not to scratch walls. You don’t want to be responsible for damage because it will likely be taken out of your security deposit.

Professional movers are also insured so if anything happens to your belongings or your rental property, the moving company is responsible for compensating you or the landlord. To this point, your landlord will appreciate if you use professional movers.

We recommend hiring our preferred partner TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®. Read about TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® on moving day.

Remember to hire your movers about two to four weeks before your move. And be sure to confirm the date and time a few days beforehand.

Notify Your New Landlord

Once you’ve scheduled your movers, let your new landlord know what time you will be arriving on move-in day. When you reach out to your landlord, you should also ask some follow-up questions about the move:

• If you’re moving into a building with an elevator, ask if you need to schedule a time slot for a service elevator.
• Ask your landlord where you should park your moving truck. Your landlord may have a designated area for you to park.

Obtain a Parking Permit

If you landlord doesn’t have a designated place for you to park, you may need a parking permit to block off street space. Most cities provide daily passes that you can buy online. You will likely need several passes to block enough space for a truck.

Double Check Your New Keys

If you’ve read our complete moving checklist, then you made sure to get your new keys. But it’s also important to go the extra step and check to make sure your keys work. It’s always a possibility that your landlord gave you the wrong key by accident, and you need to be positive you can get into your property on moving day.

Get Furniture Sliders

Furniture sliders help you easily move heavy furniture across carpet or hardwood floors. They ensure that you won’t scratch hardwood floors, which is important so you don’t have any money taken out of your security deposit.

They can be used for sliding beds, tables, dressers, and couches across carpets. You can purchase them at most hardware stores for about ten dollars.

Likewise, we recommend you buy command strip hooks rather than nails for your next apartment. Command hooks don’t leave a mark or hole on your walls and they easily come off. Whenever you avoid damage to your rental properties, you increase your odds of receiving your full security deposit back.

Besides furniture sliders, you don’t have to worry about other moving tools, like having a moving dolly, if you hire professional movers. They will provide all of the necessary tools.

Pack

You should pack your belongings ahead of time so you are prepared. Depending on how many belongings you have, packing can take time so it’s a good idea to get started early.

We recommend packing in an order that makes sense. Start with items you don’t use frequently and then move onto necessities.

• Decorations
• Wall art
• Sentimental objects
• Books and movies
• Clothes and dishware (except for items you need)
• Last minute items

Organize your last-minute items so you can swiftly pack them the day of the move. Last-minute items include your toothbrush, cosmetics, shampoo, bedding, and last minute food.

As you’re packing, be sure to use bubble wrap to protect your belongings. You can also use clothes and towels to wrap fragile items.

The best way to pack electronics, especially your television, is in the original packaging. The original packaging is designed to keep your electronics safe during transportation. If you haven’t held onto those boxes, then be sure to properly wrap them.

Next, disassemble any furniture that is too big to fit through your door.

As you finish packing each box, label two sides of each box to make sure you can easily read your labels (even once you stack boxes). Labels help you organize the boxes on moving day once you are in your new property.

While you’re packing, we recommend preparing for a way to hold doors open. You should also clear pathways the day before your moving day. And be sure to have extra boxes and tape for last minute belongings.

All of these packing tips will make your move go more smoothly.

Next, we’ll move onto tips for your actual moving day.

Check Your Apartment or House Before Your Leave

When you hire professional movers, moving day will be easy. Your movers will do all of the heavy-lifting, literally.

But here are few things to remember on moving day:

• Remember to check for belongings you may have left behind. Here are a few places to double check:
• Inside the washer and dryer
• Inside the refrigerator and freezer
• Your storage unit
• Closets
• High-up shelves and cabinets

After making sure that everything is out of the unit, complete some last minute tasks:

• Take out the trash
• Shut off the lights
• Lock up

Conclusion

Preparation is key in order for your move to go smoothly.

If you’ve read our ultimate moving checklist and our 7 tips for moving day, then you are ready for the big move.

If you haven’t hired professional movers yet, we recommend TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®. Learn why our thousands of tenants trust TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® on moving day and get started with a free moving quote today.