5 Tips for Moving Into Your First Chicago Apartment

Moving to Chicago is exciting! If you've always wanted to live in the big city and this will be your first time, the actual moving process can be hectic. Even if you've lived in a big city before, moving into your first Chicago apartment may become exhausting.

When it's time to move into an apartment in the Windy City, a few tips might help. Here are five tips to help you with the moving process.

Move at the Right Time of the Year, If Possible

While it may not be possible, if you have the option to choose when you move, the spring and summer may not be the best time. The weather is great, but everybody is moving during the spring and summer. During these seasons, you may struggle to book apartment movers in Chicago, unless you plan many months in advance.

Choosing to move in the fall or winter might be a better option. While the need for a winter coat could be annoying during a move, the prices for moving and for apartments will likely be lower during the colder months. There will also be less competition for booking your movers as fewer people will be moving. Even the landlords become a bit more desperate and may offer better deals during these seasons.

If the fall and winter won't work for you, at least try to avoid the big move in and move out weekends for colleges throughout Chicago. These weekends happen in late April, early May, and August.

Pack with What You Own

Moving into your first Chicago apartment can certainly get expensive. Using some of the things you already own as packing supplies will help ease the burden. Even though boxes aren't expensive, when you end up buying several, along with bubble wrap, tape, and other supplies, it can add up fast.

Consider using blankets and towels as protection. Pack in suitcases and bins you already own before investing in any other moving supplies. Using what you own might save you money you can use for other things, such as hiring a residential mover in Chicago instead of trying to do it all yourself.

Eliminate and Minimize Before Packing

This tip is especially important if you're coming from a larger apartment or house in a smaller town or city. Overpacking is common for those moving to Chicago and you will likely have less space than you had in another city as the cost of living is more expensive in Chicago.

You may be going from 1,000+ square feet to less than 700, which means you won't have room for all your things. When moving into your first Chicago apartment, it's a good idea to eliminate anything you don't need or want before packing.

Use Up Groceries Before Moving

About two weeks before you're ready to move to Chicago, it's time to start using up the last of your groceries, especially anything in the fridge or freezer. Traveling with food isn't fun, easy, or practical.

Prepare and eat the last of the food you own and schedule a time to shop at the grocery store only for what you really need. Consider buying things for one day or one meal at a time and you may end up eating out a bit more than normal during the moving process.

Pack an Overnight Bag

Even if you're not staying overnight on the way to Chicago, pack an overnight bag or an essentials bag. This bag should have everything you need if you have to stay in a hotel overnight, along with the essentials you may need for the first day/night in your new place.

It's likely you will arrive at your first Chicago apartment and have very little energy once the day is done. You may not want to unpack right away and your overnight or essentials bag buys you a day to work things out.

These five tips will help make moving into your first Chicago apartment a bit easier. Of course, hiring a moving company to handle your packing, moving, and unpacking will also make the process much easier.

Renting a Moving Truck vs. Hiring a Moving Company

It's time to pack up and move. You have a specific budget you're working with and you're not sure if you should rent a moving truck or hire a moving company.

Making the decision between a moving company and a DIY move isn't always an easy decision. Renting a moving truck will usually cost less, upfront, but the added stress and work you must do will make it less convenient. Here are some of the things to consider when choosing between renting a moving truck vs hiring a moving company.

Price Tag

If you've set a moving budget, the price tag will be one of the deciding factors for you between rending a moving truck and hiring a moving company. At first glance, it will seem less expensive to rent a moving truck compared to hiring a moving company. However, you have to look at more than just the initial cost.

If you rent a moving truck, you will also need to pay for gas and tolls. Those moving across the country should also consider that you won't drive as fast, so you may need to overnight in a hotel and you may need to buy meals on the road.

When comparing the price of a moving truck to a moving company, make sure you factor in all the costs. Hiring a moving company may end up being the less expensive option.

Hands

Does anybody truly enjoy begging family and friends to help them pack? When you rent a moving truck, you will have to recruit the hands of others to help you pack the truck and move. Of course, if you're a family of 6 and 3 of your family members are teenagers, you might have all the help you need.

However, for those moving on their own or without much help, hiring a moving company means you will have plenty of hands to help pack up the truck. Plus, the hands you will have are professionals with the ability to ensure your things are properly loaded into the truck and unloaded carefully at your new location.

Control

One of the things you do lose when you hire a moving company is control. Renting a moving truck means you're in total control of the moving process. You'll get to choose the truck, the supplies, and everything else that goes along with your move.

However, when you choose a good moving company in Chicago, you'll have enough control to keep you sane, if you need control. Plus, you won't have to do nearly as much work and you'll be trusting experts that move things for people every single day.

Safety and Protection

Renting a moving truck means you have to load it, drive it, and unload it. You're responsible for the safety and the protection of your items, yourself, and the truck.

When you hire a moving company, you don't have to worry about much of anything. You won't do the heavy lifting, you won't have to drive, and you won't have to worry about how the truck is packed. Professionals handle moves every single day and they know how to make sure your move happens safely with all your belongings protected.

There are benefits to both renting a moving truck and hiring a moving company. However, if you're looking for a less stressful, easier way to move, hiring the right moving company will make a huge difference.

How far in advance should I schedule a move?

There are so many details surrounding a move from one house to another. One detail you may be focused on right now is trying to decide how far out you’ll need to actually schedule your move. This answer is going to be different for everybody because if you are moving locally, it’s much simpler than if you are moving from out of town.

If you are moving during a comfortable weather season, it will be much simpler than if you were moving during inclement weather. Some days of the month are busier than others, while certain days of the year should be avoided altogether. Take a look at this guide for determining when to schedule your residential move.

Days to avoid

There are a few days in the year to simply avoid scheduling your move whatsoever. You’ll want to avoid booking a move over any national holidays, including times like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day.  You’ll also want to try to avoid booking it over the weekends since those are also the busiest time of the week to relocate.

If possible, avoid booking your move at the beginning of the month or at the end of the month since this is when most people would finish and start a lease and also be trying to move.

Local moves

If you are going to be moving locally, from one house to another in the same city, you are going to have more leeway with booking the movers out. If you choose to do this off-season, you can even book it just a couple of weeks out and you shouldn’t have an issue.

It’s best to give more notice since movers will try to book up, but typically during the off-season, it will be much easier.  If you are moving locally during the busy time of year, typically summer, you’ll have to give a couple of months’ notice to movers. If you have no choice but to book with less notice, you’ll have fewer movers to choose from.

Out of state moves

If you are moving from one city to another, you are going to have a different set of circumstances as you would if you were a local move. Moving to another city during the busy season, typically summer, means that you are going to need at least 10-12 weeks booked out with your movers. Fewer movers are willing to move you out of the area, which means you’ll be more limited in who you can work with.

If you are moving out of the city during the off-season, you can probably book 1-2 months out, but lean towards the 2-month mark to be safe. For moves that are going over state lines, you will be extremely limited on choices and thus you’ll need to book at least 12 weeks out.

Scheduling out is important

Now that you know when to avoid booking your move, you’ll want to focus on the best times to move and understand why plenty of notice is key. Having your move booked well in advance gives you a confirmed and reserved date that will allow the rest of your move to be able to be scheduled around this date, such as the packing process and the first day at your new job.

Your moving crew will have plenty of notice to properly prepare for the day and will be able to work with you in advance on any questions or concerns that will avoid any surprises on moving day. If you book early, you can sometimes get a discounted rate and you’ll find that you have the best movers in town available to book with.

Try to book your move on a weekday other than Friday, sometime in the middle of the month, and especially during the off-season. If your area is busiest in the summer, avoid booking from May until September, and try to book it for one of the other months of the year. The longer the distance you are moving, the earlier you’ll need to book.

Consider if you are moving into a complex that will need advanced notice or a property on a street that will need to be reserved. Talk to your movers about elevator access, unusual items, and long carries. By booking well in advance, you can work out all of these details and you won’t have the stress of a last-minute move that could cause you to work with poor movers.

Use these tips to schedule your upcoming move with plenty of notice to your moving crew.   

Three main questions to ask your packers and movers before getting started

If you’ve decided to hire a moving crew for your upcoming relocation, you’ve made a great decision. Not only will you be removing a huge hassle from your to-do list, but you can count on your belongings making it safely to your destination.

Professional packers and movers know how to properly pack items to eliminate the chance of damage, put things in the truck with care, and transport it safely and efficiently to destination. When homeowners try to take on such a challenge on their own, they lose the benefit of the moving company handling something that they do every single day.

Take a look at what questions you’ll want to ask before the packers and movers you choose to work with get started on the job.

Will you do a pre-move survey?

One of the first questions you’ll want to discuss with a moving company is the plans before the actual moving day. This means that you should ask if there will be a survey done before the move of your space and your household goods.

In the survey, your packers will be able to take a look at each room of the house to determine what is being moved, what type of boxes will be needed, how big the home is in order to choose the right size truck, and if there are any special concerns to address when it comes to moving day.

This is the time to find out if they will be moving you out of a condo that is only accessible by elevator, or if you have special artwork that will need specialty boxes.

You’ll want the moving company to perform a walk-through with an estimator to help note what you are going to need moved so that you can also let them know if there are things not being moved. This is a time where you can get a moving estimate based on the knowledge you provide the company.

What type of insurance do you have?

Next, talk to the company about what types of insurance they carry. This will help you get a better sense of the company’s credibility and let you know that they are up to the task as other moving companies. A high-quality, professional moving company will carry insurances to cover themselves and you. The main insurance they should have is liability insurance. They may also carry transit insurance to cover damages in transport.

You’ll want to ask what kind of insurance they are offering and if you’ll need to pay for it, as well as what it will cover. You’ll need to make sure your belongings and your move are covered by insurance just in the rare event that something happens. You can ask for proof of insurance and they will be able to show you their general liability insurance. You’ll be able to call the insurance agent to make sure it’s still in effect if you have any doubts, but rest assured that moving companies will have liability insurance to cover both the company and you for all moves.

Can I see references?

just like you would look for a restaurant review online, you’d likely want to hear from past customers to see how their experience with this company went. Ask if you can talk to references to get an idea about their likability among past customers and what you can expect working with them yourself. 

A reputable mover should be able to provide you with a few customers from your area that have moved in the recent past in order to allow you to call and ask questions about their experiences. You’ll likely have access to reviews online as well.

Before your move, be sure to ask these 3 big questions to your packing and moving crew. You’ll be thankful you were so prepared!

How a moving company can help even a small office move

Even though you may run out of a small office, you should still talk to a professional mover about getting set up in your new space. You may have assumed a moving company wouldn’t bother with a small office move, but you are going to need the help just like any other size of office.

The problem with an office move is that many times, business needs to halt until the move is complete. When a moving company takes on the task, you’ll have minimal downtime and a quicker turnaround. Take a look at how moving companies help even a small office move.

Why hire office movers

Time is money and when you have to move your office for an expansion or changing needs, you don’t have much time you can afford to be down. That is why it only makes sense to hire an office moving company. They can help to make your move efficient and quick and all you have to do is keep in communication with your movers and your customers.

A moving crew will be able to eliminate the stress of doing it yourself while having both the experience and the manpower to handle it efficiently. You won’t lose as much time as you would doing it yourself and the movers will have the skill set to handle your equipment and sensitive belongings with care. When you move offices, everything moving is a bit more delicate than a typical household move, which is why having highly trained professionals that are trained in special handling is essential.

What you should do to prepare

Once you’ve hired your moving crew and have your new space ready to go, you’ll want to follow a few steps to ensure your move is a success. First, discuss the move with your staff and answer any questions or concerns about the changes for your business and new location. Then, you’ll want to make sure everyone has a way to communicate in order to ensure there are no issues during the transition.

From here you can set a timeline for the move to make sure you are preparing well ahead of time. You’ll want each task to go smoothly which is why you should be detailed and avoid anything that feels rushed. Your change in location will be a fresh start for your business and will allow you to improve the systems you have in place now.

You’ll love the end result once you get through the relocation, because you’ll be able to situate everyone as you best see fit in the new space, set up new systems that work best in the new office, and can say goodbye to the things that were holding your brand back in the current space.

What to expect

You’ll want to do some calculations to make sure your bottom line can handle the upcoming move. You’ll need to budget for the new space, the moving crew, the business downtime, the time you’ll spend away from the business to work on the move, and moving insurance. You’ll want to put the bulk of your moving budget into a proper moving crew.

Then you’ll want to consider if you need to invest in a storage space based on the inventory of your office. Talk to your moving company about insurance. Then consider what you will lose in downtime for your business and time you are spending preparing for the move and unpacking.

Once you’ve decided it’s the right time for an office move whether it’s because your lease was up or you’ve outgrown a space, hire your movers and start preparing your office. You may need to advise your clients, vendors, business partners, and service providers that your office will be down for a day or two, or you’ll need to start operating your office from your mobile devices.

 Inform the banks, insurance company, the post office, and the courier company as well. Get everyone in the office on the same page about the plan for the week and what is expected. Then your moving crew will be able to properly disconnect, pack, move, and unpack your equipment so that you can get back up and running in your new space.

Don’t try to handle a move on your just because your office is small. You’ll want a team that knows how to handle your sensitive office equipment and other items properly and with care while you avoid too much downtime that could affect your business.