Your Essential Move-In Checklist

Congratulations! You’ve signed your lease and moving day is drawing near. The monumental task of properly sorting and packing all your personal belongings may be the first order of business, but there are a slew of smaller tasks just as essential to a smooth move.

Follow this checklist, complete with a few suggested services, to avoid common pitfalls and make your move-in day pain-free:

 

1. Invest In or Transfer Renter’s Insurance

Renter’s insurance reimburses you for loss or damage to your belongings, home, and more. We highly recommend investing in it for your financial well-being and peace of mind, and Sure app makes it easy to sign up, monitor your coverage, and report claims. Already have renter’s insurance? Be sure to switch your coverage over to your new address.

2. Register or Switch Utility Services

Depending on where you’re moving, internet and other utilities may be serviced by a different provider than those at your current home. Confirm utility providers with your new building’s management or online, open new accounts for the necessary services, and update your address information on the accounts that are transferable.

3. Confirm COI Requirement

Before planning the logistics of your move, first check if your new building requires movers to provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) to prove that any damage that may occur during the move will be covered. Any legitimate moving company can produce a COI without a problem, so don’t be shy about asking for it. 

4. Check if a Move-In Reservation is Required

Some buildings, particularly larger ones in high-traffic or commercial areas of town, have designated days of the week and times of day during which you can move in and out. This often means you must reserve a specific time window, and perhaps even a particular elevator for your move. Check with your new building’s management regarding any necessary move-in day protocol.

5. Reserve a Reliable Moving Company

It’s always best to leave moving to the professionals—and if a COI is required by your new building, it’s actually a must. Reliable, careful movers can be hard to find, which is why we always recommend Piece of Cake Moving & Storage to clients moving within, in, or out of New York City.

Bonus Tip: Take Advantage of Timeline Flexibility

If you can avoid moving at the very end or beginning of the month, do it! Rates skyrocket and availability plummets on the first and final day of every month (when most leases turn over), so moving a week in or out from those dates can help make it easier to book movers and even obtain a lower rate.