Tips for A Smooth Boston Apartment Move

With September just around the corner, students from the Boston area’s many colleges are primed and ready for move-in day. As locals know, September 1 is a huge move in day for rentals in Boston, with plenty of tenant turnover.

Moving day is stressful enough as it is, here are a collection of tips for a smooth Boston apartment move.

Before You Move

De-clutter & Donate - The less you have to move the better. Do your best to de-clutter, sell or donate as much of your stuff as you can. Spend any amount of time in one place and you’re sure to accumulate a lot of junk.

Get free moving boxes - Start early and scope out your local grocery or clothing stores. Places like these tend to have plenty of boxes of various sizes just laying around. They’d be more than happy to be rid of them.

Pack early - Whether you are hiring movers or relying on the kindness of your friends and family, don’t waste anyone’s time (movers tend to be paid by the hour). Get your home packed up in neatly and organized boxes as much as possible before moving day - you’ll be glad you did!

Schedule as much as possible ahead of time - This refers as much to movers and moving truck as it does to utilities. Do yourself, and your stress level, a favor and get all your ducks in a row ahead of time. Especially, if you want cable / internet set up in a timely manner in your new place. It pays to plan ahead a bit.

Take a trip ahead of time - If you can, it’s a great idea to scope out your new surroundings ahead of time. Take a bit of time to locate your closest grocery store, parks and restaurants. It’s not always possible, but some advanced reconnaissance can be a great way to make your new place a home.

During the Move

Pack a moving day bag - Think about what you might pack for a weekend away - things like underwear, basic toiletries, charge cables. Things don’t always go exactly according to plan, so it’s a smart to plan for the worst, if you can’t get in your new place right away.

Put together some snacks - Following from the last point, with everything packed up and loaded onto a truck, preparing a snack won’t be easy. Plus, moving is just hard work.

Plan your meals - Again, you won’t have access to cooking supplies, and once you get to your new place, groceries will likely be scarce. Do yourself a favor and either prepare some frozen meals ahead or time, or just plan to eat out. It’s a great excuse to try out some of the take out options near your new home as well!

Test everything out - Once you arrive at your new place, be sure to test out everything - light switches, appliances and running water. Make note of anything that isn’t working right away, so you can notify your new landlord. It’s also a great idea to take pictures just in case disputes arise when it comes time to move out.

After You Move

Break down boxes as you unpack - Avoid the clutter of having numerous empty boxes throughout each room of your new place. By breaking down these boxes as you go, you’ll be making your final clean up that much easier.

Keep an eye out for sales - Now that you’ve moved into your new place, there are bound to be a few things you’ll need to complete your new space. Keep an eye out for flyers for local furniture stores, rummage sales and online marketplaces - these are great place to find inexpensive and / or lightly used items.

Just take some time - Moving day can be hectic and getting used to your new surroundings can be stressful. Take a few minutes when you can and just take it all in. Moving may suck, but your new home has a lot to offer and exploration can be a lot of fun!