Living
Moving Services
Moving to – or within – New York City can be a frazzled disaster or an easy journey. Given the city’s manic housing scene, you might have to move quickly, and sharp thinking always pays off.
First, beware: hundreds of companies want to move you – Yellow Pages listings alone run dozens of pages. Thus, word of mouth is essential: talk to your friends, your apartment broker, even your new neighbours. Visit websites like Craigslist.com, send exploratory emails, make phone calls. Ask about hourly and daily fees ($30-50/hr. and up, and per mover), liability insurance, advance notice, and special fees – some movers charge fees per flight of steps. If you have lots of boxes and furniture, perhaps pick an established company for the broadest overall protection, whereas a ‘man with a van’ for small moves might make more sense. Either way, never assume a cheap quote yields the best move.
If you’re moving from outside New York City but within the US, exercise your right to receive a copy of a mover’s ‘Annual Performance Report’: if a mover is sued often, avoid them. A do’s and don’ts list from the New York State Dept. of Transportation (www.dot.state.ny.us/ts/consumer_info.html) and various watchdog websites (www.movingscam.com) offer helpful hints.
Narrow your list to three movers and call the ‘DOT’ at 800 786 5368 to verify that they are all properly licensed. Now call the three movers again and request estimates based on a detailed inventory, including number of boxes and all furniture. Ask if the estimate is ‘binding,’ meaning the mover guarantees the fee. And read the New York Better Business Bureau Moving Guide (www.newyork.bbb.org, then click on Research/Publications/For Consumers/Moving, Storage & Transportation/Moving and Storage) for last-minute tips.
If you’re moving to New York City from abroad, consider your budget. If your furniture is of high sentimental value, move it, but know that you’ll be socked with exorbitant fees for transportation and storage. Also, ask your local consulate about item restrictions, including pets. And consider making your new start in New York totally fresh by refurnishing – since furniture stores are aplenty.
First, beware: hundreds of companies want to move you – Yellow Pages listings alone run dozens of pages. Thus, word of mouth is essential: talk to your friends, your apartment broker, even your new neighbours. Visit websites like Craigslist.com, send exploratory emails, make phone calls. Ask about hourly and daily fees ($30-50/hr. and up, and per mover), liability insurance, advance notice, and special fees – some movers charge fees per flight of steps. If you have lots of boxes and furniture, perhaps pick an established company for the broadest overall protection, whereas a ‘man with a van’ for small moves might make more sense. Either way, never assume a cheap quote yields the best move.
If you’re moving from outside New York City but within the US, exercise your right to receive a copy of a mover’s ‘Annual Performance Report’: if a mover is sued often, avoid them. A do’s and don’ts list from the New York State Dept. of Transportation (www.dot.state.ny.us/ts/consumer_info.html) and various watchdog websites (www.movingscam.com) offer helpful hints.
Narrow your list to three movers and call the ‘DOT’ at 800 786 5368 to verify that they are all properly licensed. Now call the three movers again and request estimates based on a detailed inventory, including number of boxes and all furniture. Ask if the estimate is ‘binding,’ meaning the mover guarantees the fee. And read the New York Better Business Bureau Moving Guide (www.newyork.bbb.org, then click on Research/Publications/For Consumers/Moving, Storage & Transportation/Moving and Storage) for last-minute tips.
If you’re moving to New York City from abroad, consider your budget. If your furniture is of high sentimental value, move it, but know that you’ll be socked with exorbitant fees for transportation and storage. Also, ask your local consulate about item restrictions, including pets. And consider making your new start in New York totally fresh by refurnishing – since furniture stores are aplenty.
