15 Things NYC Movers Wish You Knew Before Moving Day
After thousands of NYC moves, our crews have seen it all. Here are 15 things that professional NYC movers wish every customer knew before moving day — the insider knowledge that makes moves go smoother, faster, and with fewer surprises.
1. Be Ready When We Arrive
Your moving crew will arrive at the agreed time ready to work. If boxes aren’t packed, furniture isn’t disassembled, or you’re still sleeping, you’re paying for idle time. Have everything packed and ready to load before your crew walks in the door.
2. Don’t Pack Your Moving Crew’s Snacks and Drinks
Moving is physically demanding work. Offering your crew water, coffee, or snacks is genuinely appreciated and results in a better move. It sounds small, but it matters.
3. The COI Takes Time — Get It Early
A Certificate of Insurance from your moving company takes 2–5 business days to process. If your building requires one (most NYC buildings do), don’t ask for it 24 hours before your move. Two weeks minimum.
4. Your Elevator Window Is Non-Negotiable
Your building’s elevator reservation is a fixed window. If you’re not ready when the window starts, you lose time you’ve paid for. If your window ends before the move is done, you may face delays waiting for the elevator to become available again.
5. Measure Before Moving Day — Not During
Discovering on moving day that your king bed frame won’t fit up the staircase causes expensive delays. Measure every large piece of furniture and every doorway, stairwell, and elevator before moving day. Do it now.
6. Separate the “Do Not Pack” Items
Clearly identify anything you don’t want movers to touch: items going in your car, important documents, medications, valuables. Put them in a closet with a note on the door or keep them in a separate room. “Don’t pack that” said on moving day after the fact rarely ends well.
7. Cash Tips Are Preferred
Tips aren’t required, but they’re deeply appreciated for good work. Cash is preferred. Standard NYC tipping is $20–50 per mover for a standard move — more for exceptional service, challenging conditions, or a very large move. Tip after the job is done.
8. Heavy Boxes Are a Hazard
50 lbs is the maximum for any box. A 60-lb box of books is a back injury and a dropped box of broken dishes waiting to happen. If you can’t lift it with one arm, it’s too heavy. Use smaller boxes for books and heavy items.
9. Disassemble What You Can Before We Arrive
IKEA furniture, bed frames, dining tables with removable legs, shelving units — disassemble them the night before. Store all hardware in labeled zip-lock bags taped directly to the piece. This saves significant time on moving day.
10. Notify Your Building Super in Advance
Your super is your most important ally on moving day. Let them know when you’re moving, when the elevator has been reserved, and how to reach you. A super who’s expecting you opens doors and solves problems. A super who’s surprised by a moving crew can slow everything down.
11. Your Old Apartment Takes Longer to Leave Than You Think
Even if everything is packed, there’s always a final sweep. Closets, cabinets, storage areas, the stuff behind doors, items on high shelves. Budget extra time and do a walk-through before your crew leaves — we can’t go back for what was forgotten.
12. Parking Is Not a Given
In NYC, parking a moving truck is a genuine challenge. The 72-hour No Parking sign process exists for a reason — without it, your crew may spend 30–45 minutes double-parked in traffic or circling for a spot. Confirm with your movers that parking is handled before moving day.
13. Don’t Book the Last Elevator Window of the Day
If your building only allows moves until 5 PM and your elevator window is 1–5 PM, you have zero margin for error. Any delay — traffic, packing that ran long, an item that doesn’t fit — could mean leaving items behind or paying overtime. Book the morning window whenever possible.
14. Document Your Apartments Before and After
Photograph your old apartment — walls, floors, appliances — before the movers arrive and again after everything is out. Do the same for your new apartment before boxes come in. This documentation is your protection against security deposit disputes and damage claims.
15. A Good Mover Is Worth What They Charge
The cheapest moving quote is often not the best value. Unlicensed movers, companies without COI capability, and crews with no NYC experience can cost you far more in damaged items, move-day surprises, and stress than you saved on the quote. Check that your mover is licensed with the NYDOT, has NYC-specific experience, and carries proper insurance.
At Serenity Movers, we’ve been doing this since 1999. We built these tips from 25+ years of NYC moves. If you’re planning a move and want a crew that already knows all of this — give us a call.
