Everything You Need To Know About Moving Apartments

Everything You Need To Know About Moving Apartments

More and more people are choosing the apartment life, with almost one in eight Americans residing in an apartment. However, living in an apartment can also come with frequent moves. If you’re moving from apartment to apartment or from a house to an apartment, this is the guide for you.

We’ll go over some tips for moving apartments, including how to prepare for the move and what you should expect to purchase. We’ll also give budgeting advice, like factors that affect the cost of a move and ways to save money. Lastly, if you’re ready to hire movers, we dive into moving with UniMovers. By the end, you’ll have a good idea of how to move an apartment!

Tips For Moving Apartments

First, here are some tips for moving apartments. For more details, see our guides on moving into your first apartment (congratulations!) and what you need to own for your apartment move

Preparing To Move

One of your first tasks once you decide to move is to create a moving budget. Make sure you leave room in the budget for unexpected fees. You can also create a moving checklist to help you organize your move.

As you consider options for your new home, study the neighborhood around your new apartment. Figure out how far you’ll need to travel for work, where you can find groceries, and where you’ll head for other hobbies.

You can also spend some time before or after the move looking for activities in your new location. This is a great way to get excited about the move and find a community in your area.

Woman stacking moving boxes

Another major task for any apartment move is packing. When you’re packing, label your boxes with the room they’ll go in. Separate some of the items you’ll immediately need into an overnight bag to make your life easier after an exhausting moving day.

In addition, consider getting renters’ insurance for your new apartment. Record the cost of any large furniture items in case you need to invoke your insurance policy.

Lastly, before you move your own items into the new apartment, inspect it for damages like scuffed walls. Record any damages you notice and take pictures of them to share with the property owner. This way, you can’t be blamed for them when you move out!

Moving boxes in apartment

How To Furnish Your Apartment

As you settle into your apartment, move in the furniture you already own before buying major items so that you have a better idea of what you need. Take your time deciding where you want pieces like your couch or desk to go.

Also, consider your purchasing options. To save money, look for furniture at places like Goodwill or Facebook Marketplace.

When you’re ready to start furnishing your apartment, there are many basics you’ll want to have. For instance, you’ll probably want cleaning supplies like a sponge, mop, cleaner, detergents, and a broom or vacuum right away.

You’ll also need some supplies for your kitchen and pantry. For dishes and cookware, think about pots and pans, baking sheets, dishes, silverware, glasses, cutting boards, and cooking utensils. To stock the pantry, consider picking up baking essentials, oil and vinegar, and dry goods.

There are also some must-haves for a bathroom. Consider buying a shower curtain, bath and hand towels, a bath mat, toilet paper, hand soap, and a plunger. You might also want to stock your medicine cabinet with some medications and first-aid supplies. 

You also want a cozy bedroom! Make sure you have a mattress, pillows, sheets, blankets, and a laundry basket. There are some items you can also pick up later, like extra lamps, a bed frame, and curtains. 

As one last tip for your apartment move, don’t forget you’ll need to acquire some general supplies like a toolkit, flashlight, or fans.

Bucket of cleaning supplies and a mop

How To Budget Your Apartment Move

As we already discussed, a key tip for moving apartments is to budget well. Here, we’ll give you advice for your moving budget, including a breakdown of moving costs and ways to save money on the move.

For more details, see our blogs on the cost of moving a one-bedroom apartment and moving incentives that apartments and realtors use that you can leverage.

Factors That Affect Cost

One expense is the cost of moving supplies. Take into account the cost of supplies like boxes and tape, bubble wrap or packing material, mattress covers, dollies, and more.

Another part of moving that may cost you is the actual process of loading and unloading boxes, as well as the cost of carrying your boxes to your new destination. This cost will vary depending on how much you have to move and how far you’re traveling. For instance, if you’re moving a far distance, you’ll spend more on gas. 

Budgeting for this aspect of moving requires making some decisions. Hiring movers costs more than having family and friends help you. In addition, renting a U-Haul will cost more than using vehicles you already own.

At the same time, hiring movers or renting a U-Haul can save you a great deal of time and stress on your moving day. To help you know if hiring movers is worth it, moving companies will provide you with an estimate of how much the move will cost. 

Moving Cost Breakdown

All of this information about cost is great, but what does it mean? Here’s a breakdown of the cost of different moving decisions.

For a one-bedroom apartment that you move yourself, expect to spend $50-200 on the move. This cost includes packing supplies and gas. 

If you have a partially assisted move—for example, if you hire a labor-only moving company like UniMovers—expect to spend $200-400. This price includes moving supplies, gas, and hired help or transportation. 

Lastly, with a fully assisted move for a one-bedroom apartment, expect to spend at least $400 on the move. This price includes the cost of hiring and tipping movers alongside the previous costs.

Woman budgeting to save on moving

Looking to move soon?

Check out UniMovers and save 30-50% on your move as compared with traditional moving!

How To Save Money Moving Apartments

The cost of an apartment move often depends on how many things you have. To lower this part of the cost, get rid of things in your apartment that you no longer need. You can throw them away or find places to donate them. 

Packing supplies also cost money. There are ways to save on packing supplies too, like repurposing materials you already own or sourcing free supplies from local stores or family and friends.

You can also look for deals that will help you spend less on your new apartment. You should see whether your apartment options offer some common incentives

Incentives you might encounter include free rent for the first month, waivers for the security deposit, or reimbursement of moving costs. Apartments may also include the utility bill or the cost of parking in the rent.

They can also provide discounts on rent in some cases, or provide special discounts for groups like students, teachers, or health care workers. 

Your apartment might have a referral program that allows you to get discounts. They might partner with local organizations like moving companies or might sponsor giveaways. All these incentives can save you money as you move apartments!

UniMovers employee carrying two boxes and a bag chair

Moving Apartments With UniMovers

UniMovers is one service that can help you with your apartment move. UniMovers is a labor-only moving company, meaning we will do the lifting for you while saving you the cost of hiring a truck. For a small apartment, expect to hire two movers for two hours to either load or unload. For each bedroom, expect to hire one more mover.

UniMovers charges an affordable flat hourly rate for cities where we offer services. A travel fee might apply outside these cities.

UniMovers Pricing

The cost of moving an apartment with UniMovers depends on your situation. Check out our cost estimator for more details specific to your situation.

That said, we can give you some rough cost estimates now. To move a studio apartment with UniMovers, expect to spend about $240 for a load and unload your items.

For a one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment, expect to spend between $240-360 for loading or unloading.

With a three-bedroom apartment, plan to hire at least three movers. To either load or unload, expect to spend $360-540. For both services, plan to spend closer to $720-900.  

Exterior of an apartment complex

Conclusion

Now you know how to move apartments! We’ve covered a lot of ground. When preparing to move into an apartment, create a moving budget, explore the area around your new home, plan your packing, get renters’ insurance, and inspect your new apartment. 

Think about furnishing your apartment. Buy cleaning supplies, as well as supplies for the kitchen and pantry, bathroom, and bedroom if you don’t already own them. 

Budgeting is important. Factor in apartment moving costs like buying moving supplies, hiring movers, and renting a truck or paying for gas. The cost of these items will depend on how much you’re moving and how far you’re going. 

To save money during the moving process, look for incentives that realtors and apartments may offer to people who are moving. 

Lastly, consider hiring UniMovers for your apartment move. Expect to spend $240-900 on your move with UniMovers, depending on the size of your apartment.

What are some key tips for moving an apartment?

Prepare for the move with a moving budget and a moving checklist. Check out the area around your new apartment. Pack wisely, consider renters’ insurance, and don’t forget to document any damages in your new apartment.

What do I need to furnish an apartment?

Make sure you have cleaning supplies, items for cooking and stocking the pantry, bathroom must-haves, bedroom basics, and general safety supplies.

How much does it cost to move an apartment?

The cost of an apartment move depends on how much you own, how far you’re going, and whether or not you hire movers. Expect to spend around $50-900.

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Sophie Pollack-Milgate has a day job as a research assistant. In her free time, she likes to read 10% of the library books she checks out, complain about how either ice or heat are ruining her runs (depending on the season), and modify recipes beyond recognition.