People move within the same neighborhood for a variety of reasons. I recently moved from one apartment to another within the same complex, and while it was only down the street, I found there were many things you’ll need to consider when moving even short distances. Whether you’re like me and you’re just moving units, or you’re moving to a new apartment complex altogether, or you’re heading into a new house, here’s some of the best advice following my own experience.
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Transportation
The most convenient thing about moving such a short distance is that we were able to take multiple trips to transport items. We’d load up a car, drop things off, and return for the rest, using the same vehicle throughout. This means you don’t have to fit all of your belongings into a single vehicle, and it generally gives you the flexibility to avoid renting a larger truck or van if that’s not within your budget.
If you’re moving from one apartment to another in the same complex, or your new place is otherwise within walking distance, you may not even need a vehicle. You can easily rent equipment like dollies and carts to transport your belongings. Know that this method will surely require multiple if not several trips back and forth, so you’ll have to judge if that’s doable.
For example, if you’re only moving down the street you might think you can just push a couple of carts back and forth. But, the weather might be sweltering hot on your moving date! Plan ahead and know that in situations like these, you might want to just load up your car instead of running back and forth.
You’ll also need to ask yourself if you want to move everything in one go instead of going back and forth. Maybe you’re on a time crunch, or you just want to get it done quickly regardless. Maybe you have a lot of large items that don’t fit in your vehicle. This is when you might want to consider professional movers and/or moving trucks.
Hiring Movers (Or Not!)
Moving in the same neighborhood gives you a lot more agency when it comes to deciding whether to hire professional movers or not. Common reasons for hiring professionals include having a lot of heavy/hard-to-move items, having a lot of items period, or having too many things to fit in your personal vehicle.
As I discussed, you’ll likely have the luxury of not having to fit everything in one car in one trip. But for larger items, a larger vehicle or moving truck may be needed. Additionally, if you want to move everything at once, and your vehicle is smaller than what’s needed, this may be the route for you.
You can also hire labor-only movers if you can fit everything in your own vehicle (or ones you’ve rented) but may have trouble lifting your belongings. This type of moving company will do all the heavy lifting for you, so you get to pack, sit back, and plan for your new apartment. Be aware of what moving supplies these movers will supply and what they won’t, so you can work that into your budget!
Timeframe
Even if you’re just moving within the neighborhood, or from apartment to apartment, you’ll need to be aware of how much time you have to complete the move. This is most relevant for renters whose leases may be ending around the same time their new one will start, but it’s helpful for everyone to have a sense of their timeline.
For example, in my case, my roommates and I were moving apartment units within the same complex. If this is you, be in contact with the management of your complex so you know how quickly they process transfers. We had about a week from when we were notified the new unit was ready to when we had to be moved out of the old unit. This timeframe may vary. Many apartments will give you a move-out date far in advance, while others, like ours, may employ a more rushed process, so prepare to be flexible.
With short-distance moves like this, it’s more than possible to complete the move in one day if both units are accessible. This means you don’t have to throw out perishables or frozen foods the way you would if you were moving long-distance over several days. Or, even if you are moving over multiple days, if the new place is ready you can take a trip over to the new apartment and put your food there so you won’t have to worry about it. Either way, it can be very convenient!
Storage
As is the case with every move, even when you’re moving so close, you’ll have to reevaluate which items you want to hold onto and which ones you’re more willing to part with. When you’re moving locally, it can be super convenient to seek out a local storage unit. This can be great even temporarily as you set up your new place!
If you’re moving within an apartment complex, unless you’re intentionally downsizing, odds are the size of your unit will be similar and so you won’t have to worry too much about parting with or storing anything. Houses tend to have more variety, depending on where in the neighborhood you’ll be moving. Luckily, houses in close proximity are often around the same size so you shouldn’t worry too much.
Conclusion
In short, while a short-distance move like this might seem easy on the surface, there are actually a ton of things to think about! It might be less stressful than, say, moving across the country, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put the utmost attention towards making your move run as smoothly as possible. Congratulations on a fresh start!
Samantha attends the University of Northern Colorado as a double major in English and Theatre with minors in Writing and Japanese. In her free time she enjoys creative writing, art, and making music.
