{"id":924,"date":"2024-08-28T11:05:32","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T16:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/?p=924"},"modified":"2025-01-11T13:11:16","modified_gmt":"2025-01-11T18:11:16","slug":"apartment-moving-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/apartment-moving-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Apartment Moving: Your Comprehensive Guide to a Smooth Relocation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Apartment <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/chicago-moving-company\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">moving<\/a> has become a sort of Chicago pastime. Throughout each year, renters choose not to renew their leases and instead find a new building or neighborhood for at least the next 12 months. This is an extremely common occurrence, with about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/average-rent-market-trends\/us\/il\/chicago\/#:~:text=604%2C772%20or%2054%25%20of%20the,46%25%20are%20owner%2Doccupied\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">54%<\/a> of Chicago homes being occupied by renters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving to a new apartment requires some planning, even for seasoned veterans who move just about every year. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about apartment moving in Chicago, along with some helpful tips from professional movers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Apartment Moving Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to packing up your apartment\u2019s contents and coordinating the actual relocation, apartment moving requires a few other tasks. Here are some tips to help you have a smooth move:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Communicate openly with your landlord.<\/strong> In most cases, leases require at least <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azibo.com\/blog\/30-day-notice-to-landlord\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">30 days notice<\/a> prior to moving out. Review your lease and local laws to make sure you\u2019re in compliance when you choose to find a new apartment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Clean your old apartment.<\/strong> In addition to being the right thing to do and helping the next tenant move into a nice, clean home, giving your old place a little love will help ensure that you\u2019ll get your full security deposit back. So grab a dust rag, mop, and start checking items off of your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/the-ultimate-moving-cleaning-checklist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cleaning checklist<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get the keys to your new place in advance.<\/strong> This timing might depend on your new landlord or apartment management company, but try to get the keys to your new apartment in advance of your move day. Having to scramble to pick up the keys at the last minute adds stress to your move, and can increase your apartment moving costs if you\u2019re hiring a professional mover.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll also need to inform a list of people and companies about your new address. Find out which utilities you\u2019ll pay for at your new place (sometimes water, heat, and even electricity might be included in your monthly rent), and remove your name from the accounts at your old place. Plus, forward your mail to your new home and let your insurance companies and any subscriptions or delivery services know that you\u2019ve moved.<br><br>Looking for reliable <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/apartment-movers\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/apartment-movers\">apartment movers in Chicago<\/a><\/strong>? Check out our dedicated services to ensure a smooth transition to your new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Average Costs of Apartment Moving in Chicago<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>How much does it cost to move to Chicago? Well, that depends on a number of factors. The biggest one is how long your moving inventory list is. Each person\u2014and each apartment\u2014is unique, so a person living in a one-bedroom apartment might have more stuff to move than a person living in a two or three-bedroom dwelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to create an accurate apartment moving budget is to start by making a list of your furniture and boxes so you can obtain a few estimates from local movers. The estimates you\u2019ll receive will include a breakdown of costs like hourly rates, standard additional fees, and your choice of moving coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hourly Mover Rates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving companies in Chicago charge an hourly rate based on the size of the crew they send to your move. The crew size is determined by factors like the number of items in your inventory, whether you have any extra-large items in your inventory that require more people to carry, and the number of flights of stairs (sometimes a smaller crew can move a ground-level or first-floor apartment, but a bigger crew will be needed for a third or fourth-floor walkup).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hourly rates will vary by moving company and timing. As you work with a few movers to obtain estimates, ask them if their rates are different at certain times of the week or month. Most movers have peak rates on the weekends or end of the month, so you might be able to save a little money if you have the flexibility to move at off-peak times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a look at the average apartment moving hourly rates in Chicago:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>2-person crew: $120-$160<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3-person crew: $160-$200<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>4-person crew: $200-$240<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the hourly rates, you can expect to see a few more charges on your moving estimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Mover Fees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On top of the time your moving crew spends packing, wrapping, loading, transporting, and unloading your materials (which will be captured in their hourly rates), they\u2019ll need to cover some additional costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Travel time is one of these fees. This is calculated by the size of the crew and the distance between your new and old homes and the moving company\u2019s facility. Another standard line item on a moving estimate will show you the estimated materials. These include items like shrink wrap, moving blankets, warehouse pads, tape, boxes, and dollies. Some movers charge per material used while others just apply a flat fee, so be sure to ask how they charge for materials when you talk to their customer service team about your estimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might also incur additional fees if you have oversized items, pianos, or pieces that need to be hoisted rather than carried. As long as the <a href=\"https:\/\/todayshomeowner.com\/moving\/guides\/guide-to-making-moving-inventory-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">home inventory<\/a> you provide is accurate, all of these charges should be included on your estimate, so spend some time building this list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Moving Insurance and Coverage Options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One more fee you might see on your moving estimate is your apartment <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/moving-insurance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">moving coverage<\/a>. In most cases, you\u2019ll have two options, and the first is carrier liability. This is included in the cost of your move and basically means that the moving company assumes liability for $0.30 per pound per item should anything be lost or damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your second option is called declared valuation. If you purchase this additional coverage, your mover will be responsible for repairing or replacing the item at its depreciated value. These charges differ per moving company, but a standard rate is about $100 per $5,000 of coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that these coverage options are not the same as an insurance policy. If you have items of extraordinary monetary or sentimental value, you might want to either move them yourself or talk to your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/does-renters-insurance-cover-moving\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">renter\u2019s insurance<\/a> broker about special coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Find the Right Apartment Moving Company<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You want to make sure you find a professional, legitimate moving company to handle your valued possessions. Here are a few tips to help you find a great team of movers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Check out their online presence.<\/strong> They should have a professional, user-friendly website and informative posts on their social media platforms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Look for credentials.<\/strong> Legit movers are registered with organizations like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imawa.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IMAWA<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icc.illinois.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ILCC<\/a>\u2014and they should brag about this! If you don\u2019t see anything about a moving company\u2019s credentials on their website, don\u2019t be afraid to ask their customer service team about it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Read online reviews.<\/strong> What do past customers say about them? What\u2019s their overall rating on Google Reviews? Reading about other people\u2019s experiences can help you weed out companies that might not do a good job on your move.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make sure they know your neighborhood or suburb.<\/strong> Learn about each mover\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/service-areas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">service areas<\/a> not only to ensure they can handle your move but to get the confidence of their expertise. Chicago neighborhoods are full of low viaducts, narrow streets, and other obstacles that can impair a move. A moving company that frequently services your areas will know the pitfalls to avoid and help you have an easy, smooth relocation. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, don\u2019t be afraid to ask a lot of questions before you accept an estimate and book your move. The more comfortable you are with the customer service team leading up to your move day, the more stress-free you\u2019ll be when the movers arrive. As long as you do your due diligence and pick the right movers, you\u2019re setting yourself up for a great apartment moving experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We\u2019re the Experts in Chicago Apartment Moving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You deserve the confidence and peace of mind that you\u2019ve hired the right company to handle your relocation to a new apartment. We\u2019re the experts in the idiosyncrasies of Chicago\u2019s neighborhoods and suburbs\u2014plus coordinating parking permits, helping you figure out elevator reservations, and, in the absence of an elevator, navigating tight stairwells. We\u2019re Chicago\u2019s favorite movers for many reasons, and one of them is our expertise in apartment moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Contact us<\/a> today for a free estimate and to find out how we can help you have a smooth and stress-free move!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Apartment moving has become a sort of Chicago pastime. Throughout each year, renters choose not to renew their leases and instead find a new building or neighborhood for at least the next 12 months. This is an extremely common occurrence, with about 54% of Chicago homes being occupied by renters. Moving to a new apartment [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":926,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[239,4,184,21,6],"tags":[240,8,22,24],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/924"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=924"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":952,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/924\/revisions\/952"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}