Congrats! You’ve landed a big job, in the Big Apple, and with that comes a big NYC move… to a much smaller space. But you have an entire house full of things that you you’re dreading even hauling with you, let alone trying to fit into your new, NYC apartment.

How do you sort through it all without feeling like you’re throwing part of your life away? How do you fit it in something that’s one-fourth the size of what you live in now here are some secrets for a successful NYC move-

 

It’s your lucky day. We’ve put together this list of strategies to make your downsizing efficient and painless for your upcoming NYC move.

 

1. Start Planning Your NYC Move Early

If you know that your new means of living are going to be much tighter than your current situation, it’s best that you plan ahead and with ample time before you have to move in.

Moving in NYC is stressful as is, and just as how you were told in college, procrastinating on a project of this scale is not recommended. You can devote only 20-30 minutes/day leading up to your move to get things done efficiently and without causing any added tension.

Start by measuring out the rooms in your new apartment or home.  This will allow you to determine how much furniture, décor, and all other belongings will fit comfortably. Planning this ahead will also avoid you desperately searching for someone to buy your sectional sofa from you the day before you end up having to leave it behind on the curb.

Planning, sorting and packing early on and gradually before your actual NYC move also prevents you from making rushed decisions that could result in you tossing something you actually need or hold dear.

2. Give Serious Consideration to Your Clutter

When you’re forced to a compressed living space, it comes down to what’s important and imperative in your everyday life. You can start in all the nooks, drawers, and closets that have things stuffed and stacked into them.

If you’re finding little tools, knick-knacks, clothes or any items that you haven’t seen in months, odds are you don’t actually need it.

3. One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure

You don’t have to actually “toss” things you no longer want or need into the garbage. When you are sorting through your things, put them into piles: to keep, to throw out, to donate, and to sell.

Gently used books, toys no longer in use by your kids, clothes that are a gently worn, and other items one could take for granted and consider throwing away can be saved and donated to someone who needs them. Setting up donation pick-ups is free, and odds are, there are countless donation centers and charities in your areas who are always in need.

If you have some clothes that don’t fit you anymore, just aren’t your style, or that you won’t wear again, chances are that there is someone out there who will buy it off of you. You can take bags of gently used clothing to thrift or resale stores and get some cash for your items. It’s also incredibly simple to set up your own ebay page to sell and ship out your items yourself. Make room in your new apartment AND make some extra cash? Win-win.

The same goes for furniture and decorations around your home. You can easily sell these items online or at resale stores for some money to help alleviate those moving costs. Let us reiterate, don’t wait until last minute do try and sell these things!

 

4. Hit a Wall? There’s a Solution for That

So you’ve gone through your clutter and tossed just about everything you could possibly imagine. You’ve sold some of your furniture, gave your young family members some hand-me downs, and bargained your old denim jeans and shoes for some cash at your local thrift store. Still have too much stuff to fit into your new place? Don’t sweat.

Lucky for you, Divine Moving and Storage has many storage options, It is here with us that your furniture, décor, clothing and personal, sentimental items are given the same TLC and attention that you would give them. With a climate controlled facility, 24 hour security measures, and a meticulous inventory control method, you can be assured that your possessions are in safe and caring hands of Divine Moving.

5. Optimize Your Space

Once you’ve chosen what to keep, sent out what you don’t, and stored what you don’t need immediately, it’s important that you take what’s left and make the most of the small space you have.

Find organization systems for your closets, maximize your minimal floor space by adding shelves to your walls, and take advantage of multifunctional furniture pieces. Don’t put it past you to use the storage compartment of an ottoman or under-the-bed drawers and sliding containers.

            The good thing about downsizing is that your life is now a little simpler and a lot less cluttered. Your home is now filled with only the things you’ve found to be the most important to you, and you’re ready to take on a new chapter in your NYC life.

NYC trusts Divine Moving & Storage’s premium White Glove relocation service to take care of all their moving needs. Our professional moving specialists have years of experience packing up priceless works of art, antiques, crystal, china, and even musical instruments. With Divine, you never have to worry about damage because we take the time to ensure your valuables are protected and safe for the entire time they’re in our care. For a luxury move without the luxury price tag, for your next NYC move call Divine 212-244-4011

 

 

When people move for the first time in New York, they often make all the classic mistakes. They wait until the last minute to get all of the packing done. They ask their flaky friends to help them carry the larger items down the stairs. And they often call the wrong moving company. The one that charges ridiculous fees only to throw all of furniture in the truck without proper padding. Or the that expects a hefty tip the minute all of those boxes have been stacked sloppily on the curb.

Whether you’ve never moved within NY or you’re a seasoned apartment hopper, it’s good to know how to find the right moving company. Because with all the stress that moving entails, handing over the reigns to the movers, even for a bit, should be the most relaxing part.

Here’s our guide to choosing the best moving company in the five boroughs.

1. Look for someone local.

 

You don’t have to be in the city long, or even have a driver’s license, to you realize that it is not easy to navigate our NYC streets. Parts of the city are on a grid, the other parts are a historical maze. It’s tricky to know which streets are one-ways, and it takes just the right balance of aggressive honking and smooth driving to get anywhere in any neighborhood.

 

When you look to a national moving company, then, you might not get someone who has the knowledge, and, let’s face it, the patience to deliver your belongings quickly and safely. Only the local movers can do that.

 

2. Check the reviews.

 

We live in an age in which we have quick access to a company’s successes and missteps. By reading online reviews, you can easily see how other people have experienced the service. Read ours here.

Our recommendation is not that you should try to find a company with no flaws. After all, it’s New York. Things often don’t go perfectly. But instead, look for a company that makes an effort to correct any mistakes and offer positive solutions.

 

And, don’t underestimate the value of good reviews. After all, the internet is filled with angry people, and customers who have had a good experience will rarely write about it. Only when the service was exceptionally good will the average person sit down to write a positive review.

 

3. Remember: Experience Means Success.

 

Businesses come and go at such a rapid rate in this city that even restaurants that have been around a few years start to feel like institutions. So, if you come across a moving company that has been doing this for a while, that’s a great sign. Plus, older companies will also be more versed in how to deal with any issues that come up, so you’ll feel taken care of on moving day. Divine Moving have been servicing NYC since 1999

 

4. Give them a call.

 

How an employee interacts with you on the phone is a pretty good indication of how you’ll be treated on moving day. If the person on the other end of the line is forward and willing to answer your questions, you can trust that they’ll communicate well on-site.

 

And, this isn’t always easy advice to follow, since we live in an age where an app can circumnavigate any requirement to speak. But when it comes to a good moving company, you want to be treated like a realperson with belongings that have real sentimental value. So calling them up will give you a sense of whether they can think of you as more than just another job.

 

5. Ask for the specifics.

 

While you have an employee on the phone, make sure to ask for the specifics like,

 

• What do you charge for a deposit?
• How can I contact your employees throughout the move?
• How they might you deal with damaged items?
• Are there extra fees if I live in a walk-up?
• What is the time range you think the job will be done?

 

Also, don’t be shy to ask for an estimate. What a moving company charges is an indication of the service you’ll receive. Something too high and you might worry you’re getting overcharged. Something extremely low and you can probably expect to be charged hidden fees later. You’re really looking for a price that is slightly lower than the middle of the pack.

 

And again, don’t feel bad about asking all these questions. A tried-and-trusted company will be patient and should have all your answers at the ready.

 

6. Most importantly, start looking early!

 

This is a huge city, and people are constantly moving around. Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to vet a mover and iron out the details. Even a few months in advance isn’t too early to start getting the ball rolling.

 

Once you’ve found the perfect moving company, you can check it off your list and start focusing on what’s important: like scoping out the best coffee shops in your new neighborhood.

Divine Moving & Storage is the best licensed and insured moving company in NYC. We specialize in quick, efficient, and easy packing, moving and storage. Call today for a free quote! 212-244-4011

How to Make Your NYC Move the Most Efficient

 

Moving Day in New York City is a highly anticipated, and sometimes highly overwhelming, experience. After months of researching, viewing, and negotiating homes, you’ve finally found the one for you. Here’s the next most important step: proper preparation for a smooth move. If you want your move to be as efficient as possible, take some of the follow tips into consideration:

 

Create a folder or file of all papers, documents and contacts that are relevant to your move.

This folder should, most importantly, include a master list that lays out step-by-step what needs to be done before, during, and after you move into your new home. This can include: what can be packed first, shutting off utilities, and scheduling appointments for your home.

Also in this folder, you should include any important business cards, your lists of reminds, numbers or packing notes, and any other relevant documents to move the most efficient.

 

Plan the best route from your old home to your new one.

Take into consideration things such as traffic, road conditions, what the easiest streets will be for the moving trucks, and of course, which route will take the least amount of time.

The further you’re moving, the more factors you need to consider. Any necessary stops, major detours or construction should be accounted for in your travel budget.

 

A packing plan is a huge key.

No matter who you are, throwing all of your belongings randomly into a bunch of boxes the day before the moving trucks arrive is not a practical way to go about things.

What will help your packing process be painless is packing early and packing smart. Weeks before your big day, you can start with the first things on that master to-do list: knick-knacks, out-of-season clothes, decorations, and things that you do not use often.

By taking 20-30 minutes each day to pack up your belongings, with a considerable period of time before your move, helps you reduce the time and energy that the process can otherwise take away from you. Packing that is relaxed and not rush will allow you to make smarter decisions on what to keep and what to throw away, and to be mindful when packing delicate or sensitive belongings.

 

Let’s not forget about what you’re packing your belongings into:

Boxes. Here’s something you shouldn’t waste your time or money on. It’s always smart to flatten or fold up appliance and large electronics boxes once you have them set up, so if you have any lying around, be sure to make use of them. If they’ve carried a large, heavy item before, you can count on those same boxes to be reliable transportation again.

If you don’t have any sufficient boxes from old purchases, you don’t need to spend money to buy moving boxes.  Many local stores that receive large shipments receive hundreds of cardboard boxes per week, and they all usually end up being recycled. Try and find out when shipments come in to your local office supply, liquor or grocery stores. Show up on the right days, and they’ll most likely be happy to have them put to good use.

 

Number your moving boxes.

When you’re planning out the layout of your new home and what will go where, number each room. As you pack up the corresponding items in your current home, number each box with its new room number in your new place. Make sure to write the number on multiple sides of the box, and communicate with the movers what number goes in which room. It’s handy to have a layout of your house with numbers available on it- something that can conveniently be put in the aforementioned moving folder!

 

Finish off what is already in your house.

The less unnecessary items you pack up, the better. Do your best to not buy new toiletries, cleaning products, and non-perishable food items. Instead, it might be time for you to dig up those ones hiding in the back of your cabinets and pantries and use them up.

Although some of these items might not be your “first choice,” or your “go-to” brand, it will help your budget to avoid buying new things in the midst of getting ready to move, as well as reduce the number of things to haul with you.

Anything that you cannot finish off, or cannot bring yourself to make use of, you can either give away to a friend or arrange to have these items picked up by or dropped off as a donation.  Whatever you choose, do your best to not be wasteful.

 

Make the actual day of your move as efficient and painless as possible.

Label a box or two that will be last to go on the truck, and the first to be taken off of the truck. This box will contain medications, toiletries, basic tools, cleaning supplies, bedding and anything that you will need easiest access to during your move-in process.

When your moving company arrives at your new home, along with any other help you have recruited, take charge by delegating tasks and directing them to the correct rooms. It’s your home, you’re the boss, and you’ll want all hands on deck to get the process done fast.

The best NYC moving services are only call away. Divine Moving & Storage has been moving New York City for 20 years and as NYC’s most experienced moving service we can have you packed, moved, and unpacked in a flash. Moving doesn’t have to be exhausting and Divine it never will be. Why make moving difficult when you can make it a Divine process. Call today to find out why Divine is called the best moving company in the tri-state area. 212-244-4011

6 Things to Remember When Moving in NYC

The process of moving to a new home in New York City is an often an overwhelming one. It is generally advised to create a list and add to it as you remember new things you need to do. No matter how early you start this list, you will invariably miss a few things on it. Below are six things you might have forgotten to add to your list.

Optimize Your Move Date

Easy, right? Just call up the best moving company you can find within your budget and set a date. Done. Check off the list. Did you get a good deal or were you trying to clear your list as quickly as possible? Moves are expensive, saving money where you can and setting your move date correctly are quick ways to keep money in your wallet.

Choose mid-week, mid-month moving dates. You usually get better deals because they are slow times. Peak times, when demands are high at the beginning and end of each month will cost you more than a pretty penny for them to squeeze you in. For the best deal, try to move between October and April when demand for moving companies is ‘off season’. check our off-peak dates calendar for the best deal days- Reduced Rate Dates

Transferring Your Utilities

The timing of the transfer is tricky while setting up your move date. The last thing you want is to show up to your new home and the lights are not on. Make a list of all the utilities you need at the new home and work your way down it giving the utility companies a firm date on when to turn off your current location’s utilities and turn them on at the new home.

• Electrical
• Water
• Gas
• Internet/Cable

In New York City, many of those utilities will already be ready to go or may be included in the rent if you are renting. Check with your landlord or the rental agreement to find out. Click here for direct links to the utilities websites

Moving Prescriptions

This one usually slips through the cracks until you order much needed prescriptions for your health and realize your health provider sent it to your old pharmacy…across town. While this is not the end of the world, a simple phone call can save you a lot of time and annoyance getting it transferred to a nearby pharmacy.

Pack an Essentials Bag

Think of it as a grab bag if you were running from the law. You will need a few basic necessities when moving to a new home until you can establish yourself.

• Clothes
• Toiletries including toilet paper
• Cleaning supplies
• Charges for electrical gadgets
• Toolkit
• Cash

There are plenty more things you could pack in the bag. Think about the day to day life of a normal week and think about what items you use regularly. Need your coffee in the morning and the Keurig is still packed? Throw in Starbucks bottled coffee to get you through the morning.

What Movers Can’t Move

Surprise! You cannot transport certain items by moving company. There is a list of items that every moving company will refuse to haul. Ask for that list if it is not hosted on their company website. Divine’s is here. Some are restricted by State or Federal law, and some are the company’s choice due to liability or complexity. These items can include: paints, pesticides, scuba tanks, propane tanks, extinguishers, fertilizer to name a few. For a complete list, ask your moving company. Some things like cleaning solvents are best transported by you.

New Home Measurements

The last thing on the list, that is most often forgotten about, is your new home’s measurements. Will the couch in the old place fit in the new one? Have you measured out all the furniture making the transition? Nothing is worse than putting all that effort into packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and then while unpacking you find out the dining room table does not fit. It is embarrassing and induces panic on what to do with the table. Avoid that by measuring the new home and having a plan on what to do with each piece of furniture.

Moving will always be a hassle, but going through your to do list and being as thorough as possible will help go from an overwhelming potential disaster to a controlled chaos ending in that new home feel and immense relief when it is finally over.

Divine Moving & Storage is the best licensed and insured moving company in NYC. We specialize in quick, efficient when moving, and easy packing, moving and storage services. Call today for a free quote! 212-244-4011

 

8 Tips to Make Your Mover Love You AKA Moving Game Plan

Moving in NYC is a painful process. It involves a mind for logistics, preparation, sentimentality, and hard work. When hiring professionals, especially in New York City, it removes a lot of the stress you go through during a move. Movers take the heavy burden and heavy lifting off your shoulders. Since this work is hard, there are some things you can do to make their job easier and more efficient saving you time and money in the process.

Prepare for The Movers

Hiring movers is not as hands-off as you want in NYC or any city. They manage the logistics of the move, the packing and hauling, and the storage of your stuff. Preparation is still required on your part. Make sure they have a place to park their truck. In cramped streets of New York City, it is hard to find a place for trucks to park so they can load and unload your things. Take this into consideration and plan with the property manager or city to set time and space aside. Movers cannot help you if they have nowhere to park.

Have a Moving Game Plan

When the movers arrive at the location they need to pack or wrap everything and empty room by room, it is a good idea to have a plan of action. If you have none, they will do their best, as professionals with experience, to pack what they think makes sense. However, they do not know which stuff you consider a priority over others, or what needs to be set aside. If you take the hands-off approach to their packing, you may be looking for items for a long time not knowing which box something ends up in.

Pack Your Fragile Items

Make fragile items your responsibility. The movers will pack your items as carefully as they can but they are on the clock. A clock you are paying for. They do not want to drag their feet so there is a balance between careful packing and getting the job done. It is strongly recommended that the owner of the fragile items be the one to pack them. That way, they have the control and time to carefully wrap their items to keep them safe. Label them clearly on multiple sides of a box to note the fragile item so when it is being loaded and unloaded, the professionals will know to take extra care.

Group Like-Items Together

If the movers are packing out your stuff, do your best to group items together. This will help keeping like items together and also in the unpacking later. If board games and clothes are in fifteen different boxes because they were spread throughout an apartment, how will you ever find what you are looking for? Try to keep it together so it is easier for the movers to pack and, at the other end, easy for you to know what to unpack.

Storage or No Storage

New York City is not known for its vast storage in most apartments. Sometimes storage units are a necessary evil. When hiring professional NYC movers, life becomes much easier if the movers have their own storage facility. Companies like Divine Moving offer such services. If storage is needed, clearly indicate what stuff needs to go to storage. This to differentiates what needs to be set aside at their storage facility and what needs to go to the new location.

Clear Separation of Immediate Needs

When movers are packing you out of your old place, make sure you set aside things you will need immediately upon moving to the new location. Leaving everything lying around will ensure the movers packing up needed items in boxes with non-immediately needed stuff. When the movers do not have to ask if something should be set aside, then they can move more quickly and efficiently. This helps you as well. More often than not, once you are at your new home, it can take time to go through and unpack all your boxes and find the right place for all the items. It is less stressful when you are not frantically digging through boxes looking for that one item you needed yesterday.

Get Out of the Way

Once the game plan is communicated, everything is grouped and separated, and all is ready to go…get out of the way. The movers are professional. They do this daily and are good at it. Letting them get into the rhythm of their task at hand without interruption is key to a fast, painless move.

Tipping Your Movers

You tip waitresses, you tip your hair dresser, you should tip your mover. While not required, it is proper etiquette to do so. Their effort should be appreciated for lifting and hauling heavy furniture, protecting your walls and floors, and protecting your stuff and tipping is the best way to do so. It is also common decency to offer cold drinks like water or sports drinks if you have them.

The caveat here is their interaction with you. If they act like professionals, show you curtesy, and listen and follow your requests, then a tip is deserved. If they do not, then just like at a restaurant, it is not deserved. Please do not confuse cool, determined, professionalism with indifference. The movers are single-minded in getting their job done quickly and done well.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

These eight tips will make your moving experience with professional movers run smooth and relatively pain-free. We all know how overwhelming moving can be and with the myriad of things to do on your check-off list, these few tips will ease the burden of the move itself and make your movers love and appreciate you.

NYC trusts Divine Moving & Storage’s premium White Glove relocation service to take care of all their moving needs. Our professional moving specialists have years of experience packing up priceless works of art, antiques, crystal, china, and even musical instruments. With Divine, you never have to worry about damage because we take the time to ensure your valuables are protected and safe for the entire time they’re in our care. For a luxury move without the luxury price tag, call Divine 212-244-4011