Apartment moves have unique challenges compared to house moves: narrow hallways, elevator reservations, parking restrictions, and building rules about move-in hours. Whether you're moving into a high-rise in Bellevue or a walk-up in Capitol Hill, the key to a smooth apartment move is preparation — starting at least two weeks before your move date.
12 Best Apartment Moving Tips: How To Move Into A New Apartment
Before you move into your new apartment, take some time to review these fun and simple moving tricks and tips.
1. Make Arrangements Early
Procrastination is your worst enemy. Hands down. Begin making moving arrangements months before your scheduled move. Contact a moving company, schedule a sitter for your pets and/or children, find new schools for your kids, and don’t forget to ask your local doctors for copies of your medical records. The more you get done early, the less cramming and craziness will fill the final days before your move. Read more here for a checklist if this is your first time moving out .
2. Know the Size of Your New Space
When you’re discussing the move with the moving company, it’s important to give them an idea of the size of space they will be moving you out of and into. Let’s say that you’re moving out of a very tiny space, maybe a studio apartment that’s a few stories up some stairs with no elevator. Even if you have a lot of belongings inside your place, having too many people on the moving crew is going to cause more pain than gain. Too many people in and out of a small space and trying to work around each other on the stairs is going to cause a lot of misused time spent dancing around each other....
3. When In Doubt Choose Three
If you’ve got more space in the apartment, you may not be sure how many movers to hire . It may feel counterintuitive because many of us are looking for the best savings, but often if you are unsure whether it’s a job for two or three, then it’s a job for three. Usually, the only way to save money by hiring two movers is if they can get the job done in four or fewer hours. Adding the third mover increases their efficiency by double, rather than just 33%. That means a two-man crew takes around eight hours to accomplish what a three-man crew can get done in half the time. With a three-person...
4. Pack in Advance
Another anti-procrastination tip — start packing months ahead of time. I know when your moving day is still months away, it seems like you’ve got loads of time. And what if you pack something that you end up needing? You would be surprised at the number of items you can pack ahead of time and not need (not even once!) before you move. Little-used items, decorations, and seasonal items can get be carefully sorted and stashed in labeled bins. Unless you’re planning to store items for some time, don’t bother investing in high-quality plastic or thick cardboard moving boxes. You can find good...
7. Donate Unused Furniture or Clothes
If you don’t have the energy or time to throw a garage sale or sells belongings online, you can always donate them to a local charity or thrift store. This is also the destination of any belongings remaining if you did have a sale. Don’t ever keep what you didn’t sell. If you made the decision to toss it once, you don’t need to go back and reconsider.
8. Leaves Clothes on Hangers
Packing clothes in boxes can take up a lot of space and waste precious time. Instead, leave your clothes on their hangers and zip tie clusters of the hangers together. Wrap the individual clusters in plastic wrap or find a plastic cover to put over the clusters. Once you arrive at your new apartment, all you have to do is strip the plastic wrap and clip the zip ties, and you have your closet back! Learn more here about how to pack clothes for moving .
9. Pack Plates Vertically
Although it may seem counterintuitive, our movers have found that packing plates vertically helps reduce the chance of damage during the move. Cover and surround the plates with plenty of plastic and bubble wrap to keep them well cushioned during the move. Also be sure to mark the contents as fragile so the movers know to handle the boxes with care. Read more here about how to pack dishes.
10. Use Sheets, Towels, and Rags
Consider using your sheets, towels, and rags as useful packing supplies! Use these to pack your delicate or fragile items. This helps you save a little money on bubble wrap and other packing materials, and is a lot friendly for the environment.
11. Set Up Color System
If you’re moving into a fairly large apartment, it is important that your movers know where to put various boxes and furniture. Families have found that by setting up a color system for their move, they can make the unloading process much faster and more organized. Simply assign a color to each room in the apartment, and then label each box accordingly. Movers can quickly put belongings in their designated areas without the fuss of wondering what goes where. To make sure that your TV arrives at your new apartment unscathed, it is important that it be properly packaged. Start by wrapping the...
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important tips for moving into an apartment?
The most important apartment moving tips: (1) Reserve the service elevator 2+ weeks in advance, (2) measure all doorways and hallways before moving day, (3) confirm your building's move-in hours and parking rules, (4) ask if your movers need a certificate of insurance, (5) pack an essentials bag for your first night.
How do I move large furniture into an apartment?
Measure doorways, stairwells, and elevator dimensions before moving day. Disassemble large furniture (bed frames, sectional sofas, large desks) whenever possible. For items that won't fit through standard doors, professional movers can often disassemble and reassemble on-site, or hoist items through windows using furniture straps.
Do apartment buildings require movers to have insurance?
Many apartment buildings in Seattle and the Eastside require moving companies to provide a certificate of insurance (COI) naming the building as an additional insured. Ask your building manager 2 weeks before your move. On The Go Moving carries full liability insurance and can provide COIs on request.
How much does it cost to hire movers for an apartment move?
A studio or 1-bedroom apartment move in the Seattle area typically costs $400–$800 for a local move (2–4 hours at $150–$200/hour for a 2-person crew). A 2-bedroom apartment move costs $700–$1,400. Prices vary based on distance, floor, elevator access, and whether packing is included.
What is the best way to move out of an apartment without losing your deposit?
Document the apartment's condition with photos before you move out, clean thoroughly (including appliances and windows), fill nail holes, replace any burnt-out bulbs, and return all keys. Schedule a walkthrough with your landlord before your final move-out date to address any issues before they become deposit deductions.
How do I move into an apartment on a high floor?
For high-floor apartment moves, reserve the service elevator for the full day if possible, coordinate a dedicated loading zone with building management, and hire professional movers experienced with elevator moves. Expect the move to take 20–30% longer per floor compared to a ground-floor move.
Jason founded On The Go Moving & Storage in Redmond, WA in 2009 and has personally overseen more than 25,000 moves across Greater Seattle. He holds a Washington State Household Goods Mover license (HG-064180) and writes from direct, hands-on experience in the moving industry.
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