GENERAL ISSUES
-> When, what and how to moveJul 23, 17:58
Question by azimuth2008 (B)
I'll be moving from Chicago to New York at the end of September. I have a large one-bedroom apartment in Chicago. I haven't yet found a place in New York, so I may put everything in storage and stay with family for a few months first. Do moving companies also go straight to storage units, and unpack the truck into the storage area for you, or do you have to be there to do that? Do they only do that if it is their own storage place? I also am needing to put another apartment's contents, this one in New York, into storage. (Yes, I know this is complicated!) Any other tips you may have on how to do all this, or good companies to use, would be great. I can give you more details if you need them. Thanks!
Jul 23, 19:14
Answer by alexzehn (Alex Z.)
First of all, your move is not that complicated.
Movers usually offer a wide range of services, and it is often possible to negotiate any type of arrangement. For example, it is possible for you to organize a storage unit over the phone and give your movers authorization to put your items into it. The storage facility can keep the key to the unit until you are ready to stop by and pick it up.
If you want to put contents of both apartments in the same storage unit I would suggest you to examine carefully how much space your items would occupy. Then go ahead and rent a unit that would have at least 10% more reserve space than the volume you calculated.
Keep updating us with the details of your move and we will try to guide you through the process.
Good luck with your move,
Alex Z. @ MovingAnswers.org
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Aug 14, 11:23
Comment by azimuth2008 (B)
Thank you. That is really helpful. I have a couple of other questions for you, as I try to organize this conceptually as I begin:
1) What is the best way to sequence the sorting through/packing up process? I have a large one-bedroom with five big closets, and twenty years of stuff to sort through. I want to sort through things to throw some out, sell other things, and pack the rest.
Is it best to do all the sorting first through the whole apartment, or do everything area by area (like take one closet, do all the going-through just there, then pack its contents, then move to another part of the apartment)? I want to maximize my time use, as it is a tight timeframe (a little over a month).
2) As I mentioned in my last email, I am moving from one state to another (Chicago to New York), and in New York I then I have to pack up a second (larger) apartment. I may not have a job or apartment right away after my move, so I may stay with family for a few months as I look.
Given this, I figure I will need to put things from both apartments into storage for awhile. But then how do I strategize about the things I will need to use while I am in transition? I will be leaving Chicago at the end of September, but I don't have to be out of the New York place till the end of October (I'll be spending October packing up that place). So it's really two moves, plus I'll need to separate stuff I may need to wear and use in my temporary living situation for a few months. I'm not sure where that place will be yet, so I'm not sure where to send and put that stuff after September.
Any ideas about this? I was reassured when you said this move is not that complicated, because it feels very complicated on this end! Thanks.
3) Do you guys also recommend movers and storage places?
Thanks a lot. It really helps to have people to write to who know about these things!
Aug 14, 12:27
Comment by alexzehn (Alex Z.)
First of all I would strongly recommend packing on a closet-after-closet basis. The last thing you want if to turn your apartment into a huge packing field.
Regarding your second question - I believe in your case it would be smart to pick 2-3 suitcases and make a solid list of what you might need during the transition period. Then pack those things in the suitcases, and everything else in boxes and store the boxes.
It would be extremely inconvenient to try to find something you might suddenly need while it is packed somewhere in the storage, so make sure you think about every little thing you might need.
Unfortunately, we no longer recommend movers, and only give ratings through private communication...http://www.movinganswers.org/thread/366/Why-did-MovingAnswers-org-stop-rating-movers-.html
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