The time has come, and you are moving in or out of your unit. Since this is not something we do often, we wanted to remind you of some proper move-in/out etiquette. Not all of these items will pertain to every situation but are all excellent common practical items we should all follow:
- Check out your Association’s Rules and Regulations regarding moving procedures. Some Associations have strict guidelines on what needs to be done and what forms need to be filled out, if any.
- Contact your Property Management team and let them know you are moving. Please provide them with the details of when and who your moving company will be. Reserve the loading dock, elevator, or any special accommodations your Association might have. Make sure to provide enough notice, so you have time to comply with all of your building’s regulations.
- Obtain a certificate of insurance from your moving company naming the Association and Management Company as additionally insured
- Make an arrangement to pay any deposits required. The deposit may cover any damages that might occur during the move. Deposits are refundable if there is no damage during the move.
- Pay any moving fees. Fees are different than a deposit. Fees usually cover the cost of hanging the elevator pads or extra time that maintenance staff might spend when a move is scheduled. Each Association is different, so please consult your Rules and Regulations.
- Make sure your movers know the Building Rules and Regulations. Ensure they know where they can park their truck, which entrances are permissible to use, and the hours the move is allowed. For elevators, be mindful of other residents who need to use the elevator. Don’t block any hallways or walkways with boxes and furniture. Your neighbors will appreciate it.
- Move during daylight hours; opening and closing the truck, moving furniture, and calling out between movers can make a lot of noise. Therefore, it’s best to keep your most active moving activities to daylight hours. Furthermore, most buildings have specified moving times. Even if the building does not, and you drive in late at night and want to get started, and your movers are gung-ho to work after dark, be considerate about the noise you make. This is especially true for condo-dwelling, where moving around and dragging furniture can be disruptive for neighbors.
- It is a nice courtesy to inform your direct neighbors of the move. This way, they are aware there might be items in the hallway while the movers load the truck, and there might be some additional noise during the move.
- Make sure that the common areas are cleaned at the end of the move and that there is no damage. This will help ensure you receive your deposit back.
- Coordinate with management for a post-move inspection to show them everything was handled properly.
- Stacking Empty Boxes – Here’s a tip: Instead of throwing out your boxes and making a big pile by the recycle bin, flatten your boxes in a big stack and consider storing them. Chances are you or someone you know will be moving in the future. You can offer your boxes to a friend or relative or someone in the neighborhood who is moving or keep the boxes to make your next move much easier. If you decide to throw out your boxes, please don’t just overflow the recycling bins. Remember others have to use the bins too. Consider bringing a few down before each pick-up to be polite to your neighbors.
- Late Night Unpacking – And there’s the question of how to unpack late into the night politely. Moving is an exciting experience, and most of us find ourselves up late opening and unpacking boxes. The key to a courteous moving process is to know what to unpack and when. Turn your music or TV down for late-night unpacking and think carefully about how much noise unpacking can make. If you live in a condo, keep your late-night unpacking to lightweight objects. Put books or decorations on shelves or stock your dresser with clothes. Refrain from moving furniture, unpacking your pots and pans, or hanging artwork on the walls. For those of you with a private house, keep your unpacking activities indoors and try not to be hammering furniture together after 10 PM.
We hope you have found these items helpful for your next move in or out of a property. For any direct questions about your specific Association, please contact your Property Manager.
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