4 tips to find your best time to move apartments

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Historically, May 1 was known as Moving Day in New York City. That’s because all rental agreements expired on the same date. On February 1, also known as New York City’s Rent Day, landlords would communicate any rent increases, and between February and April, tenants would search for new places to live. When the first of May rolled around, there would be mass chaos of everyone switching apartments on the same day.

Fortunately, moving has changed a lot since the early 20th century, and even since Rainbow Movers started. However, planning ahead and finding your best time to move can reduce stress and make the transition easy.

Scheduling: Know YOUR Moving Season

The most popular months for moving are May through September. For many, it’s because transitioning to a new home is easier when kids are out of school for the summer. The downside is that summer can be more difficult to book your move on the day you wish since many others are moving at the same time.

Know your new building’s rules

Many New York City buildings, particularly those with elevators and doormen, do not allow weekend moves. In addition, many buildings only permit one moving company at a time to access the service elevator. Planning your move ahead of time is key to ensure that your movers will be able to get to your apartment without delays.

If you are moving from house to house, you won’t have the same sorts of restrictions, but you may need to consider other factors like traffic.

Peak season vs. off-peak

If your new home is near a beach route or weekend getaway place, midweek summer moves (Tuesday-Thursday) will save you money by cutting the time your movers are on the road.

During early spring or late fall, you may be able to book your move whenever you like. If you’re buying a place, you might find better deals with fewer buyers on the hunt.

Winter can be even easier to find exactly the home that you desire and the ideal move-in date.

Book your move ahead

The earlier that you can book your move, the more likely you will be able to choose your ideal move date. Because summer is such a popular time to move, many movers get booked weeks in advance.

It’s not wrong to plan a move that’s 6-8 weeks or more in the future. Knowing that you have secured your date can give you peace of mind and reduce your stress.

Discover your best time to move – contact us for schedule options and your free estimate.

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5 Tips for Moving into Your New Dorm

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When its the start of your new school year, whether its August or January, maybe, just maybe, it might be a good time to at least start planning your move into your new dorm room. Here are some quick tips for getting ready to move into your new dorm.

1. Understand how small your dorm room really is

In general, dorm rooms are pretty small living spaces. So when you’re packing all the things you want to bring with you, keep in mind that 200 square feet is roughly the size of an average guest bathroom. Plan accordingly. If you can, visit your dorm ahead of Move-In Day to see what is already provided (chairs, desk lighting, tables, etc.) and what the layout looks like. This information will help you figure out exactly what you need to bring – and what to leave at home.

2. Use multipurpose storage containers

Instead of transporting your clothes in suitcases, get a trunk. They come in a wide variety of styles, from old school wooden chests to modern collegiate trunks in almost any color you want (search for “storage trunk” on Google and check out the 3.8 million results). During the school year, trunks double as storage and coffee tables. And check in your attic – your parents may have kept their trunks for a moment just like this one. Also look into all the clever storage ideas out there for maximizing your closets, under your bed and spaces that may have never even occurred to you or your mom (although the latter is unlikely).

3. Bring things the right size appliances

Face it: you’re not going to be cooking 5 course meals in your dorm. But you will need a snack here and there. That’s why they make things like dorm-size and even desktop refrigerators. You can get small microwave ovens as well for popcorn emergencies. We advise staying away from hot plates and space heaters, as they can be a fire hazard.

4. Be smart about your electronics

Back in the day, kids with the best dorm rooms had full stereos, speakers and TV’s. But today, most of these items are about the size of a book (remember books?), or smaller still. Your laptop or iPod can serve as your stereo with a pair of powerful mini speakers. You can stream most of your favorite shows any time of day or night on your computer, iPad or iPod, so no need for a big TV. Think through your electronics set up and cut out the pieces you don’t need.

5. Know what you can and cannot bring

Before you run off to Sears, check with your college or university and see what you are allowed to bring into your dorm, as there will be restrictions and guidelines around size, safety and energy use. There is no sense in buying something you won’t be allowed to use. And you definitely want to keep the safety and comfort of your room mate, your classmates and yourself first.

One final thought: your roommate. Odds are that you’ll have at least one of them. In some cases, it could be even more. The best way to maximize your space is to talk with your future room mate and plan out what furniture and appliances you both need and who is bringing each item.

Rainbow Movers moves students into and out of dorms every season, and we also provide storage so that you don’t have to lug everything back and forth between school years. We congratulate all the freshmen coming into New York’s universities, colleges, and other higher education and training institutions. But first, enjoy the rest of your summer.

Posted in Tips

Dog Hires Mover

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It was a dark and sleety winter day, the wind blowing wet and cold, the sidewalk icy from neglect despite the midtown New York location. An entire block was on its way to being demolished and reconstructed. A beautiful building no longer beautiful enough was to be torn down, and the tenants, some there for decades, were being uprooted and forced to move out.

Enter Rainbow Movers to do an in-person estimate. It is a always a good idea to get in-person estimates from several companies, compare them, and then make an informed choice about whom to hire.

I was met at the door by a welcoming couple, their floppy golden lab behind them trying to get an in-person sniff of wet, cold me. We sat in their living room to discuss the options available to meet their needs, who would do the packing and when it all would need to happen. Dog sat with us as the subject went from the move in question to the more important things, like the changes the city was going through, the good live jazz just around the corner, and the days when the city was more affordable, habitable and fun for average humans.

Finally we all remembered that I was actually there to estimate their move, and our energies shifted to that task. Dog, meanwhile, was just fine with the laughing-telling-stories energy. As the shift began, Dog bolted into the recesses of the apartment and came back purposefully with a large, well slobbered rubber chicken dangling out of his mouth. It was to be a loaner chicken for me, and he directly plopped it in my lap. What could I say? “Thanks, Dog,” I think it was.

I’d received the blessing of the rubber chicken. His people declared that I’d just been hired. The move went well, and several of their friends in the building hired us too.

Thanks, Dog!

Photo by Brooke Lee, Ping’s Journey

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How We Sold The Couch We Couldn’t Give Away

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In the late 1980’s, the Rainbow Movers offices and warehouse were in Tribeca. At that time Tribeca was not yet the posh downtown neighborhood we know today, but change was in the air. Though boutiques were few, cafes with higher priced coffees and burgers began to appear. The newer residents who began the conversion of Tribeca’s lofts and warehouses into luxury housing that defines it today, became our patrons.    

One of the treats we provided our changing neighborhood was an occasional sidewalk sale of items our movers had rescued on jobs, things that were being left behind by our customers. Though the movers often thought they’d have a good use for these things, almost as often they would have a change of heart once it all got back to our warehouse. As a result, we would accumulated multiple tables, chairs, dressers, TVs, computers, couches, coffee makers, air conditioners, mirrors, lamps, rugs, books, tapes and records (remember tapes and records?), VCRs (remember VCRs?) radios, desks, file cabinets, and on and on…  

Our sidewalk sales began as an effort to clear out our space. The prices were so low we would rarely have anything left to bring in at the end of the day.  But there was one memorable exception: a Chesterfield sofa. Or, more accurately, what remained of a Chesterfield after a life as a plaything for our customer’s cats. We put it out on the sidewalk with a sign saying “Chesterfield Couch = FREE!!” For the cost of new upholstery, it would have been the bargain of the decade. But there were no takers.  And so it went, out and back in, out and back in, for many days.  

Finally we put it out with a new sign that read, “Chesterfield Couch = $5.”  Within minutes, a man walked up and and said, “I’ll give you $3 for it.”  

Sold!

He took the Chesterfield couch, and we all went out for coffee (remember $0.35 coffee?).

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WHAT NOW? How We Handle Last Minute Moving Glitches

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Our moves go smoothly because we work with our clients and plan well in advance.  However, there are times when forces beyond our control intervene and block our plans.  More often than not, the culprits can be a varied cast of third parties – a buyer, seller, or tenant; lawyers, bankers, and title people, a realtor or building manager; or an elevator going out of service.  And then there are hurricanes and blizzards arriving on schedule, and babies arriving early.
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A Mover's Tale

It is often the case that people, especially people that have lived somewhere for many years, forget about the treasures they have accumulated and put away.  As time goes on, there can be layers of “treasure” hiding other layers of “treasure” from view and creating surprises for all when it comes time to move.

In packing the children’s bedroom of one of our customers, we were told that the bunk bed would be left behind, but that there were things stored underneath (ie. treasures) that would be coming and needed to be packed.   Nothing unusual in that.  Underneath beds are great spots to bury treasures.   Our mover found out the hard (pointy) way, that among the treasures was a porcupine pelt.  Boy scout camp?

Fortunately he’d reached in carefully.  No injury, no hard feelings… well, you know what we mean.