6 Pre-Move Preps Every Renter Should Know About
Moving is equal parts exciting and chaotic. And somewhere between taping boxes and hunting for the tape you just had, the small stuff that actually makes move-in day smooth tends to get lost.
Good news: none of it is complicated. It's just easy to forget when you're busy. Here's the pre-move prep our crews wish every renter knew about, so your first day in the new place starts with a coffee, not a scramble.
1. Sort Out Your Building's Move-In Rules First
Most renters find out about their building's rules on the worst possible day: the morning of the move.
Before you book anything, check with your landlord or building management on three things.
Pro Tip
Ask about all three at least a week out. Building rules are the one part of your move you can't fix on the day.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Lots of buildings won't let a moving crew touch the freight elevator without proof of the mover's liability coverage. A good mover can turn this around fast - you can request a COI from us in a few clicks - but don't leave it to Thursday for a Friday move.
Elevator reservations and move-in windows
High-rises often hand out two-hour freight-elevator slots that book weeks out. Miss yours and you could be stuck paying a fee or rescheduling entirely.
Loading and parking access
Where does the truck go? Is there a loading dock, or is it street parking with a permit? Five minutes on the phone now saves an hour of circling later.
2. Know How Your Stuff Is Protected on the Truck
Here's something most people never read the fine print on: basic moving coverage isn't the same as full coverage.
On interstate moves, Full Value Protection is the default. That means if something's lost or damaged, your mover is responsible for its real replacement value. If you want to waive that and go with "released value" instead, you have to do it in writing. And released value is a significant downgrade: a mover's liability drops to $0.60 per pound per article. A 10-pound laptop? Covered for about six dollars, regardless of what it actually cost you.
That's why we recommend Full Value Protection. Whoever you move with, ask which coverage applies before the truck is loaded. And if you're signing anything that mentions released value, know exactly what you're giving up.
3. Photograph Your Valuables Before You Pack
For anything worth a few hundred dollars or more - electronics, jewelry, art, that fancy espresso machine - take five minutes before it goes in a box.
If you ever need to make a claim, this is the difference between "I think it was worth about..." and a paper trail nobody can argue with.
Our packing team handles the wrapping - the documentation is the one part that's on you.
- Snap a clear photo of the item
- Photograph the serial number or any identifying marks
- Note the purchase price and date if you still have the receipt
- Back it all up somewhere that isn't just your phone
4. Do a Walkthrough at Your Old Place Too
Before you hand back the keys, photograph the empty apartment - walls, floors, appliances, anything already worn or damaged. Be there for the move-out inspection if you can, and keep the written report.
If your old landlord later eyes your security deposit over "damage" that was there before you ever moved in, those photos are your best friend.
5. Knock Out the Admin Early
The boring stuff is the stuff that bites you three weeks later when a bill goes to your old mailbox.
Forward your mail
The USPS official change-of-address service takes about five minutes and forwards your first-class mail for up to a year (periodicals and magazines only get 60 days). Filing online carries a small identity-verification fee ($1.25 at the time of writing); filing in person at a Post Office is free. Set it up about two weeks ahead - you can file up to 90 days out, and it doesn't kick in instantly.
Schedule your utilities
Electric, gas, water, internet - book the disconnect at the old place and the connect at the new one with one to two weeks of lead time. Gas hookups in winter can take longer.
Update your bank, cards, and subscriptions
Two minutes each, and you'll thank yourself.
6. Make the First 48 Hours Count
Once you've got the keys, before the boxes swallow the place.
And once your things are actually in the new place, make sure they're protected there too. Your mover's coverage handles the move itself; for everything after - a break-in, a burst pipe, a kitchen fire - setting up renters insurance is a must. It's usually faster and cheaper to set up than people expect, and many buildings ask for proof before handing over keys anyway.
Document the new unit
Photograph or video every room - walls, floors, fixtures, appliances, outlet covers. This is your baseline for move-out day, so you're never charged for wear that was there when you arrived.
Test every smoke and CO detector
Press the button on each one. If any don't beep, tell your landlord in writing immediately. The NFPA's smoke alarm guidance is a two-minute read and worth it - this one's about safety, not paperwork.
Find your exits
Where are the fire exits and extinguishers? Better to know on day one than never.
The Quick Move-In Checklist
A week out
- Confirm COI, elevator window, and parking with the building
- Photograph valuables before packing
- Set up USPS mail forwarding (file about two weeks out)
- Schedule utility connect/disconnect
A few days out
- Confirm your mover's coverage option
- Update bank, cards, and subscriptions
Move-in day and the first 48 hours
- Be present (or send someone you trust)
- Photograph the empty new unit
- Test all smoke and CO detectors
- Locate exits and extinguishers
Final Thought
The thing people forget on moving day usually isn't a box, it's the ten-minute task that would've saved them a headache later. Knock these out ahead of time and move-in day becomes what it should be: the fun part.
Planning a move? Let our crew handle the heavy lifting, so you can focus on making the new place feel like home.
Get a Free Quote