While every move has the potential to be stressful, apartment moves tend to be a little easier. The smaller the space, the fewer belongings you have, and the fewer items you have to move, the easier (and cheaper) things will be. But apartment moving still comes with its fair share of challenges, especially if you live in a city.
Other than logistical hurdles, apartment moves have some sneaky hidden fees to watch out for that you might not have accounted for when planning your moving budget . You're probably expecting costs like security deposits and utility activation fees, but you'll also want to be on the lookout for costs revolving around parking, stairs and unexpected charges attached to your lease agreement.
6 hidden costs of apartment moving
1) Stairs
Moving things up and down several flights of stairs will give you a good workout, but it isn't exactly fun. It's also a safety hazard, which is why professional movers might charge extra to move your belongings up and down stairs. This is common in city apartments, where your unit could be on a seven-floor walk-up with no elevator. And even if there is an elevator, your movers still might charge extra.
As for how much you'll pay, it really depends on the mover. According to Roadway Moving , our pick for the best Brooklyn mover , some movers might charge per flight of stairs to climb, while others charge per step taken on each stair. You might be able to get lucky and find a mover who won't charge extra for a few flights of stairs. After all, many apartments outside of major cities are typically only three to four stories tall.
Either way, be sure to ask moving companies if they charge a stair or elevator fee, and set aside a bit of money just in case. If your building has a freight elevator, you'll want to talk to the leasing office or property manager to get it reserved for your move-out.
2) Moving permits
A moving permit is basically a glorified parking pass , and it's only really needed when moving into or out of a city because street-side parking is extremely limited in many cities. Getting a moving permit guarantees a parking spot for your moving truck in front of your building, and it lets city officials and local law enforcement know that you have permission to park there.
The amount you'll pay for the permit really depends on the city. For example, Brookline, Mass. , only charges $5 per parking sign. Meanwhile, prices for San Francisco, Calif., moving permits start at $341. Check with your local DMV or city hall's website to see if you'll need to pay for parking. If you're hiring a moving company to help you out, they'll most likely be able to handle the permitting process on your behalf, especially if it's a local mover within the city.
3) Long-carry fees
If you can't secure a parking spot for the moving truck in front of your apartment building, you might end up paying some long-carry charges. These are extra fees that movers apply when they have to carry your belongings a further distance than expected.
Some movers might charge a flat fee for long-carries, while others might charge you per foot of distance from the truck to the front door of the building. Securing a parking permit ahead of time can help make sure you get a parking spot reserved for the truck ahead of time. Otherwise, you run the risk of having to park around the block and potentially paying long-carry fees.
4) Cleaning and damage fees
You definitely want to get your security deposit back when moving out of an apartment . But some landlords don't make this easy. If they walk through the unit and find damage or anything left uncleaned, there's a good chance you won't be getting a full refund. Before you move out, you should do a deep clean of the apartment, and we aren't just talking about surface-level stuff here. Deep cleaning involves things like scrubbing the windows, mopping the floors, removing carpet stains, wiping down the inside of cabinets and drawers, and cleaning out all the appliances.
Failure to thoroughly clean out the apartment units typically results in the landlord charging a cleaning fee (taken from your security deposit) to hire a professional cleaning crew. The same goes for any damage found to the unit. Any broken or damaged appliances need to be reported to the property manager or maintenance staff well before you move out, so you don't get saddled with the repair bill, which is also taken from your security deposit. Minor damage to the unit, like peeled paint or small holes in the wall, can easily be fixed on your own with some paint and spackle from your local hardware store.
5) Renters' insurance
A renters' insurance policy provides coverage to help replace your belongings in a variety of nightmare scenarios, like fires, theft, flooding and other disasters outside of your control. Proof of renters' insurance is becoming more and more common to be able to rent an apartment.
However, what landlords are usually more concerned about is having some sort of personal liability coverage, which covers injuries or property damage to an individual for whom you are at fault. Think of situations like someone falling and getting injured while visiting your unit, or you knocking a baseball through a neighbor's window. Liability coverage can help cover medical bills, property damage costs and legal fees in the event you get sued.
The average cost of renters' insurance in the U.S. is $148 per year (or $12 per month), according to NerdWallet . This data is based on a policy with $30,000 in personal property coverage and $100,000 for liability coverage. The amount you'll pay for renters' insurance depends on your age, what type of coverage you want and the dollar amount you want covered.
If a landlord requires you to have a renters' insurance policy, they also might require your policy to provide personal property and liability coverage up to a certain dollar amount. Check with the landlord or property owner before getting a policy.
6) Additional fees attached to your lease
When you're renting an apartment, you're usually paying for much more than just the unit. Beyond the cost of rent, there are various services and community upkeep fees that slip into the lease agreement. These are some of the more common ones you might see:
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Application fees: Just like a college application fee, this is a non-refundable charge (usually between $20 and $50) just for you to pay to apply to live in a rental unit. It covers the cost of processing the application, a credit check and a background check. Note that just because you paid the application fee doesn't mean you've been accepted to live there.
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Pet deposit: This is a one-time upfront cost that you'll pay to bring a pet into the rental unit. Pet deposits are usually pretty expensive and will run you anywhere from $250 to $400 .
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Trash pickup: Valet trash services are becoming more common within apartment communities. While having all your trash picked up right from your front door is nice, it comes at an additional cost, usually about $25 per month .
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Package handling: Some properties might require you to pay a monthly or annual package handling fee ($20 to $60 per year) for the use of package lockers on the property, or the delivery of the package to your front doorstep.
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Community upkeep: These are costs that go toward the upkeep of community amenities like the pool, gym, laundry facility, playground, dog park and whatever else is available to all residents. They also go toward things like landscaping and maintenance.
How to prepare for an apartment move
The best thing you can do to prepare for an apartment move is to start planning as soon as possible. After you've got a move date in mind, your next step is to figure out if you want to move everything yourself or hire professional movers . If you want some help from the pros, start calling some moving companies for estimates. We recommend getting at least three quotes to compare. Just don't wait too long, as many movers like to have at least three to four weeks' notice, and it makes it a lot easier to secure your preferred move date.
If you're going the DIY route, try to reserve your rental truck or moving pod sooner rather than later. You'll also want to set up accounts with your new utility companies and get service started ahead of time. Make sure to also contact your current utility companies to let them know when to cut off service at your old place. Packing up your belongings early isn't a bad idea either. You can save some money by finding free moving boxes at local liquor and grocery stores, retail shops and online marketplace sites.
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