An apartment move can stall before the first box reaches the truck. The elevator is booked for a different time, the loading entrance is around the block, or the building manager is still waiting for paperwork. Sort out those details while you still have time to change the plan.

Use this checklist for both addresses. A straightforward pickup does not tell you much about the building at the other end.

Confirm building access first

Ask each property manager for the moving rules in writing. Save the email somewhere you can open on your phone. Confirm the permitted moving days, the hours available, and whether the building uses a separate service entrance.

If an elevator needs a reservation, check when your booking begins and ends. Find out whether loading and unloading count against that window. A two-hour elevator slot can be much shorter than the time needed for the entire move.

Ask about a certificate of insurance, elevator padding, floor protection, and any refundable building deposit. Splendid Moving can provide a COI upon request; send the building's requirements early so the details can be reviewed. Building management decides what it will accept. Our COI and elevator guide explains what to collect.

Give the movers a useful picture of the job

A bedroom count is a starting point. Add the pieces that change the work: a large sectional, a king bed with storage drawers, a glass dining table, or boxes stored in a garage.

Photograph the furniture that looks difficult to get through a doorway. For a tight route, measure the furniture and the narrowest part of the path. Include hallway turns and stair landings. Tell the team about any pieces that were assembled inside the apartment.

Send the floor number at each address, the number of stair flights, and whether the elevator will be available. A short walk on a map can still mean a long carry through a parking garage.

Before the date is fixed, make sure the move plan accounts for:

  • The complete item list and any packing help you want.
  • Building access and a contact who can open the loading entrance.
  • Parking or loading arrangements at both addresses.
  • The order in which rooms or large pieces should be unloaded.

Pack around what you still need

Start with shelves, decorations, and seasonal items. Leave a small set of dishes and the things you use each morning until the final evening. Packing an entire kitchen early often leads to reopened boxes and loose items on moving day.

Label each box with the destination room and a short description. “Kitchen: plates” is more useful than “misc.” Put the room name on a side as well as the top so it can be read when boxes are stacked.

Keep documents, medication, keys, chargers, and personal valuables with you. Set aside cleaning supplies and a small bag for your first night. Give that bag a clear place in your own car so it does not disappear into the truck.

Splendid's local moving service includes furniture disassembly and reassembly, packing and unpacking labor, and protective moving blankets. Tape and shrink wrap are included; confirm which extra boxes or other packing materials your job needs before the move. See the current local moving service details.

Walk the route the day before

Start at the apartment door and follow the path to the truck's intended loading position. Check gates, door codes, steps, and turns. Make sure you know who can resolve an access problem if the leasing office is closed.

At the destination, decide where the largest furniture will go. A quick room sketch saves you from deciding where a bed belongs while several pieces are waiting in the hallway.

On moving morning, point out fragile pieces and anything that stays behind. Keep pets out of the carrying route. Before leaving, check cupboards, the balcony, storage lockers, and any parking-level storage space.

For a move-specific plan, request a quote with your addresses, floor numbers, furniture list, and building windows. Those details help the team plan the work before the truck arrives.