By Jason McCollum, Sales Associate, Leaders Moving & Storage Co.
I’ve worked in sales at Leaders Moving & Storage Co. for 16 years and written somewhere close to 30,000 quotes along the way. Part of that job is working closely with local apartment complexes, which I visit every year. Between those visits and the number of moves we do at these properties, I know what most buildings expect on moving day.
Winter apartment moves come with their own set of questions. People ask me what happens if it snows on moving day, how early they need to call, whether their TV can ride in a cold truck, and who protects the hallway. Here’s what I tell them, based on what our crews run into on the job.
How should I prepare my walkway for a winter move?
This time of year, Ohio weather means snow or rain, or sometimes both in the same afternoon. Either way, the path between your door and our truck will get wet and mushy.
Our crews carry ice melt. We put rubber-backed floor runners down in the high-traffic areas so they stay flat. We also keep extra moving blankets on the truck for the days when runners aren’t enough.
The biggest help comes from the renter. If you can, clear your stairs and the walkway to your apartment ahead of moving day. When it snows the whole time we’re there, we’ll keep clearing a path as we go and do our best to keep everyone’s footing solid.
Can movers wear booties or take their shoes off?
We’re frequently asked if the movers can take their shoes off or wear booties because the painter or maintenance guy did. A painter is carrying a bucket of paint. My guys are carrying a 300-pound dresser down your stairs. They need grip under their feet. That footing protects your furniture and my crew, which is why we lay down floor runners to cover your floors while we work.
For the same reason, we can’t cover stairs with any kind of floor covering. The one exception is carpet masking. If your stairs are carpeted, you can request carpet masking for an added cost. Our crew will put it down when they arrive.
Who protects the hallways and elevator during an apartment move?
On most apartment moves, protection gets split between our crew and your building. Most buildings split it this way:
- Floor runners: We bring these. They’re rubber-backed mats that stay put in hallways and high-traffic spots.
- Door jamb protection: We bring this too. It keeps door frames from getting dinged as furniture goes through.
- Carpet masking: You can request it and pay for it. It only works on carpet. Our crew won’t put it down unless you ask.
- Elevator padding: Your apartment complex usually handles this. Higher-end buildings often pad the elevator so it’s ready when we arrive, as long as you let the office know you’re moving.
Every complex has its own rules. Some keep it simple. One building we work with in Columbus hands residents a packet of move-in and move-out rules about a quarter inch thick. We do so many moves at these properties that we usually know what each one expects. Your Leaders moving consultant will walk you through those rules when we put your quote together.
Do I need a certificate of insurance for my apartment move?
Most regular apartment complexes won’t ask for a certificate of insurance, or COI. I mostly see COI requests from downtown high-rises and luxury condo buildings. Office moves ask for them, too.
We keep standard certificates ready to send. Some buildings want their own wording added. For those, our insurance provider writes a custom certificate and sends it to you. I only handle about a dozen a year, so if your building asks for one, tell us early to give that paperwork time to come through.
When should I reserve the elevator for moving day?
If your building makes you reserve the elevator, the timing of that reservation can make or break the day. For example, customers will tell me they booked the elevator at their new place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Then I have to explain that we still need to load everything at the old apartment and drive it across town first.
A better plan looks like this. Reserve the elevator at your current building for first thing in the morning, say 8 to 10 a.m. Reserve the one at your new building for the afternoon, something like 12 to 3 p.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. That gives us room to get you loaded and over there.
When you call for a quote, your consultant will ask whether either building needs a reservation and will help you pick windows that fit. Then, they’ll add a note to your file for our operations team, such as “customer has elevator reserved from 1 to 3 p.m.,” so the crew knows what time they have to be there.
How long does an apartment move take?
The biggest thing people don’t realize is how much time a move takes. I’ll hear, “This shouldn’t take more than two or three hours.” For half a truckload, that isn’t realistic.
Every piece has to be wrapped and padded. We put down floor protection, secure everything on the truck, drive across town, put floor protection down again at the new place, unload, unwrap, set each piece where you want it, and put your bed back together. For a load that size, I’ll plan on five to six hours, depending on what you have.
That number makes some new customers nervous, because most moving companies charge by the hour. But at Leaders, we give you a set price based on your inventory. If the move takes six hours instead of four, you pay the price on your quote, as long as what we’re moving matches that inventory. My crew can take the time to do it right instead of racing a clock.
Is it safe to move a TV or electronics in a cold truck?
Every year I get asked about electronics like TVs and gaming consoles being on a cold truck. On a local move, they won’t sit in the truck long enough to cause real concern. We load electronics last and take them off first, which keeps their time in the cold as short as possible.
Moisture takes time to build up. Our trucks are as cold as it is outside, so your things aren’t going back and forth between a warm space and the cold. On a typical one-day local move, your belongings ride the truck for a short drive across town between loading and unloading.
In truth, I worry more about rain than cold. Wet weather and humidity do more harm to electronics than a short ride in a cold truck, so we make sure everything is wrapped and covered.
If you want to play it safe, let your TV sit a few hours in a warm room at the new place so any moisture can dry out, then plug it in. If you’re still worried, put the TV or gaming console in your own car and drive it over yourself.
When does cold weather put my belongings at risk?
The risk goes up when your belongings stay on the truck overnight. That mostly happens on long-distance moves. For example, we might load a house on a Monday afternoon and drive to Georgia the next day. It can also happen when you have to be out of your apartment by Monday but can’t take delivery until later in the week.
A few things should ride with you no matter what:
- Live plants: Bitter cold is hard on them. Bring them in your car.
- High-end artwork: If it’s valuable, take it yourself. There’s no reason to take the chance on the truck.
- Musical instruments: Guitars, violins, and other wood instruments can crack with big temperature swings. Keep them in your car with you.
- Wine and other bottled liquids: Bottles can freeze and crack in a cold truck. Pack them in your car instead.
- Medications and important papers: Keep prescriptions, IDs, and lease paperwork with you so they’re easy to grab on moving day.
Will movers still come if it snows on moving day?
Unless there’s a Level 3 snow emergency, we’ll be there on moving day. A Level 3 means it’s against the law or unsafe for my guys to be on the road. In my 16 years here, we’ve had three, maybe four days we couldn’t work.
Can I reschedule my move if a storm is coming?
Yes, in most cases. If a big storm shows up in the forecast, call us and ask to push your date back a day or two. Our schedule is lighter than it is in summer, so we can almost always make a date change work. In summer, with 18 moves on a Friday, we just don’t have that kind of room.
Usually, customers call us first. If you don’t, our operations team watches the weather and plans around big storms. When the forecast calls for a bad one, they start reaching out a couple of days ahead to ask about moving you to a different day.
Some folks can’t change their date because they have to be out. In that case, we show up and get the job done.
Where will the moving truck park in the snow?
Parking depends on your building. Some newer complexes have designated move-in parking or loading zones. If you’re lucky, yours has a loading dock. Downtown buildings and complexes on a main street tend to be the hardest. Our driver will look for the safest spot close to your door.
Our trucks are big and heavy, so a little snow won’t keep us from pulling in and getting the ramp down. We might have to shovel a path to your steps. If your complex posts parking rules for snow days, send them our way so the crew can plan around them.
When should I get a moving quote if my lease ends in January?
Winter is the easiest time of year to get the date you want. With the number of movers and trucks we have, a day in the colder months hardly ever books up. The exception is the last Saturday of the month, when renters are trying to get out by the time rent or a storage bill comes due.
For a January move, we ask for about a week’s notice. In summer, we may need three to four weeks. Even with that cushion, my advice is to start the process four to six weeks out. Here’s what I’d do now:
- Make a list of what you’re moving. Write down your worst-case scenario. Taking a few things off later is easier than adding them.
- Call or request a quote online. We’ll email it to you. Plans change, whether you decide to leave a piece behind or a friend offers to haul some boxes. We’ll update the quote as you go.
- Decide whether you want packing. If we’re packing for you, we’ll need to come out and see your place. Depending on our schedule, that visit could be this week or next.
- Talk to both buildings. Ask whether you need an elevator reservation or a certificate of insurance, then pass those details along to us.
- Get on our schedule at least a week ahead of your date. Starting four to six weeks out still leaves you three to five weeks to compare options and make a decision.
We can handle last-minute changes, even the day of the move. The sooner you tell us about them, the more accurate your price will be.
A lot of first-time movers have no idea what a move costs. Some are shocked at the number. Others are surprised it’s so reasonable. Your exact price comes from your inventory, so the quickest way to find out is to get a quote.
Ready to plan your winter apartment move? Request a free quote or call your local Leaders team. A move coordinator will go over your inventory with you and give you an exact price you can plan around.
