RFI: NYC Moving

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I have to get my shit together and move ASAP to my pretty new apartment and I was wondering if anyone in the NYC crew had any recommendations for movers and what their experiences have been.

My situation: a couch, computer desk + computer, small entertainment center, coffee table, bed, armoire, dresser, possibly a kitchen table, and a bunch of art, photos, clothes, cds, books, and movies in boxes. I would've liked to have moved as much of it as I could myself but I don't really have any way to do it besides truck back and forth on subway apparently so I'll need a mover to do everything.

Any advice that can be thrown my way this weekend would be appreciated, I plan to start next week! (Also I plan to throw a housewarming party once this gets done and since I'm sober that involves forcing you all to drink all my booze so I don't have to throw it out, I'll remember the helpful ;)

― Allyzay, Friday, 30 January 2004 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Whatever you do, don't use Moishe's. They'll fuck your shit up and the building you're moving into, and the co-op board will both keep your deposit and want to have a serious word with you. Trust me on this one. They were banned from my previous building.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

My only advice, since I've never actually used movers in nyc, is get as accurate an estimate you can beforehand (as in, call them up and tell them all the stuff that needs to be moved). Also, I'd wager taking a cab or two up and back would actually save you money.

― bnw (bnw), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:37 (twenty-two years ago)

if you get a man/men with a van, be sure to clarify how much/little work you'll be doing yourself, and bear in mind that what looks like a small-ish amount of stuff can easily take two-three vanloads. in my experience the next best thing to a more expensive, big-truck service is usually a rented uhaul and sympathetic friends.

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I find the opposite--whenever I've moved (and I've moved a lot)--what seems to be a lot of stuff generally fits surprisingly well in one van-load. it's all about how good they are at loading it up.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

interesting. i don't know this for a fact, but i'm going to wager that we might have drastically different amounts of stuff. my experience is coming from the perspective of someone who will probably end up like that guy who recently got trapped in his apartment by an avalanche of 50 bags of magazines.

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Where is your new apartment, Ally?

I've always just rented a truck and enlisted friends who owed me favors. That said, I've often heard good things about Felixson. I can give you their number if you are interested.

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd say get Regis and Howard to help you out, certainly they must owe you something by now.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

oh I got stuff

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Ooo, timely thread

I am half tempted to choose DIY over getting a mover. I have heard bad things about Uhaul trucks though. Anyone have any advice/experience/anedcotes ith the various rental truck companies?

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Fitting a lot of oddly shaped and non-compressible stuff into a small van is a rare art. Maybe S1ocki just had better packers, or squishier possessions.

My friend recently wound up marrying the mover she hired, dazzled by his packing skills.

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:50 (twenty-two years ago)

also: anyone want to earn some quick cash driving a truck from NJ to suburban NYC?

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:51 (twenty-two years ago)

another also: if anyone wants a loveseat sofa bed, I am selling one, cheap.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:51 (twenty-two years ago)

if you need help ally, drop me a line

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Got a photo, Rosemary? I might could use something like that.

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:55 (twenty-two years ago)

no pics, sorry, but measurements are about 58x38, with a twin mattress

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

My friend recently wound up marrying the mover she hired, dazzled by his packing skills.

"Packing."

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)

rent a uhaul or ryder truck and rememebr to ask for a dollie for the heavy stuff.

― kephm, Friday, 30 January 2004 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

This is the part where I give up and remind you all that Ally doesn't have a driver's license (and I don't think rosemary does either judging by that post above).

― TOMBOT, Friday, 30 January 2004 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

but thats your job isnt it?

― kephm, Friday, 30 January 2004 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I just got my learner's permit! Hooray for me and woe to the NYC pedestrians!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:23 (twenty-two years ago)

are you coming up for this tom? seriously, you and i could move all of her stuff no problem.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I just got my learner's permit! Hooray for me and woe to the NYC pedestrians!

WHY, ALEX, WHY?

Seriously hoping you don't intend to drive in the city on a regular basis, not for public safety but just because there don't need to be more cars here.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm no help on this. Last couple times, I borrowed my mum's station wagon and relied on my friends to help carry. You really *can* tell who your real friends are, come moving time (i.e. none.)

― The River Kate (kate), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Yanc3y may have a point.

― TOMBOT, Friday, 30 January 2004 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I may actually be renting a truck within the next couple of weeks for my own purposes and wouldn't mind taking another swing through the city (NJ probably too ambitious though)... is this a February 1 thing or could it wait a bit?

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Umm, Kate...

― suzy (suzy), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll help out as well if peeps give me a hand in May or so when I also gotta get my shit out of storage into yet-to-be-named crash pad. Drop me a line yo.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Last couple of times in NYC, I might stress.

― The River Kate (kate), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:48 (twenty-two years ago)

:-)

― suzy (suzy), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I can probably help with moving, Ally (well, except for driving)

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Where is your new apartment, Ally?

Amsterdam and 168th. The neighborhood is...refreshingly different from Lincoln Center. I'm right by Columbia Presbyterian (SP?) now, there's a police station like across the street from me, and I'm near...uh...some park. WTF park is that up there? The apartment itself is really fucking sweet, it's huge and...and...and...it has a real bathroom with a real tub and not just a shower stall. ALSO AND THIS IS IMPORTANT COS I SEE THE WORDS "NINE FLIGHTS OF STAIRS" UP THREAD: IT HAS AN ELEVATOR WHICH FOR SOME REASON I DIDN'T THINK IT HAD??? Today was the first time I actually saw it. Yes, I have agreed to occupy four apartments now without looking at them first.

So anyway, yeah, I don't have a driver's licence so I can't actually rent a UHaul otherwise I really would've just done that and not bothered anyone at all for advice. When I moved cross country I just made UPS ship everything in ginormous boxes to save money. Thank you guys though.

Tom, Yanc3y, any other strong man (xpost and Aaron and strong lady Rosemary): if yr serious about helping that would be so so so awesome. Even doing a partial stuff move would be awesome (I could get movers or underhandedly pay building guys to move the big furniture). In fact I am emailing Yanc3y right now. There will be fancy dinner in it for volunteers. At, uh, Dallas BBQ.

haha "strong". ILX. I kill me sometimes. I'm still laughing. hahahaha

― Allyzay, Friday, 30 January 2004 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow that's a long post. I've just had four cups in a row of some cafe bustelo. Sorry.

― Allyzay, Friday, 30 January 2004 20:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Heh, Ally I worked in a china store, I can carry (and help pack) fragile stuff.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Friday, 30 January 2004 21:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, Hstencil to thread already

― TOMBOT, Friday, 30 January 2004 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Dinner at Coogan's! I can lift stuff.

I think the park is called Highbridge Park? It used to be THE place to torch your stolen cars post-joyride.

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 30 January 2004 21:07 (twenty-two years ago)

You know, it's not the moving that freaks me out as it is the packing.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Friday, 30 January 2004 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha I haven't packed anything yet! So like, uh, would everyone be down with next weekend? I'll eat anywhere Paul Eater tells me to eat.

Also I think we should torch my old apartment!!

― Allyzay, Friday, 30 January 2004 21:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Coogan's is great, although the food is kind of mediocre as I recall.

I may be moving my own stuff next weekend; if not, I'm happy to help.

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 30 January 2004 21:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Where are YOU moving to? Are we all moving? What's going on?

(FWIW I honestly didn't start this thread expecting offers of help--thank you to everyone who has offered, I'm kind of genuinely shocked)

― Allyzay, Friday, 30 January 2004 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd help! But I am over here and therefore useless.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 30 January 2004 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

i'll come by AFTER everyone's moved everything in. cause that's the kinda guy i am.

― Lazybär (llamasfur), Friday, 30 January 2004 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd help! But I am over here and therefore useless.

uh, yeah ... same here!

― PATHbär (llamasfur), Friday, 30 January 2004 22:01 (twenty-two years ago)

The only thing worse than packing is unpacking. The only thing worse than unpacking is unpacking crates and crates of your stuff that SOMEONE ELSE packed. Badly. And going "Oh my god, I had fogotten this thing, oh I loved it... oh, it's broken. Thanks."

Oh, and BTW, the St.Claire Diamonds? never turned up. I swear to god my mum must have just pawned them. :-(

― The River Kate (kate), Friday, 30 January 2004 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Good luck, Ally. My heart goes out to you. I cannot stand moving (as some of you may remember: MOVING HOUSE: How Can I Feel Better about it? )

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 30 January 2004 22:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Ally, when I moved I used the U-haul moving website and got a guy to come out and help. He was only $25 an hour and with him and Franz we moved in all our stuff out of a 15 foot Budget truck in 1.5 hours in the heat of July. And we had a lot of stuff (steelcase couch, wardrobe, table, queen bed, electronics, like 5 chairs, huge apothecary cabinet with like 30 drawers that had to be taken out, vespa and tons of kitchen stuff, clothes and cds and records). You pay the website so it is a flat fee per hour and when the job is done you release the money and they get paid. This might be helpful if you just want one or 2 people that you can work really hard and not feel badly about it. Plus they give options on whether you need someone with a truck or if you want someone to help pack and unpack and clean. But otherwise you should just have a moving party and people will show. I can drive the truck or van if you need someone to do that. I used to have a CDL!

― Carey (Carey), Saturday, 31 January 2004 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Allycat, 168th street is far from everywhere.

― ModJ (ModJ), Saturday, 31 January 2004 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and U-haul sucks. I really prefer Budget trucks. U-haul can't gaurantee shit so you could get stuck on moving day waiting for a truck.

― Carey (Carey), Saturday, 31 January 2004 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

You can rent from C&C Rentals in Midtown west in the 40's... get a cube, go crazy.

― ModJ (ModJ), Saturday, 31 January 2004 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

All you need is a driver...

― ModJ (ModJ), Saturday, 31 January 2004 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 19 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I remember someone making fun of me for recommending the library a long time ago, but you can get a lot of good boxes there. Office Max also has huge, sturdy shipping boxes that are pretty cheap if you can't find any for free.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:30 (twenty-two years ago)

DUMPSTER DIVE

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha Lincoln Center has no dumpsters anywhere in sight. I think it offends the nouveau riche or something.

I'll call the library otherwise it's purchase time for me!

The thing is, all the previous times I've moved around, I hadn't really stuck in a place long enough to, uh, ever unpack anything. So I just put the stuff I took out back in the huge, beaten boxes and went. Now everythings out and I threw out those boxes years ago!! If only I had futuresight!

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:34 (twenty-two years ago)

(seriously now, if columbia doesn't work out)

isn't there a spanish store or two (NOT a bodega!) where you live? there's one a block from me, and i've always been able to hit them up for boxes when i've needed some.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll call the library otherwise it's purchase time for me!

Say you need to speak to someone in their ordering or acquisitions department about spare boxes, it'll save you a bit of runaround (and the fact that you're a student there will hopefully help).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't help Saturday, I'm afraid, but if you need any packing help Thursday or Friday, let me know.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it offends the nouveau riche or something.

Les Nouveau Riche don't live around there,....they're busy ruining what's left of Soho and TriBeCa.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:55 (twenty-two years ago)

not to mention hoboken and jersey city.

― bridgeandtunnelbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Moving companies suck.

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 22:23 (twenty-two years ago)

The best deal seems to be Schleppers, which also inexplicably offers a 15% weekend discount??? I thought everyone moved on the weekend.

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 22:30 (twenty-two years ago)

No, because some buildings won't allow move-ins on the weekend (neither this one nor my previous building did).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 22:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Although I am not sure whether you want to trek out somewhere to get boxes, craigslist always has people trying to get rid of their moving boxes for free. I bring this up because every single time I have wanted to buy a box, it seemed to cost more than it would be just to hire a chain gang to move my stuff piece by piece.

― LiquidCheer (LiquidTide), Thursday, 5 February 2004 00:32 (twenty-two years ago)

For boxes, try Staples or another office supply store... if you don't mind paying!

Saturday is looking 50/50 right now for me. I'll either have some record label stuff to take care of before the big show or be totally free... won't know till Friday or so though.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Thursday, 5 February 2004 04:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I cancelled the Budget Truck rental, don't worry about it.

― TOMBOT, Thursday, 5 February 2004 04:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I have one million (43 exactly) boxes that I am looking to give away... can anyone help?

― Paul Eater (eater), Thursday, 5 February 2004 04:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Is that what you just IMed me? My AIM isn't working right. I might need to take some off yr hands Friday...

― Allyzay, Thursday, 5 February 2004 04:49 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm surprised that you can't find boxes in nyc. i mean, i saw HUNDREDS tonight ... granted it was in soho, but still.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 5 February 2004 04:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Those were apartments

― TOMBOT, Thursday, 5 February 2004 05:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, contact me via whatever technology is working for you. The boxes are conveniently stashed just a couple of blocks from your old pad.

― Paul Eater (eater), Thursday, 5 February 2004 07:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I hear you IM from the tub, dawg.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 5 February 2004 07:39 (twenty-two years ago)

who cares about boxes... we're gonna have to go home from bars at 1AM soon!!! :( :( :( :(

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 5 February 2004 07:43 (twenty-two years ago)

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 5 February 2004 07:49 (twenty-two years ago)

! more details, please. This seems wrong on a basic biological level.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 5 February 2004 09:04 (twenty-two years ago)

mail me ak...

― ModJ (ModJ), Thursday, 5 February 2004 12:33 (twenty-two years ago)

we're gonna have to go home from bars at 1AM soon!!! :( :( :( :(

You mean bars in Orange County can stay open later than bars in NYC? Amazing!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 5 February 2004 13:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha I guess they got word that I stopped drinking and were just like "God, what's the point?"

― Allyzay, Thursday, 5 February 2004 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Paul, can I have some boxes? Or can I have them after Ally is done with them?

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Thursday, 5 February 2004 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha I guess they got word that I stopped drinking and were just like "God, what's the point?"

I'll have to take up the slack. *hic*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 5 February 2004 16:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Ro - there's now a box scheduling quandary (BSQ) involving the transportation and storage of the empty boxes. I'll keep you posted.

― Paul Eater (eater), Thursday, 5 February 2004 17:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, Rosemary, I'll email you when I'm done with mine (I am not wholly sure I'm going to need Paul's at this point but if I do I'm going to grab a couple tomorrow), and we can try to figure out a good time for you to grab them. I don't want to keep them too long but I've got some 20x20x20 boxes that you can take once I unpack them (which will pretty much be immediately so if you even want to stop by Sunday if you can...)

― Allyzay, Thursday, 5 February 2004 17:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Cool, thanks, you two.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Thursday, 5 February 2004 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

boxy ladies

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 5 February 2004 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

OK it's all done--thank you Mr. The Mod for showing up and helping us out, your ability to wear a ceiling fan on your head is unparralelled. I owe you a Christ Coffee.

― Allyzay, Thursday, 12 February 2004 01:31 (twenty-two years ago)

what's a "christ coffee"?

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 12 February 2004 04:43 (twenty-two years ago)

You

will

never

know.

― TOMBOT, Thursday, 12 February 2004 05:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Why don't you come up to Washington Heights and find out!!!! SNAP!!

― Allyzay, Thursday, 12 February 2004 06:27 (twenty-two years ago)

take the PATH, i'll give ya a hoboken punch :-o

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 12 February 2004 06:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Dude I used to live in Jersey, you ain't got shit.

― Allyzay, Thursday, 12 February 2004 07:24 (twenty-two years ago)

nine months pass...

If you were helping your landlord pack up his entire 1-bedroom flat in order for him to move to Greece, how much would you expect him to knock off from your rent/bills? He's giving us half a month of rent for free (390 pounds, about $700) - but told us that if he had asked the movers to pack it all up for him, they would have tacked on an extra 3500 pounds. Now granted, I'm no professional, so I couldn't exactly ask for that, but? Not sure how to approach this.

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I know there was a thread recently about moving but I couldn't find it. I'm terrible at asking for money, or for a deal on anything. Blech.

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 15:13 (twenty-one years ago)

ask for a free month's rent!

oh and as for my move i went with action van who were awesome. thank you cutty!

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 16:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I'm going to do what you're suggesting, Yancey. First day of packing is tomorrow and then we're going out to dinner w/him.

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 23:35 (twenty-one years ago)

two years pass...

does anyone have a man with a van recommendation? i used one off craigslist who did all my stuff for $150 last move, but they are no longer around it seems.

― bell_labs, Monday, 6 August 2007 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

linds, i will check my emails for the dudes i hired in feb. they were very good and efficient.

― tehresa, Monday, 6 August 2007 18:12 (eighteen years ago)

― Catsupppppppppppppp dude 茄蕃, Monday, 6 August 2007 18:42 (eighteen years ago)

i need to move out by THIS WEEKEND. i have done absolutely no packing. i took the day off work to pack but have been procrastinating on the internet and drinking coffee instead!

― bell_labs, Monday, 6 August 2007 18:48 (eighteen years ago)

i think i will try to hire these guys cos they have a dinosaur and a volcano and some kind of panther or something in their ad http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/lbs/387888008.html

― bell_labs, Monday, 6 August 2007 18:51 (eighteen years ago)

I do all my packing in the last 6 hours. Then unpack over 2-10 years.

― Dr Morbius, Monday, 6 August 2007 18:53 (eighteen years ago)

The Morbius way!

― Laurel, Monday, 6 August 2007 19:07 (eighteen years ago)

I do all my packing in the last 6 hours. Then unpack over 2-10 years.

haha

― gabbneb, Monday, 6 August 2007 19:15 (eighteen years ago)

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