Moving Into a High Rise

By Scott Boone

Courtesy of Pixabay

Well, you finally decided to move out of your house and into a condo in the sky.  Congratulations!  Living in a high-rise building can be exciting.  The views are spectacular.  The living arrangements are a little different.  Instead of being part of a neighborhood of flatlanders where you hardly know anyone on your block, life in a high-rise means having to deal with those who live cheek to jowl with you.  This can present challenges, starting with the day you move in.  That’s because condos have rules.  Lots of them.  Run afoul of any and you run the risk of rubbing your neighbors the wrong way, or even receiving a fine.

Take moving day, for instance.  Unlike residential neighborhoods, in a high-rise, moving in is not as simple as parking the moving truck and unloading your belongings.  Believe it or not, your neighbors, not to mention the management, expect you to make a reservation before you move in.  That’s because you will need to park your truck near an entrance and commandeer the freight elevator for the better part of a day in order to move your stuff from the truck to your unit.  This takes coordination and planning.

Less is More

Another factor that you need to deal with when you move from a house to a high-rise is a lack of space.  Most condos are much smaller than the typical house.  While this means less to clean, it also means you need to decide what furniture to take and which pieces to either sell or store.  The best way to determine what stays and what goes is to create a floor plan before you move in and plan what pieces of furniture will go where. This will also save you a ton of time after the move, since you won’t be forced to play musical chairs as you try to layout your new home.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

While you are busy creating your floor plan, make sure you take the time to measure your largest possessions.  The last thing you want to do is find out after the fact that your side- by-side refrigerator won’t fit in the space designated for it in the kitchen.  The same goes for bookcases, bureaus and beds as well.   It’s like the old carpenter’s adage, “Measure twice and cut once.” 

Once you have cut your possessions down to size, it’s time to speak to the building super to make your move in reservation.  You should also ask to reserve a luggage cart at this time as well.  Most high-rises have them, but management is not likely to offer one to you unless you ask.  A luggage cart can help you and your movers manhandle all the smaller items and boxes to your unit, saving them time and you money.

This is also the best time to find out where the building loading dock and freight elevator are located.  Believe it or not, some buildings restrict the hours when freight can be loaded and unloaded.  The last thing you want is to have compete for the elevator with another resident, or a service delivery.  Make sure you pass this information along to your movers as well, since they need to know about any time restrictions. (Also ask the super if you can reserve the elevator for the duration of your move.)

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

Image courtesy of flickr.com

Another thing you want to do at least two days prior to the move is inspect your unit.  Unless you want to arrive to find that the previous tenant has left the place a mess, you need to inspect and if need be clean the unit before you move in.  If the unit requires a cleaning, waiting to the last minute will make it nearly impossible to hire a cleaning company to give it the once over before you take possession.  Make sure thoroughly inspect your new unit including all the cabinets, crawlspaces and every other nook and cranny that can harbor items left behind by the previous tenants.

Your security also needs to be assured prior to moving in.  Other than changing the locks, this includes inspecting fire alarms, fire extinguishers, sprinkler system, and every other security measure in and around your unit.  You should also inspect the walls and plumbing for any signs of a leak, as well as every wall socket and light fixture to make sure they are working properly.  Not only is a puddle of water or a frayed wire a safety hazard, if you wait until after you take possession of the unit, it is your problem. 

Honesty is the Best Policy

Image courtesy of Scott's Discount Movers

Other than being honest with building management, you need to be honest with your mover. Especially when moving into a high-rise building.  Unlike a typical residential move, when dealing with a tall building and the management hassles that come with it, your mover needs to plan his logistics as well.  This means speaking to the building super ahead of time.  The mover needs to know where he can park the truck and how long he can park the truck.  He needs to know the dimensions of the freight elevator and how long he will be able to tie it up while moving you in.  Does the area leading to the loading dock present any problems?  If so, will he need a cart to move your belongings from the truck to the elevator? 

Of course, honesty goes both ways.  Depending on how high the floor you intend moving to, some movers will levee a surcharge.  You need to find this out before you sign on the dotted line.  The last thing you want is to get hit with an unexpected expense as you arrive, only to have your movers balk at hauling your belongings up to the 28^th floor. 

Provided that you perform your due diligence, making a move to a high-rise doesn’t have to be traumatic.  Just because your new home is sky high doesn’t mean your blood pressure needs to follow suit.

With over 4,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers  has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.