Moving To New York - Tips For NYC Newcomers | Big Apple Movers NYC

How to downsize into your NYC apartment

Are you moving from suburbs to the “concrete jungle” better known as the Big Apple? Congratulations are in order! However, along with the congratulations, you should also receive some warnings. Or, better yet, tips on how to downsize into your NYC apartment. And generally – how to handle New York life. Especially if you are coming from a lot smaller place. If you are used to having a backyard at your home and crossing a street without the fear for your life, you are in for some surprises in NYC! We assume you didn’t decide to move on a whim, without any researching. You have researched basic stuff like how much do movers cost in NYC, that’s for sure. But we will help you with some not so obvious stuff and give you advice on how to handle the difference in the size and possibilities of your living space. Continue reading “How to downsize into your NYC apartment”

Everything I wish I knew before moving abroad

Moving abroad requires a great willingness and determination of yours, as well as a bunch of things you already know before relocating. Lifestyle, costs of living, culture shock, car driving, food and drink habits, and language barriers are just a couple of things you may want to learn about before the move. There are, however, some things you cannot learn about – you have to experience them. I’m going to share with you some of my experience when it comes to moving abroad. These include things you may not know, but which can make life easier in the new city. I hope this will be helpful before moving abroad! Continue reading “Everything I wish I knew before moving abroad”

Sharing a Storage Unit in NYC

Are you contemplating the possibility of sharing a storage unit in New York City? I sincerely hope that this decision is not a result of the four Ds of life, namely death, divorce, downsizing, or dislocation, which are known to be the primary causes of requiring additional storage space. Given that you reside in the bustling metropolis of the Big Apple, you are likely already familiar with its unique characteristics. However, permit me to provide a brief overview of NYC.

New York City is the most populous city in the United States. As of 2023, population is 8.51 million. It is the most densely populated major city in the US.

I can with certainty say that NYC is cultural, financial and media capital of the world. Furthermore, it is home of the headquarters of the United Nations. New York is an important center for International diplomacy.

Sharing a Storage Unit in New York

sharing storage

Self -storage industry is primarily a United States based industry. As of 2023, it is estimated that between 48,000 and 52,000 storage facilities are currently in the United States. According to the Self -Storage Association, self-storage represented a 22 billion-dollar industry in 2009 and accounted for 2.21 billion square feet of storage space.  This amount of space equates to 19.2 square feet per the United States household.

The industry is worth $38 billion in 2018. Now there a both good and bad as with everything and is up to you whether you rent one for yourself. How to share a storage unit in NYC and use moving services in Brooklyn in the best way is going to be a lot more-clearer at the end of the article. So, let us descent further into this topic.

Without further introduction, I hope to make your decision process a bit smoother. 

Good Side of Sharing a Storage Unit

Self-storage facilities are often reliable when it comes to keeping your stuff safe and sound from causes like weather, mice, or ’disappearing’ belongings. Furthermore, that gives you peace of mind, and you cannot put a price on that. On top of that, you can find cheap storage in NYC easily.

Currently, the majority of storage unit companies offer insurance coverage in the event of unforeseen disasters or circumstances. As a result, it is unequivocally evident that they surpass the reliability of storing one’s belongings in a friend’s attic. One of the advantages of utilizing a storage unit is the ability to access one’s possessions at any given time. Particularly in a city as vast as New York, where living spaces are often limited, sharing a storage unit can prove to be highly advantageous.

Since I do not know your area of residence. I can only provide some information on moving services in Brooklyn. Some are Dyno Moving, CCS Moving & Storage, Simply Moving & Storage. All of them rated 5 stars. 

Additional Pros of Storage Sharing

Self-storage is a fairly cheap option for hanging your stuff during your relocation, short term or otherwise. But an important piece of advice. Make sure that stuff you put in the storage unit is essential so you do not forget about them. Sharing a storage unit provides essential help when you are in the middle of relocation chaos.

Your things are safe while you move, so you can focus on other important things. When you’re done with everything else, you can pick up your belongings.

Also, a big plus is that it helps you declutter your home. You can easily declutter your home with some extra space. And sharing a storage unit in NYC is just the thing you can use. Furthermore, you can use a storage unit to make a garage sale for some extra money. 

Negative Side of Sharing a Storage

storage locker

Now a little glance over the negative side. The bad side of sharing a storage unit in New York City. During your move, nobody considers the price of renting a storage unit. You yourself must factor in the price of having your moving company take care of this aspect.

New York is a great city and moving companies can assist you in many ways. They can help you find good deals on sharing a storage unit or renting through their contacts. You should ask them about this to save money on moving costs.

Therefore, you can have peace of mind on at least your stuff during all relocation chaos. Of course, modern facilities through the Big Apple possess surveillance cameras. But hear my advice ask the facility what kind of security they have and burglary prevention. You do not want to lose valuable stuff because of some thief.

Should You Share a Storage Unit with a Friend?

The most important advice I can give is to only share your storage unit with someone you know and trust. This will give you peace of mind. Sharing with someone you don’t know can lead to the worst-case scenario.

But just to cover it all. Consider the case of you and your friend have a fallout. And on top of all, the name on the lease is a friend’s, they can prevent you from getting your stuff. And they can also change the lock.

In a big city, it’s important to pick good friends. You might have to go to court to keep your things or pay rent. If you don’t, your things could be sold. Be careful and choose trustworthy friends to keep your things safe.

In the end, consider every aspect with care. New York provides everything if you look at the right companies for your move. Or in case you need more space for your belongings. Sharing a storage unit in NYC is definitely a great way to ensure your relocation goes a bit smoother.

Furthermore, sharing extra space with your friend or significant one can provide much need ease during relocation. Consider the best moving services, look over everything twice. Only when you see the entire picture reach a decision. 

Tips for moving into a smaller apartment

When moving into a smaller apartment, people have to go through some downsizing. They find this particularly stressful and difficult. With all those things which have sentimental value, it seems impossible to apply an unemotional approach and decide what items to part with. Adapting to a bigger home would be much easier, but you have to face every challenge life presents. Here are some useful tips for moving into a smaller apartment. You will see that it doesn’t have to be bad after all. Continue reading “Tips for moving into a smaller apartment”

How to find short-term housing in Brooklyn

It can be very hard to find short-term housing. This is true for many cities but in Brooklyn, you will not have much trouble. There are many options for short-term housing in Brooklyn. In this article, we will show you how to find short-term housing at this great location. You will reduce this hard task to a very simple one if you follow the steps we will show you and if you consider the locations we will mention. Continue reading “How to find short-term housing in Brooklyn”

Easiest Way to Relocate Storage Unit

Renting a storage unit proves to be a convenient solution during transitional life events. It serves as an extension to your living space, providing additional room for furniture and personal belongings.

They come very helpful during the renovation, and especially when you are planning a relocation to the new house. But they usually don’t last forever. Most of the times tenants rent them on a short-term basis. Is it already time to say goodbye to your storage unit?

Whether it is because you are planning to find a new storage or you just don’t need it anymore, you will need to know the best tips to relocate your storage unit.

Choose The Date

relocation date

Moving all of your belongings from one place to the other is not an easy task. If you are using a storage unit, chances are you have a lot of things inside of it and you probably forgot about some. Cleaning out your storage unit can be an overwhelming process for you.

You might come across on some sentimental items that can lead to an emotional response and slow down the whole relocation. So prepare yourself for this. You will need to think about all of these scenarios and find enough time to make the job done. One day probably won’t be enough for you. And after picking the best date, you will need to notify those who have rented you a self-storage.

Even the most organized people can get distracted when they start to clean out items from their childhood. So, if you don’t want to feel overwhelmed and just want to relocate your storage unit as fast as you can, think of the professional long distance movers NYC. Professional services will save you some time and are very helpful if you are planning a long distance move. With their help, you won’t get distracted.

Empty Storage Space

When we rent a storage, we have the best intention to keep it tidy and clean but during the time we forget to maintain it. So, if you have your storage unit for a longer period of time, you will probably have to face the piles of clutter inside of it. After dealing with these piles, learn the best ways to organize your storage unit.

Prior to proceeding, it is advisable to equip oneself with a considerable amount of patience and make arrangements for the clearance of storage. It is recommended to commence by scanning the possessions in order to strategize the subsequent course of action. Documenting all the items observed on paper and prioritizing the larger items is a prudent approach. Subsequently, the boxes can be sorted through, provided they have been appropriately labeled.

If you haven’t packed your items properly, we have an advice for you. Next time, consider hiring professional packing in NYC. You will see how helpful it can be when you want to relocate your storage unit and you already have everything packed the right way and labeled. It makes a big difference!

Get Rid Of Some Items

relocation chaos

Making an inventory list will help you get organized and will also give you insight into the number of things you won’t be needing in your new home. So, you will need to decide what stays, and what goes. Decluttering most of the times isn’t an exciting task.

You need to go through all of your stuff and decide what stays and what goes. And it’s a bigger pain in the neck if you have to do it all alone. Try to find a friend or two, or maybe bring a family member and do this task together. There is a good technique that can help you with this boring task- a four-box method. The whole premise behind it is to use four different boxes:

  • A keep box. In this box put everything you want to keep and bring to your new home after you relocate your storage unit.
  • A donate(or sell) box. In this box pack everything you don’t need but can be helpful to other people.
  • A store box. This is a box for the items you want to keep but you don’t have enough space for them in your home, so you will need a storage unit.
  • And a toss box. The last option for your stuff. If you have items that you think is unusable, you will have to toss it.

With this technique, your items will be organized and getting rid of some of them will be a lot easier.

Clean The Storage Unit

storage clean up

Do you remember the day you got your storage unit? It was clean and without any traces of the previous owners. Try to recreate this moment and leave the space as it was the day you have arrived. Sweep it up and don’t forget to remove any spills or stains.

Clean it as best as you can so that new tenants have the experience as good as it was yours. After this, double check everything. Make sure you have packed and cleaned everything.

Remove The Lock

All that is left now is to remove the lock of your storage unit. This lock belongs to you and only you have the keys. If you forget to remove the lock, the storage will still be occupied and new tenants won’t be able to use it even if you relocate your storage unit. If you ever need it again, you can use that same lock or you can focus on finding affordable storage units near your new home.

Find The On-Site Manager

After you empty your space, don’t forget to swing by the manager’s office and let him know that you are leaving. This way, he can inspect your storage unit and also close your account. Also, if you are leaving in advance, you will need to notify them.

The best way will be to give your managers notice prior to paying your next month rent. There will be no misunderstandings and the relocation of your storage unit will be successful and without any problems.

You have emptied your storage unit successfully, congrats! If you’ve noticed some mistakes during the relocating of your storage unit, learn from them and make your next relocation even better.

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