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\n Illustration: Zach Hackman\n <\/p>\n
You incessantly scrolled through StreetEasy, dodged ghosting brokers, and finally found a place to live. Congrats! Now it\u2019s time to move your stuff. Writer Cassie Hurwitz tracked down the best moving companies, professional packers, and tips for loading everything into your new home.<\/p>\n
Many movers take reservations at least two weeks out during popular times, says Rick Carruthers, the owner of Sven Moving<\/a>, and deposits are often refundable. Moving on the first or last of the month will be expensive and busy; scheduling for a random day is cheaper and calmer. \u201cThe 26th to the 2nd is what we call \u2018hell week,\u2019\u201d says Lou DeFabrizio of Lou Moves You<\/a>.<\/p>\n Use quotes from multiple companies to attempt to secure a cheaper price from your top pick. Just note: The quality of service by big-name companies can be inconsistent because their businesses rely on seasonal subcontractors.<\/p>\n You can rent a nine-foot U-Haul cargo van (from $20 per day) or a 20-foot truck (from $40), which is better for moving a two- or three-bedroom. Adding someone from Taskrabbit will cost anywhere from $40 to $80 an hour.<\/p>\n A medium-size, climate-controlled unit in its Chelsea location starts at $99 a month. If you need to store your stuff for only one night, look for a mover like Liberty Moving & Storage<\/a> or Sven Moving that charges by the weight and length of time stored and won\u2019t commingle your stuff with other people\u2019s.<\/p>\n Joanna Muenz, a photo director in Queens, paid Oz Moving<\/a> $3,000 to pack up her family of four. \u201cWhat would\u2019ve taken me weeks took them a few hours,\u201d she says. If you\u2019re packing for yourself or live in a studio or one-bedroom, again, Taskers are your best bet.<\/p>\n This saves you a ton of energy during the packing process, says Olivia Hyde, an account director who has moved almost every year of her life, including four times within New York City.<\/p>\n While the original New York Couch Doctor<\/a> (516-779-1720) is famed for disassembling bulky furniture in emergency situations 24\/7, the charge is anywhere from a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars. Similar services like Couch Doctor NYC<\/a> (from $450; 347-509-5003), Dr. Sofa<\/a> (from $250; 888-837-7632), and Jose Nunez (from $250; 347-446-8879) can take apart sectionals and large pieces such as kitchen tables.<\/p>\n This is especially appropriate for a $1,000-plus move, but don\u2019t be a miser if it\u2019s a smaller job. It\u2019s customary to hand over cash to the foreman; they\u2019ll distribute it evenly to each mover, according to Matt Graber, the co-owner of Cool Hand Movers<\/a>. But Venmo or Zelle is often ideal (\u201cThe last thing you want is that tip falling out of your pocket when moving up and down stairs,\u201d says DeFabrizio).<\/p>\n In addition to vacuuming and mopping, Wizard will clean the insides of windows, closets, and cabinets. Si Se Puede Women\u2019s Cooperative<\/a> (from $145) is another favorite, and Butch4Hire<\/a>, a do-it-all company marketed to queer folks, does apartment cleaning starting at $100.<\/p>\n Thank you for subscribing and supporting our journalism.![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/98da55d8eecc22e9739808ae2a2deb6af9-Secondary-One-Page-Spot-1.rsquare.w570.jpg\")
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\n If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the August 24, 2026, issue of
\n New York\u00a0Magazine.<\/p>\n