You will find few people who will say their moving experience in New York City was a piece of cake. With congested roads and swarms of people, it can be a little challenging at times, but it does not have to be the chaotic and stressful experience you might be picturing. Now, the easiest way to move in this city is by hiring movers. However, if you are determined to rent a truck and handle it yourself, then good for you! Here is everything you need to know about renting a moving truck in NYC.
Parking is Tough
If you already live in the city then you are well aware of the challenges New Yorkers face, when it comes to finding a parking space. One of the reasons so many people simply don’t have a car is because trying to find a parking space anywhere you go is more trouble than it’s worth. Now, if you are moving into the city from somewhere else you might not fully understand what obstacles you might face.
It’s not uncommon for car owners to circle a block half dozen times in hopes of finding a parking space until they end up settling on one pretty far away. This is not a big deal if you are only carrying a few bags of groceries, but you don’t want to haul a heavy bed or sofa from three blocks away. Find out if your landlord has reserved parking you can book for a short period of time. it is uncommon, but worth a try.
Compare Rates
There is a lot of moving truck rental companies to choose from in NYC. U-Haul, Budget, Penske, and Ryder are the common ones, and all have reasonable rates. You will find they all offer trucks in a few different sizes. You will need to make sure you get one the right size to hold all your belongings. You don’t want it too small, or you will be forced to deal with driving and parking twice, but you don’t want it too big because you do have to be able to maneuver and park it. Do make sure you rent your truck ahead of time. If you just show up on moving day, there is a very good chance they will be all gone.
Storage
Ideally, you will be able to move everything you own directly from one place to the next. Sometimes, things do not work out this way. Manhattan Mini Storage will come in handy. This is also ideal if you want to store your snowboard, off-season clothes, or anything else you don’t need all the time. Apartments in NYC tend to be quite small, so you might as well store items you only need sporadically, so you have more room to live. Manhattan Mini Storage also offers a free storage taxi and provides package acceptance, which will be appreciated by anyone who doesn’t have a doorman.
Plan Your Move
You do not want to be trying to drive the streets of NYC during rush hour traffic, especially when you are in a truck that is loaded with blind spots. You want to drive during the off-time. You should also consider tourists and events. For example, if you are moving to a studio apartment on West 51st Street, just across from Rockefeller Center, you probably do not want to schedule your move on the day tourists flock here for the tree lighting ceremony.
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