Moving Apartments? 7 Things We've Learned Hauling for First-Time Movers in Nashville
After a few hundred small moves around Nashville, here's the advice we share with first-time movers before we roll up with the enclosed trailer.
We haul for a lot of first-time movers: folks moving out of their first apartment, college students relocating, young families upgrading from a one-bedroom to a starter home. Here's the advice we end up repeating most often when we pull up with the enclosed trailer. It'll make the haul faster and probably save your deposit, too.
1. Heavy stuff goes in first, against the front wall
The front of the trailer is over the axle and the tow vehicle. Heavy items there mean better towing manners and less sway on the interstate. Mattresses, dressers, washer/dryer go on the front wall. We'll coach you through it on the day, but knowing this ahead of time speeds the load up.
2. We bring the straps — let us use them
Bungees stretch. Things shift. Things break. Our crew brings ratchet straps on every haul and we'll strap the load down before we close the door. Two straps across is the bare minimum for a normal apartment move.
3. Pad the corners of furniture you actually like
A moving blanket between the dresser and the wall of the trailer is the difference between "perfect condition" and "where did that gouge come from." We carry blankets. Just ask the crew when we arrive.
4. Leave the door wall a little loose
Leave 18 inches of clearance behind the door before you load the last items. You'd be surprised how often something tumbles out the second you open it at the new place.
5. Boxes go on top, not on the bottom
This sounds obvious, but at 11pm on moving day people forget. Furniture is the foundation. Boxes are the roof.
6. Plan your unload route before we load
Whatever we load last comes out first. If the kitchen boxes need to go in immediately at the new place, they should be the last thing in the trailer. Tell us up front and we'll stage the load that way.
7. Tell us what you're moving when you book
When you text or call, give us a rough inventory. We'll tell you whether the 16-footer is the right call or whether the smaller setup will save you money. We'd rather quote the right haul once than the wrong one twice.
Got a move coming up? Text a photo of the stuff you're hauling and we'll text back a quote.
