By:

Sydney Brodie

Posted:

July 24, 2025

Article type:

Moving Help & Tips

Applies to:

Local Moving

Lease to Lease: Top Apartment Moving Tips - How to Move Quickly and Easily

Moving into a new apartment can feel like a whirlwind. With lease deadlines, packing chaos, and tight elevators to contend with, it’s no wonder so many people dread the process. But here’s the good news: a smooth, efficient apartment move is possible—and even easy—with the right strategies.

At Bailey’s Moving and Storage, we’ve spent over 70 years helping people across Colorado and Utah with their moving needs. With thousands of apartment moves under our belt, we’ve seen it all—and we’re here to share our best apartment moving tips to help you stay sane and on schedule.

1. Be Proactive: Start Early and Start an Apartment Moving Checklist

A structured moving checklist is your best friend. It keeps your head clear and your timeline intact. Begin 4–6 weeks before your move-out date with tasks like:

Notifying your landlord

Scheduling movers or a truck rental

Collecting boxes and packing supplies

Transferring or canceling utilities

Submitting change-of-address forms

Breaking your move into bite-sized weekly tasks makes everything more manageable—and avoids that frantic 48-hour scramble.

2. Declutter Like You Mean It

Moving is a golden opportunity to lighten your load. Go room-by-room and sort items into:

Keep

Donate

Toss

Sell

Apartments have limited space, so be ruthless—especially with clothes, decor, and kitchenware you rarely use. The less you move, the easier (and cheaper) it is.

Feeling overwhelmed by all your stuff and not sure where to start? Check out our blog to learn more about some of the most popular decluttering methods. Following a decluttering method gives you a place to start and makes the process go much faster.

3. Pack with a Plan

Packing might seem straightforward, but smart packing can shave hours off your move. Follow these tips:

Pack by room and label every box clearly

Use clothing, towels, and blankets as cushioning

Disassemble furniture in advance

Keep essentials (toiletries, change of clothes, snacks) in a separate “first night” bag—more on this later

These apartment moving tips ensure that everything ends up where it belongs, and nothing gets forgotten.

4. Be Strategic About Your Move Date

If possible, try not to move at the end or beginning of the month. That’s when most leases turn over and elevator reservations disappear fast. Moving mid-month or mid-week can reduce costs and stress.

Pro tip: Reserve your apartment movers or truck early. In hot rental markets, availability disappears fast.

5. Know the Rules of Your Building

Apartments often have strict moving guidelines:

Reserved elevator time slots

Limited parking access

Designated move-in hours

Insurance requirements for movers

Check with your current and new buildings well in advance so you don’t get hit with surprise restrictions or fees on moving day.

6. Get Help—Don’t Go It Alone

While a DIY move might sound economical, it often leads to frustration, delays, and injury (we’re looking at you, stairwells). Hiring experienced apartment movers makes a world of difference, especially in urban environments.

Movers know how to:

Navigate tight hallways and elevators

Protect your furniture and walls

Load and unload efficiently

Handle the move safely and quickly

If you’re wondering how to move quickly, professional help is the answer.

7. Prep for Your First Night

After a long moving day, the last thing you’ll want to do is rummage through boxes for toilet paper or a phone charger. Pack a “first night kit” with:

Bedding

Toiletries

Chargers

A couple of outfits

Basic kitchen items (coffee, mugs, utensils)

This small step makes your first night feel like home, not chaos.

Ready to Move? Let Bailey’s Moving and Storage Handle It

With over 70 years of experience, Bailey’s Moving and Storage is the trusted local choice for apartment moving in Colorado and Utah. Our expert crews take the stress out of your move, whether you’re headed across town or to a new city.

Let us help you go from lease to lease with ease.

➡️ Get your custom apartment move quote today and discover how smooth moving apartments can really be.

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