You might get a surprise job offer, find out that your lease is not going to be renewed, or some other circumstance in your life might force you to move in a short amount of time. This kind of move in Chicago can be difficult because of issues with parking, access to your building, use of elevators, traffic, and other restrictions in certain neighborhoods that can impact your move on the day that you move.
The good news is that even at the last minute, a successful move can be organized. The important things have to be done in due course, and it is best to contract an experienced moving company as soon as one decides on a move to a new location. A good number of professional Chicago movers handle short-notice relocations and other kinds of emergency moves. Thus, they will deal with the move’s physical parts while you attend to other things, including a mountain of paperwork and the various requirements of your new building.
How Quickly Can You Arrange a Last-Minute Move?
There is no fixed time frame for an emergency move, and availability is determined by a number of factors, including the proposed moving date, size of the household, amount of furniture and other items to be moved, and number of movers required, as well as access times to apartments.
While smaller apartment moves often require less time to plan than a complete household move, it is not wise to assume availability. The end and beginning of the month are peak moving times, as are weekends and popular seasonal moving dates.
Even with only a few days’ notice, it’s never too late to contact and book a removal company. We recommend that you provide your removal company with as much information as possible at the initial contact stage, including an accurate inventory of goods to be moved, along with both the pickup and delivery addresses, details of stairs/elevators, and any unusually heavy items. This allows the removal company to be able to advise whether a requested date is possible.
Choose a Moving Company Experienced With Short-Notice Moves
When time is limited, choosing the right moving company becomes especially important. You need professionals who understand Chicago neighborhoods, apartment and condominium buildings, stairways, elevators, and the challenges associated with loading trucks in busy areas.
2 Guys and a Van provides short-notice and emergency moving services in addition to residential moving, apartment and condominium moving, office moving, labor-only services, and intra-building moves.
When asking for an estimate, do not try to save time by not including important details in the move. Details such as stairs, long carries, oversized items, difficult entry points, and extra stops, to name a few, can greatly impact the amount of labor needed for your move.
Pack What Matters Instead of Packing Everything
Although you might not want to consider all the possessions you have accumulated over the years for a short-notice move, it would be a waste of your time to pack items that you don’t want to keep and move them to your new home.
Start in the home one room at a time and sort through the items to see what will be moved and what can be donated, thrown away, or dealt with at a later date. Items such as clothes that no longer fit, broken household goods, and duplicate kitchen items, as well as unused furniture, can increase the time it takes to pack and move.
Use smaller boxes for heavy items such as books, canned goods, etc. Use larger boxes for lightweight items like bedding, pillows, etc. Label the boxes clearly with the name of the room where it needs to be placed at the new address.
If professional packing assistance is available for your desired move date, we can even do some or all of the packing for you to help make your move day even easier!
Handle Address Changes and Utilities Immediately
It’s easy to get distracted by all the various items such as boxes and furniture when planning a move. As your move date gets closer, turning on utilities at your new address and updating your mailing address are simple administrative tasks to complete.
The following accounts will likely require an update of your address: electricity, gas, internet, insurance, financial accounts, employers, and all types of subscription services. Your mail will continue to be forwarded to you for a certain period of time.
Confirmation emails and other important moving documents should be kept together and easily accessible during the rest of the relocation.
Confirm Chicago Parking and Building Requirements
Chicago is a challenging city for a move due to the various access restrictions. The availability of parking spaces in a certain neighborhood or in front of a building can differ greatly. Find out in advance where you can park your moving truck for loading.
If you are an apartment, condominium, or high-rise resident, notify your building’s management team as soon as possible. Some buildings have restrictions on moving times, may require reservations for elevator use, have specific loading zones, and may even ask for proof of insurance by the moving company.
Just because you had certain requirements at your old address does not mean that you can expect to have the same requirements at your new address. Verify the specific requirements of both your old and new addresses and inform your movers of any special instructions prior to their arrival.
When looking for a moving truck, it’s also important to consider the parking for the addresses on the Dense Neighborhood list. As with curb access, the parking requirements for the specific addresses will often be different from the general rules for the area. Check to find out what’s applicable.
Keep Important Documents and Valuables With You
Small items often are packed at the last minute and inadvertently are packed in the wrong boxes. This is why items like passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards, financial documents, jewelry, medications, keys, and other personal items are best to keep with you.
Keep these items in a bag or container and transport them in your personal vehicle rather than putting them in the moving truck.
It’s also a good time to safeguard your critical digital information. Make sure your key computers, external hard drives, and other critical equipment are easily accessible should you need to depart immediately for work.
Prepare a First-Night Essentials Box
An organized move can still leave you surrounded by boxes at the end of the day. The first-night box helps you to avoid searching through all your boxes when you are tired.
For your immediate entry needs, include in this box items like toiletries, medications, chargers, bedding, basic clothing, pet supplies and essentials for your kitchen. Make sure this box is clearly marked and is easily accessible when you arrive.
For families with young children, it will also be helpful to bring favorite bedtime items and toys to make the first night in their new home as comfortable as possible.
Communicate Clearly With Your Movers
When there is little time to prepare for a move, communication with the moving company is critical. Let them know about stairs and elevators, loading restrictions, oversized furniture, safes, gym equipment, and anything else that may require special planning.
It’s also very helpful to have someone available to answer questions and to direct the crew during the move. Often this person cannot be there and we arrange for someone to act on our behalf who can make decisions as necessary and access both properties.
Last-minute changes must be communicated as quickly as possible, as additional stops, changed addresses, or a large amount of extra goods can affect the whole moving plan.
Consider Labor-Only Help When You Already Have Transportation
A short-notice move does not always require a full-service moving truck. If you already rented a truck, POD, U-Pack, ABF container, or another transportation option, professional labor can still make the move considerably easier.
Loading professionally ensures that you make full use of the space on a truck or in a container in the best possible way to avoid any damage to items, furniture, and boxes.
Protect Yourself During a Fast Move
Acting with urgency can lead people to skip meals, lift heavy objects like furniture that they shouldn’t, and work for long hours without getting enough rest. These trade-offs can result in injuries very quickly.
Drink lots of water, eat regularly, and let the professionals move large, bulky furniture. Be sure to clear large amounts of snow and ice from your walkways before your movers arrive during cold Chicago weather. During warmer weather, have plenty of water on hand and refrain from storing items that will be affected by temperature in direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
On time is important; safe is more important. Don’t sacrifice your safety for a few minutes.
Stay Flexible When Plans Change
Many things can happen during a move, despite careful planning. On the way to move day, there may be traffic, weather, elevator or building problems and other restrictions that affect access. When a move is planned at short notice, flexibility is particularly important.
Communicate with your movers and with your building’s management team throughout the move. Unexpected problems can arise, and it is best to deal with them as they occur to prevent them from affecting other parts of your move.
Movers with experience moving in Chicago are regularly dealing with stairs, elevators, apartment buildings, and narrow access points. Having the correct information will allow them to handle unexpected changes that arise while moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a moving company handle a short-notice move in Chicago?
Yes. 2 Guys and a Van carry out short-notice and emergency moves. The company will advise on availability for a specified date, based on the crew’s schedule, size of move, and other factors. It is best to contact and confirm with the company as soon as possible.
How far in advance should I normally book Chicago movers?
Book about 30 days before your preferred date for more flexibility, and be aware that the start and end of months can be very busy. It is sometimes possible to book on shorter notice, but this does depend on availability.
Can movers help if I already rented a moving truck?
Yes. Labor-only moving companies can send professional movers to assist with loading or unloading your rental truck or portable moving container. They will not transport anything for you.
What should I tell movers when booking a last-minute move?
Provide accurate pickup and delivery addresses, your preferred moving date, an inventory of major belongings, information about stairs and elevators, parking or loading restrictions, and details about oversized or unusually heavy items. Accurate information helps the movers plan the appropriate crew and equipment.
Make Your Last-Minute Chicago Move More Manageable
With a last-minute move in Chicago, you have no time to waste. Concentrate on the essential things. Check the building’s rules and parking in good time. Make sure you have all important documents with you. And be sure to communicate correctly with your moving company.
When you need professional Chicago movers for a short-notice or emergency relocation, 2 Guys and a Van provides residential moving, apartment and condominium moving, labor-only assistance, and other moving services throughout Chicago, IL. Contact the team as soon as your moving date is known to discuss current availability and request an estimate.
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