Moving to a new apartment isn’t always easy. Tight spaces, unclear rules, and even hidden fees can quickly derail your carefully laid plans.
To help you avoid any moving-day surprises, we’ve put together this guide on what to know before moving into a city apartment. By the end, you’ll know how to avoid the unexpected costs of moving into an apartment, understand your building’s lease terms and regulations, and learn how to avoid fines.
Know What Date and Time You Can Move In
Moving can be disruptive, and apartments aren’t particularly known for being soundproof. Even if you’re mindful, you can make a lot of noise coming back and forth with boxes or rearranging furniture. Quiet hours often apply in apartment communities, so you may have to plan around them.
Traffic, noise ordinances, and general rules can also affect your move-in. If your building uses an elevator, there may be specific hours or days that management allows you to book it.
Depending on your complex, you may have to move in on a Saturday. Others might specify that you have to move on a weekday when foot traffic is lighter. Check your building’s move-in policies in advance if you have time constraints for getting everything moved in.
Plan the Best Places to Park Your Moving Truck
Moving into an apartment is often more complicated than relocating to a house with a clear driveway. And if you live in the heart of a big city, it can be even harder. Ask your management office about hours, time limits, permits, and where you need to park. If you need a permit, apply as soon as possible so processing times don’t delay your move-in.
Some buildings offer a rear service entrance or loading dock. This can make things easier since you have a designated place to park, but you may have to schedule a block of time to use it.
Ask About Your Apartment’s Unloading Policy
Before moving day, ask your building management about how and where unloading works. Some apartment complexes require you to unload onto a staging area and move your truck away from the loading dock or service entrance as quickly as possible.
“A COI is a Certificate of Insurance. It lets your apartment complex know that your moving company is insured and provides important coverage details, such as policy limits, effective dates, and other key details.”
Others won’t allow you to leave items out, or they’ll require you to keep clear paths for egress. Don’t forget to inform your moving team of any rules or requirements.
Bonus Tip: Know Where to Dispose of Boxes
Many buildings set specific rules for how to dispose of moving boxes and packing materials. Even if a recycling bin is available, they may ask that moving debris not be placed there to prevent it from filling up too quickly.
Your building manager can tell you the preferred way to dispose of boxes. You can also try giving away empty boxes on social media. Or, if you unpack quickly, the movers might be willing to haul the boxes away for you.
Take Floor Protection Seriously
Many buildings require floor protection to prevent damage in shared areas, especially those with hardwood or tile flooring. For example, an area with nice hardwood or marble flooring may require Masonite: wooden hardboards that can prevent damage to the floor while you’re shifting furniture. If you need it, make sure your movers have one on hand. Some buildings may have hardboards available to lend you, so ask ahead of time.
And don’t stop at protecting just the floor. Some management companies require additional protection in doorways and stairwells.
Familiarize Yourself With Your Movers’ Insurance
Most licensed moving companies have to provide basic liability insurance. However, some buildings in big cities require proof of moving insurance or even the purchase of extra policies. That way, if an accident happens, they can recoup the cost quickly. Without insurance, you could be left with hidden apartment move-in fees.
“Even if you’re mindful, you can make a lot of noise coming back and forth with boxes or rearranging furniture. Quiet hours often apply in apartment communities, so you may have to plan around them.”
If you need proof of insurance, tell your moving company as soon as possible. They’ll need time to get a COI form from the office and return it with all the necessary paperwork from their own insurance company. The building may not let you move in if you don’t have the proper paperwork filed, so check carefully.
Review City Apartment Moving Rules
There’s plenty more to know to make your move seamless. Check with your apartment complex about common rules like:
Building move-in hours: Confirm whether there are set moving hours listed in the lease.
Elevator reservations: If you need an elevator reservation, familiarize yourself with the process in advance. Make sure you book the reservation early to get the best date and time for moving day.
COI requirements: A COI is a Certificate of Insurance. It lets your apartment complex know that your moving company is insured and provides important coverage details, such as policy limits, effective dates, and other key details.
Noise and disturbance levels: Evenings and weekends may be subject to noise restrictions. While you shouldn’t be particularly loud while moving, you also want to avoid a costly fine for violating regulations.
Fire safety regulations: While you move, avoid any fire safety violations. Ensure that you never obstruct fire exits or safety equipment.
Parking: Know where to park your moving truck (and where guests should park if friends or family are coming to help you).
Prepare for a Smooth City Move
Ready to make your move as smooth as possible? Check out our moving checklist to make sure you have all the necessary supplies, such as dollies, stretch wrap, and moving blankets.
Additionally, if you’re moving on a narrow city street or to the top of a towering apartment building, let us know. We make budgeting for apartment moves easy by providing clear, upfront quotes from local moving companies. Compare services and book trusted, vetted, and highly rated movers through HireAHelper’s online platform.
2024 Study: Moving Scams Falling in the US, But Growing Costlier
Moving scams and associated fraud are projected to decline by 9% in 2024
The total financial toll of moving scams is projected to be $32.2 million, 5% more than last year
A typical moving scam has cost Americans 23% more so far in 2024 (median of $431) compared to last year’s total ($350)
“Issues with quotes and charges” (18%), “Deceptive business practices “(16%), and “Missing documentation” (14%) are the most common moving scams so far in 2024
Local Insights
Ohio (-77%) and Arizona (-72%) are set to see the biggest drop in moving scams
Moving scams are on the rise in Alabama (+106%) and North Carolina (+96%)
In Florida, one moving scam complaint is registered for every 262 moves, the worst ratio in the U.S.
Miami, FL (75) and Port St. Lucie, FL (71) are cities most affected by moving scams, roughly 1 scam for every 70 moves
Moving scams continue to persist, but by how much?
Lack of documentation to significant damage to transported items
No-shows
Hostage loads
And more
What about this year? In this study, we explore the most recent trends in moving scams, see which scam and fraud types are the most prevalent, and highlight the states and cities where moving scams appear to be on the rise.
Moving Scams Projected To Decline by 9% Year-Over-Year, But Costlier
According to the FMCSA’s data on the first five months of this year, complaints against moving companies in 2024 are poised to decline by 9% year-over-year.
That doesn’t mean they don’t exist. A moving scam complaint is filed with the FMCSA for 1 in every 4,000 moves in the country, and as of June 1st, 2024, the FMCSA received 2,612 complaints against moving companies.
The median amount lost to a moving scam last year was $350. Thus far in 2024, the amount lost per scam is 23% higher, which is $431 per move.
If the number of moving scams seems small, it’s worth remembering that only a small percentage of all scams get reported to organizations like the FMCSA. How few, exactly? The current estimate is around 5%, according to an analysis by the Federal Trade Commission, and 10%, according to Better Business Bureau’s estimates.
Also, most scams (like most moves) take placeduring the summer, which we are currently only partly through. With up to 30% of Americans planning to move this year, the final figures at the end of the year may look different.
Even though moving fraud appears to be declining nationally, there are states and cities where it continues to pose a significant problem for folks looking to move.
Moving Scams by State: Up in Alabama, Down in Ohio, Most Prolific in Florida
While moving scams appear to be on a downward trend in 2024 nationally, that is unfortunately not the case in all the U.S. states and cities.
In reality, moving scams are on the rise in a fair few states. In Alabama (+106%) and North Carolina (+95%) they are rising the fastest, as they’ve had roughly twice as many scam complaints submitted against moving companies so far in 2024 than during the same time period last year.
Other states, where FMCSA has registered a significant uptick in the number of moving scam complaints are Colorado (+52%) and Kansas (+46%). Also worth nothing are New Jersey (1 scam for every 442 moves), Nevada (722), and Connecticut (853).
State
% change YoY
State
% change YoY
Alabama
+106%
Ohio
-75%
North Carolina
+96%
Arizona
-72%
Colorado
+52%
Indiana
-67%
Kansas
+44%
Tennessee
-59%
Nevada
+26%
New York
-56%
Missouri
+23%
Washington
-46%
Georgia
+15%
California
-43%
Mississippi
+14%
Illinois
-38%
Texas
+13%
Maryland
-33%
Oregon
+12%
Virginia
-32%
On the other hand, states that are seeing the greatest decrease in reported fraudulent activities are Ohio (-75%) and Arizona (-72%). Indiana (-67%), Tennessee (-59%), and New York (-53%) round off the top five states where moving scams are in decline with year-over-year decreases in fraud reports well over 50%.
Another honorable mention for improvements goes to Florida — a state with a 27% decline in scam complaints about moving companies so far in 2024. Yet despite this recent reduction in scam complaints, Florida still leads the nation in how common moving scams are there; nationally, the average rate is one scam per every 4,000 moves, but Florida has one scam complaint for every 262 moves that take place in the Sunshine State.
The States With the Fewest Moving Scams
Conversely, scams are rarest in Maine (1 in 8,630 moves) and Delaware (1 in 8,590 moves). But it’s not only the less-populated states where scams are rare. In Arizona, a scam complaint is lodged for every 7,625 moves and in Texas, there’s one for every 7,055.
To see how common (or rare) moving scams are in other states, check out our interactive map above.
Moving Scams by Metropolitan Area: Bigger in Birmingham, Tapering off in Tampa
First and foremost, it is important to point out that of the 37 metropolitan areas for which enough data is available, 25 are seeing moving scam complaints decline year-over-year. Sadly, that still leaves 12 where scams are on the rise.
“…Florida has one scam complaint for every 262 moves that take place in the Sunshine State.”
Based on the number of scam complaints in the first five months of 2024, moving scams are rising fastest in the metro areas of Birmingham, AL (+163%), Houston, TX (+153%), and Charlotte, NC (+124%).
Echoing state findings, Denver, CO (+32%) and Las Vegas, NV (+24%) are experiencing an increase in moving scam complaints on par with their respective states.
Metro
% change YoY
City
% change YoY
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
163%
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
-83%
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
153%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
-80%
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
124%
Rochester, NY
-79%
Toledo, OH
69%
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
-72%
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL
64%
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
-72%
Raleigh, NC
58%
Fort Wayne, IN
-69%
St. Louis, MO-IL
56%
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
-67%
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
32%
Huntsville, AL
-62%
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
24%
Jacksonville, FL
-59%
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
19%
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
-59%
At the same time, moving scams appear to be dropping the fastest in the Tampa, FL area (-83%) and the Seattle, WA (-80%) metropolitan area. In keeping with the state-level trend, two metros in Indiana post significant declines in moving scam complaints: Indianapolis, IN (-72%), and Fort Wayne, IN (-69%).
As some metropolitan areas have low and declining rates of moving scams, in others they are exceedingly common. In Miami, FL (75) and Port St. Lucie, FL (71) metros, for example, a moving scam happens once in every 70-odd moves. That is astoundingly common, considering the average rate across the major metropolitan areas is 1 scam in 1,000 moves.
Two major metropolitan areas below that average line are Las Vegas, NV and New York, NY, where scams occur once for every 668 and 784 moves, respectively.
In the Houston, TX metro where scams have been increasing, they still occur once for every 15,591 moves – the rarest among all metropolitan areas, where data was available. In the Boston, MA metro only 1 in every 14,125 moves is affected by a scam, while in the Seattle, WA metro the scams-to-moves ratio is 1 to 10,661.
The Most Common Types of Moving Scams in 2024
As moving scams continue to plague certain parts of the country, what kinds of things are movers getting away with?
Among the categories distinguished by the FMCSA, the following three scam complaints are the most common:
1. Estimates/Final Charges: (18%)
These complaints include movers refusing to honor a pre-agreed binding estimate, a form of payment, and/or insisting on charging more than 10% over what was agreed.
2. Deceptive Business Practices (16%)
This category spans a broad range of fraud, such as false advertising, operating without or with an invalid insurance policy, companies requesting payment for services not rendered, and so on.
3. Shipment Documents (14%)
Complaints in this category have to do with missing documentation, such as confirmed inventory, bill of landing, or any other documents pertaining to the move.
Other fairly common causes for complaints are “Loss and Damage” (11%), “Pickup and Delivery” i.e., the “no-show” (10%), and “Claim Settlement“, i.e., when moving companies refuse to settle a customer complaint or participate in arbitration (10%).
It’s worth noting the “Hostage Load” (i.e., moving company withholding people’s possessions until a ransom is paid) category of complaints is what prompted FMCSA to launch a “national crackdown” on moving scams last year. And that looks to have worked, as only 147 such complaints have been filed so far in 2024, compared to 204 at the same time last year, amounting to a 28% decline in this type of moving scam.
Issues Around Estimates and Charges Dominate Scam Complaints in 17 States
Scams that have to do with moving cost estimates and charges are the #1 most common in a total of 17. This includes Alabama and Colorado, i.e., the states where the number of scams is increasing, as well as the nation’s biggest states in Texas, New York, and California.
Deceptive businesses are most prevalent in nine states, including Florida, Virginia, and Tennessee. Loss and damage of items is the most-complained-about issue with moving in seven states including Utah, Missouri, and Kansas.
In Delaware and Indiana, the top cause for complaints against movers has to do with Shipment and Documents, while claim settlement is the top issue in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Minnesota.
How To Avoid Getting Scammed When Moving
To be sure, moving scams are declining. Part of the reason for this could be the FMCSA’s continued effort to crack down on fraudulent moving companies and bad actors in the industry, which was redoubled earlier this year.
Another contributing factor is is the increasing number of moves booked via established mover-vetting platforms like MovingPlace and HireAHelper. When people can comparison shop and accurately price their move before booking, they are far more protected from easy to pull off moving scams.
With all this in mind, it still pays to be vigilant when moving. Here’s what we recommend to avoid getting scammed:
Shop around
Compare multiple quotes to avoid scams and ensure a good deal. Beware of significantly lower or higher quotes, lack of concrete details, absence of written contracts, and excessive down-payments.
Research your mover
Legitimate moving companies have a website and listings on platforms like Yelp or HireAHelper. A lack of online presence or frequent name changes may indicate a suspicious company.
Check their reviews
Look up what previous customer said about the mover you’re looking at and avoid companies with a history of dissatisfied customers on review-aggregating websites like Yelp and the BBB.
Keep a detailed inventory
Create a detailed list of packed items and consider taking photographs. Being organized helps prevent theft and identify missing items after the move.
Protect your most valuable possessions
You can get a few lockable moving boxes and properly pad fragile items to prevent tampering or theft.
Consider getting insurance
Moving insurance can protect against financial losses due to damaged or lost items. Third-party insurance is recommended in case of fraudulent moving companies.
Median was used to estimate the typical cost of a moving scam, as listed on the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker.
To estimate the projected total of moving complaints for 2024, an assumption was made that, given 65% of moves take place from July through December (HireAHelper’s multi-year average 2019-2023), 65% of moving scams would also occur in the same period.
For year-over-year comparisons, only states with a total of 100 and cities with a total of 50 moving complaints in 2023 and 2024 were included.
More than 338,000 Americans moved to retire in 2023, an increase of 44% compared to 2022
Florida is the top destination for retirement moves that crossed state lines, attracting 11% of them in 2023
California (18%) and New York (11%) have the highest share of retirees moving to new states
Miami-Fort-Lauderdale, FL is the #1 metro for retirement moves, with 12.3% of them headed to this area in Florida
Nearly a quarter (23%) of all Americans moving to retire were early retirees aged under 55
The year 2023 was a big year for retirement moves!
According to the U.S. Census Bureau data, retirement moves reached a three-year high! With housing markets cooling off, inflation slowing down, and social security benefits increasing, it’s no surprise that 44% more Americans moved in retirement compared to in 2022.
How else have these developments affected moving after retirement in 2023? Where did retirees relocate to, and which places did they leave behind?
In this latest edition of our annual retirement moves study, we look at trends that shaped moving in retirement in 2023, highlight top origins and destinations, and zoom in on the changing demographics of retirees on the move.
Bucking the Trend: Retirement Moves Continued Rising Through 2023
In 2023, when the share of Americans who moved fell to a historic low of 7.8%, retirement moves registered a 44% growth compared to the year prior. That equates to more than 338,000 Americans moving to retire in 2023 — the highest in three years.
This means that after falling briefly during COVID, the number of Americans moving to retire has grown for the third consecutive year.
Similarly to the findings in our previousstudies of moving for retirement, Americans who moved at this stage of their lives were more likely to relocate to a different state last year. A quarter (25%) of retirement moves in the U.S. in 2023 crossed state lines, compared to 18% of moves overall.
Sun, Sun, Sun: Florida Tops State Destination Rankings, Again
For those Americans choosing to retire out of state, Florida was again the number one destination in 2023. The Sunshine Stateattracted around one in ten (11%) of all retirement moves that went to a different state.
South Carolina gave Florida a good run for its money as the destination for 10% of all cross-state retirement moves in 2023. Meanwhile, New Jersey and Texas each accounted for roughly 6% of such moves, respectively.
“The 2023 crop of retirees on the move was significantly younger…37% of them were under the age of 65, including 23% who were under 55.”
As for the states retirees are leaving, the greatest share of relocating retirees came from California, with 18% of all retirement moves that crossed state lines originating in California. New York contributed a further 11% of retirees seeking a new place to live outside their home state.
Curiously enough, states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania appear on both receiving and leaving lists. This has to do with the fact that while many people do move to Florida and New Jersey for retirement, a similar amount of people are leaving these states too.
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Miami Remains a Retirement Magnet: Top Metros for Retirees on the Move
In another victory for Florida,Miami-Fort Lauderdale was the top destination for retirement moves in 2023.
This metro located right on the Atlantic coast is well within its right to attract many of those seeking a great place to retire. Highland Beach — one of Fort Lauderdale’s suburbs — ranks #3 as the best place to retire according to Niche.com, while Miami is in the fourth spot of CN Traveller’s ranking of best retirement destinations.
And even though the cost of living in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro is on the rise, it’s still significantly lower than in the U.S. biggest cities.
“In 2023, when the share of Americans who moved fell to a historic low of 7.8%, retirement moves registered a 44% growth compared to the year prior. That equates to more than 338,000 Americans moving to retire…”
Retirees with money
The fact that two Californian metros feature on the top 10 list of retirement move destinations in 2023 suggests two parallel trends within retirement moves.
Retirees with a good amount of savings and high pensions are likely moving to metros like Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL and San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA. Folks looking to save money in retirement, on the other hand, are more likely to choose El Paso, TX, and Kansas City, MO-KS — areas where settling down for retirement won’t cost a fortune.
To browse states and metros you may be interested in, check out the interactive map below:
Health and Family: Key Reason Behind Retirement Moves in 2023
Besides retirement itself, some of the most common reasons contributing to retirement movies in 2023, according to a recent U.S. Census Bureau moving data report, were said to do with family and health. “Better housing” and “cheaper housing” did remain relevant, but they’re not driving as many moves as they did in 2022.
It’s worth noting that “other family reason” was most often clarified to mean adding a new family member (e.g., pregnant, had a baby, adoption), moving with family member(s), or assisting or taking care of family members.
Because adding a new family member is unlikely for someone of retirement age, it’s safe to assume that the majority of retirees who moved citing “other family reason” did so to be closer to family, either to help take care of them or to receive care themselves.
“…the median household income of retirees who moved in 2023 was $88,347, which is 17% higher than a typical household income in the United States…”
This is consistent with the findings of our study of the Sandwich Generation — meaning adults “sandwiched” between taking care of their aging (and likely retired) parents, and their children.
More than a quarter (26%) of the respondents in our Sandwich Generation survey were considering moving their parents closer to give them the care they need, and 24% were thinking about their parent(s) moving in with them. With so many retirees factoring in family and health into their moves in 2023, it’s likely this emerging trend is already starting to unfold.
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Younger, Wealthier, and Most Likely Single: The Demographics of Retirees Moving in 2023
One standout feature of 2023 moving retirees is that they were overwhelmingly more likely to be single. (Or, at the very least, not married.)
In 2022, more than half (55%) of retirees moving were spouses. But last year, that share dropped to just 45% — the lowest percentage ever on record.
The 2023 crop of retirees on the move was significantly younger as well, as 37% of them were under the age of 65, including 23% who were under 55. Compare this to just 26% of 2022 retirees who were under 55.
In another change compared to 2022, a third (33%) of American retirees moving in 2023 were people of color, up from 14% the year before.
Finally, the median household income of retirees who moved in 2023 was $88,347, which is 17% higher than a typical household income in the United States, according to the latest data. It is also 35% higher than the median income of someone moving into retirement last year, which was just above $65,000.
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Moving Scams Projected To Decline by 9% Year-Over-Year, But Costlier
