Apartment buildings weren't designed with moving day in mind. Narrow stairwells, no dedicated parking, and hallways that barely fit a sofa are the norm rather than the exception in a lot of San Diego's older buildings.
Getting furniture up and down stairs
Measure your doorways, stairwells, and hallway turns before moving day, so you know in advance what won't make the trip in one piece. A furniture dolly and lifting straps do most of the heavy work; a hand truck alone isn't enough for a flight of stairs. Distribute weight evenly in boxes so nothing throws off the person carrying it, and move slowly rather than rushing a heavy piece around a landing.
Dealing with limited parking
Check your building's and street's parking rules before your move date, including any permit requirements for a moving truck. Some buildings let you reserve a loading zone in advance. Scheduling your move for a weekday morning, rather than a weekend afternoon, usually means more open curb space. A quick note to neighbors about your moving day goes a long way toward avoiding a parking standoff.
Getting through tight hallways and doorways
Disassemble anything too large to angle through a doorway, bed frames and large tables especially, and wrap the pieces to protect them from scrapes during the carry. Plan your path through the building before you start moving boxes, and clear anything blocking it.
Our apartment movers deal with exactly this kind of building every week, from Downtown San Diego high-rises to older walk-ups across the city. For more on planning an apartment move from the start, see our post on apartment moving tips. Call (619) 886-0110 and we'll talk through your building's specific layout.
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