Many Williamsburg and Greenpoint rentals are newer buildings with a lobby, amenities and a property manager who schedules every move. The good news: the rules are written down. The catch: you have to follow them exactly, or the elevator is not yours when the truck arrives.
The move reservation
Most new buildings ask you to reserve a move date and time through management or a resident app. Expect a set window, a freight or service elevator with pads, and sometimes a refundable deposit. Book as early as you can; month-end dates go first.
The certificate of insurance (COI)
Almost every managed building asks for a COI from the moving company that lists the building and its management as certificate holders or additional insureds. Ask for the sample and forward it to us as soon as you have it. We send the COI your building asks for.
Loading and street space
Ask management where movers must load: a loading area, a side entrance or the curb. Many waterfront streets are busy, so a set loading spot saves time. The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (I-278) is an interstate open to trucks; New York keeps commercial vehicles off its parkways and on interstates and truck routes (NYSDOT: highways for commercial traffic).
Older buildings and walk-ups nearby
Not every apartment in the area is new. Many blocks still have walk-ups and wood-frame houses with narrow stairs. If you are moving from a walk-up into a new building, plan the hard end first: the stairs.
Amenity buildings and shared elevators
Some new buildings have one freight elevator for hundreds of units. That is why move windows are short and strict. Be ready when the window starts: boxes packed and closed, furniture emptied, and a clear path from the door to the elevator. A late start eats into a window that cannot be extended.
What to put in your estimate request
Send both addresses, the move window you booked, the floors, the elevator details and photos of large pieces. The estimate is free and in writing; call (929) 339-6014 or use the quote form on our home page.
Moving across the river
If you are moving from Williamsburg to Manhattan at or below 60th Street, the truck enters the MTA’s Congestion Relief Zone, which has a toll (MTA: Congestion Relief Zone). Your written estimate should say how tolls are handled.
A short checklist
- Reserve the move window and elevator in both buildings.
- Send the COI sample to your mover a week ahead.
- Find out where the truck can load and for how long.
- Change your address with USPS; online requests need an identity check (USPS: change your address).
- Keep fobs, keys and the building contact number in one place.
Questions we hear
What is a COI and why does my building want one?
A certificate of insurance shows the moving company is insured. Managed buildings ask for one listing the building as certificate holder; ask for the sample and send it to your mover.
How early should I book my building’s move window?
As soon as you know the date. Month-end windows are the first to fill.
Can moving trucks use the BQE?
Yes. The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is an interstate (I-278). Trucks stay off parkways.
How do I get a free written estimate?
Call (929) 339-6014 or use the quote form on our home page.
Free written estimate: call (929) 339-6014 or use the quote form on our home page. Family business since 1999 · U.S. DOT No. 967970 (MC-432549) · NYSDOT 34875 · NJPM 000930 · Company facts
More moving guides
- Park Slope Brownstone Moves: Stoops, Parlor Floors and Tight Stairs
- Moving in Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst: Two-Family Houses, the Belt Parkway Rule and the Verrazzano
- Bushwick and Bed-Stuy Walk-Up Moves: Rowhouses, Narrow Stairs and Planning the Carry
- Moving in Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO: Historic Streets, Cobblestones and Bridge Truck Rules