New York Today: Hiring Movers
Good morning on this shining Wednesday.
Apartment hunting in the city, especially during one of the busiest moving months, is no fun. And then there’s physically packing and hauling your stuff. Oh, and paying for movers, if you go that route.
We reached out to a few moving companies for some free advice on the best and worst times to relocate, and how to be smart about your move.
When’s the most expensive time to move?
Now.
“Moving in the summer season is more expensive than moving in the off-season by roughly 20 or 30 percent,” said Jon Katz, chief executive of Katz Moving in Long Island City, Queens. You can expect lower rates between October and January, he said.
Do prices surge on specific days or weeks of a month?
The stretch between the 26th and the 3rd of any given month is considered peak moving time, when availability is lowest and rates are highest across the industry, according to Mr. Katz. For more competitive pricing, he suggested moving between the 4th and 25th “because they’re further from the lease date.”
There is often more demand to move on Mondays and Fridays, he added, so you may also find lower quotes Tuesday through Thursday.
Continue reading the main storyHow much should I tip?
Jesse Gartman, chief executive of Veteran Movers NYC in West Farms in the Bronx, recommended 15 to 20 percent of the cost of the move, if you got good service.
“Evenly divided between the movers,” Mr. Katz added, “and handed individually to each mover.”
Are there any hidden fees I should watch out for?
You should never be charged for a certificate of insurance or for parking tickets.
“The New York State Department of Transportation forbids licensed moving companies from charging clients for tickets,” Mr. Gartman said.
What else do customers frequently ask about?
Bed bugs. “Make sure your movers dry clean their blankets occasionally, or continuously replace their old blankets with new blankets,” Mr. Katz said.
Elevator times.“If you’re using an hourly rate-based moving company, anything that delays your move, you’re paying for,” Mr. Katz said. “So find out if you have to reserve an elevator window and make sure to do so.”
Sips and snacks for the movers. A nice gesture, Mr. Katz said, but also a timesaver, “because if your movers get really thirsty and hungry and you’re not giving them anything, they’re likely to take a half-hour or hour break in the middle.”
Licenses.“Hire a licensed moving company; there are no guarantees with everything unless you see that regulation,” said Mr. Gartman, referring to the rights and protections in place for clients and movers.
Here’s what else is happening:
Weather
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Say hello to your midweek pick-me-up — a Wednesday with wonderful weather.
After some early patches of fog, we’ll have sunny, clear skies and a high near 89, followed by an evening perfect for staying out late and dancing in the dark.
And the best part? We’re expecting more of the same tomorrow.
In the News
•An American elm fell in Central Park, injuring a mother and her three children. [New York Times]
•Thirty new citizens were sworn in at a ceremony atop One World Trade Center. [New York Times]
•One in seven New York City students will be homeless at some point in elementary school, according to a new report. [New York Times]
•Take a look at Coney Island during predawn hours. [Gothamist]
•A man was slashed on the E train near Canal Street. [DNAinfo]
•Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “Washington Square Park Hearing Test”
•For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Morning Briefing.
Coming Up Today
•The New York Review of Books hosts a conversation about Dorothy B. Hughes’ noir classic, “In a Lonely Place,” at the Mysterious Bookshop in TriBeCa. 6:30 p.m. [Free]
•Bilal, an R&B artist who also experiments with jazz, soul and hip-hop, performs a SummerStage concert in Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. 7 p.m. [Free]
•Join Cash or Crash: Investing in the Drone Revolution, a game show event about investing in the technology, at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 7:30 p.m. [$10, tickets here]
•A sunset screening of “School of Rock” under the stars at Cpl. Thompson Park on Staten Island. 8 p.m. [Free]
•Yankees versus Mets, 7:08 p.m. (SNY).
•Alternate-side parking remains in effect until September 1.
•For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide.
And Finally...
Havana has arrived in Harlem.
The Harlem Havana Music & Cultural Festival, which continues for another week, brings Cuban artists, chefs, designers, dancers and others to the neighborhood to celebrate the longstanding cultural ties between Cuba’s capital and New York City.
A few highlights:
The group Obini Bata performs with the Latin jazz saxophonist César López tonight at 7 (at Riverside Drive and West 122nd Street) and with the pianist Jorge Luis Pacheco on Thursdayat 5 p.m. (at West 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard).
Mr. Pacheco will take the stage again on Friday evening at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, on West 129th Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Fifth Avenue, with the mandolin master Tim Porter and his blues and jazz trio.
And on Saturday, as part of “Summer in the City” along 135th Street, there will be dancing in the streets, a parade, a fashion show and an outdoor film.
You can see the full lineup here.
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