Ted and I are professional real estate agents in Pittsburgh, and although we specialize in helping people find their dream homes, we’re no stranger to the exhausting process of moving.
We’ve done it nearly half a dozen times as a couple—and once across state lines!
When we moved to New Jersey, Ted and I drove out to NJ a week early to manage the move and get the place ready for our kids. Here's the van when we had everyone packed up for the drive to our new home.
And although the day you move is always long and tiring (especially now that we have four kids), we’ve found a few ways to make the process a little easier, regardless of where you’re moving in Pittsburgh.
8 Ways to Have an Easier Move in Pittsburgh
Here are some of the best tips we’ve found over the years:
1. Secure parking through the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works.
If you’d like to guarantee convenient parking for your moving truck on the day of your move in Pittsburgh, contact the Department of Public Works on Second Avenue. They can provide “No Parking” signs for you to place at both your start location and your end location ahead of your move, virtually ensuring easy parking throughout the day.
Department of Public Works contact information:
Phone: 412-255-8850
Address: 611 2nd Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
2. If you drive your own moving truck, pay close attention to road signs and take wide turns when necessary.
If you’ve driven sedans your whole life, climbing into a 25-foot moving truck can feel like a big transition—especially if you have to travel along any of Pittsburgh’s narrow, congested streets.
Driving a moving truck is just like driving a regular car, but you’re going to take up more space on the road.
To make sure you and others stay safe, pay close attention to road signs, especially those regarding max height and weight.
In addition, if you have any tight right turns, be sure to take them a little wider than usual so that you don’t risk damaging the right side of the truck.
3. Pack a separate box for your first night.
Moving is exhausting, and you might not have the energy to dig through your boxes for toiletries, clothing, and medication when you’re done. Do yourself a favor and dedicate a separate “Open Me First” box containing:
Chargers
Toothbrush
Soap
Shampoo
The next day’s clothes
Medicine
4. Don’t spend a fortune on boxes.
You can always head to Lowe’s or Home Depot to pay for heavy duty cardboard boxes, but that’s often unnecessary. You’ll likely find strong, sturdy boxes for free at places like:
Fine Wine & Good Spirits (various neighborhoods)
Big box stores (think Costco and Sam’s Club)
Aldi (various neighborhoods)
5. Get creative and detailed in your labeling.
Labeling your boxes significantly simplifies your move-in day, especially if you have friends helping who didn’t pack the boxes themselves. To make sure you have your bases covered:
Use a thick marker that’s easy to read on your boxes (and preferably written on the top to help the people carrying them).
List the contents of the box out so that you know exactly what’s inside.
Write the room that the box should go into. This makes unpacking much easier!
We’ve also heard of people taking pictures of box contents with a Polaroid instant camera, then taping the photo right on top. This can save you the time of listing out every single item (a picture is worth 1,000 words, right?). Plus, that camera can help you capture a few memories during your move!
Inside our POD during our move last summer.
6. Get an early start.
You’ll unlock a few different benefits from starting your move early in the day.
If you hire a moving team, starting earlier in the day means they’ll be fresher and more energetic, instead of being tired and lethargic in the afternoon.
If you’re driving a large moving truck, you may find it easier to maneuver in lighter traffic, so be sure to work around the morning and evening rush hour.
7. Choose the right truck.
You want a truck that’s large enough to cut your move down to one single trip, but you also want the smallest truck possible to reduce your rental fee.
Most experts recommend about 20-26 feet if you’ve got about 3 or more bedrooms or if you have 2 bedrooms and lots of possessions.
When in doubt, go bigger. A bigger truck costs more and is more difficult to drive, but you’re less likely to run out of room and require a second or third trip.
8. Simplify, simplify, simplify.
Some of our favorite moving hacks come from working smart, not harder. A few of our favorite tips:
Use your pillows, blankets, and towels in place of bubble wrap to protect your most fragile possessions.
Keep your clothing on their hangars or in their drawers throughout the move.
Pack smaller items into pots, pans, and suitcases.
And most importantly, don’t forget to pause and celebrate! While the move can be a challenge, you’re reaching new goals and exploring new opportunities. Delivery from your new pizza shop, a walk to the local ice cream store, or a beer from a local brewery can help you stay connected to why you moved to begin with.
Ice cream after a job well done!
Moving can feel overwhelming, but proper preparation can streamline the process and completely remove the mental effort involved. Once you’re finished moving, be sure to check out our Pittsburgh neighborhood reports to read up on the most important information about your new community!
Have any great tips you’d like to share? Contact us! Reach us at theblocks@blocksintheburgh.com.
Cheers,
Julie & Ted