4US-moving

Moving in Los Angeles is not just about boxes and bubble wrap.

You are dealing with traffic, street parking, building rules, elevators, stairs and leases that never line up perfectly. If you try to wing it, you end up packing at 2 a.m. and paying more than you expected.

This checklist is built specifically for LA residents. It follows a simple timeline and folds in the local reality of the city: rush hour, narrow streets, tight apartment access. Use it as a roadmap and hand the heavy lifting to a local crew like 4US Moving so moving day feels planned, not chaotic.

6–8 weeks before moving day: plan the big picture

You are not packing yet. You are deciding how this move will actually work.

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Clarify the basics

Confirm your move out and move in dates.
Check if there is a gap where you might need short term housing or storage.
Decide if this is a straight apartment to apartment move or if you are also changing areas inside LA.

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Rough budget and help

Set a realistic budget range for your move.
Decide what you want movers to handle: just loading and transport, or packing too.
Start a short list of local companies in Los Angeles, including 4US Moving, and scan reviews with attention to parking, building access and communication.

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Talk to both buildings

Ask your current building about move out rules.
If you already have your new place, ask about move in rules there too.
Note allowed days, time windows, elevator reservations and any insurance requirements for movers.
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Goal at this stage: you know your dates, your rough budget and the rules you have to play by.

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4–5 weeks before: book movers and start decluttering

Now the move becomes real. You lock in help and reduce how much you are about to drag across LA.
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Book your moving company

Get detailed quotes from at least two LA movers.
Be honest about floors, stairs, elevator size, long walks and parking at both addresses.
Ask how they handle LA traffic and what time window they recommend for your route.
Choose the company that is clear, not just the one that is cheapest. With 4US Moving, confirm crew size, start time and what is included in the rate.

Pick a smart moving day

Aim for Monday to Thursday if you can. Weekdays are usually calmer and more flexible.
Avoid the very last weekend of the month unless your lease forces you.
Morning starts are safer. They give you cooler weather and more buffer if something runs long.

Declutter hard

Walk room by room and sort: keep, sell, donate, recycle, trash.
Be brutal with low value bulky items like old shelves, broken chairs or spare mattresses.
Empty storage spaces: closets, balcony storage, under bed boxes, garage corners if you have them.

Every item you do not move is one less item to carry, wrap and fit into a truck.

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3 weeks before: supplies and early packing

Time to make the first real visual changes in your home.
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Get supplies

A mix of small, medium and large boxes (more medium than huge).
Packing tape, markers, sticky labels.
Bubble wrap and paper for kitchen and fragile items.
TV or wardrobe boxes if you want extra protection for specific pieces.

Check with your movers first so you do not buy things they already include.

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Pack the “non daily” stuff

Start with what you will not miss for a few weeks:

off season clothes and shoes
books, decor, extra bedding
spare kitchen items you rarely touch

Label each box with:

room for the new place
short description, for example “Living room - books” or “Bedroom - jackets”
priority label like “Open first” on a few boxes you will want right away

If you prefer to avoid the most stressful packing, you can leave the kitchen, glass and artwork for 4US Moving to handle and focus on simpler categories yourself.

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2 weeks before: confirm logistics and keep packing

The move is close enough that details start to matter.

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Double check everything

Confirm moving date and arrival time with your movers.
Reconfirm building rules, elevator reservations and loading areas at both addresses.
Tell your mover about any changes: extra furniture, updated parking info, new gate codes.

Pack room by room

Finish low priority rooms first (guest room, office, storage).
Pack heavier items at the bottom of each box and lighter items on top.
Keep one small area or table as a “no pack zone” for keys, documents and essentials.

Admin tasks for LA life

Change address for bank, important subscriptions and any parking permits.
Schedule internet and utilities shut off at the old place and activation at the new one.
If you have kids or pets, line up help on moving day so they are not in the middle of traffic and boxes.

By the end of this week you should feel like most of your home is in boxes, not still sitting on shelves.

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1 week before: LA specific prep

This is where you fine tune for Los Angeles, not just for any city.

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Parking and street reality

Visit both your current and new address around the same time of day your move is scheduled.
Look at where a truck can reasonably park without blocking traffic or risking a ticket.
Move your own car out of prime curb spots on moving day to leave room for the truck.
If needed, talk to a neighbor in advance about leaving space open in front of your building.

Elevators and stairs

Reconfirm freight elevator bookings and make sure the front desk knows your movers’ name and time.
Clear hallways, stairwells and entryways of clutter, mats and loose items.
If your stairs are narrow or awkward, flag the hardest pieces of furniture for your movers beforehand.

Pack your “first 48 hours in LA” box

Clothing for a couple of days, basic toiletries, towels.
Chargers, laptop, important documents, medications.
Simple kitchen setup: coffee or tea, mugs, a pot or pan, a few plates and cutlery.

Mark this box clearly and either keep it with you in your car or ask movers to load it last so it comes off first.

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Moving day: let the plan work

If you followed the checklist, moving day is busy but not out of control.

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Before the crew arrives

Keep pets and small children away from the main working areas.
Take quick photos of fragile items and important furniture for your own records.
Make sure pathways from each room to the door are clear.

When movers show up

Walk the crew through the place. Point out items that stay, items that need special care and any fragile corners or low ceilings.
Explain the layout of your new home and which room labels match which space.
Confirm parking and elevator plans one more time.

While the move is happening

Stay nearby and available to answer questions.
Avoid last minute changes like suddenly adding a second storage unit or extra stop if you can.
Keep water and a simple snack handy for yourself and, if you like, for the crew. Hot LA days hit everyone.

A team like 4US Moving works fastest when they get clear instructions up front and are not forced to stop every few minutes to find you.

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After the move: land without burning out

Once everything is at your new LA address, the move is not over, but the hardest part is done.

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Right away

Make sure beds are assembled and basic bedding is out. Sleeping well is more important than having all decor unpacked.
Check large items and obvious fragile boxes so you can report any issues early.
Walk through and confirm that boxes are at least in the correct rooms.

First few days

Unpack in order: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, then living areas and storage.
Break down boxes and move them out of your main living space to feel less overwhelmed.
Learn local parking rules, trash days and building routines before you get a ticket.