Moving a house in the suburbs is mostly about the stuff. Moving an apartment in Houston — a Midtown high-rise, a Galleria-area tower, a garden complex off the 610 loop — is mostly about the building. Get the logistics wrong and your moving day is you, a couch, and a freight elevator that's booked until Thursday.

Start with the building, not the boxes

Weeks before you pack anything, talk to your building management — both the one you're leaving and the one you're moving into. Ask about:

• Freight elevator reservations. Many Houston high-rises and mid-rises require them, sometimes weeks in advance, and some restrict moves to weekdays or specific hours. Check with your building early so you can plan around its requirements.
• Loading dock or loading zone access. Where does the truck actually go? Some buildings have a dock; others have designated loading spaces. Ask where loading is permitted and keep fire lanes clear.
• Move-in/move-out fees and deposits. Some buildings charge them; ask so there's no surprise.
• Floor and wall protection rules. Some HOAs require hallway protection or have opinions about dolly wheels on lobby floors.

Rules vary wildly by building, so treat everything above as "ask about," not "assume." Your lease or HOA docs usually spell it out — read them before moving week, not during.

Parking the truck (or the crate delivery)

Houston buildings range from "park wherever, nobody cares" to "the loading zone is enforced by a very motivated tow truck." For our crate delivery and pickup, we need reasonable curbside or lot access — when you book, tell us about gates, codes, and tight turns at (888) 615-2699 so the driver isn't improvising.

If your building requires a certificate of insurance from movers, ask us when you book — and ask the building exactly what it needs to say.

The apartment packing math

Apartments can hold more belongings than their floor area suggests. Start with 30 crates for a one-bedroom or 40 for a two-bedroom, then adjust for your belongings. Our packages run 10 to 100 crates in steps of 10, starting at $143.15 for 10 crates for one week ($139 rental plus a $4.15 small-order fee), before applicable distance charges, tax, and optional supplies, with delivery and pickup included — check our service area to confirm your ZIPs, both the old place and the new one.

One apartment-moving option: use the included dollies to move crates along suitable routes. Follow the crate and dolly manufacturers' handling, load, and stacking instructions, and check building access requirements. Every package includes one dolly per 10 crates.

Moving-day sequence for buildings

1. Confirm the elevator reservation the day before — reservations get bumped, people forget.
2. Stage crates near the door in load order: heavy stuff first, the OPEN FIRST crate last (it rides with you).
3. Protect the path — follow the building's rules for doors, hallway access, and elevator padding.
4. Do the final sweep before you hand back keys: every closet, the top of every cabinet, the balcony. Photograph the empty unit for your deposit.

Apartment moves reward planning more than muscle. Handle the building logistics early, and the actual moving part is just... moving.

Questions about delivery access at your building? Call or text (888) 615-2699 to discuss access requirements before delivery.

Pack. Move. Repeat. — and book the freight elevator before you book anything else.