Insider Tips for a Successful Move
There are a lot of things that go into planning your move to Boston. Below are just a few insider tips and advice from students and staff to help you prepare to move to Boston.
- About 70% of all apartment leases in Boston start on September 1. View the City of Boston Moving Guide for tips on moving to Boston.
- September 1 is affectionately known as “Allston Christmas” in Boston. With so many people moving, city sidewalks, particularly in densely student-populated neighborhoods like Allston, are littered with free or discarded items from people moving, making the city look like a giant flee market.
- Looking to buy or sell items for your apartment? Check out the Chan Classifieds (HarvardKey required).
- If you’re renting a moving van or truck, reserve your vehicle early. With some many people moving on September 1, rental vehicles can sell out weeks or months in advance.
- Never drive oversized vehicles like moving trucks on Storrow Drive or Memorial Drive. Both river roads have low clearance bridges that oversized vehicles will not fit under.
- Though not required, you can apply for a moving permit to reserve a parking space for your moving vehicle.
Renters Insurance
As you prepare to settle in to your apartment, make sure you protect your belongings from loss or damage. Whether it’s fire, theft, plumbing, or any other type of covered loss, a basic renters insurance policy protects against the monetary loss of the contents of an apartment or the tenant’s personal property. Most major insurance carriers offer renters insurance, and it is a relatively low-cost way to insure the value of your personal property.
Certain features of a policy such as cost for coverage, reimbursement for replacement cost vs. actual cash value, liability coverage, third-party property damage, and short-term emergency accomodation coverage will vary depending on the insurance company, the location of the apartment, the condition of the apartment, and the amount of property covered. Determine your insurance needs and compare policies carefully before deciding on a policy.
Additional ways to protect your property:
Register your laptop with HUPD: http://www.hupd.harvard.edu/laptop-theft-prevention
Register your bike with HUPD: http://www.hupd.harvard.edu/bicycle-registration
