Why Apartment Moves Are Their Own Animal
Moving out of a house and moving out of a third-floor walk-up are two completely different jobs. With a house, you’ve usually got a driveway, a wide front door, and a straight shot from the living room to the truck. With an apartment, you’ve got a long list of obstacles that can turn a simple move into an all-day headache if the crew isn’t prepared.
Narrow hallways. Tight stairwells. Elevators that need to be reserved days in advance. Property managers with strict move-in and move-out windows. Shared parking lots where the truck has to be positioned just right or you’re blocking other residents. Noise restrictions that mean you can’t start before 9 AM or go past 6 PM.
This is what we deal with every week at Just Move It. Apartment moves make up a big chunk of our work across Orlando and Central Florida, and our crew knows how to handle every one of these situations without slowing down or damaging your stuff — or your landlord’s property.
What Makes Apartment Moves Different (And Why It Matters Who You Hire)
If you’ve never moved out of an apartment before, or if your last move was from a house, here’s what you’re dealing with:
Stairs change everything. A second or third-floor apartment without an elevator means every piece of furniture goes up or down a stairwell. That takes more time, more care, and more physical effort than loading from a ground-level home. Couches, mattresses, and dressers need to be angled through landings and around corners without scraping the walls. Our crew does this daily — it’s muscle memory, not guesswork.
Elevators have rules. Most Orlando apartment complexes require you to reserve the elevator for your move, and some charge a fee or require a refundable deposit. There are usually time limits too — you might get a four-hour window, which means the crew needs to be efficient. We’ve worked in complexes across Orlando and we know the drill: reserve early, pad the elevator walls, and move fast.
Your property manager is watching. Apartments come with move-out inspections. Any damage to hallway walls, door frames, stairwell railings, or common areas can come out of your security deposit. We lay down floor runners, use corner guards, and wrap furniture before it leaves your unit — not at the truck — specifically to avoid this. Protecting the building is protecting your money.
Parking and truck access aren’t guaranteed. Most apartment complexes don’t have a loading dock. Some don’t even have a spot where a moving truck can park close to the building. Our crew scouts the parking situation before moving day so we know exactly where to position the truck and how far we’re carrying things. If we need to use a longer carry path, we account for that in the estimate so you’re not surprised.
Lease timing creates pressure. Apartment leases don’t have the flexibility of a home sale closing. If your lease ends on the 31st, your stuff has to be out by the 31st — and your new lease might not start until the 1st. That one-day overlap (or lack of one) is something we help people navigate all the time. The faster we get you out of the old place, the less stress you’re carrying into the new one.
What’s Included in an Apartment Move With Just Move It
Every apartment move includes the same core service: our crew shows up with a truck, all the protective materials, and the know-how to get your belongings from one unit to another without damage to your stuff or the building.
Here’s the breakdown:
Furniture wrapping and protection. Everything gets wrapped in moving blankets before it leaves your apartment. Couches, bed frames, dressers, tables — all of it. For apartments specifically, we start wrapping inside the unit rather than at the truck, because the hallways and stairwells are where damage happens.
Disassembly and reassembly. Bed frames, IKEA furniture, desks, shelving units — if it needs to come apart to fit through a doorway or down a staircase, we take it apart and rebuild it at the new place. We keep all the hardware together and labeled so nothing goes missing.
Loading, transport, and unloading. We load the truck, drive to your new apartment, and unload everything into the correct rooms. If the new unit has stairs or an elevator, same deal — we’ve already accounted for that in the plan.
Floor and wall protection. Floor runners in the hallways, corner guards on doorframes, and elevator padding if applicable. This protects the building and protects your deposit.
Packing (optional). If you want us to handle packing, we bring all the materials and pack your apartment the morning of the move or the day before. If you’d rather do it yourself, our apartment moving checklist walks you through how to prepare so everything goes smoothly on moving day.
How Apartment Moving Is Priced
Apartment moves in Orlando are priced by the hour, just like other local moves. Your rate depends on how many movers you need and the size of the truck.
The variables that affect how long the job takes:
- Apartment size. A studio takes less time than a 3-bedroom.
- Floor level. Ground floor is fastest. Third floor with no elevator takes the longest.
- How much furniture you have. A minimalist one-bedroom moves in two hours. A fully furnished two-bedroom with a packed garage closet and a balcony full of stuff takes significantly longer.
- Packing status. If everything is boxed and ready when we arrive, the crew goes straight to loading. If we’re packing for you, that adds time.
- Building access. Elevator availability, parking distance, and move-in/move-out time restrictions all factor in.
Here’s a rough idea of what to expect:
- Studio or 1-bedroom (ground floor): 2–3 hours with a 2-man crew
- Studio or 1-bedroom (upper floor, stairs): 3–4 hours with a 2-man crew
- 2-bedroom: 3–5 hours with a 2–3 man crew
- 3-bedroom: 5–7 hours with a 3-man crew
These ranges assume you’ve packed ahead of time. Request a free estimate with your specific details and we’ll give you a quote that reflects your actual move — not a generic range.
How an Apartment Move Works With Just Move It
Step 1 — You tell us about your move. Call or request an estimate online. We’ll ask about both apartments — the one you’re leaving and the one you’re moving into. Floor levels, elevator access, parking situation, lease dates, and any items that need special handling. This takes about five minutes.
Step 2 — We give you a clear quote. Based on your apartment size, floor level, furniture volume, and access at both locations, we put together an hourly estimate that covers the crew, truck, and all protective materials. No hidden fees for stairs, no surprise fuel charges.
Step 3 — We show up and get to work. On moving day, our crew arrives on time, wraps and protects your furniture inside the unit, and starts loading. If you’ve booked packing, we handle that first. Everything moves out of your old apartment, onto the truck, and into your new place in a single trip.
Step 4 — We set you up in your new apartment. Furniture goes in the right rooms, bed frames get reassembled, and boxes land where they belong. We do a final walkthrough with you to make sure nothing was missed and nothing was damaged. You check your old apartment one last time, hand in the keys, and you’re done.
Where We Handle Apartment Moves
Orlando’s apartment market is massive — and we work in it constantly. From the high-density complexes in downtown Orlando to the newer communities popping up around Winter Park and Horizon West, our crew is familiar with the buildings, the property management companies, and the specific requirements that come with moving in and out of rental units across the metro.
We also handle apartment moves in Kissimmee, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Ocoee, and everywhere else in the Central Florida region. If you’re in a complex we haven’t been to before, we’ll call ahead to confirm any building-specific rules so there are no surprises on moving day.
Veteran-Owned, Built for Apartment Work
Just Move It is owned by Brian Green, a Marine Corps veteran who started the company in Ocoee, FL. A lot of our early jobs were apartment moves — it’s how we built the business. That history shows in how the crew works: fast but careful, efficient in tight spaces, and always mindful of the building and the neighbors.
We’ve earned over 250 five-star Google reviews, and a good number of those are from apartment renters who were worried about damage fees, tight timelines, and third-floor stairwells. The pattern in those reviews is always the same: the crew was on time, nothing was damaged, and it went faster than they expected.
What Our Customers Say
Frequently Asked Questions About Apartment Moving in Orlando
Do you offer packing services for apartment moves?
Yes. We offer full-service packing where we bring all the materials — boxes, tape, packing paper, bubble wrap — and pack your entire apartment before the move. We also do partial packing if you just need help with fragile items like dishes, glassware, or mirrors. If you’d prefer to pack yourself, that works too — just make sure everything is boxed and ready when the crew arrives.
How much does it cost to move an apartment in Orlando?
It depends on the size of the apartment, what floor you’re on, how much furniture you have, and whether you need packing services. A studio or one-bedroom on the ground floor typically runs 2–3 hours with a two-man crew. A larger apartment on an upper floor takes longer. The best way to get an accurate number is to request a free estimate with your specific details — we’ll give you a quote based on your actual move, not a ballpark.
What areas do you serve for apartment moves?
We’re based in Ocoee, FL, and handle apartment moves throughout the Central Florida metro — Orange, Seminole, Lake, and Osceola counties. That covers Orlando, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, Clermont, and all the communities in between. If you’re not sure whether your complex is in our service area, give us a call.
How far in advance should I book my apartment move?
A week or two of lead time is usually enough for most apartment moves. During peak season — summer months and end of month — booking two to three weeks out gives you a better chance of getting your preferred date. We’ve handled same-day and next-day moves when schedules allow, so if you’re in a pinch, call us and we’ll see what we can do.
Do you move specialty items like pianos or heavy furniture?
We do. Pianos, gun safes, large sectional couches, heavy solid-wood dressers — our crew has the equipment and experience to move these items safely, including through tight apartment hallways and stairwells. Just mention these items when you request your estimate so we can plan accordingly. Some specialty items may require an additional crew member, and we’ll let you know upfront if that’s the case.
Ready to Get Your Apartment Move Scheduled?
Whether you’re moving across the complex or across town, it starts with a quick conversation. Request a free estimate and we’ll put together a plan based on your apartment, your timeline, and your budget — no hidden fees, no guesswork.