Moving To the Suburbs Can Feel Like a Big Change. Here’s How Philadelphians Are Making It Work

For Philadelphians, deciding to make the move to the suburbs isn’t always easy—and the decision isn’t the only challenge. There’s an emotional dimension to making a move, especially if it means you’ll be saying goodbye to your favorite neighborhood haunts and getting some distance from the city of brotherly love, but what can be even more burdensome (and expensive) is the actual process of moving. Between clearing out your belongings, renting and packing a truck, driving out of the city, unloading boxes and settling into your new home, moving can seem intense and draining. So, with those challenges, why are so many of Philly’s residents still choosing to head outside of the city?

For one: There’s a certain allure to the larger living spaces and calmer streets of the suburbs, especially in Philly, when so many surrounding areas still offer access to the city. 2024’s Census shows that this phenomenon is nationwide: Many city-dwellers are choosing to move to suburban communities on the outskirts of their city, seeking out the benefits of the suburbs without leaving city life completely behind. In our area, spots like Chestnut Hill, Ardmore, Media and more offer that experience, so moving to the suburbs doesn’t have to feel like such a major transition.

And for another: Moving doesn’t actually need to be so taxing. Finding the right place for you and your family can be easier if you start looking soon—the spring and summer are some of the prime times to move, in terms of the market—and with Philly-area moving and storage companies offering comprehensive services, getting from point A to point B can be convenient, quick, and affordable.

When you’ve found the right home for you and are prepping to make the transition, here’s how to prepare for your move, de-stress and streamline the process. After all, the whole point of moving is the joy you’ll experience on the other side, and calling the right movers means you’ll get to the good part faster.

Determine What Kind of Help You Need

Maybe you’re a proactive packer who’s tapped into all the Marie Kondo-esque techniques, or maybe packing up all the belongings you’ve accumulated feels like an impossible obstacle. Maybe you’re looking to get all of your things over from your last place to your new one in one day, or maybe you need a storage location for an interim period between homes. Or maybe you have a collection of delicate art pieces and heavy, breakable furnishings. Regardless, you can recruit a moving service to accommodate those needs—you’ll just want to make sure you find the right team.

According to Zip to Zip Moving, a moving and storage company that specializes in local moving in Philadelphia, a full-service agency is the best fit for most moves—and that’s their approach. As a New Jersey-based company, Zip to Zip has experience carrying out moves to and from the Philly region, and they’ve recently opened a branch in Philly (at 58 West Uwchlan Avenue, Suite 7B, Exton, PA 19341) to continue meeting our area’s specific needs. A moving company that’s well-versed in the ins and outs of our area can be an asset to your move, especially because navigating Philly’s roads and traffic patterns in a moving truck is not for the faint of heart.

That expertise is part of their full-service approach: Zip to Zip tailors their services to a customer’s unique needs, whether that means providing storage for their belongings during an interim period between homes, disassembling and reassembling furniture, helping pack boxes before loading them, or handling large and delicate household items and appliances. They’re also skilled at packing and transporting any specialty products that Philadelphians might have—like fine art pieces, grand pianos, large electronics and more—because those items can require more detailed attention and handling (especially if they’re being transported up or down the infamous Schuylkill Expressway).

Whatever the monetary value of the things you’re taking with you, there’s a sentimental element to everything, and you don’t want to take any chances with loss or damages. When you’re researching companies, look for the proper license and credentials: Zip to Zip is a fully licensed, insured, BBB trusted company with insurance that allows them to provide both local and long-distance interstate moves across the country. It’s also worth taking a peek at customer reviews to make sure you’re working with a team you can trust.

Consider Your Budget

Moving can require a laundry list of expenses, from buying new furniture to the inevitable takeout dinners you’ll eat before getting groceries, so in addition to finding a company whose services can fit your needs, you’ll want to find one that won’t break the bank. Once you’ve gauged an estimate of your budget and the amount of help you’ll need, look for a company who will give you an up-front quote and won’t throw in any last-minute surprise charges.

A free in-house or online assessment (which you can get from most local moving companies) can help you get a preliminary sense of what costs you’ll be looking at—and one benefit to using local movers is their ability to come see your space before the move to get a more comprehensive understanding of what you’ll need and how much it’ll cost. Using a local company can also grant you more reliable scheduling and transportation (since they won’t have far to go from their business address to your home).

Vetting overall trustworthiness is also a consideration to make when you’re talking budget with potential movers. Make sure they’re transparent about how costs are calculated, that they offer protection options and that they provide their estimates in writing. For other advice on finding a budget-friendly option you can trust, check out Zip to Zip’s guide.

Navigate Your Moving Day

Once you have all of the logistics sorted—what movers you’re using, what services they’re providing and when you’ll be moving—the next step is making sure your moving day goes off without a hitch. Before your movers show up, consider packing a kit of essentials to keep with you during the day should you need access to them, like any medications you might take, tools for dealing with furniture, a phone charger and more. (Also, don’t forget to eat breakfast and drink water!)

You’ll also want to do a final check of all your boxes to ensure you’ve indicated which ones are fragile, and a final sweep of your home to make sure there’s nothing left behind. Then, if you have disassembled furniture or any other obstacles on your floors, make sure to clear space for your movers to have a safe and easy route in and out of your home so that they can load the truck efficiently. It’s also important to be present when your movers are there to ensure there are no miscommunications, and so that you can properly lock up when you head out to the new place. (For other tips, check out Zip to Zip’s checklist.)

Then, you’re off to the races! Be sure to set up any utilities you’ll need for your new place so they’re activated when you arrive—and don’t forget the last step: enjoying your new home.

When you’re ready to make a move, click here to get your free quote from Zip to Zip Moving today, call them at 973-500-6050, or go pay a visit to their new location at 558 West Uwchlan Avenue, Suite 7B, Exton, Pa.

This is a paid partnership between Zip to Zip Moving and Philadelphia Magazine