Plan a Business Move Around Boston's September 1 Turnover

Book in this order. First, the elevator and dock at both buildings, since residential buildings often give September slots to residents and office buildings may book freight weeks ahead. Second, the curb: in Boston a truck parked on a public street for a move needs a street-occupancy permit, applied for well in advance, and the city posts the space. Cambridge and Somerville run their own moving-permit processes. Third, the crew and truck.

Plan the route, too. Storrow Drive, Memorial Drive, and some parkways are closed to trucks, so the route from one building to the other may be longer than it looks. Ask each building for its move rules and insurance wording, and we will issue the certificate of insurance on request.

In late August and early September, shared buildings are full of residents' moves, so business moves need to stay out of their way. We stage office pieces away from resident routes, keep carts out of shared halls while residents are using the elevator, and work in the slots management assigns. Runners and pads go down on the business route.

Keys, active applications, and the materials staff need for move-in questions stay with staff. We carry sealed cartons and tagged cabinets. Desk computers and printers are moved and reconnected at their new stations; your IT contact brings up the internet and phones. Where just the essential rooms move on the first of the month, the rest are tagged for the later pass so nothing is left behind by mistake.