Hi all—moving to a fifth-floor walk-up in Washington Heights at the end of the month (around 168th). I have a couch, a queen bed frame, a small dresser, and maybe 25 boxes. No elevator, obviously. I’ve been reading that movers charge extra per floor, but I’m trying to keep this cheap. U-Haul rents a 'stair climber' dolly around the corner, I think. Is that actually usable for a couch with two people, or am I going to end up leaving the couch on the landing? Also, do I need to tell the building before moving in? I don’t want to block the stairs and get yelled at by neighbors.

Not Washington Heights but I just moved into a third-floor walk-up in Astoria and I thought a regular dolly would be fine. It was not fine. We got the box spring wedged on the second turn and a neighbor had to come out and help lift the whole thing over the rail. Are stair-climbing dollies actually different? I heard they only work if the stairs are wide enough, which most older buildings are not. Also DykerNewbie, definitely tell the super—some buildings make you put down moving pads in the hallway and charge an elevator deposit even when there is no elevator, ask me how I know.

Third-floor Astoria walk-up? That’s cute. Fifth floor with a couch is a different animal. The stair-climbing dollies from U-Haul are okay if you have two people who are already angry at each other by box #4, but the wheels can catch on old tile stairs. If you’re not moving a piano, it’s doable with a shoulder dolly and a friend who lifts, but don’t expect to feel your arms the next day. For heavy stuff, I’d still get a small moving company to do the big pieces and you handle boxes. Also, if you’re trying to do this on a Saturday morning, the older thread "Inwood to JFK on a 6 a.m. Saturday: A/AirTrain or Penn LIRR at 3:30?" (Inwood to JFK on a 6 a.m. Saturday: A/AirTrain or Penn LIRR at 3:30?) has some real talk about A train gaps that might matter if your movers bail and you have to meet someone in Inwood.

Thanks Chelsea_C. I didn’t even think about A train gaps—if I’m moving boxes from a friend’s place in Inwood that could mess me up. The building has no super on weekends apparently, so I’m trying to figure out if I can just show up Sunday morning or if I need to schedule a move-in. big_city_beth, what did you mean about an elevator deposit when there’s no elevator? Did they actually charge you? I’m on a budget and that would crush me.

DykerNewbie, yes, my building has an elevator but it was broken that day, and the management still had a move-in fee on the lease. The super said because I moved on a Saturday they needed to 'staff the entrance' but nobody actually sat there. I ended up paying it because I didn’t want to start the lease with a fight. Chelsea_C, would you say a shoulder dolly is enough for a queen bed frame with a headboard? My cousin is helping but he’s 5’6” and I’m not much taller. We’re doing the mattress this weekend and I’m already dreading it.

big_city_beth, a queen headboard is usually light; the bed frame rails are the long awkward pieces. If you and your cousin can each deadlift a bag of groceries, you’ll be fine with a shoulder dolly, but take the legs off the frame and wrap the corners in moving blankets. Don’t raw-dog the headboard against the wall—you’ll take a chunk out of the paint and lose your security deposit. DykerNewbie, if there’s no super on weekends, you might still need to give the landlord notice; some buildings have a certificate of insurance requirement for movers and they’ll turn you away at the door. Ask before you rent the truck.

Update: I asked the landlord and they said I can move Sunday after 10 but I need to sign a 'house rules' form and bring my own floor runners. No mover insurance needed since I’m DIY. I also found a guy on the block with a stair-climbing dolly who rents it for the day—maybe cheaper than U-Haul. Chelsea_C, you mentioned small moving company for big pieces. If I only need them for two items (couch and dresser), is that even worth the two-hour minimum, or should I just bribe a neighbor with pizza and hope for the best?

DykerNewbie, if you have a neighbor with a dolly, that’s already a sign you can probably bribe the same neighbor. Pizza and a case of seltzer works better than you think. For just a couch and dresser, I’d skip the company and get a third person—five flights with a couch and two people is how you end up in urgent care. Chelsea_C, your tip about wrapping the headboard saved me this morning. No scratches. We also used a yoga mat under the box spring and it slid up the second turn surprisingly well.