West Hartford is one of our most common service areas, and it is also one of the towns where a mover who does not know the area can slow your whole move down. WeHa Center has some of the tightest streets in the county. Elmwood and Bishops Corner have their own parking rules. And the historic homes on Prospect Avenue have doorways from the 1920s that were never designed for a modern sectional.
Our crews have been running West Hartford moves out of our Enfield facility since 2013. Here is what we plan for on every West Hartford job, and what you should do to prep for moving day.
Know your neighborhood before move day
West Hartford is actually four or five neighborhoods with different move-day considerations.
West Hartford Center. The blocks around Farmington Avenue and LaSalle are tight, one-way streets are common, and parking on the street usually requires a permit or a time restriction. If you are moving in or out of a building near Blue Back Square or the shops along Farmington, we need to know the parking situation before we send a truck.
Elmwood. More single-family homes, more driveways, generally easier truck access. The residential streets off New Britain Avenue can still get tight at intersections.
Bishops Corner. Mix of townhomes, condos, and single-family. The condo complexes on the north end usually have specific move-in windows and reserved elevator times. Ask your building manager as soon as you know the date.
Prospect Avenue historic corridor. Beautiful old homes. Also small doorways, tight staircases, and original hardwood floors that need real protection. Our crews bring extra pads and floor runners for any Prospect Ave move.
West Hartford Reservoir side. More space, longer driveways, more accessible. The move itself is usually easier here.
Call your building manager or the town
Two calls save you a lot of headaches.
If you are in a condo, townhouse, or apartment, ask the building manager: what is the move-in window, do we need to reserve the elevator, is there a certificate of insurance required, and where does the truck park?
If you are on a street with restricted parking (a lot of streets near the Center are), you may need to call the town's parking division to reserve space for the truck. West Hartford has been more strict about this over the last few years. Your mover cannot legally block the street without approval.
We can help coordinate both of these calls, but the earlier we know, the smoother the day runs.
Plan for the historic homes
If you are in a home built before 1940, add half a day to your mental timeline. Here is why.
Older West Hartford homes have narrower doorways than modern homes. A queen mattress or a large sectional often will not fit through a standard 30-inch doorway that was cut for early 20th century furniture. Our crews carry pads, dollies, and adjustable furniture straps, but sometimes we need to disassemble a piece that a newer home would let us walk right through.
Staircases in older homes tend to be steep and narrow, sometimes with landings that require pivoting a piece around a tight turn. Bring measurements of your largest items and the doorways at the new place if you can. We would rather know about a problem two days out than solve it in your foyer at 10 AM on move day.
Pack the essentials first, load them last
The rule for any move but especially for a busier area like West Hartford: pack a first-night box that stays in your car, not on the truck. Include:
- Documents, medications, chargers - Change of clothes and toiletries - Snacks and water - A basic tool kit - Paper plates and plastic utensils - The coffee maker
You will be exhausted at the end of move day, and if the truck delivery gets delayed by traffic or a parking situation, you want your kids fed and your phones charged.
Declutter before the movers show up
Moving is the best chance you get to lighten up. Anything you have not used in a year, you probably will not use in the next year either.
Donate, sell, or toss before load day. We do not offer junk removal, so anything you want gone needs to be gone before the truck arrives.
West Hartford has a solid donation network. Goodwill on New Britain Avenue and the Salvation Army are both close by. The town also does bulky waste pickup on scheduled days.
Confirm the details 48 hours out
A few days before your move, our team calls to confirm:
- Arrival window - Truck count and crew size - Any building or town parking requirements - Special-handling items - Delivery address if it is different from what we quoted
If you have anything change in the days before the move, tell us as soon as possible. We would rather adjust in advance than improvise on move day.
Move-day morning
Wake up with time to spare. Do a walkthrough of every room and every closet. Check the basement, the attic, the garage. Look behind doors.
Have coffee ready if you can. Our crews arrive on time and hit the ground running. A cup of coffee at the door and clear pathways from the front door to the truck is all we need.
Keep your phone charged in case we need to reach you during transit.
What our West Hartford crews come prepared for
Every West Hartford move we run, our crews arrive with:
- Extra floor runners for hardwood protection - Furniture pads and blankets - A door-frame protector for narrow entries - Dollies and hand trucks for stairs - Wardrobe boxes if you have hanging clothes - The paperwork for cargo protection so you can pick between the federal minimum (60 cents per pound per item) or our Castle Care upgrade ($10 per $1,000 of declared value)
If you have a specific concern about your West Hartford move, mention it when we do the estimate. There is a good chance we have run into it before.
If you want to talk it through
Every West Hartford move is a little different. If you want to walk through the specifics of your situation, our team can do an in-home or video estimate and put together a real plan.
Get in touch or call (888) 553-4503.
- Joe Caronna, Owner, Castle Express Moving & Storage