The move at a glance
This move followed a simple rule: the city pickup sets the pace and price.
Even though the destination home is bigger, the West Loop pickup is where time disappears because of elevator scheduling, curb access, long carries, and building rules.
What the customer needed
The client wanted a clean transition from a large downtown apartment to a significantly larger family home, with three non-negotiables:
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No damage
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No wasted time
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No chaos on arrival (room-by-room placement so the house is usable that day)
Crew and trucks: why 8 movers and 4 trucks mattered
A lot of “downtown move drama” is caused by bottlenecks, not distance. The 8-mover, 4-truck setup was specifically chosen to keep the freight elevator moving and reduce paid waiting.
What this setup helps with
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Faster elevator cycles: Two movers can stay dedicated to the unit, two to the elevator/lobby flow, and the rest on truck loading and protection.
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Less hallway pileups: Multiple trucks let the crew stage and load in a smoother sequence instead of stacking chaos in one area.
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Better protection workflow: More hands means furniture gets wrapped properly rather than rushed.
Important nuance: More trucks does not automatically mean higher cost. It can reduce total time when the pickup site is the constraint.
Why West Loop pickups cost more than people expect
West Loop (60607) is busy and tight. The pricing pressure usually comes from:
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Freight elevator booking windows
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Long carries (unit to hallway to service corridor to elevator to dock to truck)
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Curb access constraints (and the real possibility of delays)
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Extra protection needed because tight corners love to eat furniture
Pre-move plan
1) Building and elevator coordination
Before move day, the team confirms:
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freight elevator reservation
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approved routes inside the building
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padding/protection rules
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any COI requirements (if applicable)
2) Curb strategy
The goal is simple: park legally, load fast, avoid delays. Downtown curb access can make or break the schedule.
3) Pack and stage for speed
A high-rise move only stays efficient when the elevator slot is used well. That means staged boxes, protected furniture, and a tight loading sequence.
Materials and protection package: $1,450
This move included a $1,450 materials + protection package to keep everything secure during transport and eliminate damage risk during long carries and truck stacking.
Materials used (typical for a 4-bed downtown apartment)
Boxes
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Small, medium, large moving boxes (mixed for books, kitchen, linens, misc.)
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Heavier-duty cartons for denser items
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Specialty cartons where needed (dish packs, mirror/picture cartons)
Wardrobe boxes
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Tall wardrobe boxes with a hanging bar so clothes stay on hangers and arrive clean and organized
Protection + cushioning
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Packing paper and cushioning (fragile wrap)
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Moving blankets/furniture pads
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Stretch wrap to secure drawers/doors, keep pads in place, and bundle parts
Cleanliness + sealing
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Mattress bags/covers
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Heavy-duty tape
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Labels/markers for room-based unloading
What the $1,450 really paid for
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Proper wrapping and padding on furniture before it hits hallways and elevator corners
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Secure stacking in the truck so items do not shift in transit
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Keeping upholstery and mattresses clean during high-traffic loading
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Keeping hardware and parts organized so reassembly is fast
Move day timeline
Phase A: Downtown load (West Loop)
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Early arrival to avoid congestion
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Elevator route prep and protection
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Loading sequence designed around the elevator window
How the 8 movers helped here:
Instead of everyone waiting on the elevator, the crew ran parallel tasks: wrapping, staging, elevator cycling, and truck loading.
Phase B: Transport
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Four trucks depart in a controlled flow so the destination unload is smooth (no “everything arrives at once and blocks the driveway” mess)
Phase C: Suburban unload (Naperville 60564)
Moovers Chicago truck offering local moving services in Naperville.
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Driveway access speeds up unloading
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Room-by-room placement using labels
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Reassembly and final positioning so the home is functional the same day
Cost breakdown (Total: $6,500)
| Cost item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Materials + protection package | $1,450 | Boxes, wardrobe boxes, wrap/pads, mattress protection, securing workflow |
| Labor + trucks + logistics | $5,050 | 8 movers, 4 trucks, downtown load complexity, transport, unload, reassembly, coordination |
| Total | $6,500 |
What made this move a success
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Protection-first workflow prevented damage during long carries and tight turns
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Parallel work (8 movers) kept elevator usage efficient
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Multiple trucks reduced bottlenecks and kept the load/unload flow clean
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Labeling + placement plan made the arrival feel like move-in, not a box avalanche
Recommendations for anyone doing this route
If you’re moving out of a downtown high-rise
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Book the freight elevator early and confirm the move window in writing
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Plan curb access like it matters, because it does
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Use wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes, it saves hours
If you want to reduce cost
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Self-pack low-risk items (clothes, books, linens)
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Let pros handle fragile zones (kitchen, glass, art)
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Reduce volume before move day (donate, sell, toss)
If you want to reduce risk
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Don’t cheap out on protection materials
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Make sure furniture is padded and wrapped properly before the first hallway turn
FAQ (good for SEO and voice search)
How much does a West Loop to Naperville move cost?
This case study landed at $6,500 for a 4-bed apartment to a 5-bed house, including a $1,450 materials and protection package.
Why are downtown Chicago moves more expensive?
Elevator scheduling, long carries, curb access constraints, and stricter building rules add time and complexity.
Does having more movers and trucks make it more expensive?
Not always. In dense downtown pickups, a larger crew can reduce paid time by preventing bottlenecks and delays.
What are wardrobe boxes and why use them?
They’re tall boxes with a hanging bar so clothes move straight from closet to box without turning into a wrinkled mess.
Ready to move from downtown Chicago to the suburbs without turning it into a three-day meltdown?
If you’re leaving a high-rise in the West Loop (or anywhere downtown), the two things that matter most are planning and execution: freight elevator timing, curb access, protection, and a crew that doesn’t waste your paid hours.
Moovers Chicago handles the building rules, the heavy lifting, and the details that usually blow up on move day.
Get a fast quote:
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Call: 773-474-2691
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Or request a quote online and we’ll confirm the best crew size, trucks, and packing options for your building and your timeline.
No drama. No mystery charges. Just a clean move from door to driveway.
source https://mooverschicago.com/west-loop-to-naperville-move-cost-case-study/



