Sylvan Park and The Nations: Moving Bungalows and Infill Homes

Sylvan Park and The Nations sit side by side in west Nashville, and both are some of the most interesting places in the city to live. They are also some of the most interesting places to move. Narrow streets, cars parked on both sides, century-old bungalows next to three-story new builds with stairs that seem to go straight up. None of it is a problem if you plan for it. Here is what we tell people moving in or out.

Know your house type

The classic bungalow

Sylvan Park is known for its Arts and Crafts style homes, mostly built in the 1920s through the 1940s, on streets named after states. Many have been carefully renovated. They are charming, but they were built for a different era of furniture.

• Front porch steps. Most bungalows sit up off the ground with several steps to the porch. Each trip in and out climbs them.
• Narrow interior doors and short hallways. Large sofas and box springs sometimes need to come in at an angle, through a different door, or with legs and feet removed.
• Finished attics and half-story bedrooms. Renovated bungalows often have bedrooms tucked under the roof, reached by a steep, narrow stair. Queen and king mattresses can be tight up there.
• Older floors. Original hardwood is beautiful and easy to scratch. We lay down protection along the main path.

The tall-and-skinny

The Nations has seen a wave of new infill homes, often called "tall-and-skinnies," built on narrow lots next to the original small houses. Sylvan Park has plenty of them as well. They are great to live in. They are hard on movers.

• Three floors, steep stairs. Many have living space on one level, bedrooms on another, and a bonus room or rooftop deck above. Stairs are often steep with tight landings.
• Turns at the top. A stair that turns at a landing limits how long a piece can be. Measure your sofa and your stairwell before you buy new furniture, and before moving day.
• Little or no side yard. With homes close together, there may be only one way in and out.
• Rooftop and upper-floor furniture. Outdoor sets and grills on a top deck are a common surprise. Tell us about them.

Tight streets and parking

Both neighborhoods have narrow residential streets, many with cars parked along the curb. Our 26-foot box truck needs a good stretch of curb to load safely, and it stands about 12 feet 8 inches tall, so low limbs and wires matter too.

1. Save the space. The night before, ask neighbors if they can leave room in front of your house, and move your own cars out of the way.
2. Look for an alley. Some lots have rear alley access. If yours does, tell us, since it may be the better loading spot.
3. Check the overhead. Low tree branches or wires over the street can affect where the truck parks.
4. Mind the busy roads. Murphy Road runs through the center of Sylvan Park, and in The Nations, 51st Avenue North and Centennial Boulevard carry a lot of traffic. We avoid loading on those whenever a side street works.

Since JM Moving operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, an early-morning start is a good option here. Streets are emptier, and the truck is often loaded before the neighborhood is fully awake.

Crew size makes the difference

On a flat, single-story move, two movers can do a lot. In a three-story tall-and-skinny with a steep stair, a third person often saves time and money, because one person can stage at each level while the others carry. We will talk through your home on the call and suggest what makes sense.

Our local rates are $250 an hour for 2 movers and a truck and $350 an hour for 3 movers and a truck, full service. One flight of stairs is included at no charge, and we don't add charges for elevators, travel time, fuel or tax on local moves. Flat-rate moves start at $350 for a studio or 1-bedroom with 2 movers and $550 for 2–3 bedrooms with 3 movers. Your exact price is confirmed on a call once we know about the stairs, the street and your furniture.

Before moving day

• Measure stairwells, landings and doors, then measure your biggest pieces.
• Take apart bed frames and remove sofa legs ahead of time if you are comfortable doing it, or let us know and the crew will handle it.
• Clear the porch, stairs and landings of rugs, plants and shoes.
• Keep pets in a closed room or with a friend, since doors will be open a lot.
• Set aside anything going with you personally: documents, medications, valuables.

FAQ

My sofa barely fit up the stairs when it was delivered. Can you get it out?

In most cases, yes. Delivery crews often remove legs or feet, and we can do the same. Send us the sofa's measurements and the stair width when you call so we can plan for it.

What if there's no parking in front of my house?

We will park as close as we safely can, which might be a few houses down or in an alley. A longer carry adds time, so saving curb space the night before is worth the effort.

Do you handle small moves within the neighborhood?

Yes. Moving from a bungalow to a new build a few streets over is common here, and we are happy to do it. Short distance doesn't mean less care.

JM Moving is a family-owned company with more than 23 years in the business, and our office on Charlotte Pike is just down the road from both neighborhoods. Find out more at JM Moving or call (615) 710-9990, day or night, to plan your Sylvan Park or Nations move.

JM Moving locations and sister brands

Nashville: JM Moving · Middle Tennessee: Nashville Packers and Movers · Tennessee statewide: TNT Moving USA
Miami: Miami Packers and Movers · Augusta, GA: Packers and Movers Augusta · Nationwide: Best Movers Nationwide

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