Photo: WBZ NewsRadio/Chaiel Schaffel
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — As school gets back into full swing, Boston residents are bracing for the infamous Sept. 1 moving frenzy — the traditional day leases start for renters in the city.
Boston streets historically are packed to the brim with moving trucks and college students lugging their belongings in and out of buildings. It also marks Allston Christmas, a free-for-all for free stuff left out on the curb.
But who makes it all happen? Gentle Giant Moving Company, with headquarters in Somerville, has been preparing for the city-wide moving day all year.
"Seventy percent to eighty percent of all rental agreements flip over on Sept. 1 in Boston, which is unique to anywhere else in the country," Dispatch Manager Chris Petrigno told WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel.
Petrigno and his crew will be moving people in and out of 150 apartments and homes over Labor Day weekend.
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He said a big part of the problem is logistics, since the majority of landlords have a strict time window when residents need to be out and move in by.
"The earliest phone call I got about a booking was in February," said Petrigno.
Gentle Giant had to rent extra trucks to cover this year's demand, like they have in the past.
Petrigno had some advice for those who brave enough to drive the truck themselves instead of hiring a mover.
"People are honking, people get flustered and they try to go fast. Who cares if someone honks at you for a second you're driving a big vehicle," he said. "You're going to have to swing out a little bit and then back when making the turn, it can't be a tight cut like you would in a car."
WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports:
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