Condo Moving Checklist: Elevators, COI and Move-Day Tips

Condo moves have one thing house moves don't: building rules. Miss an elevator booking or forget the insurance certificate and your crew can be stuck in the lobby while the clock runs. This checklist covers what to arrange and when.

3–4 weeks before moving day

• Contact property management at both buildings and ask for their move-in / move-out rules in writing.
• Book the freight elevator at both ends. Ask about time limits, deposits and whether weekends are allowed.
• Ask if the building requires a certificate of insurance (COI) from your movers and what details it must include.
• Confirm where the truck can park — loading dock, laneway or street — and whether there are height limits.

We send the certificate of insurance directly to your building at no extra cost. Just forward us the building's requirements. Learn more about our condo and apartment moving.

1 week before

• Reconfirm both elevator bookings and the exact time windows.
• Share the booking times, loading dock instructions and buzzer codes with your movers.
• Measure large furniture and doorways — sectionals and king bed frames may need to be disassembled to fit the elevator.
• Finish packing everything except daily essentials.

On moving day

1. Meet the crew at the loading dock and walk them through the route to your unit.
2. Make sure the elevator is keyed for service mode and padded (we bring our own pads).
3. Keep valuables, documents and medications with you.
4. Do a final walkthrough of closets, storage lockers and balconies before the truck leaves.
5. At the new building, check in with security or the concierge before unloading starts.

Common condo moving mistakes

• Booking the elevator at one building but not the other.
• Forgetting the storage locker or bike room.
• Scheduling a move-out window that ends before the crew can realistically finish.
• Not asking about deposits for elevator or hallway damage.

Moving in Toronto? Read local tips on our Toronto movers page, or check Mississauga and North York — both have large condo markets with strict building rules.