Short answer
Contact your property manager or concierge as soon as you have a date, ask for the moving elevator window, the deposit or fee, the padding rules and where the truck can park. Book the window before you book anything else, then give the mover the exact times so the crew size fits the window.
Why the elevator decides the day
In a house, the crew sets the pace. In a condo, the building does. Most towers in Toronto, Mississauga, Etobicoke and Vaughan give one moving elevator, in a booked window, with pads on the walls and a security guard who knows your name is on the list. Miss the window and the day stops. That is why the elevator is the first question on a condo move quote, before the number of boxes.
What to ask the building
- Which elevator is used for moves, and what hours are moves allowed?
- How long is a window, and can I book two back to back?
- Is there a deposit or a fee, and how is the deposit returned?
- Does the building need a certificate of insurance from the mover?
- Where can the truck park, and for how long? Is there a loading dock or a lay-by?
- Who unlocks the elevator's service mode on the day, and how do I reach them?
Get the answers in writing, by email, and forward them to your mover. Many buildings also require the move to be booked by the unit owner, not the tenant, so start early if you rent.
Book the window before the mover
A building's moving calendar fills up at month end, on weekends, and through the summer. Book the window first, then book the crew for that window. If you have a choice, a weekday morning window is usually easier to get and easier to keep, and the building's staff are fresher.
How the crew plans around it
Once we know the window, we size the crew for the building, not just for the furniture. A tight corridor and one elevator mean more hands at the truck and fewer waiting at the unit. We pre-wrap furniture in the unit so the elevator trips are full ones, and we protect the corridor and the elevator cab the way the building expects. When a two-bedroom has to leave in a three-hour window, that planning is what makes it happen.
The building at the other end
Do all of it again for the new building. Two windows, two deposits, two sets of rules. Moving from one condo to another means the crew works to both calendars, and the drive between them is part of the hourly quote you agreed before the day.
When the dates do not line up
If the new unit is not ready when the old window is, do not squeeze both moves into one impossible day. We load you out, our partner Key Storage holds it, and we bring it in when the new building gives you a window.
A short condo checklist
- Elevator window booked and confirmed by email, both buildings.
- Deposit paid, insurance certificate sent if required.
- Truck parking agreed with the building.
- Boxes done before the window opens. We rent boxes for the move and take them back after.
- Someone at the unit with the fob and the concierge's number.
Get a quote for your condo move, and tell us the window. We plan it the same way for condo movers in Toronto and in Mississauga City Centre.
Questions people ask
Do I have to book the elevator for a condo move?
Almost always. Most condo buildings in the GTA require a booked moving window in the service elevator, often with a deposit. Ask your property manager or concierge as soon as you have a date.
How long should a condo elevator window be?
It depends on the size of the unit and the building's rules. Tell the mover the window you were given and they will size the crew to fit it. If the building offers a longer or a second window, take it.
What if the move runs past the window?
Buildings can close the elevator to moves at the end of the window. The crew plans to finish inside it; if the day is tight, tell the building early and ask about an extension.
Does CR Movers bring elevator protection?
Buildings usually pad their own moving elevator. The crew protects floors, door frames and corridors as the building expects, and wraps furniture in the unit so elevator trips are full ones.
