A condominium move involves a second party that a house move never does: the building itself. Before your boxes leave the old place, the condo corporation already has a say in when you arrive, how you enter, and who gets held responsible if the hallway carpet or the elevator wall gets scuffed. First-time condo residents are often blindsided by this, assuming that once they own or lease the unit, the logistics are theirs alone. They aren’t.
Why does a condo move need the board’s approval first?
The shared spaces in a condo building belong to every owner collectively, and the board governs them. Your move passes through lobbies, corridors, and elevators that are common property, which is why most buildings require you to notify management and secure approval before a truck shows up. This isn’t bureaucratic theater. The board is protecting finishes that are expensive to repair and coordinating your move against others so two trucks don’t compete for the same loading zone. Skipping this step can mean being turned away at the door on the day you’ve already paid a crew to show up.
What paperwork and certificate of insurance will the building ask for?
Expect a move-in form that records your unit number, the date, the moving company, and sometimes the vehicle details. The item that trips people up most is the certificate of insurance. Many buildings require the moving company to carry liability coverage and to name the condo corporation on a certificate before the crew is allowed in. A reputable company handles this routinely, which is one practical reason people in London, Ontario look for condo movers who already produce these documents without being chased. Ask your property manager exactly what the certificate must state, then pass that to your mover early, because insurers don’t always issue it the same day.
How do elevator reservations and move-in windows limit your timing?
Most mid-rise and high-rise buildings let you book the service elevator for an exclusive block, and only one household moves at a time. These slots fill fast on weekends and at month-end, so a move you planned for the first Saturday may only be available on a Tuesday morning. Buildings also enforce move-in windows, often a few hours on weekdays and shorter or prohibited on Sundays and holidays. If the elevator block ends at four and your truck is still half full, the building can make you stop and resume another day.
Is that move-in deposit refundable, and what can cost you part of it?
The deposit is usually refundable and usually sizable. It exists so that any damage to common areas comes out of your pocket rather than the corporation’s reserve fund. After the move, management inspects the elevator, the corridors, and the entrance. Dented walls, scratched floors, a jammed elevator door, or propping open a fire door can all trigger deductions. Protective padding in the elevator and corner guards in tight hallways are the difference between getting the full amount back and arguing over a charge.
Which building rules dictate where the truck can park and unload?
Few condos let a moving truck sit wherever it’s convenient. There’s typically a designated loading dock or a short-term staging area, and parking elsewhere can draw a bylaw fine or block emergency access. Height restrictions on underground garages catch larger trucks off guard. In denser parts of London the dock may be shared with deliveries, so your booked window matters as much for the truck as for the elevator.
What happens if your furniture won’t fit the service elevator?
Service elevators have real limits on depth, width, and height, and a long sofa or a tall armoire may not clear them. Before moving day, measure your largest pieces against the elevator’s interior dimensions, which management can usually provide. When something won’t fit, the options are disassembly, hoisting, or the stairwell, each slower and sometimes subject to its own rules. Knowing this in advance prevents a frozen crew standing in the lobby with a piece that simply will not go up.
When should you book condo movers who already know your building?
Crews familiar with a specific building already know its dock, its elevator quirks, and its management’s expectations, which shaves real time off the day. Book early, because their calendars tie to the same scarce elevator slots you’re competing for. The through-line of a condo move is simple: the building sets the terms, and the move goes smoothly only when you’ve learned them before the truck arrives.