Moving Into or Out of a Toronto Condo: Complete Moving Guide

Contact Your Condo Management Before Moving Day

As soon as your moving date is confirmed, contact your condominium management or concierge. Ask whether the building has specific move-in or move-out procedures. Depending on the property, you may need to arrange the items below. Don't wait until the day before your move to check these requirements — popular moving dates and elevator times may already be reserved.

• Service elevator reservations
• Approved moving hours
• Loading dock access
• Moving truck parking
• Security or elevator deposits
• Proof of insurance from your moving company
• Protective coverings for elevators or common areas
• Registration of the moving company with building management

Reserve the Service Elevator

Elevator availability is one of the most important considerations for a Toronto condo move. Many buildings require residents to reserve a service elevator for a specific time window. The building may also place the elevator into service mode so your movers can use it efficiently. When reserving your elevator, confirm both the start and end time. Give this information to your moving company before moving day so the crew can plan the schedule accordingly. If you're moving from one condo into another, remember that you may need two separate elevator reservations — one at your pickup building and another at your destination.

Ask About Moving Hours

Some Toronto condominiums only permit moves during designated hours. For example, a building may allow moves during weekday business hours but restrict evenings, Sundays or holidays. These restrictions can directly affect your moving schedule. Before booking your movers, confirm the permitted moving hours at both addresses.

Confirm Where the Moving Truck Can Park

Parking can have a major impact on the efficiency of a condo move. Ask building management whether your building has a loading dock, designated moving parking, underground clearance restrictions, a loading entrance, or street access for commercial vehicles. Your moving company should know where the truck can be positioned before arriving whenever possible. If the truck must park farther away from the building entrance, the additional walking distance can increase loading or unloading time.

Measure Large Furniture Before Moving Day

Condo elevators, hallways and doorways can be smaller than those found in detached homes. Measure unusually large furniture before your move, especially sofas, sectionals, bed frames, dining tables, large cabinets, desks and exercise equipment. Compare those measurements with your elevator, hallway and doorway dimensions. Some furniture may need to be disassembled before it can be moved safely.

Tell Your Movers About Access Conditions

When requesting your moving quote, provide accurate information about the building. Tell your mover if there are elevators, stairs, long hallways, loading docks, parking restrictions, long carries between the truck and unit, multiple building entrances, or limited elevator reservation periods. Access conditions can affect the crew, equipment, time and planning required for your move.

Ask Whether the Building Requires Proof of Insurance

Some condominium corporations or property managers may request proof of insurance from the moving company before allowing the move to take place. If your building requests insurance documentation, send the requirements to your mover in advance. Don't leave this until moving morning, because building management may need time to review the documentation.

Protect Fragile Items Properly

Condo moves involve elevators, hallways, corners and multiple transitions between your unit and the moving truck. Fragile belongings should therefore be properly prepared for transportation. Items that may require additional protection include televisions, mirrors, artwork, glass furniture, electronics, dishes and decorative items. Professional packing services can be arranged for an entire home or only for selected fragile items.

Label Your Boxes by Room

Simple labeling can make unloading much easier. Instead of labeling everything only as "miscellaneous," identify the destination room — KITCHEN, PRIMARY BEDROOM, LIVING ROOM, BATHROOM or OFFICE. This allows movers to place boxes in the appropriate rooms rather than leaving everything in one area of your new condo.

Keep Important Items With You

Some belongings shouldn't disappear into the back of the moving truck. Keep essential personal items with you, including identification, medications, keys, building access cards, important documents, phones and chargers. You may also want to prepare a first-night bag containing clothes, toiletries and basic necessities. That way, you won't have to open ten boxes looking for your toothbrush after a long moving day.

Moving Between Two Toronto Condos

If both your pickup and destination are condos, coordination becomes especially important. You'll need to consider the elevator reservation at each building, travel time between properties and the time required for loading and unloading. Ideally, your pickup and destination elevator reservations should provide enough flexibility for transportation and normal moving-day variables. Provide both reservation windows to your moving company as early as possible.

Moving Into Toronto From Another City

If you're moving to Toronto from Montreal, another Ontario city or another province, arrange your Toronto condo access before the moving truck arrives. Your long-distance mover should know your delivery elevator window, permitted delivery hours, where the truck can park, how to access the loading area, and who to contact upon arrival. This is particularly important for long-distance moves because changing a delivery schedule at the last minute may be difficult.

Toronto Condo Moving Checklist

Before moving day, confirm that you have completed the items below.

• Reserved the elevator at your current building
• Reserved the elevator at your new building
• Confirmed permitted moving hours
• Confirmed truck parking/loading areas
• Provided building requirements to your mover
• Disclosed stairs and access restrictions
• Identified heavy or oversized furniture
• Completed your packing
• Labeled your boxes
• Kept keys and important documents with you

Professional Condo Movers in Toronto

Keep Moving provides residential moving services for condominiums, apartments, houses and other residential properties throughout Toronto and the GTA. Depending on your move requirements, services may include local moving, long-distance moving, packing services, furniture protection, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and loading and unloading. Every building is different, so providing accurate access information when requesting your estimate helps us properly plan your move.

Planning a Condo Move in Toronto?

Tell us your pickup and delivery addresses, moving date, approximate move size and building access requirements. If you've already reserved your elevators, include the reservation times when requesting your quote.