Moving into an apartment in Vancouver is a different experience than moving into a house. There are building rules to navigate, elevator bookings to arrange, parking permits to sort out, and often a lot more stairs than you’d like. Get it right and moving day runs smoothly. Get it wrong and you’re paying for an extra hour while you wait for the elevator to free up. Here’s everything you need to know.
Book the Elevator Early
This is the single most important thing apartment movers in Vancouver need to do before moving day. Most condo and apartment buildings require you to book the service elevator in advance — sometimes days or even weeks ahead. Contact your building manager or strata as soon as you have your moving date confirmed. Find out the available time windows, whether there’s a deposit required for elevator use, and whether there are any restrictions on move-in days or hours.
Missing this step means your movers could arrive on time with a full truck and have nowhere to load — costing you time and money.
Check the Building’s Moving Rules
Beyond the elevator, most buildings have a full set of rules around moves. Common ones include: moves are only permitted on weekdays, moves must be completed by a certain time in the evening, certain entrances must be used, and padding must be installed in the elevator before any furniture goes in. Ask your building manager for the full list before moving day so there are no surprises.
Sort Out Parking for the Moving Truck
Moving trucks are large and parking in Vancouver is tight. Before moving day, find out where the truck can legally park at both your old and new building. In some cases you’ll need to apply for a temporary no-parking permit through the City of Vancouver — this can take a few days to arrange so don’t leave it to the last minute. Brothers Moving is experienced with Vancouver apartment moves and can help advise on this when you book.
Protect the Building — And Your Deposit
Most buildings require you to protect the elevator walls, lobby floors, and hallways during the move. If you don’t, you could be held responsible for any damage — which comes straight out of your deposit. Use moving blankets in the elevator, lay down floor protection in high traffic areas, and prop doors open carefully so furniture doesn’t scratch door frames on the way through.
At your old building, do a full inspection of your unit before you hand over the keys. Photograph every room, every wall, and every appliance. This protects you if there are any disputes about damage after you’ve left.
Plan for Tight Spaces
Vancouver apartments are often compact — narrow hallways, tight stairwells, small elevators. Before moving day, measure any large furniture like sofas, bed frames, and dressers against the dimensions of the elevator and any tight corners in the hallway. If something won’t fit in the elevator, it needs to go via the stairwell — and your movers need to know this in advance so they can plan accordingly.
Get Your Utilities Sorted
Before you move in, make sure your BC Hydro and internet service are set up and active at the new address. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your new apartment after a long moving day with no lights and no wifi. Contact BC Hydro and your internet provider at least two weeks before your move to arrange the transfer or new connection.
Brothers Moving has been helping families and businesses relocate since 2008. We serve Metro Vancouver including Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Delta, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Langley, Abbotsford, White Rock and Horseshoe Bay. We also move clients across Vancouver Island including Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay, Campbell River and Parksville, and throughout BC including Kelowna, Kamloops, Penticton, Chilliwack and Prince George.
Ready to move? Call us at 604-720-0931 or get a free quote online today.