Condo moving in the GTA: elevators, windows and what buildings ask for

Almost every condo restricts moves to a booked window on a padded service elevator. Two or three hours is common. That window, not the size of your unit, determines the crew size and the load sequence.

Book both ends before you book anything else, and try to leave a buffer between them so a delay at the origin does not collapse the destination window.

Underground bays have posted height limits. A truck that cannot enter the bay turns a twenty-metre carry into a hundred-metre one, which costs hours. This is why we ask about the bay before assigning a vehicle rather than sending the biggest truck available.

Sectionals, wall units, king mattresses and treadmills need to be measured against the elevator car and the unit doorway. Where a piece will not clear, disassembly is the answer — legs off, backs unbolted, modular sections separated.

If you are buying furniture for a condo, check the elevator car depth before you order. It is a cheaper conversation than a return.

Expect a booked window, a deposit in some buildings, proof of insurance from the moving company, and protection of the lobby, corridors and elevator interior. A crew that arrives without those arranged loses the window.