Condo moves often require coordination with a building manager or association. Even when the home is ready, a missed elevator reservation or an unexpected loading restriction can delay the move.

Contact property management as soon as you know your date

The earlier you start, the more choice you have over your moving window. Contact the building manager or condo association the moment your date is set — popular time slots, especially weekend mornings, get claimed quickly in larger Boston-area buildings. Ask for the building's move-in or move-out procedures in writing so nothing is left to memory.

Find out exactly what the building requires:

  • A move-in or move-out reservation, and how far in advance it must be booked.
  • A refundable damage deposit, and the conditions for getting it back.
  • Proof of insurance — usually a certificate of insurance (COI) from your moving company naming the building or association. COIs take a few days to issue, so request this early.
  • Specific moving hours. Many condos restrict moves to weekday windows, such as 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and prohibit Sunday or holiday moves entirely.
  • Protective coverings for common areas, such as hallway runners or elevator padding, and whether the building or the mover provides them.

Share every requirement with your moving company right away. A mover that regularly works in Greater Boston condos will know how to handle COIs and building paperwork, but they can only do it if they know the deadlines.

Confirm the elevator details, not just the reservation

Having the elevator reserved is only half the job — confirm it will actually fit your belongings. Ask for the service or freight elevator's interior dimensions, door opening width and height, and weight capacity. Passenger elevators are sometimes the only option in smaller buildings, and they are rarely sized for a sofa.

Confirm whether the elevator is available for your exclusive use during the window, or whether residents will still be using it between loads. Exclusive use dramatically speeds up a move; shared use means waiting between trips. Also ask how the elevator is accessed — key, fob, or attendant — and who operates it on moving day.

If you have oversized furniture, check whether it fits through the service elevator, hallway corners, and the unit entrance. Measure the largest pieces against the smallest choke point. Discovering that the armoire cannot clear the hallway turn is a problem best solved before the truck is loaded.

Sort out truck parking and the loading route

Find out where the moving truck is allowed to park and how far the crew must carry items. Many condo buildings have a loading dock with its own booking procedure, height clearance, and time limits — confirm all three. If there is no dock and the truck must use the street, check whether a street occupancy permit from the Boston Transportation Department is needed to reserve curb space.

Walk the route from the parking spot to the elevator yourself: note stairs, ramps, narrow passages, security doors, and any distance that qualifies as a long carry. Share loading-dock instructions, security desk procedures, access codes, and parking restrictions with your mover before moving day, so the crew arrives with a plan instead of questions.

Pack and label for a building move

Pack and label boxes by room with clear destination names. In a condo building, the crew may be working against a fixed elevator window, so boxes that can be sorted at a glance keep things moving. Keep the entryway and corridors clear as items come in — hallways are shared space, and blocking them invites complaints or building fines.

Make sure someone can meet the crew and guide them through the building's process: signing in at the security desk, accessing the service elevator, and observing any rules about noise or common areas. If you cannot be there, designate a trusted person who knows the plan.

Ask the moving company what documentation it can provide — COI, elevator padding, floor protection — and confirm any requirements directly with the building rather than assuming. When the building's rules and the mover's paperwork line up in advance, moving day runs on schedule.

Harbor Moving LLC helps customers plan moves in Greater Boston and across Massachusetts. Share your building rules and inventory at Harbormove.com or call 617-378-1796.