Survey the entire carry path
In Plateau, Mile End, Rosemont, Verdun and Outremont plex housing, the difficult point may be a turn on the landing rather than the apartment door. Photograph the hallway, each stair turn and the final exit. Confirm which entrance is permitted; a back staircase may have different clearance or condition than the front.
Prepare bulky furniture before move day
Measure sofas, bed frames, tables and appliances with protruding handles included. Tell the mover what can be dismantled and who will do it. Do not assume a piece that entered years ago can leave through an altered doorway. Keep fasteners together and identify each part’s destination.
Separate tenancy handover from transport
Agree the empty-apartment inspection, key return and destination entry with the landlords. Keep cleaning supplies and documents outside the shipment. NDG or Westmount apartments may combine interior stairs with a long approach; the property’s layout matters more than its postal code.
- Clear doors and hallways without blocking shared exits
- Protect fragile items before furniture handling begins
- Confirm the legal curb location
- Record existing damage in common areas
Make an apartment access record
Record the floor, stair turns, entrance widths, exterior steps and truck-to-door distance. Include whether the staircase is shared and when keys can be handed over. A walk-up in Plateau, Mile End, Rosemont or Verdun should be assessed through its actual route, not a neighbourhood stereotype. Send photographs of difficult turns with a visible measurement reference. Flag furniture that previously entered through a different opening or before renovations.
Measure the destination before dismantling
Check the important furniture against the new entrance, stairs and intended room. Measure protruding arms or frames, not only the usable seat or mattress size. Decide what can be dismantled according to the manufacturer’s design and label the parts. If the dimensions are uncertain, request an assessment before moving day. Removing a door or furniture component is a preparation decision requiring permission and an agreed responsibility, not an automatic solution.
Apartment readiness goes beyond floor number
The narrowest doorway or landing can govern the move even when the floor number sounds straightforward.
Plan the handover with other occupants
Ask when the outgoing tenant will leave and when you can begin placing furniture. Keep shared stairs and entrances clear for neighbours. Complete a final walk-through, collect your essentials and record the empty property’s condition where appropriate. At arrival, direct cartons to room zones rather than filling the hallway. If keys or possession are delayed, notify the mover immediately and discuss the agreed options before the truck is committed to unloading.
Create an apartment access sheet for both addresses
Record floor, stairs, elevator availability, entry dimensions and the route from the truck to the room. Photograph narrow turns and landings with enough context to show where a large piece must pass. Include the furniture’s dimensions and any disassembly information already known. Tell the company about storage lockers or basement goods rather than treating them as part of an undefined apartment size. Ask the landlord or manager how keys, common areas and loading are handled. For the receiving apartment, check fit as well as access: a sofa can enter the building and still be unsuitable for the intended room. Decide what remains, moves or requires another arrangement before collection. Do not assume an alternative outside handling method is available without assessment and the necessary approvals.
Coordinate neighbours and common passages
Ask how the move should be communicated within the building and what areas must remain clear. Keep hallways and exits usable while cartons are staged. If another household is moving the same day, verify the shared access arrangement rather than relying on informal assumptions. Label destination rooms and identify which furniture should arrive before cartons so the crew can place large items without reopening the route repeatedly. Keep a person authorised to give instructions available at the receiving address. If keys or management permissions change, notify the mover promptly and ask how the plan is affected. Your preparation should make the apartment’s constraints visible to everyone involved, including the landlord, household and crew, without requiring them to discover a different version of the instructions during unloading.
Apartment handoff and access worksheet
Check the whole route from the apartment to the truck at both addresses.
| Apartment detail | What to record | Decision to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Keys and doors | Who holds keys and opens shared entrances. | Can access be maintained throughout the move? |
| Floor and stair route | Floor count, landings and route photos. | Which entrance gives the clearest route? |
| Large furniture | Furniture dimensions and detachable components. | Does any item need assessment before moving day? |
| Shared corridors | Obstacles and building protection instructions. | Who arranges the required protection? |
| Neighbours and activity | Other booked moves and busy access periods. | Should the loading sequence avoid a shared bottleneck? |
| Appliances | Items moving and preparation instructions. | Who prepares each appliance before the crew arrives? |
| Move-out condition | Photos, cleaning tasks and key return arrangements. | Who completes the final room check? |
| Move-in readiness | Room plan and first-use boxes. | Where should belongings go to keep pathways clear? |