Create a technical handover sheet
Ask management for the cab dimensions and door opening. Confirm how service mode is activated, who supplies padding and where the key is collected. Record a direct contact for a breakdown or late arrival. Keep this sheet with the building’s written reservation.
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Cab and doorway dimensions | Furniture clearance; orientation inside the cab |
| Start/end and extension process | Crew schedule and contingency if a slot expires |
| Dock and security access | Truck position and time needed before loading |
| Padding and inspection | Responsibility for common-area protection |
Avoid a slot that cannot cover the work
Discuss the inventory and carry distance with the mover before accepting the slot. Several trips from a distant dock can change the handling time. If only one elevator can be used, do not base the plan on simultaneous passenger-elevator access that management has not allowed.
Reconfirm before moving day
Check that the reservation still appears on the building’s calendar, that keys will be available and that maintenance has not changed access. Send the mover any update. Keep an essentials bag outside the truck if unloading must wait for a later slot.
Request the dimensions that matter
Obtain the service elevator’s door opening and usable interior dimensions, along with access from the dock and at the suite floor. Check large items against the entire route. An interior measurement is incomplete if the door is narrower or a tight corridor prevents rotation. Send the information and furniture photos to the mover for assessment. If the building supplies only a standard rule sheet, ask management to clarify missing measurements.
Confirm how the reservation is operated
Ask whether the elevator is dedicated to the move, who provides a key or control and whether building staff must attend. Confirm any protective coverings and setup time. Record when the slot starts and ends, not merely “morning.” Share the manager’s contact with the crew. A reserved slot can still be unusable if the service entrance is locked or the staff member responsible for operating the elevator is unavailable.
An elevator booking needs more than a time
Door opening, controls and reservation conditions should be shared with the mover before arrival.
Agree what happens if the slot is interrupted
Ask the building how to report an elevator fault, an overrun or a conflict with another move. Discuss workable alternatives with the mover before the date. Do not assume stairs can replace an elevator for every item or that a crew can remain indefinitely. Keep essentials with you if unloading must be postponed, and record any revised access arrangement in writing so the receiving contact and crew follow the same instructions.
Confirm that the reservation supports the actual shipment
Measure or obtain the elevator opening and usable cabin dimensions, then compare them with the large items in the shipment. Ask about the route between loading point, elevator and unit; reserving a cabin does not eliminate narrow doors or long carries. Record the start and end of the slot, who activates moving service and what happens if the building changes the reservation. Tell the mover the inventory and any rules on simultaneous moves or common-area protection. Keep building fees separate in your budget. At the destination, confirm keys and an authorised receiving contact within the slot. If the shipment or access assessment suggests the arrangement is unsuitable, discuss another approved plan before pickup rather than discovering the conflict during unloading.
Elevator reservation confirmation sheet
Complete one sheet for each building and send the confirmed windows to your mover.
| Reservation detail | Evidence to keep | Check before move day |
|---|---|---|
| Booking identity | Unit, address and booking reference. | Does confirmation name the correct building? |
| Time window | Written start/end times for exclusive use, if granted. | When must the last item leave the cab? |
| Cab and doorway | Interior dimensions and clear door opening. | Has the largest item been assessed against them? |
| Approach route | Loading entrance, corridor turns and thresholds. | Can items reach the elevator without a blockage? |
| Protection setup | Padding instructions and responsible person. | Will protection be ready before loading starts? |
| Access activation | Key, attendant or concierge procedure. | Who meets the crew at the booked time? |
| Two-building alignment | Origin slot, destination slot and travel plan. | Do the windows leave time to travel and unload? |
| Interruption plan | Building contact and alternative instructions. | What happens if the elevator is unavailable? |