How to prepare for moving day in Vancouver

A smooth move day comes down to preparation. A little planning saves you money on an hourly move and saves you stress on any move. Here is how to get ready for moving day in Vancouver.

Book your parking and loading zone

In dense parts of Vancouver, where the truck parks matters. The City of Vancouver offers temporary parking permits for moving trucks, and you may need one to legally hold curb space outside your building. Sort this out a week ahead so the crew is not circling the block or parking far from your door.

Reserve the elevator and check strata rules

If you live in a condo or apartment, book the elevator with your building management early. Many stratas require it, limit move times to certain hours, and charge a move-in or move-out fee or deposit. Buildings in Yaletown, Brentwood, and along the Cambie corridor are strict about this. Confirm the rules before move day so you are not turned away.

Pack and label ahead of time

Boxes should be packed, taped, and labelled by room before the crew arrives. On an hourly move, a crew waiting while you finish packing is money out of your pocket. Label boxes on the side, not the top, so they are readable when stacked.

Disassemble what you can

Take apart bed frames, table legs, and anything flat-packed the night before, and keep the hardware in labelled bags. It speeds up loading and reduces the risk of damage in transit.

Set aside an essentials box

Pack a box of things you will need the first night — chargers, toiletries, medications, basic tools, a change of clothes — and keep it with you, not on the truck. It saves you digging through boxes at midnight.

Clear pathways and protect floors

Move smaller items and clutter out of hallways and stairwells so the crew has a clear path. If it is raining, which in Vancouver it often is, lay down some protection at the entrance. A good crew brings floor protection, but clear access still speeds everything up.

Confirm details with your movers

The day before, confirm the arrival window, the address and unit numbers, parking and elevator details, and any heavy or specialty items. A quick call prevents the small mix-ups that eat time on move day.

When you book with us, we walk through parking, elevator, and access details ahead of time so move day runs clean. For a moving quote in Vancouver or anywhere in Metro Vancouver, call 604-348-7640.