By Easy Move
In short
For each address, note the floor, whether there is an elevator and whether it must be reserved, the width of the stairs and doors, and where the truck can park. These details change working time more than distance does.
Why access matters
Moving time is often decided between the door and the truck: number of steps, length of the hallway, waiting for the elevator, distance to the parking spot. Describing these when you ask for an estimate avoids surprises on the day.
What to check at each address
- Floor and type of access: ground level, indoor stairs, outdoor stairs (common in Montréal), elevator.
- Elevator: does it have to be reserved? Are there permitted hours for moving? Do the walls need protecting?
- Doors and stairwells: measure the narrow passages if you have a large sofa, a piano or a wardrobe.
- Parking: where can the truck stop, and do you need a permit from your municipality or borough?
- Keys, entry codes and the concierge's contact details.
Parking and municipal rules
Rules for parking and for occupying the street with a truck vary by city and, in Montréal, by borough. Check directly with your municipality for the steps and lead times that apply to your address; this guide does not replace their rules.
In winter
Shovel and de-ice the steps, the entrance and the space set aside for the truck the day before and again the morning of. Put down mats to protect the floors.
General preparation guide; it does not replace your municipality's rules or the terms of your contract.
Describe your access in the estimate