Moving Day in Vancouver: What to Do Before the Movers Arrive

Quick Answer: Before your Vancouver movers arrive, finish packing, label your boxes, confirm elevator and building access, check parking and loading arrangements, protect floors and entryways, keep valuables and essentials with you, and make sure the movers have a clear path through the property. A final walk-through before loading starts can also help catch anything that was forgotten.

Moving day gets much easier when the important details are handled before the truck arrives. In Vancouver, that can mean more than simply having your boxes packed. Condos and apartments may require elevator bookings, loading areas can have restrictions, and limited parking can turn a simple move into a much longer job. This guide covers what to do before movers arrive, what to keep with you, and the final checks that can help keep moving day organised.

The Night Before Moving Day

The easiest moving mornings usually start with preparation the night before. You don’t want to be sealing boxes, searching for chargers, or taking apart furniture while the movers are already waiting.

Before going to bed, make sure:

• Most of your packing is finished: Boxes should be closed, labelled, and ready to carry.
• Important items are separated: Keep passports, identification, medications, jewellery, financial documents, keys, and other valuables with you.
• Your essentials bag is ready: Pack toiletries, chargers, clothes, basic medications, towels, and anything you will need on your first night.
• Furniture is ready to move: Empty drawers where appropriate and disassemble simple furniture if you have agreed to handle it yourself.
• Access arrangements are confirmed: Make sure your elevator, loading area, parking arrangements, or building booking are still in place.

The goal is simple: when the movers arrive, the home should be ready for loading.

What to Pack in Your First-Night Bag

One of the easiest mistakes on moving day is putting everything on the truck and then realising you need something immediately. Keep a separate bag or box with:

• Toiletries and toilet paper
• A change of clothes
• Phone and laptop chargers
• Basic medications
• Towels
• Snacks and water
• Basic kitchen items
• Important documents
• Keys and access cards
• Basic cleaning supplies

Keep this bag with you rather than loading it onto the moving truck.

Confirm Your Elevator and Building Access

If you’re moving into or out of a Vancouver condo or apartment, building access should be one of the first things you confirm. Check with your strata, property manager, or building management about:

• Elevator booking: Confirm the date and time of your moving window.
• Loading dock: Find out where the moving truck should arrive.
• Moving hours: Some buildings restrict when moves can take place.
• Security or concierge: Check whether movers need to sign in or provide identification.
• Floor protection: Some buildings require protective coverings in elevators and common areas.
• Move-in or move-out procedures: Ask whether there are deposits, forms, or other requirements.

Did You Know? A moving truck can arrive on time and still be delayed if the building elevator or loading area isn’t available. For condo and apartment moves, confirm the building’s requirements before moving day rather than assuming the movers can use the elevator whenever they arrive. Our complete Vancouver moving checklist covers other preparation steps you can handle before moving day.

Check Parking and Truck Access

Before the movers arrive, take a look at the access situation at both addresses.

Consider:

• Where the truck can legally and safely stop
• Whether there is a designated loading area
• How far the truck will be from the building entrance
• Whether there are parking restrictions
• Whether the driveway or entrance has enough clearance
• Whether there are stairs, narrow hallways, or long carries
• Whether the new property has specific truck-access instructions

The closer the truck can get to the entrance, the less distance the crew generally has to carry boxes and furniture.

If parking is difficult at either property, tell your moving company before moving day so the crew can plan around the access conditions.

Clear a Path Before the Movers Arrive

Your movers need a clear route from the rooms to the truck. Before they arrive, remove small obstacles from:

• Hallways
• Stairways
• Doorways
• Entryways
• Loading areas
• Garage or storage areas

Move loose rugs, shoes, small furniture, boxes, and other items that could get in the way. If you’re moving from a condo or apartment, make sure the route from your unit to the elevator and loading area is clear as well. A few minutes of preparation can make the loading process much easier.

Protect Floors, Walls and Entryways

Moving day involves repeated trips between the home and the truck. Depending on the weather and property, this can mean dirt, moisture, and heavy traffic through the same areas. Before loading starts, consider protecting:

• Entryway floors
• Hardwood flooring
• Carpeting
• Stairs
• Door frames
• Elevator floors
• Common-area flooring

If you’re moving into or out of a condo building, check whether the property has its own protection requirements.

Keep Valuables and Important Documents With You

The moving truck is for your furniture, boxes, and other belongings. Some items are better kept with you. Keep these items separate:

• Passports and identification
• Jewellery
• Cash and financial documents
• Prescription medications
• Important records
• Keys
• Small electronics
• Personal documents
• Items with significant sentimental value

Put them in a bag that stays with you throughout the move.

Prepare Appliances and Large Items

If your move includes appliances or large furniture, make sure they are ready before the movers arrive. Depending on the item, this may mean:

• Emptying refrigerators and freezers
• Disconnecting appliances that require advance preparation
• Removing items from furniture drawers
• Taking down fragile shelves or glass components
• Disassembling furniture where agreed
• Securing loose parts and hardware

Put screws, bolts, brackets, and other small hardware from disassembled furniture into labelled bags so they are easy to find at the new property.

Keep Children and Pets Safe

Moving day creates a lot of activity.

Doors may stay open, people will be carrying heavy furniture, and movers may be walking through the property repeatedly.

If possible, arrange for young children to stay somewhere away from the main moving area.

Pets should also be kept in a secure room or another safe location away from open doors and heavy traffic.

This keeps everyone safer and makes it easier for the movers to work without interruptions.

Make Sure Everything Being Moved Is Clearly Identified

If there are belongings that are staying behind, separate them before the movers arrive.

Use a clear:

DO NOT MOVE

label where appropriate.

This is especially useful when several people are packing or when certain rooms contain a mixture of items that are moving and staying.

Likewise, make sure boxes that need special handling are clearly marked.

Keep Your Phone Charged

Your phone is one of the most useful things to have available on moving day. Keep it charged so you can:

• Communicate with the moving crew
• Contact your building manager or concierge
• Access your booking information
• Check directions
• Contact the new property’s management
• Handle unexpected access or parking issues
• Access important documents or emails

Keep your charger in your essentials bag instead of putting it inside a moving box.

Do a Final Walk-Through Before the Movers Leave

Once everything has been loaded, don’t immediately lock the door and leave. Take a final walk through the property.

Check:

• Closets
• Kitchen cabinets
• Bathroom cabinets
• Storage rooms
• Garage
• Balcony
• Basement
• Utility areas
• Behind doors
• High shelves

It’s easy to overlook something when a property is almost empty.

A final walk-through gives you one last opportunity to find anything that should have gone onto the truck.

What to Tell Your Movers When They Arrive

When the movers arrive, give them a quick overview before loading begins.

Point out:

• Fragile boxes
• Heavy or awkward items
• Furniture requiring special handling
• Items that are not being moved
• The preferred route through the property
• Elevator or loading instructions
• Parking limitations
• Any access issues at the destination

If there is anything unusual about the property, explain it before the crew starts carrying furniture.

Clear communication at the beginning can help prevent confusion later in the day.

Moving Day Checklist

Use this checklist before your Vancouver movers arrive:

• Finish packing and seal all boxes
• Label boxes by room
• Prepare a first-night bag
• Keep valuables and important documents with you
• Confirm elevator booking
• Confirm building access instructions
• Check truck parking and loading access
• Clear hallways and doorways
• Protect floors and entryways where required
• Prepare appliances and large furniture
• Separate items that are not being moved
• Arrange a safe place for children and pets
• Keep your phone and charger accessible
• Have water and basic supplies available
• Complete a final walk-through
• Explain special instructions to the movers

How to Make Moving Day Less Stressful

The biggest advantage you can give yourself on moving day is preparation.

Try to make sure the movers aren’t waiting for boxes to be packed, furniture to be cleared, or building access to be arranged.

Have the home ready before the truck arrives.

If you’re moving from a Vancouver condo, confirm the elevator and loading arrangements. If you’re moving from a house, make sure the driveway, entrance, and walkways are accessible. If you’re moving into a new property, confirm how the movers will access the building before moving day.

The more details you handle beforehand, the more time the moving crew can spend actually moving your belongings.

How Atlas Moving Prepares for Moving Day

At Atlas Moving, we believe moving day should be planned before the truck arrives.

That means understanding the property, access conditions, parking, building requirements, furniture, and timing before the move begins.

If you’re planning a residential move in Vancouver, moving into an apartment or condo, or need help clearing unwanted items before moving day through our garbage removal service, tell us about your property and timing when you contact Atlas Moving.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early should I be ready before movers arrive?

Have your boxes packed, labelled, and ready before the scheduled arrival time. It’s also useful to have building access, parking, and any elevator booking confirmed before the crew arrives.

What should I keep with me on moving day?

Keep identification, important documents, medications, jewellery, keys, chargers, valuables, and anything you need immediately after arriving at your new home with you rather than loading them onto the moving truck.

Do I need to reserve an elevator for a condo move in Vancouver?

Many condo and apartment buildings have their own elevator and moving procedures. Check with your strata or property manager in advance to confirm whether an elevator or loading area needs to be booked and whether there are specific moving hours.

What should I do about parking for the moving truck?

Check the parking and loading rules at both your current and new addresses. If there are restrictions or limited access, let your moving company know before moving day so the crew can plan accordingly.

Should I pack everything before the movers arrive?

Yes. Unless you’ve specifically booked packing services, your belongings should generally be packed, sealed, and ready before the movers arrive. This allows the crew to concentrate on loading and transporting your belongings.

What should I do after the movers finish loading?

Complete a final walk-through of the property and check closets, cabinets, storage areas, balconies, garages, and other spaces. Make sure nothing important has been left behind before you leave.

About the Author Written with input from the Atlas Moving team, led by a founder with 15+ years of experience in the moving industry.