You’ve found an excellent apartment at the right price with every amenity you want. There’s just one thing: it’s a third-floor triplex, and there’s no elevator. This scenario is quite common in Montreal, especially with triplexes, duplexes, and older walk-up buildings in NDG, Plateau, Verdun, and Rosemont.

These iconic buildings make moving more challenging, but that’s something you don’t have to worry about with the right plan and the right team. Here’s everything you need to know about moving in walk-up buildings in Montreal and when it makes more sense to seek help from professional Montreal movers.

Understand What You’re Dealing With

The following are some things you need to know about walk-up buildings in Montreal, especially Montreal triplexes:

• Staircases are steep and narrow, with some having 90-degree turns on the landing.
• Exterior spiral staircases have that iconic Montreal look, but they are tough to navigate with furniture.
• The low ceilings dictate the angle at which you can carry your belongings.
• Some older buildings have worn, slippery hardwood stairs that are a great cause for concern when carrying heavy items.

It would be a great idea to visit the building and physically walk up from the front door to your unit. Record a video with your phone and identify tight corners and doorways, as this information is handy when working out if your large couch will fit.

Measure Everything

Most people skip this step and end up regretting it later. Before anything is loaded onto a truck, you need to know your numbers inside out, and here’s what you should do:

• Measure all large furniture: Measure the length, width, height, and diagonal height (which matters the most on stairs). Don’t forget to include the detachable parts, i.e., the legs, arms, and headboards.
• Measure the staircase: Record the width of the narrowest point, the ceiling clearance, and the landing dimensions of all areas with turns.
• Measure every doorway: the front door, the hallway, and the door to the room each piece is going into.
• Consider disassembling any large piece of furniture before the move, and label the bolts and screws for every item to make reassembly at the new place easy.

Pack Manageable Loads for Walk-up Moves

Packing for a building with no elevator demands a different approach from packing for a ground-floor move. The goal here is to make every trip up the stairs as easy as possible; therefore, don’t fill the boxes.

• Use small boxes for books, cookware, and anything dense. You will have more trips that are better than damaged items or a strained back.
• Balance the weight while packing with heavy items on the bottom and lighter items on top. The box should be light enough that you can carry it up the stairs without stopping.
• Mark what goes where and identify the items that need to go up first.
• Use sturdy boxes and double-wrap all your breakables to avoid damage when going up the stairs.

If DIY packing is too much for you, our full packing service handles everything from wrapping fragile items to labelling. We will ensure that all your items are in the correct rooms and in the same condition we found them.

Source the Right Moving Equipment for Stairs

These necessary pieces of equipment will go a long way in ensuring a successful relocation while moving into a walk-up in Montreal:

• 4-wheel moving dolly: Works best on flat surfaces, i.e., from the truck to the building entrance.
• Hand truck: The hand truck with stair rollers on the back wheels is priceless for a walk-up move and costs around $70-$100.
• Moving straps: Ideal for reducing back strain during heavy lifting and cost around $20-$30.
• Furniture sliders: Essential for moving heavy pieces across floors without denting or scratching them. Costs around $10 – $20.
• Stretch wrap: A thin stretch film for wrapping furniture to protect the corners and keep drawers from opening mid-carry.
• Grip gloves: Sweaty hands are a recipe for disaster while moving up the stairs. Purchase grip gloves to make your work easier.

Talk to your landlord or building management, as some Montreal buildings don’t allow the use of roller equipment on older stairs.

Assemble a Great Team and Brief Them Accordingly

Moving into a walk-up in Montreal isn’t a one-man job but a team job. The more people you have in your team, the fewer trips per person and the less risk for injury or damage.

• 3-4 people are ideal for an apartment move into a walk-up.
• Assign clear roles a day before moving day.
• Walk your team through the route before you start moving in your belongings. Show them every tight corner, any protruding features, and fragile walls.
• Take a break every 45-60 minutes for rehydration and recovery.

Don’t give your team more than they can chew. For instance, if you own a piano and your team lacks the experience and skills to move it, this is the time to book the best piano moving service in Montreal.

Time Your Move Around Montreal Traffic and Building Activity

Montreal moves at its own pace, and getting your timing wrong will prove costly. Here is what you should consider:

• Avoid moving around July 1 if at all possible because it’s the most chaotic day to be on the road with a moving truck. Check if your lease start date has any flexibility, and if it does, moving on the 3^rd or 4^th of July can make a great difference.
• Consider moving on midweek mornings as you get less traffic, less competition for parking, and quieter stairwells as fewer neighbors will be coming and going.
• Acquire a temporary parking permit for your moving truck. Every borough in Montreal has its own parking rules and restrictions, so check their official website for further details.
• Start early, especially if you’re moving in the summer. The heat can cause extreme exhaustion, so moving early can make a significant difference.

Talk to Your Building Management Before Moving Day

Instead of just showing up with a truck full of your stuff, it would be an excellent idea to talk with your landlord or building manager ahead of time.

• He or she might allow you to use the rear doors that are wider and easier to access.
• Provide a parking spot or a designated loading zone.
• Give you permission to prop open building doors.
• Provide information on any restrictions, such as moving hours, staircase limitations, and equipment.

Many older triplex buildings in Montreal are managed by the owner, who is the neighbor in the building. Tell them your plan, and always be respectful when moving, and this relationship can go a long way in making your relocation easier.

Sort Out Parking

Nothing can be more stressful than failing to sort out parking on moving day in Montreal. The moving truck should be parked as close as possible to the building for convenience. Here’s how to sort out parking when moving in Montreal:

• Contact your borough weeks before moving day to request a temporary no-parking zone for your moving truck. For dense Montreal neighborhoods like Rosemont and Plateau, this process can take 2 to 5 days.
• Some boroughs require you to fill out a specific form, so look up yours before the move.
• If you’re using a professional moving company in Montreal, ask them if they handle parking logistics.

At MovinGo, we know the city like the back of our moving trucks, including parking rules in every borough. When you book a local moving service in Montreal, we handle everything so you can concentrate on settling into your new apartment in a walk-up in Montreal.

Know When to Reach Out to Professional Montreal Movers

You can attempt a DIY relocation while moving into a walk-up in Montreal, but you should know your limits. Here’s when it’s worth calling in the moving experts in Montreal:

• Your apartment is on the 3^rd floor or higher
• You have large, bulky, and heavy items
• You have a piano, pool table, artwork, and other fragile valuables
• Your building has a spiral staircase or an exterior configuration
• You’re moving on short notice

Our movers are experienced and have the equipment for every type of walk-up and triplex configuration. We can move bulky, large, and heavy items through our hoisting and craning service, and we move faster and more safely, making us ideal for last-minute moving in Montreal.  We are also fully insured and licensed, so your belongings are safe with us.

Ready to Move into Your Montreal Walk-Up?

Moving into a walk-up or a triplex with no elevator doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right preparation and the right team of Montreal movers by your side, everything will go as planned. Get a free, no-obligation quote from MovinGo today and experience the best residential moving service.