Apartment moving in Montreal involves more than packing boxes. Preparing your belongings, building access and truck parking ahead of time helps everyone work from the same plan. Our MovinGo team prepared this Montreal apartment moving checklist to explain what to do in the weeks before your move, what to keep accessible and how to coordinate both addresses.
Written by the MovinGo Team. Start with our Montreal moving services, then use this guide to organise your preparation. The timeline is a planning aid, not a guaranteed booking window: contact us earlier if your preferred date or building arrangements are difficult.
Two to Four Weeks Before Your Move
Confirm the date and discuss your move with the movers. Share both addresses, your apartment size, floors and elevator availability. Explain whether you are moving everything at once or collecting belongings from another location. Keep the agreed scope and contact details together.
- Make an inventory by room, including appliances, balcony furniture, closets and storage lockers. Photos help explain large or delicate pieces.
- Declutter before packing. Arrange donations or appropriate disposal for unwanted items; do not assume the moving crew will remove discarded belongings.
- Ask both building managers about moving hours, entrances, protective coverings, elevator reservations and access procedures.
- Check where the truck can legally stop and how far belongings must travel between it and the apartment.
- Plan address changes and utility transfers with your providers. Record activation dates and keep confirmation details accessible.
For residential moving, an accurate inventory and clear access information are more useful than simply saying the apartment is small. Update us if either changes after the initial discussion.
One Week Before Your Move
Start packing items you do not use daily: seasonal clothing, spare linens, decorations and books. Work through one area at a time so you can still find what you need.
- Label each box with its destination room and a brief description. Mark fragile contents and keep essential boxes separate.
- Use sturdy, manageable boxes. Put heavy books in smaller containers and protect fragile objects individually rather than relying on a fragile label alone.
- Identify beds, desks and shelving that may need disassembly. Photograph connections and keep hardware in labelled bags.
- Measure large furniture, doorways, corridors and tight turns. Send photos when the route is unclear; do not assume a piece will fit because it fitted elsewhere.
- Confirm the plan with the moving company, including requested packing help and any special-handling items.
- Arrange a safe place and a responsible adult for children or pets during loading and unloading.
If you want professional packing services, discuss the items and materials beforehand. Clarify what our team will prepare and what you will finish yourself.
The Day Before Moving
Finish the packing you agreed to complete. Keep a small, clearly marked area for belongings that will travel with you. Do not place your keys or phone at the bottom of a sealed moving box.
- Prepare an essentials bag with documents, medication, chargers, toiletries and a change of clothes.
- Keep valuables and important papers accessible, separate from items scheduled for loading.
- Prepare appliances according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the agreed service scope. Arrange qualified assistance where a connection requires it; do not improvise disconnecting gas or electrical equipment.
- Clear hallways, entrances and the route to the elevator. Keep exits and shared circulation areas usable.
- Confirm arrival arrangements, building access and contact numbers. Explain any last-minute change before the team travels.
Charge your phone and keep your moving notes available offline. A simple list of addresses, contacts and building instructions is easier to use than searching through several messages during loading.
Moving Day Checklist
Before the movers arrive
Keep the access route clear and the essentials bag aside. Walk through the apartment with our team, identifying fragile belongings, heavy pieces and anything needing special handling. Clearly identify items that must not be loaded. Confirm the destination, additional stops and the person who will provide access there.
Before leaving your old apartment
Check cupboards, closets, drawers, balconies and storage spaces. Look behind doors and in areas emptied earlier. Follow your building’s instructions for keys, fobs and move-out access. Keep the agreed destination contact informed if departure timing changes.
When arriving at your new apartment
Show the team the approved entrance, elevator and rooms. Use the same room names as your box labels so belongings reach the right place. Check delivered items and report concerns promptly to the team. Keep packaging and relevant photos where helpful, without assuming a particular claim procedure or deadline.
Montreal Apartment Access, Elevators, and Truck Parking
Exterior stairs, narrow entrances, shared hallways and tight turns can change the handling plan. Explain the full route at both addresses, including the distance between the truck and the apartment. Give us elevator dimensions or photos if large furniture may be difficult to accommodate.
Confirm elevator bookings with the building manager. Ask about permitted moving times, how access is obtained and what happens if another resident has the same window. A reservation does not replace checking whether furniture fits.
Street arrangements depend on the borough and location. Montréal’s official guidance for parking a moving truck explains borough-specific permit requirements. Select the borough for each address and check the applicable process, timing and signage. Discuss who will handle any required permit with the moving company; do not assume it is included. Do not improvise a street reservation or obstruct pedestrian or cycling access.
What to Pack in Your First-Night Essentials Bag
Pack for the first evening before you know where every box is. Keep these belongings with you and accessible:
- Identification, important documents and keys.
- Medication and personal health essentials.
- Phone chargers and contact information.
- Toiletries, towels and a change of clothes.
- Water, snacks and easy meal items.
- Bedding for the first night.
- Basic cleaning supplies, securely closed.
- Essential supplies for children or pets, where applicable.
A small bag plus one clearly labelled bedding box may be more practical than an overloaded suitcase. Tell anyone helping you that these items are not part of the general loading inventory.
Common Apartment Moving Mistakes to Avoid
Leaving packing until moving day can change the agreed workload and block access. Oversized, overloaded boxes are harder to handle; split heavy contents into manageable containers.
Forgetting elevator reservations or overlooking truck access can disrupt the schedule. Failing to disclose a piano, oversized sofa or delicate object prevents proper assessment. Packing medication, keys and documents among general boxes makes the first evening harder. Use your inventory and building notes as a final cross-check rather than relying on memory.
How MovinGo Helps You Prepare for an Apartment Move
MovinGo is a Montreal-based moving company offering residential moving and packing services. Our team can discuss your inventory, requested preparation and access conditions so the proposed work matches your apartment move.
Share both addresses, floors, elevator arrangements, truck access, furniture dimensions, box quantities and any large or delicate items. Explain the packing and furniture preparation you want help with, and confirm the agreed services rather than assuming every task is included.
We serve Montreal and surrounding service areas. For moving services in Laval, include the route and both properties. A West Island apartment move also needs clear loading details. When moving to Longueuil, coordinate both buildings. North Shore and South Shore moves likewise need address-specific planning; these are service areas, not interchangeable building conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I start preparing for an apartment move in Montreal?
Use two to four weeks as a practical starting point for inventory, packing and access arrangements. Start earlier when your belongings or building requirements are complex. Confirm availability with the movers instead of treating this timeline as a booking guarantee.
Do I need to reserve an elevator before moving?
Ask both buildings. Some require reservations or specific moving windows. Confirm the procedure and whether the elevator can accommodate your furniture.
How should I arrange parking for the moving truck?
Check the official Montréal guidance for your borough and discuss the loading location with the moving company. Clarify any permit and signage responsibilities before moving day.
Should I disassemble furniture before the movers arrive?
Confirm who will handle the work first. Only complete tasks you can safely perform, label hardware and tell us which pieces need assistance.
What should I keep with me on moving day?
Keep keys, identification, documents, medication, valuables, chargers and first-night essentials accessible and separate from general loading.
Ready to plan your apartment move? Request a personalised moving quote from MovinGo and share your date, inventory and building details so we can discuss the next steps.