On an apartment move, access decides most of the day. How quickly can the crew get from the truck to your front door? Is the lift free when you need it? Is there anywhere for the truck to park? Those are the questions that decide how long the move takes.
From inner-city Brisbane buildings in Newstead and Hamilton to high-rises in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, every building has its own rules. At Wecube Removals, we’ve been moving people in and out of apartments for more than 10 years, and a little planning makes all the difference.
Do I Need to Book the Lift to Move Into an Apartment?
Usually, yes. Most apartment buildings with a service lift ask residents to reserve it for moving day, and some also ask you to book the loading dock.
In most buildings, the resident makes the booking directly with the building manager or body corporate. On the Gold Coast, many building managers in Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Southport ask for around one to two weeks’ notice, particularly for popular moving days.
A few tips for lift bookings:
- Book the lift at both ends if you’re moving from one apartment to another.
- Ask how long your booking window is, and whether you can extend it on the day.
- Once your time is confirmed, send it to us. We’ll plan our arrival around your window rather than the other way round.
Many buildings also require lift padding to protect the walls and doors. We bring what’s needed, so the building is looked after as well as your furniture.
What Are the Body Corporate Rules for Moving in Queensland?
Most apartment buildings in Queensland are run by a body corporate, and each one sets its own by-laws. There’s no single set of moving rules that applies to every building, so the best place to start is your building manager or the by-laws themselves.
The rules that most often affect moving day are:
- Moving hours. Some buildings only allow moves during set hours, and some Gold Coast buildings don’t allow Sunday moves at all.
- Insurance paperwork. It’s common for a body corporate to ask for proof that your removalist holds current public liability insurance. This is usually called a certificate of currency. Wecube can supply ours for your booking, so there’s one less email for you to chase.
- Where the truck can park. Some buildings have a designated loading area, and others expect removal trucks to use the street.
- Lift protection and common areas. Many buildings hold residents responsible for damage to lifts, corridors and foyers, which is another reason good padding matters.
Check these as soon as you know your preferred moving date. A five-minute conversation early can save a lot of frustration later.
Loading Docks and Truck Size
A big truck isn’t always the best truck. Some towers have height limits on their basement or loading dock that stop larger removal trucks from getting in. Others give removalists a small loading area and a limited time slot.
We check access before the move and choose the vehicle to suit the building. If a large truck can’t reach the dock, we’ll plan another approach so we don’t find out on the day.
Tell us about the distance from the loading area to the lift, too. A long walk through a car park or down a corridor adds time to every trip.
When There’s No Lift
Plenty of older unit blocks around Brisbane are walk-ups, with two or three flights of stairs and a narrow landing at the top. These moves are very manageable, but they take more time and sometimes an extra person on the crew.
When you request a quote, let us know which floor you’re on and whether there’s a lift. We’ll plan the crew and equipment around it. Big items such as sofas, fridges and wardrobes are worth measuring against the stairwell and doorways before moving day.
How Long Does an Apartment Move Take?
As a general guide, a one-bedroom move with straightforward access takes around two to three hours, and a two-bedroom move takes around three to four hours. Those times assume easy lift or ground-floor access.
The things that add time in apartments are:
- Waiting for a shared lift that other residents are also using
- A long walk from the loading dock or street parking
- Stairs instead of a lift
- A tight booking window that means the crew has to work around it
Because most local moves are charged by the hour, access has a direct effect on your final cost. That’s why we ask about it upfront. Our Brisbane removalists and Gold Coast removalists plan every apartment move around the building, and we’ll explain how your moving time is worked out before you book.
Moving Out of an Apartment
Moving out comes with the same list of jobs as moving in. Book the lift for your move-out date, check the moving hours and ask whether the building needs our certificate of currency. If you’re renting, leave time after the truck has gone to clean the apartment and do a final check before you hand back the keys.
Your Apartment Moving Checklist
- Read the building’s by-laws or ask the building manager about moving rules.
- Book the service lift and loading dock at both ends.
- Ask whether the building needs a certificate of currency, and let us know.
- Check where the truck can park and how far it is to the lift.
- Measure large furniture against doorways, lifts and stairwells.
- Send us your booking times so we can plan the crew and truck around them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book the lift to move into an apartment?
In most buildings with a service lift, yes. The resident usually books it directly with building management. Some Gold Coast building managers ask for one to two weeks’ notice, so book as soon as you have a date.
What are the body corporate rules for moving in Queensland?
Each body corporate sets its own by-laws, so the rules vary between buildings. Common requirements include set moving hours, lift bookings, lift padding and a certificate of currency from your removalist. Check with your building manager before you book the move.
How do removalists move furniture in a high-rise?
We book our arrival around your lift window, protect the lift and common areas, and use the loading dock or approved parking area. Large items are wrapped and moved on trolleys, and we choose a truck that fits the building’s access.
How long does an apartment move take?
A one-bedroom apartment with easy lift access usually takes around two to three hours, and a two-bedroom around three to four hours. Shared lifts, long walks from the truck and stairs can all add time.
For a full household move, see our home removals service. Moving into or out of an apartment? Request a free quote or call our team on 0423 690 837.