Coordinate an Elevator Reservation for Moving

Coordinate elevator reservations at both homes with the moving crew, including dimensions, arrival windows and building-specific approval steps.

Treat each building as a separate appointment

Ask both property contacts how moving reservations work. Record the available hours, booking process, elevator dimensions, door opening and any required documentation or protective arrangements. Find out who unlocks or configures the approved elevator and how the crew reaches it from the loading area. Do not assume a passenger elevator is available for moving simply because it serves your floor.

Send the same access details to the mover before accepting an arrival window. A crew booked “sometime in the morning” may not fit a tightly reserved building slot. Confirm who calls when the crew is on its way and who can authorize an extension if work runs late.

Check whether the schedule is physically possible

For a hypothetical two-hour slot, set aside 15 minutes for the agreed setup and 15 minutes to clear and restore the area. That leaves 90 minutes for the planned elevator work. This is a planning allocation, not a prediction of crew productivity. Ask the mover whether the inventory and route are realistic within that window.

Then add travel and arrival uncertainty before choosing the destination slot. If loading ends at noon and travel is expected to take 45 minutes, a noon destination reservation cannot cover the actual unloading start. Include parking, check-in and the property's setup process instead of counting only road time.

Resolve fit and approval before move day

Measure the longest packages against both the elevator doorway and cab, including the maneuver needed to enter. A piece that fits inside the cab may still fail the turn outside it. Have the provider review special items and follow the building's stated equipment limits and access instructions.

Obtain written reservation confirmation and keep it with the crew's booking. Reconfirm any conditions after an inventory or vehicle change. On moving day, assign one person to coordinate with the building while the crew handles the load. If the slot expires, use the property's agreed response rather than assuming continued access. At completion, confirm the shared area is ready to return to normal use and retain any record of a change or additional charge.