Moving into or out of a Brisbane apartment is a different job from a house move. There is a lift or a stairwell to share and a body corporate or building manager with rules and often a fixed time window. A good plan makes it far smoother.
In this guide we cover the admin to sort first and the packing choices that help in a tight building. Rules differ from building to building so always check with yours.
Step 1: Contact the building manager early
Most apartment buildings need you to book the lift or loading area for moving day. Brisbane moving guides suggest contacting the building manager or body corporate as soon as you have a date. The notice period varies a lot from building to building. R2G notes that some buildings require three business days notice and others two weeks. Bright & Duggan suggests confirming your booking at least two weeks in advance where possible. Ask for the exact requirement.
Ask the building manager:
- Is a lift booking or a moving window required and how long is it?
- Is there a loading dock or a loading zone and how do I reserve it?
- Are there restricted days or hours?
- Do I need to pay a bond or a fee?
- Are there rules about protecting the lift and corridors?
Step 2: Check insurance requirements
If you are using a removalist then many buildings ask for a copy of their public liability insurance certificate before the move. Get that organised early so it does not hold you up.
Step 3: Plan parking and loading
Loading zones and street parking near apartment blocks can be tight and parking fines are real. Reserve a loading zone or dock if the building offers one. Check council signage for the street if there is no dock.
Step 4: Pack for tight spaces
Lift windows are short. The faster you can get everything from your door to the truck the better. That is where your choice of containers matters.
- Uniform containers stack neatly. Crates of matching sizes stack on a dolly in a single column which suits a lift or a narrow corridor. Our Moving Dolly is designed for stacked crates.
- No cardboard clean-up. Collapsed cardboard can end up in common areas. Crates are collected from your new address so you do not have to flatten and dispose of piles of boxes.
- Lidded containers stay put. Crates have attached lids so nothing spills in the lift.
- Consider a hand trolley. The Heavy Duty Hand Trolley has a 250kg load rating and puncture-proof tyres and suits appliances and bulky boxes.
Which of our packages suits an apartment?
Our Studio/1 Bedroom package includes 25 crates (5 small and 15 medium and 5 large) and 1 dolly and starts at $150 for two weeks. Our 2 Bedroom package includes 50 crates and 2 dollies and starts at $275. That one suits medium-sized apartments and smaller home moves.
Delivery to an apartment
We deliver the crates to your current address before the move. For apartments we ask that lift access is available where applicable and that the delivery location has safe access. Check the lift booking process with your building manager for delivery day as well as moving day. See our Delivery and Collection page and the Moving Crate Hire Brisbane page which covers the Brisbane CBD and inner suburbs and greater Brisbane.
Step 5: Label by room
Label every crate with the room it is going to and stack by room at the entrance of your new place. That keeps the corridor clear and the unloading quick.
Step 6: Protect the building
Body corporates care about marks on walls and lift damage. Moving blankets help protect furniture and can also pad lift walls if the building allows it. Ask first.
Brisbane apartment moving checklist
- Contact the building manager and book the lift or loading area.
- Ask about notice periods and bonds and restricted hours.
- Send the removalist insurance certificate if needed.
- Reserve a loading zone or check street parking.
- Book crates and a dolly with a delivery date that suits the building.
- Pack and label by room.
- Stack by room at the entrance on the day.
- Leave the lift and corridors clean.
Moving out of an apartment
Leaving a rental unit has its own checklist. The Residential Tenancies Authority recommends you gather all keys and remotes and access cards to hand over. Complete the exit condition report and take photos and attend the vacate inspection. For a building with a lift you will usually need to book the lift for your move-out as well as the move-in at your new place. Check the RTA website for how and when to lodge your bond refund.
Buildings without a lift
If you are moving into a walk-up then weight matters even more. Pack heavy items like books and tools in small crates and keep large crates for bedding and pillows and other light bulky items. Smaller loads are easier to carry on stairs and safer on narrow landings. A hand trolley can help at ground level but not on the stairs themselves.
Packing for a short lift window
An illustrative approach for a booked window of a couple of hours:
- Have every crate packed and lidded and labelled before the window starts.
- Stack crates by room near the front door.
- Move the heavy furniture while the lift is quiet and use the dollies for crate stacks.
- Do a final sweep of cupboards and balcony and storage cage before you hand the lift back.
Common apartment moving mistakes
- Leaving the lift booking too late.
- Forgetting that the delivery of packing supplies may also need lift or loading access.
- Not telling the removalist about stairs or long carries.
- Leaving cardboard and rubbish in common areas.
- Not checking visitor parking rules for the day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book the lift for an apartment move?
Most buildings require it. Contact your building manager or body corporate as soon as you have a moving date.
How much notice does a body corporate need?
It varies. R2G reports anything from three business days to two weeks and Bright & Duggan suggests at least two weeks. Always check your own building's rules.
Which of our packages suits a one bedroom apartment?
Our Studio/1 Bedroom package includes 25 crates and 1 dolly and starts at $150 for a two week hire.
Can you deliver to an apartment?
Yes. Lift access should be available where applicable and the delivery location needs safe access. Check our delivery areas page.
What do I do with the crates afterwards?
Stack them empty and we collect them from your new address so you do not have to dispose of boxes.
Moving into an apartment?
See our Studio/1 Bedroom package or browse all our residential packages.
See the crate packages