A quick conversation with your leasing office before booking movers can save you from scheduling conflicts, missing paperwork, and surprise fees on moving day. At CG Moving Company, we ask new clients whether they’ve checked in with their leasing office early in the residential move planning process, since the building’s own rules often shape the moving plan more than people expect.
Does the Building Require a Certificate of Insurance?
Ask directly, many buildings require one with specific coverage wording.
Ask your leasing office directly whether a certificate of insurance is required, and if so, what specific coverage types and limits it needs to include, along with any required wording for naming the building as additional insured. Getting this answer early gives your moving company enough lead time to request the document from their insurer, rather than scrambling the day before your move.
Is There a Reserved Elevator or Moving Window?
Ask whether move-ins need to be scheduled into a specific block.
Ask whether move-ins and move-outs need to be scheduled into a specific time window, and if so, how far in advance that needs to be booked and through what process (an online portal, a phone call, the front desk). Many buildings, especially those with limited elevator access, treat this as a hard requirement rather than a suggestion, and popular time slots can fill up quickly during busy moving periods.
Are There Move-In or Move-Out Fees?
Ask directly, fees and policies vary significantly by building.
Ask plainly whether there are any move-in or move-out fees, and if so, what they cover and how they’re paid. Policies here vary enormously between buildings, with some charging nothing and others charging for things like elevator use or extended access windows. Getting a clear answer upfront, rather than discovering a fee on your final statement, avoids an unpleasant surprise.
What Are the Parking and Loading Rules for Movers?
Ask where moving trucks can park and for how long.
Ask where a moving truck is allowed to park, for how long, and whether a loading zone or specific area is reserved for moves. Parking in the Bay Area is tight enough on a normal day. Without a clear answer from the building, your crew may end up parking farther away than necessary, which adds real time to the move. This is also useful information to pass along when you compare your apartment move logistics, since parking distance affects timing either way.
Is There a Specific Entrance or Elevator Movers Should Use?
Ask whether a service entrance or freight elevator is required.
Ask whether movers are expected to use a specific service entrance, freight elevator, or loading dock rather than the main entrance or passenger elevators. Many buildings have this rule specifically to protect finishes and manage traffic through common areas. Confirming this ahead of time means CG Moving Company arrives knowing exactly which entrance and elevator to use, instead of figuring it out at the curb.
A short list of questions to your leasing office, covering insurance, scheduling, fees, parking, and entrance rules, can prevent most of the common moving-day surprises tied to apartment buildings. Once you have those answers, reach out to our team for a moving estimate built around your building’s specific requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the leasing office doesn't respond before moving day?
Start the conversation as early as possible, ideally two to three weeks out, since leasing offices can be slow to respond and some buildings need written confirmation before they’ll approve a reservation. If you still haven’t heard back close to your move date, a phone call to the property manager directly usually moves faster than email.
Can CG Moving Company contact the leasing office directly on our behalf?
Yes, if you’d rather we handle that conversation, give us the leasing office’s contact information and we can confirm insurance requirements, elevator windows, and access rules directly with them. Some buildings prefer to hear from the moving company rather than the resident anyway.
Do these same questions apply to a condo or HOA building, not just a rental apartment?
Yes, condo and HOA buildings often have the same kinds of requirements, sometimes through a property management company rather than a leasing office specifically. Ask whoever manages the building the same five questions regardless of whether it’s a rental or an HOA.
What happens if the building requires something we didn't know about until moving day?
We’ll do what we can on-site, but some requirements, like a missing certificate of insurance, can’t be solved in the moment and may delay or reschedule part of the move. That’s exactly why confirming these details ahead of time matters more than it might seem.
If you’ve already got answers from your leasing office, share them with us when you book and we’ll build your move around them.
