Booking the lift: the week-before checklist

Nearly half of Auburn's homes are apartments, and the towers around the stations keep going up. Almost all of them require you to book the service lift for a move, hang protective blankets, and use a loading dock with set hours. The rules are set by your building's owners corporation (strata), and they are enforced, so the smart move is to sort them a week out.

What to ask your building or strata manager

• Which lift is the service lift, and how do I book it? Some buildings have a dedicated goods lift; others convert a passenger lift with blankets for the slot.
• What are the move-in and move-out hours? Many buildings only allow moves on weekdays or within set hours, and not on Sundays or public holidays.
• Is there a bond or move fee? A refundable deposit against damage is common. Ask the amount and how it comes back.
• What are the lift car dimensions and door opening? This decides whether your big pieces fit standing up or need to go in on an angle.
• Do I book the loading dock too, and how long do I get? Docks are often shared and time-limited.
• Does the building supply lift blankets, or do we bring them? We bring our own either way, but it is worth knowing the building's standard.

The week before, in order

1. Book the service lift and, if needed, the loading dock, for your move date and time.
2. Confirm the hours, any bond, and whether both ends (old and new building) are booked.
3. Note the lift car and door dimensions, and check your biggest pieces against them, our Threshold Check does this for you.
4. Tell your removalist the slot, so the crew is planned to work inside it.
5. On the day, protect the lobby and lift, and keep the dock clear for other residents.

The one mistake to avoid

Turning up to move without a booked lift, or after the dock closes. It is the single most common tower-move failure, and it is completely avoidable. When we plan a tower move, we plan it backwards from your booked slot so the timing always works.

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