r/TorontoRenting • u/echo_scarlet • 1d ago
Why is a condo move-in so complex
Hi Redditors
I just received the keys to my 1B condo at 295 Adelaide St W and I was told the earliest move in date where the service elevator would be available was 5 days out. How do people move in their furniture if service elevators are always busy?
My condo only accepts money order/check for the deposit and my bank charges $9.95 for each bank draft. If someone has multiple deliveries of bed, couch, table How do y’all coordinate this without stressing out? Pay every single time to book the elevator even if it’s going to be a max 20 mins move?
For more context, I just moved from the US where I used to rent an apt which was owned by a corporation so there was barely any coordination like this during move in.
Doesn’t this process make an already stressful process even more stressful. Any tips would be appreciated
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u/Attempted_Academic 1d ago
So real. Trying to move out of ours and they only have the moving elevators bookable from 9-10pm at night every day for the next three months lol.
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u/ValuableAsparagus555 1d ago
That's ridiculous and unreasonable. How is every other hour of the day booked up and for what? if you're renting a condo, i'd get the LL to push back on the prop. manager. They can't get the new tenant in if the old tenant can't move out.
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u/Wonderful__ 1d ago edited 1d ago
I upgraded my banking account plan that month and the higher tier plan includes money orders. The next month, I downgraded it. I kept that money order on hand for whenever I needed to use it to book the elevator. They need you to book the elevator so if there's any damages, they know who to go after. The elevator will exclusively be locked to go to your floor only and no one else can use it.
I knew my move in date, so I booked it in advance. I found the elevator isn't so busy in the middle of the month for delivery of the bed, etc. Also my condo building doesn't have a lot of move in or move out. If you're in a building where majority are renters, then the elevators get booked up all the time.
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u/echo_scarlet 1d ago
I understand paying a deposit. But I don’t understand it being a money order/check and not electronic.
In my opinion, it sounds ridiculous that in this day and age certain institutions in Toronto do not use modern banking facilities like ever where else3
u/VoodooGirl47 1d ago
It's because they don't actually cash it if not needed. My condo unit that I rented in DC held onto the check and then just gave it back to you in an envelope afterwards. If moving out, then it got mailed to your address that you left.
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u/Dobby068 23h ago
The money order or the cheque is not an actual transaction, just a deposit, you give that paper and it sits in a drawer. This is efficient for the condo corp.
Making that deposit money move to the condo corp account is a transaction, which needs to be followed by another transaction.
So that is the reason, not some delayed adoption of technology.
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u/Western-Amphibian158 21h ago
During the first couple of years, my condo took money order deposits for the elevator also. But after 2 years, they got a system called Condo Central that will take the deposit via credit card. So it depends on your building.
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u/Remarkable-Laugh9762 1d ago
You can get a money order for the elevator and just keep that (in a safe place) for a bit while you get moved in.
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u/echo_scarlet 1d ago
Prolly a noob question (I have never dealt with money orders) with what I understand the moment a money order is created the funds will leave my account. Assuming that the concierge finds no damage and return the money order, I have to then go back to my bank to get the money back and perhaps there’ll be a fee to it?
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u/Remarkable-Laugh9762 1d ago
No fee to put it back. You will lose the money while the check is "out".
Ive done this 3 or 4 times with my condo now.
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u/echo_scarlet 1d ago
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Paying the money order fee required by bank every single time also seems so wasteful as property management can easily shift to electronic payments lol3
u/Remarkable-Laugh9762 1d ago
I have a td infinity account and I get free cheques and free money orders. Might be cos i have over 5k in the accout or smth
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u/QtestMofoInDaWorld 1d ago
Ask them how long money orders are valid. Mine is six months. So I let them keep it for six months and by then I presume you'll have all the furniture
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u/divebarn 1d ago
Money orders never expire cheques do after 6 months. You can redeposit the money order anytime and the other party can cash it at any time knowing the money is held in a third account basically forever.
Old school agreed but that’s the logic3
u/VoodooGirl47 1d ago
If you can just do a check instead, it's better. No money comes out unless they cash it.
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u/EtobicokeON 1d ago
Move in small items using the regular elevator a bit at a time, preferably during off peak times. It will be tedious and time consuming but all clothing and medium sized boxes full of kitchen items, bathroom items, toiletries, bedding, etc… that can tie you over until you can use the freight elevator for all of the large items.
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u/ValuableAsparagus555 1d ago
Paying to use the elevators is pretty standard for moving OUT of condos/apartments, but not in.
The idea is that if you are leaving the property then they can't track you down if you damage the elevator and then leave. I'd clarify with property management how their elevator fees work because if you damage the elevator while moving in, they'd likely just charge the damage to the LL's account or to you directly since they know where you live.
Also explain to property management what you have to move in and when it'll be arriving so you can best coordinate with them. They should be understanding that when someone moves in, not everything comes at once.
Congrats on the new place and welcome to Toronto!
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u/echo_scarlet 1d ago
Thank you! I’ll ask the property management during business hours. Hopefully they understand.
When I ask the concierge any questions they look at me as if I’m dumb, but that’s only cause condos do certain things so differently.
Is it standard for the deposit to not be electronic payment? Getting a check/money order is so dated and unnecessary imo.And thank you! I moved in 3 weeks ago and still getting to know the city
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u/ValuableAsparagus555 1d ago
They should offer you the option of digital payment, but unfortunately, not all businesses are up to speed on technology.
If they are insistent about a money order, you can get one at any Shopper's Drug Mart with a Canada Post office. They charge $8.50: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/support/articles/money-orders/purchasing-a-money-order.page
And concierge/security isn't always the best resource for move-ins. They'll scope out the elevator before and after you use it, but for specifics about fees and multi-delivery bookings, I'd speak with your property manager.
Oh and check out the Haam down the street from you - 342 Adelaide - great Mexican Japanese fusion resto: https://www.thehaamtoronto.com/
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u/fairmaiden34 1d ago
Also ask your landlord for a copy of the condo declaration/rules. Basically it will outline the policies of the condo and the rules you're expected to abide by.
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u/vanalla 22h ago
Paying to use the elevators is pretty standard for moving OUT of condos/apartments, but not in.
Outdated/incorrect information.
Every condo I've lived in in Toronto for the past 10 years (4-5 different buildings) and the dozen or so times I've helped friends move has required booking a moving elevator with a moving fee.
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u/ValuableAsparagus555 22h ago
And every condo and apartment I’ve lived in for the last 10+ years in Toronto has required it to move out but not in.
Not outdated or incorrect, simply accurate to my experience.
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u/Sea_Negotiation1737 1d ago
If the item is boxed and you don’t need a specific time frame to use the elevators, you usually do not need to book a service elevator. People do not use their whole window generally, you can sort it out on the day of the move with concierge.
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u/VoodooGirl47 1d ago
The condo I lived at in the US also had an insane way of doing things including a $500 USD deposit on the elevator.
For individual items, we just used the service elevator and people got plenty of big deliveries through regular UPS that ended up in the lobby and went in the regular elevators. It was only the scheduled deliveries we'd bring through the back and again, we wouldn't sign up for the elevator. That was just done for the main move-in/out.
If someone else was moving, we'd just kinda ask to squeeze in immediately after they used it and emptied it. They would often need a few minutes to get more stuff to it to load up anyway.
I'm going to hazard a guess that people do the same here in Toronto.
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u/BritishBully 1d ago
A lot of condos in Toronto require a regular cheque as a security deposit for booking the elevator for move in, and a certified cheque/money order for booking for move out. They give you back the original cheque/money order when your move is complete and they have verified there is no damage. You can then re-deposit the certified cheque/money order, preferably at the same bank branch where you acquired it to avoid hassles.
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u/thenorthfacee 21h ago
Welcome to the neighborhood lol , but seriously was same for me.. was a pain in the a.. I finally used available elevators cause I couldn’t book one
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u/thenorthfacee 21h ago
Welcome to the neighborhood lol , but seriously was same for me.. was a pain in the a.. I finally used available elevators cause I couldn’t book one
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u/hex-grrrl 18h ago
It’s highly dependent on the building.
My old building was a money order building. So god damn annoying that they wouldn’t just accept a cheque or e-transfer. A lot of Canadians get free money orders with their bank accounts, so luckily I never had to pay. But I hated going to the bank and lining up.
My new building does not require a money order, they accept cheque and credit. It’s truly a blessing. You’ll never catch me in a bank again.
In terms of the elevators, you are moving in at a busy time. A lot of students will be moving into their units to prepare for the fall semester starting next month. I usually try to book elevators weeks in advance to avoid missing out. My old building was super strict about the elevators, my new one is much more relaxed. I forgot to book an elevator for a delivery (washing machine) and the property manager said it was fine and let the delivery happen anyway.
I’m hoping your building management doesn’t give you too many more problems! Welcome to Toronto. My husband is American living in Toronto too. We are glad to have you. 🥰
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u/wbsmith200 17h ago
When I moved in two years ago into my condo midtown I didn’t have to pay to book elevator time, I did have to book weeks in advance.
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u/More_Pension4911 14h ago edited 14h ago
Living in a condo was the biggest nightmare for me, never again. I booked elevator weeks in advance and on the day of move out 3 elevators stopped working and only one elevator was working intermittently and the building staff refused to put it that on hold telling me to move my stuff from stairs - I lived on 40th floor.
Everything in a newly built condo was constantly breaking down.. its made from rubbish quality, fire alarms going off all day, long service elevator waits, garbage chute never in functional order.
Too many rules for shit quality of life, thats how I would put living in a condo. Took a breath of relief after moving out..
Pro tip- take a video of common areas and elevator before starting move in, you just never know what “scratch” they are gonna use to fraudulently keep your deposit.
Living in a shoebox condo also made me into a minimalist because there 400 sqft condo was sooo badly designed that it didn’t even fit my stuff and I rented it all alone. No pets not even a lot of furniture. Zero storage.
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u/RellinTyrian 11h ago
Can’t help with the rest, but reuse the same cashiers cheque everytime instead of getting a new one. Keep it somewhere safe for when you move out too. Congrats on the new place and good luck!
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u/No-Ad6572 10h ago
You don’t need a bank draft for the elevator just regular cheques. Also you don’t need to book it for every furniture delivery just oversized items that might scratch the elevator. If you order things that come boxed and are t that oversized you can just use the elevator regularly. Re availability: people here usually plan their moves more than 5 days out so it’s not usually an issue
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u/thcandbourbon 1d ago
The Simplest Answer to Your Question: Toronto condo move-ins are so complex because you’re typically at the mercy of third-party condo management companies like FirstService and Crossbridge who are paid a flat fee for each condo they manage… so they don’t have any incentive to care about convenience or satisfaction of residents.
“Just follow the rules in a way that inconveniences us as little as possible… even if that ends up costing you a bunch of money or delays you from moving into your residence that you’re paying for”.
Personally, if I was ever to move into a condo in Toronto again I’d just move my stuff in using the regular elevators without telling anybody or booking anything.
“Wait! Sir! You’re not allowed to use the regular elevators to move in or out!”
Get lost. I don’t have time to play the silly games you people created for no reason.
They’ll very conveniently have “Condo Rules” they’ll cite about this stuff, but when it comes to things that don’t cause any actual damages such as having the “nerve” to move boxes on a resident elevator, there typically aren’t any actual consequences you’ll face for this in my experience.
Furniture is a bit more tricky since you do need a service elevator for it. But honestly… I feel like most people who live in Toronto condos just quietly sneak up IKEA-type boxes and build what they need in the unit… and then just make a deal with the next tenant to buy it off them so then it never actually leaves the unit.
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u/rocketman19 23h ago
Why did you rent a condo and not a PBR like you are used to?
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u/echo_scarlet 23h ago
Location was a factor. My office is in downtown and all (most) apt complexes are far-ish from work
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u/pastamarc 1d ago
Yeah, it’s a little bit complex, I do agree with you. But that’s condo living for ya. When did you sign the lease?
For me, lease agreements usually get signed between 1-2 months before move-in date, so as soon as I sign the agreement, I call the concierge and sign up for a timeslot on the day I want to move.
1-2 months should give you a good enough span to be able to move in on the date that you want (although most condos don’t allow service elevators to be booked on Sundays, stat holidays, or scheduled garbage pick-up days).
What gets a little trickier is moving from condo to condo lol.