Moving Services in Richmond, BC: Plan and Hire

Get a quote for your complete shipment

The federal Office of Consumer Affairs recommends estimates from at least three reputable movers and written costs, terms and conditions. Let each mover see everything you intend to move. Include boxes, furniture, storage contents and items that need special handling. Request a signed quote on company letterhead with payment terms, service timing and delivery commitments. [3]

Send the same brief to each company: both addresses, your preferred date, the inventory, stairs, elevator arrangements and the proposed truck position. Ask each company to separate packing, transport, placing belongings in rooms and disposal work. For an hourly offer, request the crew size, minimum billable time, travel charges and the point at which billing starts and stops.

Ask how the mover will price changes if you add items or cannot provide the agreed access. Keep the accepted inventory beside the quote. Build your budget from written estimates for your shipment rather than a price for a home with the same number of bedrooms.

Confirm the loading route before booking

Book any required elevator and tell the landlord or building manager when the movers will arrive. The Office of Consumer Affairs advises arranging parking at both locations and preparing your belongings before the crew arrives. Movers may charge for waiting while you finish preparation. [3]

Walk the route from your door to the proposed truck position. Measure tight doorways and large furniture, then send photos to the mover. Ask the building manager about loading entrances, elevator dimensions, protective padding and permitted move times. Give the crew a contact who can resolve access problems on the day.

Confirm public-space access before committing to the loading schedule. Richmond requires a Lane Closure Request before closing an on-street vehicle, cycling or pedestrian facility. Submit the application at least five business days before the requested date. The City does not guarantee approval and may apply fees or time restrictions. Ask the mover whether the proposed arrangement needs a request and agree who will submit it. [1]

Choose protection for your belongings

Ask whether you are hiring the mover that will transport your belongings or a broker that will arrange subcontractors. The Office of Consumer Affairs advises confirming whether the broker accepts responsibility for the full service, including subcontracted work. Get the transporting company's name and a written explanation of who handles a loss or damage claim. [3]

Request the mover's Certificate of Insurance and ask your household insurer about transit coverage. The federal guidance distinguishes the mover's insurance from replacement-value protection for your goods. Ask what liability applies if you decline replacement-value protection, what exclusions apply to items you pack yourself and how to submit a claim. [3]

List valuable and fragile items before the estimate. If you need storage between homes, confirm the storage location, security measures and coverage for that period. The federal guidance recommends checking protection against theft, fire and water damage and carrying temperature-sensitive belongings yourself. [3]

Separate disposal from the shipment

Decide which furniture and appliances you will keep before approving the moving inventory. Label items for moving, donation or disposal and request separate prices for removal work. If someone will take discarded items to a waste facility, ask who pays the facility charge and request the disposal receipt.

Metro Vancouver publishes regional disposal charges effective July 1, 2026. Its garbage minimum is CAD 25 per load during applicable weekday peak hours and CAD 15 outside peak hours. The schedule includes facility exceptions to the peak minimum. Keep these facility charges separate from labour, truck and hauling charges when reviewing a disposal offer. [2]

Ask the hauler to identify the receiving facility and confirm accepted materials before collection. Metro Vancouver lists separate material charges, including CAD 20 per mattress or box spring, with a maximum of four units. Ask for a disposal estimate for your actual items rather than assuming the garbage minimum covers the entire load. [2]

Inspect the delivery before signing

Keep your inventory available during unloading. Check off items, record damage or missing belongings before signing for delivery, and inspect the truck for anything left behind. The Office of Consumer Affairs recommends photographs of damage and prompt claims because claim deadlines can be strict. [3]

For a rental move, arrange the condition inspection as a separate appointment. B.C.'s tenancy guidance requires landlords and tenants to inspect the rental unit together at the end of the tenancy and complete a Condition Inspection Report. Keep that report alongside your moving records to distinguish damage to belongings from damage to the rental premises. [4]

Metro Vancouver garbage disposal minimums

Choose an arrangement around access and scope

Your hiring checklist

1. Prepare a room-by-room inventory and mark items that need special handling.
2. Request written estimates using the same shipment and access brief.
3. Confirm who transports your belongings and who handles subcontractor claims.
4. Reserve the elevator and agree on the loading route at both homes.
5. Assign responsibility for any City container permit or lane-closure request.
6. Confirm protection for transit, items you pack yourself and any storage period.
7. Separate disposal and building charges from the transport estimate.
8. Photograph belongings before packing and inspect the delivery before signing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for a moving truck?

Richmond's street-use page identifies permits for moving bins on roadways or boulevards and requests for closing on-street facilities. Those requirements concern container placement and closures. Describe your proposed truck position and loading route to the City if you are unsure which permission applies. [1]

How much should I budget for the movers?

Get written estimates for your inventory and access conditions. The Office of Consumer Affairs recommends comparing at least three movers. Request a total that identifies packing, transport, payment terms and possible additions. The disposal chart covers regional facility minimums, so obtain a separate estimate for moving services. [2] [3]

Does the mover's insurance cover my belongings?

Ask for the Certificate of Insurance and replacement-value options. Federal guidance cautions that the mover's insurance does not cover your goods unless you buy replacement-value protection from the mover. Ask your household insurer about transit coverage and get the mover's liability, exclusions and claim procedure in writing. [3]

Can my rental building charge a move-in fee?

B.C.'s tenancy guidance says a move-in fee can apply when strata bylaws require it. Ask for the relevant bylaw and amount before scheduling the crew. The province treats fees for unit moves within multi-tenanted buildings as a separate category. [4]