Start with the condo association or building manager
Request the current move policy in writing rather than relying on instructions from a prior move. Confirm approved move dates and hours, advance-notice requirements, deposits, elevator or loading-area fees, floor and wall protection, truck-size or garage-clearance limits, and any restrictions on weekends or holidays. Ask who approves the reservation and what makes it final. A tentative elevator request may not secure the time slot. Save the confirmation, payment receipts, building contact details, and instructions for collecting keys, fobs, or loading-dock credentials.
Reserve the service elevator and loading area
Book the service elevator and designated loading area for enough time to cover arrival, building check-in, protective setup, loading or unloading, and cleanup. Ask whether elevator padding is supplied, whether a building employee must operate or inspect the elevator, and what happens if the reserved window is exceeded. Confirm where the truck may stand and whether the loading area is at street level, inside a garage, or reached by a ramp. Tampa provides municipal parking information, but building loading-zone and garage rules must be confirmed separately. If a truck, container, or lane obstruction could affect a public right-of-way, ask the property manager and the City whether authorization is required rather than assuming curb space is available. Sources: City of Tampa — Parking: https://www.tampa.gov/parking; City of Tampa — Right of Way Permits: https://www.tampa.gov/tss-transportation/info/right-of-way-permits
Confirm COI wording and disclose the complete access route
Ask management whether a certificate of insurance, or COI, is required. Obtain the exact legal names and addresses that must appear, any additional-insured or certificate-holder wording, required coverage types or limits, and the submission method and deadline. Send those instructions to the mover for review; do not assume every requested form or endorsement can be issued. Confirm building approval before move day. Walk the entire route from the permitted truck position to the unit. Measure narrow doors and hallways, note stairs and turns, and record freight-elevator dimensions if management provides them. Disclose loading-dock procedures, garage clearance, security check-in, long carries, multiple elevator transfers, restricted entrances, and bulky items. These conditions can affect labor needs and the written estimate.
Build a day-of contact and access plan
Create one shared plan with the mover, building staff, and a person authorized to make decisions for the move. Include the approved window, reservation confirmation, loading location, check-in point, building contact, unit access method, elevator instructions, parking or permit details, and rules for protective materials. Keep keys, fobs, identification, reservation records, and essential documents with you instead of packing them. Arrange access at both the origin and destination, and tell the mover promptly if the building changes the schedule or route. For help defining the broader move scope, see the planning resources at /resources/ and relevant options at /services/apartment-moving/.