Moving without a lift: how to prepare access

01Inspect every metre from the room to the vehicle

Start in the room where the item stands and follow its entire route to the street. Measure doors, corridors, landings and the narrowest gaps. On the stairs, record usable width, headroom above the steps and the space available to turn. Repeat the process at the destination.

Photograph the route in the direction the item will travel. Include a visible measurement when scale is unclear. A street-level photo of the building does not show a tight bend between two flights. Add outside steps, slopes, courtyards and doors that cannot stay open.

Measure the carrying distance too. In Biel, an entrance at the back of a courtyard may matter more than a short drive between the two addresses. Explain where a vehicle could realistically stop without assuming the space will be available.

02Compare furniture and passages before dismantling

Record the height, width and depth of sofas, wardrobes, tables and large appliances. Include handles, feet, armrests and other projections. Compare these figures with the most restrictive part of the route, allowing room to tilt and rotate the item.

Check the instructions to see whether feet, doors, shelves or modules can be removed. Photograph the assembly before starting, label the parts and keep screws in a separate named bag for each item. Do not dismantle an unfamiliar structure or one that appears unstable.

If the furniture still cannot pass, send its dimensions and the route photos with your request. Do not plan a route through a window, over a façade or across a railing before a suitable solution has been assessed for that specific location.

03Prepare shared areas without creating hazards

Clear the lobby, landings and route to the flat. Where needed, coordinate use of shared access with the property manager, caretaker or people concerned. Let neighbours know about increased foot traffic, while keeping exits and fire doors unobstructed.

Floor covering should be clean, non-slip and held flat. A loose blanket on a stair becomes a hazard itself. Protect exposed corners only where this does not make the passage too narrow, and keep lighting available along the full route.

Keep children, pets and personal belongings away from the handling area. Appoint one person to open doors and direct items at the destination. Extra people in a narrow stairwell slow the work and make instructions harder to hear.

04Match the handling plan to weight and shape

A heavy item does not become easy to carry merely because it fits through the stairs. Weight, safe grip points, centre of gravity and the option to rest on a landing all matter. Report stone tops, chests, large plants, appliances and furniture with uncertain weight.

Do not carry large furniture alone or use a handle, drawer or armrest as a lifting point unless it was designed for that purpose. Wear closed shoes and keep hands available. Carrying straps and other aids require appropriate use; they cannot compensate for a poorly assessed route.

Decide before moving day which items need dismantling, protection or separate handling. With that information, the required materials and crew can be discussed for the actual project rather than assumed from the floor number.

05Organise the flow on moving day

Group boxes by zone without filling the landings. Difficult items should be identified during the initial walk-through, rather than discovered behind a stack of boxes. Keep keys, documents and personal bags in an area clearly excluded from loading.

At the destination, use visible room names that match the labels. One person standing in a safe place can direct items without remaining on the stairs. Put heavy furniture in its intended position whenever possible so that it does not need to be moved a second time.

After carrying is complete, inspect shared areas, remove floor protection and collect small parts. Check furniture before reassembly and retain the labelled screw bags until every item is complete.

• Routes measured and photographed at both addresses.
• Difficult furniture identified before moving day.
• Shared areas clear and well lit.
• Destination room plan ready on arrival.