A Houston high-rise is a whole different move than a house. The building runs the show: it has rules, the dock has a clock, and if your movers roll up without the right paperwork, the front desk can turn them around before a single box comes off the truck.
Freight Elevator Reservations
Nearly every tower in town makes you book the freight elevator ahead of time. The passenger cars are too small for a dresser anyway, and management is not about to let a crew run furniture through the lobby elevator while residents are trying to get upstairs.
Most places hand out the elevator in two- to four-hour blocks, and the towers on Post Oak, through the Galleria, and downtown fill those slots fast, especially on weekends and the last few days of the month.
Questions to Ask Your Building Manager
- Which move-in hours are allowed? (Most: 8 AM – 5 PM weekdays, 9 AM – 3 PM Saturdays)
- Is there a cap on the window? (Typically three to four hours)
- What do overtime fees run if you go over? (Range: $60 – $225/hour)
- How early do you have to book it? (Usually two to four weeks out)
- Are Sunday moves allowed? (Often no)
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Most Houston high-rises also want a Certificate of Insurance from your mover, naming the building as an additional insured party. It is the building’s proof that the crew carries real liability coverage. We turn ours around in a day.
| COI Requirement | Typical Standard |
|---|---|
| General liability | $1 million minimum |
| Building listed as | Additional insured |
| Submission deadline | 3-5 business days before move |
| Format | ACORD certificate (standard industry form) |
Parking and Loading Dock Access
Downtown and Midtown buildings usually have a real loading dock, but it is shared with every delivery truck, maintenance call, and neighbor moving the same week. A lot of buildings make you reserve the dock separately from the elevator, so ask about both.
Over in the Galleria along Westheimer, there is basically nowhere to legally park a 26-footer on the street. Ask the building where moving trucks usually stage; some have a standing deal with a neighboring lot.
Protecting the Building (and Your Deposit)
Most high-rise offices make you cover the common areas before a move. Here is what to expect:
- Wall padding inside the elevator, either the building puts it up or we bring our own
- Hallway floor runners
- Door frame protectors at entry points
- Move-in fee: $225 – $575 (non-refundable)
- Security deposit hold: $350 – $850 (you get back if nothing is damaged)
Walk the common areas with building staff before and after, phone out, photographing every existing scuff. It is the simplest way to avoid getting billed for damage somebody else left behind.
Building-Specific Rules to Ask About
- Mattress bags: Some buildings want sealed plastic through the common areas
- Stairwell restrictions: some buildings ban carrying anything up the stairs at all
- Pets during the move: Some buildings want pets crated while the crew is in the unit
- Post-move deliveries: A later store delivery may need its own elevator slot booked