Guide

Furniture lift: when do you need one?

A furniture lift (also called an external lift or ladder lift) is a motorised ladder with a platform that travels up and down the front of the building. Furniture and boxes go in or out through a window or balcony, without using the stairs.

When is a furniture lift useful?

• Upper floors: from the 2nd floor without a lift, it often saves hours of carrying.
• Narrow or winding stairs, common in Belgian townhouses and older buildings: some furniture simply will not fit.
• A lift that is too small for large furniture, or one the building rules do not allow for moves.
• Large or heavy items: corner sofa, big wardrobe, American-style fridge-freezer, large appliances.
• Protecting shared areas: fewer trips up and down the stairwell means less risk of damaging walls and banisters.

On the ground or first floor with a wide staircase, a furniture lift is usually not needed.

Access: what to plan for

• A space right outside the building: the lift is set up at the foot of the façade. Reserve parking and allow more length than for a van alone.
• A big enough opening: a window or balcony wide enough for your largest items. Measure them, and the opening too.
• Clear access: cables, trees, awnings, tram lines or a set-back façade can prevent the lift from being set up. Mention them, or add a photo of the front of the building to your request.
• Height: a lift only reaches so high. If you live on a high floor, tell the mover so they bring the right equipment.
• The pavement: the area under the platform must be kept clear and marked off throughout.

Safety first

A furniture lift should be set up and operated by an experienced crew. Nobody walks under the platform, and the mover may decide not to use it in strong wind or bad weather: that is a safety call. Also check that the mover has professional liability insurance.

Asking for a lift in your Movzo request

In the form, at the step about your homes, tick “An external furniture lift is needed” for the address concerned: departure, arrival or both. Also give the floor and say whether there is a lift in the building. A furniture lift is often charged as an extra per address: mentioning it from the start means the quote includes it, with no surprises on the day.

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