Moving Within the Same Building or Compound: A Short Distance with Different Challenges
Moving from one apartment to another in the same building, or from one house to another inside one residential compound, may look like the simplest kind of move, since the distance is a few dozen metres. But anyone who has tried it knows the difficulty is of another kind: no road, no truck, no traffic, but a shared lift, narrow corridors, neighbours passing at every moment, a management with its own rules and floors, handrails and doors that must not be damaged. At Three Knights we organise these moves differently from vehicle moves: we rely on trolleys, the lift and workers more than on a truck.
Common reasons for this kind of move include moving to a larger apartment in the same building after the family grows, moving to a lower floor for an older person's ease of movement, or moving from one house to another in the compound because a contract ended or needs changed. In every case the basic plan is similar: coordination with management, scheduling the lift, protecting the corridors and moving in an orderly way in stages.
Step One: Talk to Management
What most often disrupts these moves is that the crew arrives and is told the lift is booked or that moving is not allowed at this hour. So we advise you to contact the building or compound management before agreeing the date and ask about: permitted moving hours, whether the lift must be booked, whether there is a separate service lift, whether a deposit or written permission is needed, whether protection of the lift is required and whether there are limits on the number of workers. If you get these answers, tell us so we can plan around them.
| Question for management | Why it matters | Effect on the plan |
|---|---|---|
| Permitted moving hours | Avoid noise and rest hours | Fixing working hours |
| Lift booking | A shared lift may be reserved for hours | Setting a fixed window |
| Protection of lift and corridors | Some compounds require it | Preparing covers and guards |
| Number of workers allowed | May be limited by the rules | Organising the crew |
| Entry and passes | Workers may need permission to enter | Giving names in advance if needed |
Usually No Need for a Truck
In a move within a building or compound, trolleys replace big vehicles. We use wheeled trolleys to carry boxes and furniture between the lift and the two units, and straps and dollies for heavy pieces such as the fridge. In large compounds we may use a small vehicle or a light truck to carry items along internal roads between distant villas, and you can see the details on our small truck moving page. This saves you the cost of a truck you do not need.
The Advantage of Moving in Stages
The nicest thing about an internal move is that it does not have to be finished in one day. If you have both apartments for a few days, you can start by moving small items, clothes, books and utensils over several days, then fix one day for large furniture and appliances, then clean the old apartment calmly before handing it over. This is less tiring and gives you time to arrange the new apartment before heavy furniture arrives. In your agreement with the landlord, set the period during which both apartments are available.
Protecting the Lift, Corridors and Walls
Most scratches in an internal move happen in corridors and at lift doors, not on a road. So we cover the lift floor and walls with thick covers if management allows, fit guards on corridor corners and door edges and carry long pieces so they do not rub the walls. We treat the lift buttons and keys with care and we do not hold the door open with heavy pieces. If there are pictures or decor in the corridor we warn the neighbours before work begins.
Order of Work on the Day of Moving Large Furniture
- We reserve the lift for the agreed period and make sure security has the names if needed.
- We cover the lift and corridor and fit guards.
- We first move heavy appliances such as the fridge and washing machine because they are the hardest part.
- We dismantle beds and wardrobes in the old apartment, move them in parts and reassemble them in the new one.
- We move sofas, tables and the remaining boxes.
- We check the old apartment to make sure it is empty and close it as agreed.
Do I Need to Dismantle Furniture?
Because the distance is short you may wonder why dismantle a wardrobe to take it next door. The answer is that dismantling is not about distance but about doors, lift and corridors. If a wardrobe will not fit through the lift door upright it has to be dismantled or tilted, and sometimes dismantling is faster and safer than trying to force a whole piece through. We decide with you when we measure. To learn about the service see furniture disassembly and assembly.
The Fridge, Washing Machine and Heavy Appliances
Even over short distances a fridge needs emptying and drying before it moves, a washing machine needs its hoses drained and it is advisable to leave the fridge standing a few hours in its new place before switching it on. These appliances move on dedicated trolleys with straps and their doors are secured. A smart option is to use us only for the heavy pieces and move the rest yourself, as we explain on our moving a single furniture item page.
Two Apartments at Once: The Risk of Mix-Ups
When the two apartments are close, the risk of mix-ups rises: a piece forgotten in the old one, a box opened in the new one before it is numbered, a key lost among keys. We advise numbering boxes by room name for the new apartment, keeping a short list of what has moved and leaving one person in each apartment to supervise receiving and handing over. If the landlord will take back the old one, photograph its condition before handing it over.
Neighbours and Safety
The heavy traffic in corridors and the lift disturbs neighbours and puts children and elderly people at risk. Tell your neighbours the date, ask them not to leave shoes, bicycles or toys in the corridor, keep children away from the carrying route and avoid very early or very late hours. For our part we finish work at suitable times and keep noise down as much as we can.
Cleaning and Handing Over the Old Apartment
One benefit of an internal move is that you can clean the old apartment after emptying it without time pressure, photograph its condition, record meter readings and hand over the keys calmly. Do not forget to cancel or transfer internet and utility subscriptions and update your address with the relevant bodies. These are your responsibility, but we remind you because they are often forgotten in a move between two neighbouring apartments on the assumption that it is simple.
Furniture in Compounds and Neighbouring Villas
In compounds with villas or houses spread apart the picture is different: the two units may be several hundred metres apart and there may be gates and internal roads with speed limits. Then you may need a small vehicle on several trips, and we respect the compound's rules on parking trucks and the number of trips. In large compounds the company may be asked for an advance entry permit, so give us the compound name and the management's number to arrange it. See also compound moving.
What Determines the Cost
The cost of an internal move is set not by distance but by the volume of furniture, the number of large pieces and heavy appliances, floors, dismantling and reassembly, the number of workers and the time needed. It may be lower than a move between two neighbourhoods but it still needs a careful estimate. We do not publish fixed prices; we give you a price after you describe the furniture or send photos. See how moving prices are set in Jeddah for the factors.
Common Mistakes in Internal Moves
- Assuming closeness means simplicity and skipping planning.
- Not coordinating with management and booking the lift.
- Neglecting to protect the lift and corridors.
- Moving the fridge without emptying and drying it.
- Not numbering boxes, so items between the two apartments get mixed.
- Not photographing the old apartment's condition at handover.
Checklist Before an Internal Move
- Contact management and ask about hours, the lift and rules.
- Measure the new apartment's doors and the lift for large pieces.
- Number the boxes and prepare a short list.
- Tell neighbours the date.
- Empty appliances and book someone to remove air conditioners if needed.
- Prepare a place for a bag of papers and valuables.
Tips for Moving Day
Start by moving things you do not need right away: books, seasonal tools and decor, and leave the essentials until the last day. Prepare a temporary corner in the new apartment with pillows, covers and a few utensils and breakfast items so that you have what you need on the first night however late the arranging runs. Do not carry small items in open bags along corridors; use closed boxes or suitcases, because bags tear, spill and obstruct neighbours. Make one person responsible for the keys all day so you are not divided between the two apartments.
When Using Us for Certain Pieces Is Enough
If you can move boxes and light items yourself or with the family, there is no need to pay for a full move. It is enough to use us for the pieces that need skill and equipment: the fridge, the washing machine, big wardrobes, beds that need dismantling and reassembly, a large sofa and a big TV. We send a small crew that carries these pieces quickly and assembles them, then leaves, and you finish the rest at your own pace. This saves time and cost and protects the pieces most at risk of damage.
Why Three Knights for Internal Moves
Because we do not underestimate a short move: we plan for the lift, the management and the protection, use trolleys and workers instead of trucks where that suits better and keep the cost in proportion to the real effort. If you are moving between two distant apartments see apartment moving in Jeddah, and if the building has no lift see moving from a walk-up building. Call us or message us on WhatsApp with a description of the two apartments, your date and the management's rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you move furniture between two apartments in the same building?
Yes. We move between apartments in one building or between villas and houses in the same compound, usually with trolleys and the lift and without a big truck. If a small vehicle is needed we use one.
Does the move need management approval?
In many buildings and compounds management requires advance notice, fixed hours or a lift booking, and we advise contacting them before you set the date.
Can furniture be moved in stages over several days?
Yes, and that is an advantage of an internal move: small items first, large furniture on a fixed day and then cleaning the old apartment.
What sets the cost when the distance is short?
The volume of furniture, the number of large pieces, floors, dismantling and reassembly and the number of workers, not the distance. It may be lower than a move between two neighbourhoods but still needs planning.
Do I need wrapping even though the distance is short?
Yes. Scratches mostly happen in corridors and lifts, not on the road, so we cover furniture and protect walls and lift doors.
Can I move things myself and use you only for certain pieces?
Yes. We can move only the heavy or difficult pieces if you wish, such as the fridge and large wardrobes.