Ah, Tuesday mornings—usually the calm before the storm. This time, we were heading to Church and Gerrard for a two-bedroom condo moving in Toronto. Easy, right? Well, let’s just say this day had a few *unexpected* twists in store.

We rolled up to the building, excited to get started… until we discovered that the designated “moving and delivery” entrance was two blocks away from the *actual* entrance. A bit annoying, but we’re pros—no biggie! Or so we thought.

Once we navigated the truck into the underground labyrinth of the building, we quickly lost all GPS and phone signal. Imagine playing hide-and-seek with a 20-foot moving truck in a giant, dark parking garage. After a few awkward wrong turns and minor truck ballet, we finally found our designated spot—three floors below ground level in a dusty, dimly lit service area. And there, waiting for us, was our client… looking as puzzled as we felt.

Looking over the list, we figured the move would be a breeze—2 or 3 hours, tops. The client was only going a few blocks away to a shiny new condo at College and Bay. Feeling optimistic, we booked another job in Etobicoke for the afternoon. Spoiler alert: We probably should’ve waited.

As we geared up with dollies, straps, tape, and blankets, we heard a sudden *“beep beep!”* 

Enter: **Dave**, the building’s quirky underground guide, riding a **John Deere lawn mower**—yes, you read that right—towing three wobbly flatbed carts like he was leading a parade. With a grin, Dave tipped his hat, removed his mask, and introduced himself as our “chauffeur” for the day. This was going to be… interesting.

He told us to hop on, instructing us to keep our hands and feet inside the ride at all times. At a blazing 10 km/hr, we zoomed through the garage underworld of this 42-story condo, dodging parked cars and potholes like Mario Kart pros. Every time we reached a dead end, Dave would whip out his garage-door opener like a magician, revealing hidden passageways as we zipped along. Honestly, the guy had the skills of an F1 driver—if F1 drivers used lawn mowers, that is.

Eight minutes later (but who’s counting?), we arrived at the moving elevator. Dave grinned and told us to “page him” when we were ready to return, then rumbled off on his mini-tractor to deal with some dumpsters.

The whole go-kart moving thing was fun for about… five minutes. The novelty wore off as we wrestled with carts that couldn’t be loaded securely and jogged alongside them to stop items from tumbling into puddles of *mystery fluid*. Meanwhile, our poor client grew more frustrated with every trip, knowing that each jaunt to the truck meant an extra 30 minutes wasted in that oil-stained underworld.

When we finally finished loading the truck and emerged onto Gerrard Street, the fresh downtown air felt like a gift from the heavens. We wrapped up the second half of the move at College and Bay in just under an hour, and all had a good laugh about the bizarre morning we’d just survived.

Pro tip: Lawn mowers are great for cutting grass—not for moving furniture. But hey, every move teaches you something new! With all the new condos popping up, I have a sneaking suspicion that these underground mazes are only going to get trickier. Here’s hoping Dave gets promoted soon… or at least upgrades to a golf cart. 😉

Condos come with their own rules and quirks, so it’s good to plan ahead. Start by checking with your building management—many condos require you to book the elevator in advance and may even have specific moving hours. Trust us, the last thing you want is to show up with all your stuff and find out the elevator’s off-limits! Parking can be tight, so ask about loading zones or visitor parking. Also, consider downsizing a bit—condos can have less space than you think, so it’s a great chance to declutter. And finally, work with experienced movers who know the ins and outs of condo moves in Toronto. It’ll save you time, stress, and a lot of elevator trips!