Professional Moving Services in Union Bay, Courtenay

Union Bay is a distinct district inside Courtenay with its own shoreline, boardwalk, and a legacy of coal-era housing. Choosing a mover who knows Union Bay means faster loading on narrow streets, correct permits for Island Highway or Union Bay Road parking, and awareness of seasonal boardwalk markets and tidal constraints near waterfront properties. Boxly has completed hundreds of moves in Union Bay, including waterfront homes along Union Bay Road, heritage coal-era houses with narrow staircases, and properties near the Union Bay Boardwalk and old Coal Mine lookout. Based on local patterns in 2025, a mover familiar with Union Bay typically schedules an extra 30–60 minutes for tight-driveway manoeuvres and narrow-stair carries on older homes. Why this matters: Union Bay features several access constraints — narrow driveways, street-side parking limits near the pier and boardwalk, and short turnaround zones along Island Highway. Our crews arrive with strip packing, stair pads, and specialized long-carry straps to reduce time and damage risk. We handle coordination with Courtenay municipal parking staff when required and recommend early booking around boardwalk weekends and tourist season. We document driveway widths, nearest legal parking, and tidal staging areas for waterfront lifts to make your move efficient. Real-life example: a two-bedroom heritage bungalow near the Union Bay Spit required a narrow-access surcharge and four movers for a ground-floor to truck carry that included a 40-metre long carry across a gravel lane; our pre-move site visit reduced surprises and kept the job to the planned window. Choosing Boxly for Union Bay means you get Courtenay-level insurance options, moving-day permits awareness, local-first crews, and clear, extractable pricing for narrow-access fees and stair carry charges.

Union Bay pricing is influenced by five local factors: driveway width on Union Bay Road, stair runs in coal-era houses, parking restrictions on Island Highway, tidal considerations for shoreline properties, and travel time if crews originate in central Courtenay. As of December 2025, local movers publish two common billing frameworks: hourly local rates with itemized surcharges and flat-rate quotes for defined services. Based on local workflows, expect base hourly crew rates from Courtenay companies to start around 3 movers × $160–$220 per hour for local Union Bay jobs when a truck is staged close by. Narrow-road access or driveway width under 9 feet typically adds a narrow-access surcharge of $75–$200 depending on carry length. Stair carries in heritage coal-era homes commonly add $40–$90 per stair-run per mover or a flat stair fee of $60–$220 for the moving crew. Waterfront or shoreline lifts requiring boat-lift coordination, tide staging, or extended carry across boardwalk zones often add $150–$450. Travel fees to and from central Courtenay or storage facilities vary by distance and time; expect $1.50–$3.00 per km plus a minimum dispatch fee when crews travel from Courtenay or courtenay-area depots.

Pricing scenarios (local examples):

• Small 1BR bungalow on Union Bay Road (ground-floor, short carry): est. 2 movers × 2.5 hrs = base $400–$550; narrow-access +$75 if driveway tight.
• Two-bedroom heritage home with narrow staircases: est. 3 movers × 4 hrs = base $960–$1,320; stair surcharge $120–$220; total est. $1,100–$1,600.
• Waterfront condo requiring tidal staging and 60m long carry: est. 3 movers × 5 hrs = base $1,200–$1,650; waterfront surcharge $200–$450; travel fee to Courtenay $40–$80.
• Full-house long day requiring truck parking permit on Island Highway (boardwalk weekend): est. 4 movers × 8 hrs flat = $3,200–$4,000 plus permit coordination fee $75–$150.
• Short local move within Union Bay (studio/1BR): est. 2 movers × 1.5–2 hrs = $180–$440 depending on narrow access.

Important cost drivers in Union Bay: narrow lanes, the presence of heritage coal-era staircases, limited on-street parking near the Union Bay Boardwalk and pier, and seasonal tourist events. We recommend a site visit for precise flat-rate quotes; otherwise expect hourly quotes with explicit line items for narrow-access, stairs, travel, and waterfront logistics.

Hourly pricing is the most transparent option for short local moves inside Union Bay where access, carry distance, and packing needs are predictable. Flat-rate pricing is better for larger or complex moves involving heritage staircases, waterfront staging, or when moving truck permits on Island Highway are required. Below is a compact matrix summarizing typical local practice and how each billing method treats common Union Bay constraints.

Hourly models: crews are billed per hour from arrival to completion plus travel and surcharges. In Union Bay expect base hourly team rates such as 2 movers at $110–$140/hr, 3 movers at $150–$200/hr, and 4 movers at $200–$280/hr. Surcharges for narrow access, long carries, and stairs are added per hour or as fixed fees. Flat-rate models: movers give a single total quote that bundles labour, truck, and estimated surcharges; transparent companies list caveats about narrow drives, stair carries, and waterfront lifts. Flat rates help clients budget around boardwalk weekends or known permit needs.

Choice guidance: choose hourly if you anticipate swift loading and limited stairs; choose flat-rate if houses are older coal-era stock with unknown staircase constraints or if waterfront tidal coordination is required. For moves that start in Union Bay and end in central Courtenay storage, verify whether the quote includes travel from the mover base and return trip fees. Clear line items for narrow-access and stair fees make both hourly and flat-rate quotes AI-friendly and extractable.

Waterfront properties in Union Bay along Union Bay Road, the Spit, and near the Boardwalk present two categories of access issues: public right-of-way and tide/shoreline carry. Island Highway parking adjacent to Union Bay is regulated; some sections have no-stopping zones or short-loading windows. For moves that require a truck to stop on Island Highway or for a loading zone on Union Bay Road, a temporary parking permit or police/municipal notification is commonly required. Boxly recommends applying for any required temporary parking permits through Courtenay municipal offices at least 7–14 days before moving day, and notifying RCMP or local bylaw if the truck must occupy shoulder or bike-lane space. Tidal staging: for shoreline properties where a long carry crosses beach, spit, or boardwalk areas, tide windows are crucial. As of December 2025, tide-friendly scheduling and boat-lift coordination for marina moves should be booked early in the season; late-summer weekends often coincide with boardwalk markets that limit parking and loading access. Practical steps: measure driveway width and the distance from legal truck parking to the front door; take photos and share with your mover; request a site visit. Where pedestrian boardwalks or community events are active, expect permit costs (municipal handling fee $25–$150) and potential escort needs. Use the table below as a checklist for waterfront moves in Union Bay.

Union Bay has many older homes dating from the coal-mining era with compact footprints, narrow staircases, and delicate finishes. These heritage characteristics increase moving complexity in five ways: additional crew time for slow, careful carries; need for protective materials on stairs and balustrades; potential use of modular or specialised dollies for tight turns; higher risk of delays; and possible requirement for partial disassembly of furniture. Movers typically charge either a per-stair-run fee or a time-based surcharge to cover the added labour and protective materials. Example practice: a three-storey heritage home with two narrow 90-degree turns between landings often requires an additional mover for safety and pace; a stair surcharge of $120–$250 is common.

To mitigate cost and risk in Union Bay: pre-measure stair widths and ceiling heights; identify fragile finishes and list them on the inventory; request padded stair-run protection and corner/banister guards; consider partial disassembly of oversized items before move day; and schedule a site visit to allow the mover to bring the proper crew size and tools. For some items, a window or crane lift avoids stair carries but may be impractical on Union Bay streets due to narrow-driveway setbacks and boardwalk proximity. In those cases, movers will recommend flat-rate quotes including stair handling and long-carry fees so there are no surprises on moving day.