So you’ve found a place to live and you’re moving to Düsseldorf! Now you’ve just realized that you have to pack up all your items and arrange transport for them. But where do you even start looking for a moving company in Düsseldorf?

Moving houses or apartments can be a little overwhelming at the best of times, but even more so if you are an expat. There is a lot to consider and the organization and planning stage are vital to make moving day a success. Booking a moving company that doesn’t speak English is probably not where you’d like to start. 

We have the moving experts from Smoover to tackle this frequently asked question, so they are here to give you the best tips and tricks they have to make sure your move is as easy as possible. In this post, they also reveal what to consider before you hire a moving company.

Moving to Düsseldorf? Here are 7 things to consider when hiring a German moving company

 

First things first, make an inventory of all your items

The first thing to do when you are moving is to make an accurate inventory of all your items. This will make it much easier for the moving company to understand the scope of the job (aka. how much you need to be moved).

On our website, we have a form that will make this easy, but you can also send us videos or pictures via WhatsApp, and we’ll estimate the cubic volume for you. 

Knowing the cubic volume of all your items is important, as it allows a moving company to estimate the labor time of loading and unloading, and also what size truck is required.  If you are vague in this estimation, then moving companies will err on the side of caution, and you’ll probably get charged more.

Tip: It’s also a great idea to take inventory for your own personal gain – in the odd case that a moving company misplaces one of your belongings, you’ll be able to go back into your inventory list and make sure it’s all there upon unloading.

 

Write down what will need to be disassembled and reassembled

You should also consider which large furniture items will need to be disassembled and reassembled. As a rule, bed frames and large wardrobes should be taken apart, as they are bulky and fragile, and will not fit out of the door or through stairwells in one piece. Depending on the complexity, a moving company will charge for this. As a rough guide, it will be around 50€ for a bed and 70€ for a wardrobe,  So if you want to save some money, you can always disassemble these yourself. 

 

Consider how easy or complicated the actual move from the house to the truck (and into the new house) might be

Another thing to factor in is how easy or hard it will be to move your items from your home and into the truck.  If you are in an apartment block and have a large elevator or live on the ground floor, then this won’t be a big deal. However, if you live on the fourth floor and the moving team has to go up and down all those steps with lots of boxes, a sofa, and heavy cabinets, then the cost of labor will increase accordingly. It’s certainly hard work, and you need to be fit and strong!

 

Make sure there is a parking space available for the moving company

When it comes to parking, it’s very important to make sure that the moving truck can park as close as possible to the entrance of your building. If you’re moving to Düsseldorf, you’ll quickly notice that parking spots in the city are limited.

If the movers have to walk a long distance to the truck to load or unload, the labor cost will obviously increase. So make sure you check about the availability of parking before moving day. The building supervisor or janitor will often know all about this, or maybe if you (or your neighbors) have a car you can block some spaces prior to moving day. If not, then you can always arrange a Halteverbotszone (No Parking Zone). Depending on the size of the moving truck, prices start at 35€ and can be ordered from the city government office. However, make sure to allow two weeks for it to be processed.  

 

Decide whether you want to do the packing or you’d like to hire the moving company to do so

When it comes to packing all your loose items, you have two options. 

1. You can order boxes and do it yourself, or…
2. You don’t need to lift a finger and you can let the moving company do all the work

At Smoover, we charge a flat rate of 12€ per box packed, which is currently one of the best rates on the market! If you decide to do it yourself, then you might find these helpful packing tips useful.  

 

Will the moving company bring protective equipment for your furniture?

It’s also important to establish with the moving company whether or not they will bring the material to properly protect your furniture. Anything that can be scratched or ripped should be wrapped in blankets and/or plastic foil. This serves two purposes – to stop damage to the items in transit and also to protect walls and floors from scrapes.

All of the prices at Smoover, for example, include the materials and labor required for the protection of your furniture, so they will arrive in the same condition they left!

 

MOST IMPORTANTLY, make sure the moving company is fully insured!

Lastly, make sure whoever you book is fully insured. It should be obvious why! A professional moving company will always issue an invoice as well. Be wary of cash-in-hand offers, as they may be cheaper, but are often less professional. Did you know that in Germany you can reclaim up to 20% of the cost of moving back in tax rebate? But without an invoice, this will be impossible, so it pays to get a reputable company.

At Smoover, we have a wide network of moving companies, so can offer very competitive prices. Moreover, we take care of all the organization and communication, leaving nothing to chance.

Being German, we take great pride in making sure everything is set up correctly!  

 

Ready for your big move?!

We have streamlined the quoting phase, so you can provide all your information online in just a few minutes. You can also arrange for box delivery, disassembly/reassembly, No Parking Zones, and even post-move painting and cleaning. We’re very friendly and responsive, so if you have any questions about moving to Düsseldorf (or beyond), just reach out. We’ll be happy to advise you and ensure you have a smooth time moving to Düsseldorf (or out of Düsseldorf).