A new job, a bigger flat or a fresh start in another country: moving is exciting until you realise how much needs to happen between handing over the old keys and putting the children to bed in the new home.

For expat families, that often means coordinating a move in a second language while juggling work, childcare and unfamiliar buildings. Whether you are moving across Düsseldorf, heading to Berlin, Hamburg or Munich, or leaving Germany for another European destination, the right help makes the practical side much easier.

Smoover plans the move around your household. You can ask for a complete furniture move with packing and assembly, or a smaller, economical move carrying only the boxes you need for a furnished home.

Start with your family’s schedule

Your moving date is rarely just a date. It depends on when you get the new keys, when the old flat needs to be empty and whether the children still have school or nursery that week.

Tell Smoover about those details from the start. English-speaking customer support helps you work through collection, delivery and the services you need. Photos of your belongings and both buildings make it easier to plan remotely, even before you arrive in the new city.

If your dates are flexible, share the window that works for you. If they are fixed, explain which deadline matters most. Smoover can explore the available options with you and agree a plan that fits your journey and access to both homes.

Care for the things that make it home

The large television, the dining table and the children’s favourite things all deserve attention. A useful moving plan starts with what you own and how you want it handled.

Smoover can include packing and unpacking, with protection planned for furniture, fragile items and electronics. Point out your TV when sharing the inventory, including its size and whether you still have its original packaging. The team can arrange suitable protection for the screen and corners before transport.

You can also divide the work: pack everyday clothes and toys yourself, and ask the movers to take care of the awkward or delicate items. The packing service and materials are agreed in your quote, so you know who is doing what.

Illustration of a sofa protected for transport, moving blankets and neatly packed boxes in a bright apartment
Plan protection around your belongings, from a large screen to the family sofa.

Let someone else rebuild the beds

After travelling with children, the last thing most parents want is an evening spent searching for wardrobe screws.

Smoover can dismantle furniture that needs to come apart for the move and reassemble it in the new home. Beds, wardrobes and other suitable furniture can be included in the agreed service, with the access and assembly requirements checked beforehand.

Share photos of larger pieces and tell the team which rooms they belong in. If getting the children’s beds ready first would make your arrival easier, say so while planning. It is a small detail that can make a big difference to your first evening.

A direct journey to your next home

Moving abroad does not have to mean an open-ended wait for your belongings. Smoover can arrange direct transport from the collection address to your new home, with the collection and delivery schedule agreed for your route.

For a family, that means you can plan around the arrival of your beds, clothes and kitchen essentials. Coordinating delivery with your keys and travel can reduce the time you need to spend in a hotel or temporary accommodation.

Ask for the delivery plan before booking your family’s journey. Timing depends on the distance, access and any border requirements. Agreeing those details early gives everyone a clearer idea of when the new home can be ready.

A furnished flat? Move just your boxes.

If the new apartment already has beds, a sofa and a dining table, you may only need your clothes, books, toys and kitchen things. There is no need to plan a whole-house furniture move for a household that fits into boxes.

Smoover also offers direct transport for smaller, box-only moves. With fewer items and no large furniture to dismantle, this can be a cost-effective way to bring your personal belongings to a furnished home within Germany or elsewhere in Europe.

Share the number and approximate size of the boxes, flag heavy or fragile contents, and explain access at both addresses. Your quote can then match the actual load and route. It is particularly useful when a new job starts with a furnished rental and you want familiar things around you from the beginning.

Get a quote for the move you actually need

A family’s moving cost depends on more than the number of bedrooms. The amount and weight of your belongings, distance, floors, lift access, dates and selected services all affect the plan.

Start with Smoover’s online quote request, then share your inventory and the practical details. Your written offer sets out the agreed scope and price. Check that it covers the packing, furniture assembly and any extra help you want, including the VAT treatment.

If keeping costs down is a priority, say so. Moving fewer items, packing some things yourself or offering a wider date window may help simplify the job. A box-only move should be quoted on its own requirements.

A little preparation, much less organising

You do not need every answer before contacting Smoover. These details give the team a useful starting point:

  • Your two addresses and date window. Include key collection and any fixed handover deadline.
  • What is coming with you. Photos of furniture, a box estimate, plus bikes, a buggy or items in the cellar.
  • Access at both homes. Floors, lifts, stairs, carrying distances and space for the vehicle.
  • The help you want. Packing, TV protection, dismantling and reassembly, or transport for boxes only.
  • Your family’s priorities. Beds ready for bedtime, essential boxes easy to reach and delivery aligned with your arrival.

If loading space needs reserving, Smoover can arrange a no-parking zone where available, including the permit and signs. Ask for this when planning so it is included in the scope.

  1. Describe your move

    Send the route, dates and belongings. Add photos and tell the team what would make moving day easier.

  2. Agree the details

    Review the transport schedule, access, selected services and written price before booking.

  3. Arrive with a plan

    The movers complete the agreed transport and services, while you focus on your family and settling in.

Questions expat families often ask

Can we organise the move in English?

Yes. Smoover’s customer support works in English and German. You can discuss your inventory, dates, access and selected services in English, including when you are organising the move remotely.

Can we book transport without packing?

Yes. You can pack your own boxes and request transport, or add help for selected items. Explain what you will prepare yourself so the written quote reflects the services you need.

Can you take our belongings from Germany to another European country?

Yes. Smoover organises European household moves as well as moves within Germany. Share both addresses so the team can confirm the transport option, dates and any route-specific requirements.

What if our dates change?

Contact the team as soon as you know. Smoover can check alternative dates and discuss an updated plan. Availability and any effect on the agreed price need to be confirmed.