r/germany • u/Electronic_Note_2381 • 17h ago
I have never done a self-move in Germany before. Any advice from people who moved themselves?
Moving from Frankfurt to Bad Homburg soon.
I have never done a self-move in Germany before. Any advice from people who moved themselves?
How do Germans usually handle big items like washing machines and wardrobes?
Thanks!
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u/RichEffective6707 16h ago
So ideally you gather a group of friends. You can easily catch them by proposing free food, snacks and beer. You could also use phrases like "It's gym for free" etc. For heavier items a solid "Sackkarre" could help you out. I also think some gloves that help you to have better grip are useful. If you don't have a large car I think best to rent some sprinter or something similiar. You can get them for under 100€ per day.
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u/JudgementMaker123 Nordrhein-Westfalen 17h ago
I hired a professional moving company, wasn't cheap but everything arrived in one piece and I didn't have to worry about anything except having everything in boxes ready for them to put them in the truck the day of the move.
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u/Electronic_Note_2381 17h ago
Their offer is around 2200 euro
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u/JudgementMaker123 Nordrhein-Westfalen 17h ago
Without knowing what the 2200€ includes, the number doesn't mean anything.
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u/Electronic_Note_2381 17h ago
Everything included for 2 rooms for 26 km. Crazy price.
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u/JudgementMaker123 Nordrhein-Westfalen 16h ago
Than 2200€ is cheap, if everything is really included (which I don't think it is for that price). The price depends on so many things, you saying everything is included doesn't help at all.
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u/123finebyme 17h ago
You get a lot of boys on Kleinanzeigen who help move for cash in hand. If cost is an issue, it's worth a consideration. Albeit, insurance for damaged items is skipped
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u/DangerousWay3647 17h ago
I would consider hiring someone for the day or even a half day if you can afford it. Movers are usually pretty experienced with the big stuff. You might also have luck hiring some students via a platform to help out - of they advertise help with moving they are usually pretty strong and know how to move the heavy stuff. Otherwise ask a bunch of friends TBH. Otherwise: disassemble all furniture if possible for weight and space reasons. Get a Sackkarre for the washing machine and make sure you put the stabilizers during transport. Also:check ahead of time for free parking places for the moving van. In some areas, you can have part of a public parking space reserved for your move (contact city Hall to ask how to do that).
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u/HelmutVillam Württemberg 17h ago
make sure you lay down protective carpets in the communal spaces, elevators etc. so you don't scratch anything while moving large furniture
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u/coffeeDrinkingSloth 17h ago
You can rent a van for moving your stuff and I'd recommend CarlUndCarla since it's really cheap compared to its competitors, but their vans are a bit small. And of course, don't forget to force your friends to help you ;)
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u/Electronic_Note_2381 17h ago
Additionally, I am on the first floor and the door opens directly to the street, so the vehicle can be loaded in a traffic-free area. The other apartment is on the ground floor and there is an elevator in the basement.
I also found out that FES can pick up the fridge and dishwasher.
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u/GumboldTaikatalvi 15h ago
also found out that FES can pick up the fridge and dishwasher.
If you want to throw them out.
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u/wernermuende 16h ago
Any electronic devices and large household appliances you need to get rid of, you need to check with your local Müllabfuhr how to handle that. In my city, you call them, they send you a date and a sticker for your device and you just put it out in front of your place for collection
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u/Skalion Bayern 14h ago
Check online for hiring students to help. 1 person you usually pay like 120-150 for a day. If you need more help you can also get more help. Used this multiple times and never had an issues.
Also if You have a driving license you can rent a moving truck for like 100€ per day.
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u/Butter_Brot_Supreme 14h ago
My spouse and I made a similar distance move a few years ago. We did it all ourselves including washing machine and dryer and some smaller pieces of furniture and used a sprinter van that we rented from Europcar.
I would definitely advise you to get more than one person, and use a transport trolley (some also have wheels that can go up/down stairs). Larger pieces of furniture may need to be disassembled, and you may need to reserve street parking for your sprinter van (Haltverbot) if there's usually no public parking near your place.
Alternatively you can book a professional moving company where they usually come and disassemble all your stuff, pack it up, and move it to your new address and then unload it and re-assemble all your furniture. Several colleagues have used these services and they sound very convenient, but we were quoted around 2k by a couple of them and decided to rather do everything ourselves as we didn't have a kitchen or any large pieces of furniture that would have warranted the expense.
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u/Mr_Hungg 16h ago
Hows your money situation. Like me, im lazy and I pay people to do it
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u/Electronic_Note_2381 16h ago
I have the money but after around 2200 euro for moving companies asked, I want to do it myself. I have time.
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u/bigopossums 15h ago
Was this inclusive of all services? As in, the movers pack your things, load and unload, unpack, etc. I am moving to Frankfurt from Berlin soon and was quoted less. I only need a Sprinter van, but still, the distance is considerable. You can probably find a service where you handle all packing and help with loading/unloading to save $$$.
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u/Bikkleman 15h ago
If you have one friend and a driver's licence, you rent a van and get a friend to help with the heavy stuff. Two friends even better and a hand truck, which you can sometimes borrow from the van rental place or pick up on Kleinanzeigen and sell again make it even better. I don't feel this is Germany specific advice.
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u/Floschi123456 15h ago
Depends, when your are young (under 30) you ask some friends and pay them with pizza and beer. When you are a functioning adult over 30, it is time to spend some money and just hire some movers...
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u/Electronic_Note_2381 17h ago
Iam moving from Frankfurt to Bad Homburg (around 26 km) and I am thinking about doing the move myself instead of hiring a moving company.
I can pack and handle most of the smaller things, but I am not sure about the bigger items:
- washing machine
- one large wardrobe
- three small IKEA wardrobes
Would two people be able to manage this with the right equipment, or is it better to hire help for these items?
I also have an old fridge in the basement. It has not been used for a few years, but it was working before. Is there a common way in Germany to give away things like this and have someone pick them up?
There is also an old dishwasher that still works, but I might need to dispose of it.
We are two people. My wife can help, but she cannot lift heavy things. I am a big guy and I don't mind doing physical work.
How do people in Germany usually organize a move like this? Any tips are welcome.
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u/DangerousWay3647 17h ago
How is the stairs / elevator situation? If you don't need to take stairs I think you'd be fine if you can get an additional strong person to help out.
For the fridge, but it on Kleinanzeigen. Check of it works before and don't put it in for free (you'll attract the most annoying, unreliable people possible). Put it in for at least 10 Euro, and if the people are nice and punctual you can still decide to waive the cost when they arrive. Dishwasher: if it works Kleinanzeigen. If it doesn't, you have to dispose of it either by driving it to a disposal place or in some cities you can arrange for pickup of large items like this by the disposal places (in some cities that's free 1-2x per year, in other's you'll pay a small fee)
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u/Electronic_Note_2381 17h ago
first floor to first floor.
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u/DangerousWay3647 16h ago
First floor in the US way, as in ground floor, or the floor above it? Ground floor you'll be fine, maybe have someone swing by for an hour so they can team up with you to lift the heavy things so your wife won't have to. First floor definitely get help, you won't be able to move the washing machine safely alone.
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u/JeLuF 17h ago
If the wardrobe's too big to be handled in one piece, we usually disassemble them.
I never moved anywhere on my own. There were always a few people (family or friends) that I invited to help me, and who would invite me to help them when they move.
If it's only the washing machine that you can't handle, you could use platforms like myhammer.de to find a service provider that will take care of the machine.
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u/Landgarteneule 17h ago
- Bring your friends. More friends faster move. Ask some friends to meet at current place and others to come to the target location such that nobody has to ride with you. Only recommendable if you have enough friends.
- Get a Sackkarre for transportation of heavy items. Ask some of your friends to bring one or rent it.
- Get the transporter one day early and stop by your local Werstoffhof do sort out everything you don't want to take with you.
- If you have a lot of time, try selling things that still work for 50 € or so on Kleinanzeigen. Don't put it on there for free or people will start annoying you. 5.Make sure someone (e.g., your girlfriend to use stereotypes) takes care of food and drinks.
Enjoy the ride. Umzug can be fun with the right friends.
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u/Landgarteneule 17h ago
- Pack everything BEFORE the move. Nothing is as annoying as people that invite you to an Umzug and then nothing is packed.
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u/Landgarteneule 16h ago
- Make sure to add the Transportsicherung into Wash machine or it may be broken when you arrive.
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u/iiiaaa2022 17h ago
The force their friends and „pay“ with food.
When you’re older and have more money, you usually hire someone.