Is a moving company worthwhile, or is help from friends enough?

Friends are happy to help, but with bulky furniture, narrow stairwells or time pressure, private help quickly reaches its limits. A professional moving company brings expertise and suitable equipment, so that damage is avoided; it is liable for transport damage under the HGB. Especially for a private move under time pressure during the semester, a professional booking saves valuable nerves and time. You can find details under private move .

Where can I get cheap moving boxes for my student move?

Many supermarkets and drinks shops give away sturdy boxes, and via classified ads you can often find used moving boxes cheaply or for free as soon as someone else's move is finished. Start collecting early. Whether we bring boxes, we clarify when you enquire.

What do I need to bear in mind for the shared-flat room handover and deposit?

When moving out of a shared-flat room, a detailed handover report should be drawn up to avoid disputes about the deposit . Photos of walls, floors and fittings document the condition objectively. Small cosmetic repairs such as filling wall-plug holes are usually worthwhile to secure the full repayment of your deposit. If you communicate with the landlord early, you avoid unnecessary delays in repayment.

How do I register my new address correctly after the move?

Within two weeks of moving in, at the registration authority (§ 17 BMG). For this you need your identity card or passport and the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) from your landlord (§ 19 BMG); the tenancy agreement alone is not enough. Afterwards, you inform the BAföG office, your health insurance fund and your university. You can book the appointment at the citizens' office (Bürgeramt) before the move.

What does a long-distance move to another city cost for students?

A long-distance move to your place of study in another city is usually calculated by distance, furniture volume and floor. For students with a manageable amount of household goods, an inexpensive part load is often a good option instead of booking a whole lorry. Under long-distance moves , you will find transparent information and can request an individual fixed-price quote directly. That way, the change to a new university can be planned without stress.

How do I plan my move without missing lectures?

It is best to schedule your moving date for a lecture-free day or directly in the semester holidays. If you are flexible, book the moving company early for a weekday with few classes to avoid missing lectures. A clear packing list and prepared boxes considerably shorten the actual moving day. That way, despite your studies, there is enough time for a smooth change of flat.

What is a part load and is it worth it for students?

With a part load , several customers share the load bed, and the cost per job falls. For students with little furniture, it is worthwhile above all over a long distance – and for second-hand furniture bought in another city. Delivery is usually a time window. More in the article Sending furniture as a part load .

How do I pack books and desk items safely?

Books should be packed in small, sturdy boxes, as they quickly become very heavy and larger crates can tear. Desk items such as pens, cables and folders are best sorted into labelled drawer boxes. Fragile items such as lamps or screens need extra padding to avoid transport damage. Clear labelling makes putting things away considerably easier after a student move .

Do I need a parking restriction zone for the removal van?

In city centres and outside halls of residence, often yes. In Berlin, you apply for the parking restriction at the road traffic authority (Straßenverkehrsbehörde) of the district office; allow around four weeks for processing, and the fee starts at €21. The signs must be in place at least three full days beforehand. Other cities have their own rules. On request, we apply for the parking restriction .

How do I find a reputable moving company in my university city?

Look for a fixed price after a survey, verifiable reviews and clear information on liability under the HGB. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21), are rated 5.0 on Google from 119 reviews and also handle moves to other cities. You can find destinations with their own page in the locations overview .

What do I need to bear in mind when moving abroad for a semester?

For a semester abroad, it is worth putting furniture into storage in Germany or keeping it at your parents' instead of taking everything with you. Documents and personal items travel in your luggage. Within the EU, there are no customs formalities for household goods; outside it, for example in Switzerland, separate rules apply. In the host country there are often furnished rooms – or second-hand furniture again.

SECOND-HAND

Furnishing second-hand: finding checking and transporting furniture from classified ads

Q: How much does a move for students cost on average?

The cost of a student move depends heavily on the distance, the amount of furniture and the floor. For a classic shared-flat room with few household goods, prices are usually much lower than for moving a whole flat. With our fixed price , you know exactly in advance what the move will cost, without hidden surcharges. A free quote quickly gives you clarity about the actual costs of your individual student move.

Your first room does not have to be furnished new: how to find second-hand furniture, check it before buying and get it to your new room without a car of your own.

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Our services

Customer service01625978461

Google · 119 reviews

(5,0/5)

Monday – Friday09:00 – 17:00 Uhr

Red box van on a paved square in front of trees

FROM BERLIN-MOABIT

Furnishing on a budget

Buy second-hand, collect safely

Second hand, first room

Unsere Firma Second-hand basic furnishings for a student room: using classified ads, charity shops and previous tenants, checking furniture and collecting it by furniture taxi or part load.

At the end of the semester, many graduates clear out their rooms and sell their bed, desk and shelving cheaply – just when first-year students are moving in. Buying second-hand saves a lot of money, but you need to clarify two things: is the piece of furniture in good order, and how will it get to your new room? Without a car of your own, the collection is often the harder part. For single items there is the furniture taxi, and for the whole student move a fixed price after a survey.

Plan collections so that they are close to moving day or can be bundled into one day – that saves journeys. Measure the stairwell, doors and room beforehand, because a wardrobe that does not fit through is too expensive even as a gift. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and collect furniture you have bought on request – find out more under furniture transport.

Sofa wrapped in stretch film, cushions and stacked moving boxes in an empty flat

50,-DISCOUNT

NO-OBLIGATION ENQUIRY

PERSONAL ADVICE

Having second-hand furniture collected

Single item or whole move

Have you bought a sofa or a desk and do not have a car? Call us on 01625978461: we tell you whether a furniture taxi, a part load or combining it with your move is cheapest, and give you a fixed price.

Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.

Two movers in red T-shirts lift a film-wrapped piece of furniture into a lorry

FROM THE SELLER TO YOUR ROOM

How we transport second-hand furniture

Collect, carry, assemble

Second-hand furniture is often on the fourth floor at the seller's, already dismantled or still needing to be dismantled. We bring tools and blankets, dismantle where necessary and reassemble in your new room. On request, we bundle several collections in one city into a single tour. For transport damage, we are liable under the HGB (§ 451e: €620 per m³). We are based in Berlin-Moabit; on Google we are rated 5.0 from 119 reviews.

Furniture taxi

A single sofa or wardrobe straight from the seller to your room – without a complete move.

Several collections

Bed here, desk there: on request, we combine collections in the same city into one tour.

Assembly service

We dismantle furniture you have bought at the seller's and reassemble it at your place – even if the instructions were lost long ago.

Combined with the move

If the collection is on the way, it can become part of your moving day – mention it at the survey.

BEFORE BUYING

Six checkpoints for second-hand furniture

Second-hand is cheap, but only if the piece of furniture fits and lasts. It is best to check these six points on site before you pay.

Checking dimensions

Compare height, width and depth with the room, door and stairwell. Sloping ceilings in student rooms are a common stumbling block.

Test stability

Wobbling, torn-out screw holes, broken back panels: chipboard furniture does not survive every dismantling and reassembly.

Look closely at upholstery

With sofas and mattresses, look for stains, odours and signs of pests. Many people prefer to buy mattresses new.

All parts present?

Screws, shelves, keys for a wardrobe or desk – missing small parts cost time during assembly.

Clarify collection

Is the furniture already dismantled, which floor is it on, is there a lift? That determines whether a furniture taxi is enough or helpers are needed.

Bundle dates

Put several purchases on one collection day or combine them with your moving date – every separate journey costs extra time.

FROM ANOTHER CITY

Part load for furniture from further away

When the bargain is in another city

If the second-hand desk or sofa is in another city, a separate journey is rarely worthwhile. With a part load, the piece of furniture travels along with other jobs heading in the same direction, and you only pay for the space needed. That works well if it does not have to arrive on an exact day.

Open cargo space of a red lorry with wrapped furniture, panels and boxes

OVERVIEW

Furnishing
your first room cheaply

Find, check, transport

This part covers second-hand basic furnishings: where students find used furniture, what to look out for when buying and how collection and assembly work without a car of your own. How to send single items is explained in the article Sending furniture as a part load, and tips on dismantling in the article Moving IKEA furniture.

Finding furniture

Classified ads, previous tenants, charity shops and give-away groups – that makes furnishing after your student move, private move or small-load transport cheaper.

Collecting and assembling

With furniture assembly, careful furniture transport and, if needed, a packing service, the second-hand piece arrives intact in your new room.

Single items and long distances

For a sofa, a furniture taxi is enough; for purchases from another city, a part load or transport together with the long-distance move.

Mover in red workwear pushing a sack truck with a box towards a stack of boxes

MoabitBased at Stromstraße 21

Google 5.0 (119 reviews)

Two movers in dungarees carry moving boxes through a bright flat

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about second-hand furniture and student moves

Answers on costs, helpers, boxes, handover, registration, part loads, parking restrictions and semesters abroad.

The cost of a student move depends heavily on the distance, the amount of furniture and the floor. For a classic shared-flat room with few household goods, prices are usually much lower than for moving a whole flat. With our fixed price, you know exactly in advance what the move will cost, without hidden surcharges. A free quote quickly gives you clarity about the actual costs of your individual student move.

The ideal time: planning your move for the semester holidays

A student move is least stressful to organise in the lecture-free weeks, as neither seminars nor exams get in the way. If you plan early, you also secure better terms with moving companies, as many students move at the same time during the semester holidays and dates are booked up quickly. A look at the academic calendar helps you set the best period for notice periods and handover dates.

Registering at the registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) – within two weeks of moving in – and changing your address with the BAföG office can also be done more calmly in quieter weeks. If you plan cleverly, you combine the moving date with the end of the old tenancy agreement to avoid paying rent twice. That leaves more time for the essentials at your new place of study from the outset.

Using your furniture budget cleverly: second-hand, classified ads and more

A student move does not have to break the bank if you rely on second-hand platforms and classified ads when buying furniture. Many graduates sell the furnishings of their shared-flat rooms cheaply when they move out, which is a real opportunity, especially for first-year students. Charity shops, give-away groups and the previous tenant who wants to leave furniture in the room are also good sources.

When transporting the second-hand furniture, it is worth combining it with a part load or your own moving day to reduce costs. If you collect several purchases on one day, you save driving time. Measure the room and stairwell beforehand – that way, a cosy first home of your own takes shape on a small budget.

Moving costs by number of rooms

1 room: price from €369
2 rooms: price from €594
3 rooms: price from €884
4 rooms: price from €1,329
House/villa: individual quote
Long-distance move: price from €4.10/km

For an individual quote, feel free to arrange a free survey.

These criteria determine the price

The price depends primarily on volume and distance – the latter is calculated from €4.10/km. The floor and lift also affect the effort. Additional services such as furniture assembly and a part load can be booked.

Services from furniture taxi to full move

Discover our complete range of moving services.

Move with assembly: complete dismantling and reassembly of your furniture. Move with assembly
Part load: the affordable option for smaller transports. Part load
Clearance: fast and clean clearance. Clearance
Company relocation: moves for offices, practices and businesses. Company relocation
Furniture transport: transported reliably and gently. Furniture transport
Home move: your flat move in the best hands. Home move

From Berlin – for single pieces of furniture too

We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and handle moves as well as the transport of single pieces of furniture in Berlin and to other cities. You can find destinations with their own page in the locations overview, and long distances under long-distance moves.

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September 27, 2026

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