Which insurance policies do I need as a first-time tenant?

As a first-time tenant you should take out contents insurance to protect your new furnishings against fire, water damage from pipes and burglary. Personal liability insurance for damage to the rented flat is also advisable. For the transport itself, the removal company is liable under the HGB at €620 per cubic metre of cargo space; additional insurance is available for expensive appliances. That way you start well protected in your new flat.

How much does moving into a first flat cost on average?

The costs vary depending on the size of the flat, the distance and the scope of services. According to our price overview, a 1-room move starts from €339 and a 2-room move from €605. We give you the fixed price after the survey, so you know the total costs before signing the contract. If you only take the basic furnishings at first, you have less volume and pay correspondingly less. Contact us for a quote to suit your budget.

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

After your move you must re-register at the responsible residents' registration office within two weeks; this is required by law. Bring your identity card and your landlord's landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). Re-registration is particularly important for first-time tenants, as many dealings with the authorities and contracts depend on it. Do not miss this step, to avoid fines.

What furniture do I need for my first flat of my own?

To start off in your first flat of your own, basic pieces of furniture such as a bed, wardrobe, table and chairs are perfectly sufficient at first. Avoid expensive purchases at the beginning and add to your first furnishings bit by bit according to need and budget. Second-hand furniture or family pieces are a cost-effective alternative for first-time tenants on a small budget. Our team is happy to support you with the professional transport of all your furniture.

How do I find a reputable moving service as a first-time tenant?

When choosing a moving service, look for a survey before the quote, positive customer reviews and clear rules on liability under the HGB. A reputable company gives a written fixed price without hidden costs and describes the services precisely. Compare several quotes and ask specifically about furniture assembly. We work from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21); you can find destinations under Locations .

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

A part load means that your goods are transported together with those of other customers in a shared van. This option is particularly suitable for first-time tenants with few belongings and saves considerable transport costs compared with an exclusive vehicle. For a long-distance move to another city, a part load is a particularly economical solution. Get in touch – we are happy to advise you on the options.

How do I pack boxes properly for my first move?

Label every box clearly with its destination room and contents so that unpacking in the new flat is easier. Pack heavy items such as books in small boxes and light textiles in larger boxes to distribute the weight well. Also protect fragile items with packing paper or bubble wrap. As a first-time tenant you can also get boxes and packing material from us on request.

What deadlines do I need to observe at the flat handover?

You arrange the handover date for the new flat with the landlord and record defects, meter readings and keys in the handover report . For the old flat: the landlord's claims for compensation due to alterations or deterioration become time-barred six months after the flat is returned (§ 548 BGB). The law does not set a fixed deadline for repaying the deposit; the landlord may use a reasonable period to check.

How can I save money on my first move?

Use our fixed-price quote after a survey to calculate your budget precisely. Collect used moving boxes or ask friends and family for packing material. A part load or a move on a weekday rather than at the end of the month can also reduce costs. And: whatever does not come along does not need to be transported – buy part of your first furnishings only after the move.

What do I need to bear in mind on a long-distance move as a first-time tenant?

For a long-distance move to another city, pay particular attention to good transport planning and sufficient lead time. Clarify parking options at your new home early and find out about regional particularities of your new surroundings. Under Long-distance moves you will find detailed information on our nationwide moving services for first-time tenants.

Which documents do I need for the new flat?

To apply for your first flat of your own you usually need a Schufa credit report, proof of income and a tenant self-disclosure. First-time tenants do not yet have a certificate confirming no rent arrears – a short note in the covering letter is usually enough. Have your identity card and, if applicable, a guarantee from your parents ready. After moving in, you will also need your landlord's landlord confirmation to register at the Bürgeramt.

FIRST FURNISHINGS

Furnishing Your First Flat: What You Need Straight Away and What Can Wait

Bed, lights and cookware first: how first-time tenants plan their basic furnishings in stages and save money and space in the process.

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Customer service01625978461

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FURNISHING STEP BY STEP

First furnishings

Furnishing your first flat without bad buys

By urgency

Unsere Firma First furnishings for your first flat: basic items by urgency, second-hand furniture and assembly on moving-in day.

Many first-time tenants buy too much at once before moving in – and only notice in the flat what is missing or does not fit. Our team brings your existing furniture safely to the new flat, assembles it and puts new pieces straight into place. We give you the price after the survey as a fixed price. Under Private move you will find all the details of our offer for first-time tenants.

On request we collect second-hand pieces from classified ads or from your family as furniture transport and assemble them on moving-in day. We are liable for transport damage under the HGB at €620 per cubic metre; additional insurance is available for expensive appliances. Our team advises you on boxes, furniture assembly and loading. This way your first move of your own becomes a worry-free fresh start into independence.

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

50,-DISCOUNT

ASSEMBLY ON REQUEST

PERSONAL ADVICE

Plan your move-in with assembly

Fixed price after a survey, assembly on request

When you are just starting to live independently, every euro counts. Plan your first furnishings in stages and have the move surveyed beforehand: we then give you a fixed price for transport and assembly. Just call us on 01625978461 and ask about the current terms for first-time tenants.

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

IN THE RIGHT PLACE

How we help with furnishing

Carry, assemble, position

We know that first-time tenants often only have some of their furniture. That is why we transport what is already there, collect individual pieces later on request and assemble beds, wardrobes and shelves in the new flat. We are liable for your goods under the HGB. We are based in Berlin, Stromstraße 21, and operate nationwide – you can find destinations in the locations overview.

Assembly service

We assemble flat-pack beds, wardrobes and shelves on moving-in day. That saves buying tools and evenings with the instructions – with our furniture assembly.

Furniture transport

The sofa from the classified ads or the table from your grandparents: on request we collect individual pieces later, even after the move, with furniture transport.

House clearance

Whatever is not coming from your parents' home does not have to end up in the cellar. We clear furniture that is no longer needed properly – with our house clearance service.

Packing service

We pack the kitchen and glasses securely so that your new basic equipment does not already have gaps after the move – with our packing service.

FURNISHING IN STAGES

What comes first and what can wait

Divide your first furnishings by urgency. That way your starting budget is enough for the important things, and later purchases are based on what you really miss in everyday life in the new flat – not on the catalogue.

Stage 1: sleeping

A bed with a mattress, bedding, curtains or blinds for the bedroom and a bedside lamp. Your first night in the flat should be restful.

Stage 1: kitchen and bathroom

Fridge, pot, frying pan, plates, cutlery, towels, shower curtain, toilet paper. With these, everyday life works from day one.

Stage 1: lighting and tools

Lamps for every room, a cordless screwdriver, a folding rule and extension leads. In many rented flats, only bare wires with terminal blocks hang from the ceiling at first.

Stage 2: storage

Buy wardrobes, shelves and chests of drawers once you know how much space the flat offers. Measuring first saves returns.

Stage 2: working and eating

Desk, chair, dining table: at first one table is often enough for both. Such pieces can often be found cheaply second-hand in classified ads.

Stage 3: making it homely

Sofa, rug, pictures and plants come last. If you have lived in the flat for a few weeks, you buy things that fit better, save money and avoid bad buys.

FEW PIECES TO START WITH

Part load for moving in

A little at first, then bit by bit

A part load suits furnishing in stages: when you move in, your bed, boxes and a few pieces of furniture travel on a shared tour. Larger pieces such as a sofa or wardrobe come later, once it is clear what fits in the flat. That way, on your first move you only pay for the space you really need.

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

FIRST FLAT SERIES

Furnishing
by urgency

Furnishing stage by stage

This part of our series for first-time tenants is about first furnishings: what has to be there from the first night, what can wait a few weeks and where second-hand furniture is worthwhile. Before buying, it helps to check the dimensions and the stairwell. Also important for tenants are contents insurance and personal liability insurance – the building insurance is taken out by the owner. You can read what happens to discarded furniture in the article Disposing of bulky waste properly.

What has to be there from day one

Bed, lights, fridge, cookware and towels: you need these basic furnishings from the first evening. On a private move, student move or small transport, they go into the van first; decorations and pictures can wait.

Buy second-hand, save cleverly

Desks, shelves or dining tables are often available cheaply second-hand. Check the dimensions and condition before buying. With packing service, furniture transport or a part load, we collect individual pieces on request.

Planning delivery and assembly

New furniture often has delivery times. Have it delivered straight to the new flat as soon as you have the keys, and plan in the assembly. For individual pieces, a furniture taxi or furniture assembly on moving-in day is ideal.

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 first furnishings

Answers on planning, insurance, costs, re-registration, furniture, part loads, packing and documents when moving into your first home.

For first-time tenants we recommend allowing at least six to eight weeks of planning before the actual moving date. During this time you can calmly get boxes, cancel contracts and take out new ones, and book a reliable moving service. As a first-time tenant, planning early avoids stress and unnecessary costs shortly before moving day. Use our moving checklist for optimal preparation.

Basic furnishings for the first night

Basic furnishings for the first night are more important than a complete fit-out. They include a bed with bedding, a lamp per room, a fridge, a pot, a frying pan, crockery for two, and towels and toilet paper. Take care of electricity and internet at the same time so that everything works on moving-in day.

Also have a cordless screwdriver, a folding rule and extension leads ready. With our support for your private move, your bed is in place on the very first evening.

Buying first furnishings in stages and saving second-hand

Do not buy your first furnishings all at once. Stage one is everything you need from the first day; storage and a workspace follow once you know the flat; sofa, rug and decorations come last. This way you avoid bad buys that do not fit through the door.

Second-hand furniture from classified ads, social department stores or your family lowers the costs considerably. If you receive citizen's income (Bürgergeld), you can apply to the job centre (Jobcenter) for an initial furnishing grant (§ 24 SGB II).

What moving to your first flat costs

Service	Price
1-room move	from €339
2-room move	from €605
3-room move	from €884
4-room move	from €1,329
House/villa	individual quote
Long-distance move	from €4.15/km

Only a free survey on site gives more precise figures.

Volume counts: why less furniture is cheaper

First we determine the volume of your goods, then the distance, which we charge from €4.15/km. The floor and lift are also included in the calculation, as is any parking restriction zone required. We are happy to add furniture assembly or a part load to your move.

Services around furnishing

From transporting your first furniture to assembling new pieces.

Furniture transport – for individual pieces or whole rooms.
House clearance – we dispose of unwanted items in an environmentally conscious way.
Private move – your change of home, professionally accompanied.
Company relocation – moving logistics for businesses of all sizes.
Move with assembly – an all-round, worry-free package with assembly service.
Part load – the flexible and affordable transport option.

First furnishings when moving to another city

If you are moving to another city for your first flat, have new furniture delivered directly there. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide; more under Long-distance moves, destinations in the locations overview.

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September 27, 2026

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