A Furniture Lift: What to Look Out For
Moving company Berlin
Furniture lift: what matters in the equipment and the quote
Take a close look
A furniture lift, also called an external hoist or furniture hoist, takes a sofa, wardrobe or washing machine up or down via the balcony or window instead of through a narrow stairwell. But not every lift is the same: there are units on trailers and ones permanently mounted on a lorry, and they differ in reach, permitted load and platform size. Whether a unit suits your building and your furniture is shown by the rating plate and data sheet – and by a quote that names every item.
If the lift stands on the pavement or road, a permit from the road traffic authority (Straßenverkehrsbehörde) is needed – usually together with the parking restriction zone for the removal van. In Berlin you should allow around four weeks for this. Also speak to the landlord or property management if the balcony or façade will be used. We use the lift for a private move just as we do for transporting individual heavy items.
Plan a furniture lift with a survey
Check the building first, then the fixed price
Whether a furniture lift will work at your building is something we clarify before the quote – during a survey or from photos of the façade, the windows and the street in front. You then receive a fixed price that includes the lift, staff and any necessary parking restriction zone. You can reach us by phone on 01625978461, including for an initial assessment.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
Four specifications of the lift
What the rating plate and data sheet reveal
Before we plan in a furniture lift, we compare four specifications of the unit with your building and your furniture: reach, permitted load, platform size and the record of the last inspection. If one of them does not fit, even the best planning will not help on moving day. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and use furniture lifts in the city as well as at the destination of a long-distance move. For damage to your belongings we are liable under the rules of the HGB; jewellery and documents are best transported by you personally.
Reach
Permitted load
Platform
Inspection record
Six points that should be in the quote
A good quote for a furniture lift states not only a price but also what is included. You should find these six points in it – or ask about them before booking.
Operator included?
Permit included?
What applies in wind?
How long is it booked?
Who is liable?
Who carries indoors?
Just one large item?
From
planning to assembly
The furniture lift is deployed above all with moves into old buildings with narrow stairwells or without a lift. With new buildings with narrow hallways or low ceiling heights too, the external hoist is often the faster and gentler alternative to the classic stair transport. Typical applications are the transport of pianos, large cabinets, sofas or washing machines from the second upper floor. We are happy to advise you on whether the deployment of a furniture lift is worthwhile for your individual moving situation.
Planning safe and relaxed
Furniture, boxes, transport routes
Costs, timing and special cases
Questions about the equipment and the job
Process of a furniture-lift deployment
First there is an on-site survey or a photo check to examine the balcony height, window access, distance to the façade and standing area. On moving day the furniture lift – usually on a trailer or lorry – is set up in front of the building, supported and placed against the window parapet or balcony; how long this takes depends on the height and space.
Our movers then place the furniture on the platform, secure it with straps and blankets and take it up or down. Once finished, the lift is dismantled again and we check together with you that no marks are left on the window frames and façade.
Costs of a furniture lift at a glance
What a furniture lift costs depends on the floor, length of the job, standing area and any necessary parking restriction zone. For that reason there is no serious flat rate without looking at the building.
With us the lift is part of the fixed price after a survey – including set-up, dismantling and staff. If something comes up on moving day that was not known beforehand, such as a second job location, we discuss it on site.
What does the moving service cost me?
In a nutshell: 1-room flats cost from €349, 2-room flats from €579, 3-room flats from €894 and 4-room flats from €1,289. For a house or villa you always receive an individual quote, tailored to your specific situation. For a long-distance move a price from €3.90 per kilometre applies. The best option is to get advice with no obligation during a free survey.
Price factors of a move at a glance
The price of your move depends above all on the volume of your household and the distance between the two homes – we calculate transparently from €3.90/km. The floor, whether there is a lift and any required parking restriction zone also affect the costs. Additional services such as furniture assembly or a shared load can change the price individually.
The services of our moving company
These services can be combined with a furniture lift job.
- Shared load – Low-cost transport through shared trips. Shared load
- Office move – Minimal downtime for your office move. Office move
- Furniture transport – Professional transport for your furnishings. Furniture transport
- Move with assembly – Your furniture is assembled expertly. Move with assembly
- Private move – We take care of your move to your new home. Private move
- House clearance – Fast and clean household clearance. House clearance
Operating from Berlin
We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and use the furniture lift for moves within the city and at the destination of moves to other places. You can find places with their own page in the Locations overview, and longer routes under long-distance moves.
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