Moving on a budget: 10 ways to save
10 ways to save
Where the real money is in a move
Ten levers at a glance
An affordable move comes down mainly to three factors: how many cubic metres have to go on the van, how long the team carries and on which day the move takes place. Anyone who sorts things out beforehand, packs boxes themselves and chooses a weekday reduces exactly these three factors. With a private move within the city, the carrying distance often makes the difference: if the van stands at the door instead of 50 metres further on, everyone involved saves time.
With a long-distance move, the route also counts; small quantities can travel as a shared load. Many people only pull the last lever the following year: under § 35a EStG, 20% of the labour costs of a private move reduce your income tax, up to €4,000 a year. Exactly how this works is explained under Claiming moving costs against tax. You can get a quote on 01625978461.
Request a fixed price after a survey
Free and without obligation – with your savings levers factored in
When you enquire, tell us what you will do yourself: packing boxes, dismantling furniture, getting rid of bulky waste beforehand. After the survey we give you a fixed price that takes this own contribution into account. Enquiries by phone on 01625978461 or via the contact form.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
Levers 1 to 4: before moving day
What is in your own hands
The first four savings levers cost only time, not money. They reduce the volume and the hours that decide whether a move is affordable or expensive. We are based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and calculate a fixed price after a survey – the less we have to carry, dismantle and pack, the lower it is. For your household goods we are liable under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre; for very valuable items, additional insurance is worthwhile.
1. A date during the week
2. Declutter thoroughly
3. Pack boxes yourself
4. Used boxes
Levers 5 to 10: planning, transport, tax
The remaining six levers concern the quote, access, type of transport and tax. Some save money straight away, one only with your next tax return. Together they decide more about the price than a few euros' difference in the hourly rate.
5. State the volume honestly
6. Parking zone in good time
7. Shared load for few belongings
8. Dismantle furniture yourself
9. Compare quotes
10. Do not forget tax
Savings lever: shared load
With a shared load, your goods travel on a lorry that is going in the same direction anyway. You pay for your share of the loading space instead of a trip of your own; in return you get a time window instead of a fixed date. The more flexible you are about the delivery day, the more likely your goods are to fit into a trip already planned.
Saving
without cutting the wrong corners
Whether it is a private move within Berlin or a long-distance move to another city: the price is made up of volume, carrying distances, floor and lift, route and additional services. One of the ten levers applies to each of these points. But it is better to save on volume and date than on securing furniture or on helpers – a damaged wardrobe costs more than an hour of working time.
Before: volume and date
On moving day: short paths
Afterwards: tax and receipts
Questions about moving on a budget
The ten savings levers at a glance
The most important savings lever is volume: what does not come along does not have to be carried, loaded and reassembled by anyone. Next comes the date – during the week and away from the end of the month, demand is lower – and your own contribution to packing. Anyone who fills boxes themselves and dismantles shelves beforehand only books the work they really cannot manage themselves, for example in a private move with heavy wardrobes.
Further levers are a parking restriction zone directly at the door, a shared load if you have few belongings, and comparing fixed-price quotes with the same scope of services. The tenth lever works afterwards: 20% of the labour costs of a private move can be deducted from income tax.
Avoiding hidden cost traps when moving
Costs usually rise because of items missing from the quote: a parking restriction zone that nobody applied for, a surcharge for floors without a lift, the disposal of bulky waste or a cellar that was not shown during the survey. Have these points listed separately in the fixed-price quote and ask whether boxes and padding material are included.
A second trap is insurance cover: by law, a moving company is liable under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre of loading space. For antiques, art or expensive electronics this may not be enough; additional insurance then makes sense. Report visible damage no later than the day after delivery, hidden damage within 14 days (§ 451f HGB).
Cost overview of the moving service
| Type of move | Price from |
|---|---|
| 1-room flat | €344 |
| 2-room flat | €589 |
| 3-room flat | €905 |
| 4-room flat | €1,329 |
| House/villa | on request |
| Long-distance move (per km) | €4.10 |
We are happy to clarify details during a free survey.
These factors determine the moving costs
- Moving volume
- Distance (from €4.10/km)
- Floor without a lift
- Required parking restriction zone
We charge separately for furniture assembly and a shared load.
These are the services we offer
The services we offer
You can add these services individually – or do them yourself and save.
- House clearance (house clearance) – professional clearing
- Shared load (shared load) – flexible and affordable
- Office move (office move) – for companies of any size
- Furniture transport (furniture transport) – safely packed and transported
- Private move (private move) – personal and individual
- Move with assembly (move with assembly) – dismantling and reassembly of your furniture
Moves from Berlin
We are based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and handle moves within Berlin and from Berlin to other cities. Destinations with their own pages can be found in the locations overview, routes from Berlin under long-distance moves. There too: less volume and a flexible date lower the price the most.
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