How are my valuables protected during the move?

For belongings we are liable under the German Commercial Code (HGB), by law up to €620 per cubic metre (§ 451e HGB). For money, jewellery, gemstones, precious metals, securities and certificates, liability is generally excluded under § 451d HGB – you take these things with you yourself. For art and antiques there is additional insurance .

Which documents should I never entrust to the removal company?

You should always carry your ID card, passport, cash, bank cards, jewellery, will and other certificates on you – also because under § 451d HGB the removal firm is generally not liable for them. For other important documents we recommend a clearly marked box that you take in your own car.

How do I pack jewellery safely for the move?

Jewellery should be wrapped individually in soft cloths or special jewellery rolls to avoid tangling and scratches. Also use small padded cases. For a private move we also recommend transporting particularly valuable pieces personally rather than in the removal van.

Can I have electronic devices transported in their original boxes?

Yes, original packaging offers optimal protection, as it is tailored exactly to the dimensions and padding of the devices. If it is no longer available, we use shockproof special boxes with enough padding material to get your electronics safely to their destination.

What happens if a valuable item is damaged during the move?

For damage to belongings we are liable under the German Commercial Code (HGB) (up to €620 per m³), and with additional insurance according to its terms. Report visible damage no later than the day after delivery and hidden damage within 14 days (§ 451f HGB). Your photos and inventory list from before the move make clarification easier.

How does the fixed price work for sensitive moves with valuables?

The fixed price after a survey includes the agreed services, such as special packing for pictures or glass. Additional insurance for valuable items is listed as a separate item in the quote on request. Call us on 01625978461 to arrange a survey.

Can I send valuables with a part load?

Furniture and boxes can travel as a part load ; they are marked and loaded separately from other consignments. But here too, jewellery, cash, certificates and other valuables belong in your own luggage. Please tell us about special items beforehand.

How do I prepare works of art or antiques for the transport?

Works of art and antiques need their own packing, tailored to shape and material. Photograph their condition beforehand and ask us about additional insurance, because statutory liability is calculated by cubic metres. Very valuable art belongs with a specialist fine-art shipper.

How do I protect valuables on a long-distance move?

Especially on a long-distance move , where your belongings are on the road for longer, valuables and documents should travel with you. We secure furniture and boxes in the lorry against slipping; for valuable items there is additional insurance.

How do I mark boxes with valuable contents correctly?

Mark boxes with sensitive or valuable contents discreetly but clearly for our team – for example with a coloured sticker instead of an obvious label such as 'valuables'. This avoids unwanted attention while still ensuring careful handling.

Where do you offer your moves?

We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and carry out moves within the city, nationwide and abroad. Destinations with their own page can be found under locations . Call us on 01625978461 to arrange packing and the date.

CARRY WHAT MATTERS YOURSELF

Protecting valuables & documents

Q: How do I protect my most important documents during the move?

Transport important documents personally in a waterproof folder and not with the general belongings. Also scan relevant papers as a backup. Keep your tenancy agreement and landlord confirmation to hand for registering your new address; if you have questions about packing, we will advise you during the survey.

Which valuables and documents you should take with you yourself when moving – and how to pack the rest safely.

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JEWELLERY, FILES, HEIRLOOMS

Protecting valuables

Valuables and documents: what belongs in your own bag

Moving safely

Unsere Firma ID cards, contracts, jewellery and cash are best kept with you – not in a moving box.

With every move there are items that cannot easily be replaced: jewellery, important documents, heirlooms or hard drives with photos. Important to know: under § 451d HGB, a removal company is generally not liable for precious metals, jewels, gemstones, money, stamps, coins, securities and certificates. It is therefore best to take these things with you yourself; everything else we pack padded and labelled.

For particularly sensitive items we recommend a separate bag or box that stays with you all day. As part of our private move service it is also worth creating an inventory list with photos of the valuable items before the move. It helps with unpacking and serves as evidence in case something is damaged after all. Also ask your home contents insurer how it covers you during the move.

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FIXED PRICE AFTER A SURVEY

PERSONAL ADVICE

Planning your move – valuables included

Clearly calculated, liability under the HGB

After the survey we give you a fixed price for your move; packing for delicate items and additional insurance are listed separately in the quote on request. Call us on 01625978461. Whether local or as a long-distance move – we agree beforehand what you will take with you yourself.

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

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DISCREET AND CAREFUL

What you can rely on with delicate belongings

Padded, labelled, agreed

When protecting your valuables we rely on clear arrangements: what you carry yourself, what we pack and what needs additional insurance, we clarify before moving day. For damage to the rest of your belongings we are liable under the German Commercial Code (HGB) (§ 451e: €620 per m³). Boxes with sensitive documents such as contracts or certificates stay sealed and are not opened. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and travel nationwide; destinations with their own page can be found under locations.

Padded packing

Pictures, glass and electronics get blankets, bubble wrap and edge protectors. With a packing service everything is packed before the lorry arrives.

Sealed boxes

You pack files and private papers yourself and tape the boxes shut. We transport them closed – labelled neutrally rather than with the word valuables.

Art and heirlooms

Paintings, antiques and heirlooms need their own packing and often additional insurance, because statutory liability is calculated by cubic metres.

Agreeing beforehand

During the survey you show us special items. That way we plan packing and space in the lorry – and you know what belongs in your own bag.

WHAT GOES WHERE

Six rules for valuables

Valuable items such as jewellery, art or collector's pieces need a plan of their own when moving. These rules help you decide what to transport yourself and what can travel safely packed with the rest of your belongings.

Carry it yourself

ID cards, cash, jewellery, bank cards and certificates belong in your bag. Under the HGB, the removal firm is generally not liable for these things during the move.

Bundle documents

Contracts, certificates, insurance policies and tax papers go into a waterproof folder or document box.

Back up digitally

Scan important papers beforehand and store them encrypted. If a folder goes missing, you at least have copies – including for registering your new address.

Label neutrally

A coloured dot instead of “jewellery” on the box: that way you and the team recognise the box, but strangers in the stairwell do not recognise its contents.

Photos beforehand

Photograph valuable items before packing them. This helps with unpacking and as evidence in case damage occurs after all.

Check insurance

Statutory liability is €620 per cubic metre. For art and antiques additional insurance is worthwhile, and your home contents insurance can also help.

SMALL LOADS

Part load – with clear separation

Shared cargo space, your own boxes

A part load saves costs because empty runs are avoided: furniture and boxes travel along, marked, on a route that is planned anyway. Well suited to small households over long distances – you take valuables, cash and ID with you yourself, so that they never leave your hands.

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WELL PREPARED

Clarify
before moving day

List, insurance, packing

Protecting valuables starts long before moving day. Make a list of the valuable items with photos, check how your home contents insurance covers you during the move and decide whether additional insurance is needed for art or antiques. Label boxes with sensitive contents neutrally. Which documents you carry yourself and which can travel well packed with your belongings, we clarify during the survey. Photos also help later – more in the article Documenting your move with photos.

Planning with a list

A list of valuables with photos belongs to every private move – for a senior move with many heirlooms just as for a student move with a laptop, certificates and ID.

Packing and carrying

With a packing service for glass and pictures, careful furniture transport for antiques and a separate small transport for single items, delicate things stay intact.

Files in businesses

With an office move, company move or public authority move, files travel in sealed, numbered boxes; single items go as a part load or by furniture taxi.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions on valuables and documents when moving

Answers on liability, packing and insurance.

Transport important documents personally in a waterproof folder and not with the general belongings. Also scan relevant papers as a backup. Keep your tenancy agreement and landlord confirmation to hand for registering your new address; if you have questions about packing, we will advise you during the survey.

Packing documents safely: how to do it right

Important documents such as birth certificates, contracts or insurance papers should never lie loose in moving boxes. Use waterproof folders or document boxes that protect against moisture and creasing. It is best to transport ID cards, passports and certificates personally in your own car or in a bag that stays with you all moving day – under § 451d HGB the removal firm is generally not liable for certificates and securities anyway.

For extra security, scan important documents in advance and store them encrypted. That way you have copies in an emergency, even if a folder cannot be found for a while. Keep your tenancy agreement and landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) to hand: you need them at the registration office (Bürgeramt) within two weeks.

Protecting jewellery, electronics and art

Valuables such as jewellery and watches belong in a padded case in your hand luggage. Electronics travel best in their original packaging or in shockproof boxes with plenty of padding; pack cables and accessories alongside with labels. Take hard drives with photos and data with you yourself and make a backup beforehand.

Works of art and antiques need their own packing, tailored to shape and material. Photograph their condition before the transport; this makes clarification easier in the event of damage. Because statutory liability is calculated by cubic metres (§ 451e HGB: €620 per m³), additional insurance is worthwhile for valuable items.

Starting prices for your move

1-room move: from €339 – quick and straightforward
2-room move: from €605 – including basic equipment
3-room move: from €884 – suitable for families
4-room move: from €1,329 – for large households
House/villa: individual quote after an on-site appointment
Long-distance move: from €3.80/km, transparent per-kilometre prices

Arrange your free survey now.

What makes a move with delicate goods more expensive

The final price is made up of volume, distance (from €3.80/km), floor, lift and any required no-parking zone; special packing for art is added. Furniture assembly or a part load are also available.

Services around moving safely

These building blocks can be combined with protecting your valuables.

Part load: Send small amounts along, marked. Part load
Furniture transport: Antiques and heirlooms individually. Furniture transport
Private move: The whole household, packed with padding. Private move
Company move: Files in sealed boxes. Company move
House clearance: Sort out beforehand, take less with you. House clearance
Move with assembly: Dismantling and reassembling display cabinets and wardrobes. Move with assembly

Valuables over long distances

When moving to another city, your valuables are often on the road for a day or longer – one more reason to transport them yourself. We are based in Berlin; destinations with their own page can be found in the locations overview, and for longer distances see our long-distance moves.

Packing & Packaging

Beste Umzug Redaktion

August 30, 2026

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