How do I re-register my address after the move?

Re-registration must take place at the local residents' registration office within two weeks of moving in. As a first-time tenant you need your identity card and a landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) from your landlord. Many offices now offer online appointments, which considerably shortens waiting times and makes the moving process easier.

What does a move cost first-time tenants on average?

The costs depend heavily on the size of the flat and the distance. According to our price overview, a 1-room flat starts from €359 and two rooms from €615. We give you the fixed price after the survey – so that as a first-time tenant you can budget realistically for your moving costs .

Do I need insurance for my first flat?

Contents insurance is highly recommended for first-time tenants, as it covers burglary, water damage from pipes and fire; in addition there is personal liability insurance for damage to the rented flat. For the transport, the removal company is liable under the HGB at €620 per cubic metre of cargo space.

How do I plan moving day as a first-time tenant in the best way?

Plan moving day with enough buffer time and tell everyone involved the exact time in good time. A detailed schedule covering the handover of the old flat, transport and moving into the new flat helps avoid stress. Our private move team supports you with movers and the right equipment.

What should I check on the first evening in the flat?

Read and photograph the meter readings, match the fuses, press the test button on every smoke alarm , and briefly test the heating and water. Report defects to the landlord in writing. Bed, lights and fridge should be working – everything else can wait until the next day.

How do I find an affordable and reputable removal company?

When choosing, look for a survey before the quote, a written fixed price and genuine customer reviews. Every removal company is liable for transport damage under the HGB; ask whether additional insurance is available. A personal consultation clears up open questions beforehand and protects against hidden costs.

What is a part load and when is it worth it?

With a part load , your goods are transported in one vehicle together with those of other customers, which considerably reduces the costs. This option is ideal especially for first-time tenants with little furniture and flexible dates. That way you save real money on your move without having to do without professional support.

How exactly does the fixed price work at Beste Umzug Unternehmen?

After a consultation on 01625978461 we arrange a survey. You then receive a fixed-price quote based on the size of the flat, the floor and the distance, which applies as long as the scope of the move does not change. That way, as a first-time tenant , you can plan your budget with confidence.

What do I need to bear in mind at the flat handover?

At the flat handover you should inspect all rooms carefully together with the landlord and document existing defects in the handover report. Do not forget to record the meter readings for electricity, water and gas. A careful report protects you later from unjustified claims when you move out of the flat.

How can I save costs when moving as a first-time tenant?

Use flexible dates during the week, pack boxes yourself and use a part load for smaller moves. Doing without unnecessary additional services can also reduce moving costs . Our team is happy to advise you on which savings options suit your individual first move best.

How far in advance should I book my move?

Ideally, book your moving date four to six weeks in advance to get the date you want. For long-distance moves , even earlier planning is advisable because of the longer journey times. Short-notice bookings are possible but often considerably limit the choice of dates.

THE FIRST EVENING

The First 24 Hours in Your New Flat: Technology House Rules, Neighbours

Q: What should I organise first as a first-time tenant?

As a first-time tenant you should set a moving date early and hire a removal company at a fixed price . Re-registering your address, ordering an internet provider and clarifying the deposit with the landlord are also important. If you deal with these points in good time, you avoid stress shortly before moving in and start relaxed in your new flat.

Meter readings, smoke alarms, heating and house rules: what first-time tenants should check on their first day in the new flat.

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FIRST DAY, FIRST CHECK

First day at home

Arriving: the technical check for your first flat

Go through it calmly

Unsere Firma The first 24 hours in your new flat: meters, fuses, smoke alarms, heating, house rules and neighbours.

Once the van is empty, the real moving in begins for first-time tenants. At Beste Umzug Unternehmen we make sure the big things are done by the first evening: the furniture is in place, bed and wardrobe are assembled and the boxes are in the right rooms. That leaves time for the technical check of the flat. You can find all the services for your private move under Private move.

We give you the price for transport and assembly after the survey as a fixed price. Your goods are covered by liability under the HGB, and additional insurance is available on request. That way, on the first evening you only need to deal with the meters, lights and water – not with heavy furniture in the stairwell.

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

50,-DISCOUNT

ASSEMBLY ON REQUEST

PERSONAL ADVICE

Your first evening in your own bed instead of among boxes

Assembly on moving day, fixed price after a survey

Call us on 01625978461 and arrange a survey. You will then receive a fixed-price quote for the transport and, on request, the assembly of your bed and wardrobe. Whether a small student move or your first shared flat with a partner – the essentials are in place by the first evening.

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

HOMELY FROM DAY ONE

What is in place by the evening

Furniture assembled, boxes in the room

On the first evening in the new flat, nobody wants to be hauling wardrobes around any more. That is why we carry boxes straight into the labelled room and, on request, reassemble your bed and wardrobe right away. We give you the price after the survey as a fixed price; your goods are covered by liability under the HGB. We are based in Berlin, Stromstraße 21 – more on destinations outside Berlin in the locations overview.

Assembly service

Bed, wardrobe and shelves are in place on the first evening. Screws and fittings were labelled during dismantling – with our furniture assembly.

Unloading room by room

Every box ends up in the room written on it. That way you can find bedding, towels and cooking utensils straight away on the first evening – with our packing service.

Fridge

After transport, the fridge should stand for a while before it runs again – the manufacturer's instructions are what count. We put it straight into its place during furniture transport.

House clearance

Old furniture that has no place in the new flat is disposed of properly through our house clearance service, rather than being stacked in the cellar.

CHECK ON THE FIRST DAY

Six checks in the new flat

Go through these points on your first day in the new flat. Together they take barely an hour and prevent small defects from turning into disputes or expensive repairs later on.

Meter readings

Read and photograph the electricity, gas, water and heating meters. You need the electricity meter reading to register with your new electricity supplier.

Fuse box

Where is it, and which fuse belongs to which room? Label any missing fields on the first evening while there is still light.

Smoke alarms

Mandatory in all federal states. In Berlin they belong in all living rooms except kitchens and in the hallways leading to them – press the test button on every device.

Heating and water

Turn the radiators on briefly, test the taps and the shower drain, and look under the sink for drips. Report defects to the landlord immediately.

House rules and rubbish

Read the house rules: when is cleaning done, where are the rubbish and recycling bins? In Berlin quiet hours apply from 10 pm to 6 am (§ 3 LImSchG Bln).

Neighbours

A quick hello in the stairwell pays off when a parcel ends up next door, the laundry room is shared or you lock yourself out one day.

SMALL MOVE, SMALL TOUR

Part load for your first flat

Share costs, take your time

A part load is worthwhile if your belongings fit into a small part of the cargo space. Your goods travel with other jobs and the delivery comes within a time window. Take bedding, charging cables, tools and documents with you yourself – then your first night in the new flat is covered even without the rest.

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

FIRST FLAT SERIES

The
first 24 hours at home

Technology, house rules, neighbours

This part of our series for first-time tenants is about the first hours after the move: meter readings, fuse box, smoke alarms, heating and water – and about living together in the building, with house rules, waste separation and quiet hours. You can read more ideas for getting started in the article The first day in your new home. For moves over longer distances, there are our long-distance moves.

Meters and fuse box

Photograph the electricity, gas and water meter readings with the date, and match the fuses to the rooms. This way the start after any private move, senior move or student move goes smoothly, without later arguments about consumption and billing.

Smoke alarms and water

Smoke alarms are mandatory in all federal states; press the test button. Check radiators, taps and drains. After packing service, furniture transport or small transport, it is also worth taking a look at floors and door frames.

House rules and neighbours

The house rules cover stairwell cleaning, rubbish and quiet times; in Berlin quiet hours apply at night from 10 pm to 6 am. If you still want to drill in the evening after a part load or a furniture taxi, it is better to postpone it until the next day.

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

MoabitBased at Stromstraße 21

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Two movers in dungarees carry moving boxes through a bright flat

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about moving into your first flat and your first day there

Answers on organisation, re-registration, costs, insurance, the technical check and the flat handover when moving into your first home.

As a first-time tenant you should set a moving date early and hire a removal company at a fixed price. Re-registering your address, ordering an internet provider and clarifying the deposit with the landlord are also important. If you deal with these points in good time, you avoid stress shortly before moving in and start relaxed in your new flat.

Checklist for your first day in the new flat

On moving-in day, first note the meter readings for electricity, gas and water and photograph the meters with the date. Check the condition of the flat together with the landlord and record any defects in the handover report. Then find the fuse box and press the test button on every smoke alarm – in Berlin they must be fitted in all living rooms except kitchens and in the hallways leading to them.

Turn the radiators and taps on briefly and look under the sink. Report anything that does not work to the landlord immediately in writing. An internet connection should already have been ordered before moving in, as a technician's appointment can take time.

What gets set up first on the first evening

On the first evening, what matters is whatever keeps everyday life going: the bed, lights in the bathroom and kitchen, a running fridge and somewhere for clothes. Everything else – shelves, pictures, decorations – can wait until the boxes are unpacked. On request, our moving service reassembles your bed and wardrobe straight away.

Do not drill late in the evening: the house rules set quiet times, and in Berlin noise that disturbs the night's rest is prohibited from 10 pm to 6 am. A quick hello to the neighbours makes the start in the building easier.

Prices for transport and assembly

1 room	from €359
2 rooms	from €615
3 rooms	from €894
4 rooms	from €1,299
House/villa	individual quote
Long-distance move per km	from €4.10

For a binding quote, it is best to arrange a free survey.

Volume, distance, floor: how the price is made up

The volume of your furniture and boxes is the basis of every calculation, supplemented by the distance, which is included in the bill at €4.10/km. Whether there is a lift or several floors have to be climbed also influences the price. If you want furniture assembly or a part load, simply book these extras as well.

Help for a relaxed first evening

Choose whatever takes the most work off your hands on moving-in day.

Company relocation – tailor-made solutions for offices and businesses.
Furniture transport – careful transport at a fair price.
House clearance – flats, cellars and lofts cleared.
Move with assembly – a comfort package with a complete assembly service.
Part load – the inexpensive option for smaller moves.
Private move – from the first box to the last lamp.

First flat further away: planning your arrival

If your first flat is in another city, you often only arrive in the evening – which makes assembling the bed all the more important. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide; more under Long-distance moves, destinations in the locations overview.

Guides & Tips

Beste Umzug Redaktion

September 25, 2026

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