Are you planning a relocation and considering hiring a professional moving company to move your furniture and inventory to your new home? Then you should consider the costs you will incur in advance. Here you will find all the information you need about moving costs and how you can reduce them.
Table of contents
What factors influence the cost of a moving company?
Dhe cost of a professionally carried out move varies. The price depends on several factors, in particular the distance between the old and new house and the amount of furniture and moving boxes.
The scope of the relocation
The quantity of your furniture and items has a significant impact on the cost of the moving company. The more items that need to be transported, the more employees and correspondingly more moving vans are required to ensure that the relocation can take place within the planned time frame. The larger the quantity, the higher the costs.
Distance between the locations
The time during which the employees of the moving company relocation your furniture from your old home to your new home is considered working time. As the client, you pay for this transportation, i.e. the employees and also the fuel costs of the vehicle. The further apart the two locations are, the higher these costs will be.
Special features of the transported goods
Does your inventory include special items such as expensive musical instruments, works of art, antiques, very fragile or very heavy objects? Then they probably require special protection, careful handling or a furniture lift. Such special features can have an impact on the price, as they require more effort to handle.
Accessibility of the location
As a rule, stairwells and entrances are not designed to easily accommodate larger furniture. The narrower, more winding and longer the path through the stairwell and doors, the longer it may take to get your furniture into your new home. In a house with an elevator, for example, this is quicker, but in very narrow stairwells a furniture lift may be necessary, which costs around CHF 250 per day.
Additional services
In addition to the pure transportation of furniture and inventory, many removal companies offer additional services that you can take advantage of. This takes work off your hands and makes the relocation easier, but comes with additional costs. Additional services include a cleaning service for the old apartment, packing of inventory in boxes and the disassembly and assembly of furniture.
Time of year and order situation
There are times when more people move than at other times. Weekends, public holidays and the summer months are particularly popular moving periods. Prices for a moving company can therefore be significantly higher here than on weekdays or in the winter months. This is not least due to increased demand and limited capacities.
Experience of the moving company
Last but not least, the experience and reputation of a company is always a factor that affects the price. An experienced and popular moving company can charge higher prices than a young company that has not yet completed many removals. The higher demand for reputable companies drives up the price.
What does a moving company usually cost?
How much does it cost to move a 1 to 1½-room apartment?
For a small move of a one-room apartment, the time required is around three hours. We provide a truck with a volume of 20 cubic meters and two moving men. The costs are around CHF 540.
How much does it cost to move a 2 to 2½-room apartment?
Slightly larger apartments with two to two and a half rooms are also moved by two employees. This takes around four to five hours, using a truck with a capacity of 25 cubic meters. The costs are between CHF 720 and CHF 900.
How much does it cost to move a 3- to 3½-room apartment?
Medium-sized apartments with three or three and a half rooms usually also require a 25 cubic meter truck – provided there are no bulky items such as pianos or similar. Three moving men can complete the relocation in five to nine hours. The costs for this are between CHF 1,100 and CHF 1,980.
How much does it cost to move a 4- to 4½-room apartment?
Our employees can also handle larger moves from four to four-and-a-half room apartments in one day. You can expect four moving men to work for six to nine hours. The truck is 50 cubic meters in size and the cost is between CHF 1,800 and CHF 2,700, depending on the amount of furniture and the distance to the destination.
How much does it cost to move a large apartment with 5 or more rooms?
Large apartments with five or more rooms can also be moved within one day. We recommend at least five moving men and a truck with a volume of 50 to 75 cubic meters. In this way, we can usually complete the relocation in seven to eleven hours. The costs here are CHF 2,450 to CHF 4,730.
What does a relocation with heavy transport cost?
Do you need to transport a piano or heavy, bulky items? Then you can expect higher costs for your relocation. Depending on how the heavy transport turns out, you will have to pay between CHF 250 and CHF 1,400. If a furniture lift is required, this will cost CHF 250 per day.
What does a removal with cleaning cost?
On request, we can take care of the final cleaning of your old apartment. We charge a flat rate for this service, depending on the size of the apartment, including an acceptance guarantee. The prices are staggered and start at CHF 590 for a one-room apartment. For a six to six-and-a-half room apartment, they range from CHF 1,490 to CHF 1,790.
DIY move or moving company? The costs in comparison
Young people in particular often decide against hiring a moving company and prefer to take the entire move into their own hands. But is this really cheaper? We present important cost items for a DIY move and compare them with a full-service move with professionals.
Van rental and fuel costs
The cost of a moving van depends heavily on the space required. The amount of furniture and boxes to be transported determines the size of the vehicle. The costs are between CHF 70 and CHF 250 per rental day. There are often discounts for weekend bookings or whole weeks. Please also bear in mind the necessary fuel costs. You usually have to return a rental car with a full tank of gas. Depending on the distance to your destination, you may also have to fill up the car more than once. The fuel costs depend on the consumption of the car and the route.
Find helpers
Relatives or friends often volunteer to help with a relocation without payment. In this case, you only need to include drinks and dinner as a thank you. Of course, you should also return the favor and help with their next move.
Load securing or insurance by the moving company? One point that can cause additional costs with a bit of bad luck is a lack of load securing. It is important to load the van evenly and to secure furniture and inventory well so that nothing slips and is damaged.
Material: Moving boxes, adhesive tape and co.
Don’t forget that in addition to a van and helping hands, you will also need materials to pack your belongings safely. These include moving boxes, adhesive tape, filling material, blankets and tension belts and possibly special boxes for glasses or clothes. Sometimes relatives or friends still have moving boxes in the cellar that they no longer need. Old newspaper can be used as filling material. In most cases, however, it is not possible to find enough material, so you will also incur costs for this point. Expect to pay five francs per moving box. You can often borrow boxes and other materials from removal companies at no extra cost.
Tips for reducing moving costs
Even if you decide to use a moving company, there are ways to reduce costs. We have put together the best tips and tricks below to help you keep your moving costs down.
Declutter
The less furniture and inventory you have, the cheaper your relocation will be. A move is also the best opportunity to sort out and get rid of old things. So clear out and decide which things you still need and which you don’t. Some things may have to be disposed of for good, others you can sell. You might even recoup your moving costs here!
Pack and unpack yourself
You do not have to use all the services of the moving company. For example, you can pack your moving boxes yourself and dismantle your furniture yourself and reassemble it in your new home. Of course, you can also get help from friends and family in exchange for food and drink.
Be flexible with the moving date
As mentioned above, there are periods when removals are more expensive. The more flexible you are with the date, the cheaper the relocation can be accordingly. If you decide on a weekday, you may save several hundred francs.
Negotiate with the moving company
It can be worth entering into negotiations. Get quotes from several companies, compare them and then approach your preferred company. Let the company know what costs you have calculated and ask them in a friendly manner if there is anything you can do about the price. It is not uncommon for companies to respond to your wishes and for you to find a compromise together.
Keep an eye on hidden costs
Look out for hidden costs in the moving company’s quote. It may contain items that you can do without and thus reduce the overall costs. It can therefore be worthwhile taking a close look and removing unnecessary costs. These may include
Calculating moving costs: how to proceed
Before you hire a moving company, it is best to obtain various quotes. You will need to know the size of your current home and the amount of furniture and moving boxes. In addition, the distance to your new home and your preferred date are important for the quotation. Use all the quotes you have received and compare which one suits you best. Think carefully about which services you need and which you don’t. The following sample calculation for a three-room apartment will give you an idea of the items you can expect to pay:
| Position | Price in CHF |
|---|---|
| Moving guide price for 3½ rooms | CHF 1’980 |
| Cleaning with acceptance guarantee | CHF 1’190 |
| Heavy transport 1 piano | CHF 250 |
| Furniture lift for one day | CHF 250 |
| Total | CHF 3’670* |
*This is an example, not a fixed offer.
How to find a reputable moving company
Finding a suitable moving company is not easy. It is not only important that they offer the required services and that the price matches your expectations, but also that they are a reputable moving company. It is best to obtain several quotes and compare them. A reputable company should meet the following criteria:
After a thorough check and comparison, choose the moving company that is reputable and meets your requirements. If in doubt, seek a personal meeting to find out whether you can rely on the company.