The bigger the move, the greater the chaos. Blessed are those who have selected a suitable moving company. You should pay attention to these points.
Grandma’s old dresser, the big family sofa, stacks of books, plates, cups, souvenirs – when you move, large quantities often have to be transported from A to B. The more extensive the home furnishings, the more likely it is that a company will be commissioned with the move. The choice is great.
“You should try to fall back on regionally based companies,” advises Claudia Neumerkel from the consumer advice center in Saxony. If you want to move, you can look at your previous place of residence as well as your new place of residence. Ideally, friends, but perhaps also renters or landlords, could give a tip if they have already gained experience. Online reviews, on the other hand, are not always meaningful. “But if it’s a regional company that has a limited radius and is still evaluated frequently, then the impression given can be right,” says Neumerkel.
“Anyone who wants to move as cheaply as possible and does not want to obtain offers from several companies can also post their order on a relocation auction portal,” says Peter Lassek from the Hesse consumer advice center. However, the tender must describe all relevant details as precisely as possible. The movers tried to undercut each other.
“The advantage of this is that the offers are non-binding for the client,” says Lassek. He decides which offer he accepts – he can also reject all of them. However, it is not always clear whether the bidding companies are reputable. Daniel Waldschik from the Bundesverband Möbelspedition und Logistik (AMÖ) in Hattersheim recommends obtaining offers from at least three companies and comparing them in detail. It is up to you to decide which is the right company.
“A move is more than just packing and lugging boxes,” he emphasizes. The type and size of the vehicle also played a role, the packaging material and possible additional services as well as the question of how the company deals with possible damage. The range extends from partial services, such as pure transport, to full-service relocations, in which forwarders also take care of the complete packing, dismantling and assembly in addition to the transport. The better you are prepared and know what your needs are, “the lower the risk of unnecessary costs,” says Waldschik.
“A good moving company offers a non-binding inspection of the apartment and the removal goods,” says Alina Menold from the Lower Saxony consumer center. “Professionals come home, go through room by room and record everything,” says Neumerkel. The companies would also have to explain what they are liable for and what they are not.
Once the cost estimates are available, a comparison needs to be made: Fixed price or billed by the hour? “Both can have advantages,” explains Neumerkel. If the effort is less than planned in the end, billing by the hour can be cheaper than the fixed price. But if the move takes longer, it becomes more expensive. “However, additional costs of between 15 and 20 percent compared to the cost estimate are still acceptable and can generally be accepted,” says Lassek.
According to him, a fixed price usually makes more sense. The price then really applies to the entire agreed service. If the company miscalculates and has to do more than planned, it is at its expense. Conversely, the customer cannot demand any money back if the move goes faster than expected. “In the case of a fixed price, the scope of services should therefore be determined as precisely as possible beforehand and contractually stipulated in every detail,” advises the consumer advocate.
If you want to get an idea of ??how much money the move will probably cost, you can use calculators on the Internet, for example on the websites of companies or comparison portals. However, association representative Waldschick advises caution when making your own calculations: “We regularly experience that customers forget to indicate complete basement compartments or attics full of removal goods when talking to relocation consultants.” As a result, the costs increased due to the additional effort.
Finally, don’t forget liability issues. “Furniture forwarders are usually legally liable for damage they cause up to a maximum of 620 euros per cubic meter of cargo space,” says Menold. The sum can be increased in consultation with the company. “Only the current value of the damaged item is compensated,” adds Neumerkel. Damage that cannot be seen from the outside must be reported up to 14 days later.
“The person moving must report obvious damage to the removal company on the day of the move,” says Lassek. However, the freight forwarder must have informed about these rules at the latest when the goods are delivered, otherwise they cannot refer to the deadlines.
