Everyone knows the feeling. The new apartment has been rented, the notice of termination of the old lease has been submitted. The joy at the new place is great. But then suddenly there are two huge moving boxes in the living room and the anxious thought arises: “How am I supposed to manage all this?” Don’t panic! The following 11 tips provide clarity and make every move easier.
Table of Contents
- Give proper notice to your apartment
- Save on moving costs – move yourself or ask friends?
- A moving company saves stress
- Set a date for the move
- Clear out the old apartment and apply for bulky waste
- Apartment handover protocol for both apartments
- Terminate contracts and address notifications
- Organize moving transport and helpers
- Submit a forwarding request to the post office
- Packing moving boxes and renovating the old apartment
- Read the meters and hand over the keys
Give proper notice to your apartment
If you want to move, it is important to terminate the lease for your old apartment in a legally correct way. To do this, you must comply with the notice period in your lease. The notice period is usually three months before the desired date of moving. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you comply with the notice period and terminate the lease on time.
Save on moving costs – move yourself or ask friends?
To save money when moving, you can do all the modalities yourself or ask friends to help. If you move without help, you save the cost of a moving company. Asking friends to help not only saves the cost of a moving company, but also saves stress and effort. However, this approach should be well thought out, because a move can be associated with some difficulties and you quickly reach its limits.
A moving company saves stress
Moving on your own is not for everyone. In this case, a moving company can be a real blessing. A company saves time and a lot of stress. When choosing one, you should inform yourself carefully and compare different providers with each other.
If you do not want to hire a moving company, you can also ask friends or family to help with the transport. In this case, you should make sure that enough helpers are available so that everything runs smoothly. Again, the better the organization, the more relaxed the move itself will be. The decision for or against a moving company should be made as early as possible to have enough time to organize everything else.
Set a date for the move
If you decide to move, you should set the date as early as possible. This will give you enough time to complete all the necessary formalities and prepare for the move. At the same time, one avoids moving at the last minute, which often leads to considerable stress. Once you have set the moving date, you can apply for leave from your employer, as well as organize a moving company and helpers. The date forms the cornerstone for all important appointments.
Clear out the old apartment and apply for bulky waste
With the decluttering of the old apartment, you should not wait until the move. The more stuff you take with you to your new home, the more you have to unpack and put away – and that’s usually twice as exhausting as the packing itself. It’s better to get rid of ballast and take only what you really need and love with you into your new home. Old furniture, clothes, books and other items can either be given away or sold. And the rest can be easily disposed of in the bulky waste.
Apartment handover protocol for both apartments
An apartment handover protocol is an important document that can help avoid legal disputes when moving. Before leaving the apartment, one should carefully record all defects and damages to the apartment. In this way, you can avoid that the landlord makes unjustified claims afterwards. You should also make a protocol for the new apartment in order not to be liable for damages of previous tenants.
Terminate contracts and address notifications
Now it is time to cancel the contracts for electricity, gas, water, internet and telephone and to inform all providers of your new address. Here you should also think about sports clubs and the schools and kindergartens of your children. It is also necessary to inform insurance companies about the change of address.
Organize moving transport and helpers
When planning a move, it is important to take care of the transportation and the necessary helpers in advance. After all, the more organized you are, the less stressful the move itself will be.
Of course, if a car is available, you can use it to transport your furniture and other items. However, this is often not the best solution, especially if you have a lot to transport. In this case, it is better to hire a moving company or a shipping company. Not only can they help transport everything safely and without damage, but they can also take care of packing and unpacking the furniture. A moving company will also help with the preparation and give important tips.
Submit a forwarding request to the post office
A forwarding order is a service of the Deutsche Post, with which you can have your mail sent to another place. This saves you a trip to the post office and you also don’t have to worry about the mail arriving on time.
Packing moving boxes and renovating the old apartment
Now it is time to pack the moving boxes. It is important to make sure that you close everything tightly so that nothing gets lost or damaged. Having a checklist and labeling your boxes will make the process easier, as well as unpacking after the move. As soon as all the boxes are packed and the new apartment is ready to move into, empty the old apartment and carry out any necessary renovation work.
Read the meters and hand over the keys
On the day of the move, you should read your meter readings and keep them safe. Once the apartment has been vacated, you hand over your keys to your landlord and start your new phase of life.