Moving Checklist (PDF)

A move is best tackled with a countdown: start eight weeks ahead and you get everything done without night shifts or last-minute panic. This free checklist takes you from the notice letter to re-registering after moving in – ready to print and tick off.

What needs to be done when?

The checklist follows the countdown – these are the key milestones:

• 8 weeks before: give notice on the rental contract, set the moving date, organise a van and helpers, book time off if needed
• 4 weeks before: set up mail forwarding, switch or cancel electricity, internet, and other contracts, get boxes, apply for a no-parking zone
• 2 weeks before: pack room by room, measure furniture and doorways, register bulky waste pickup
• 1 week before: pack a first-night box (bedding, chargers, coffee maker), transport important documents separately
• Moving day: read and photograph meter readings, complete the handover protocol, hand over the keys
• Afterwards: re-register your address at the Bürgeramt (mandatory within two weeks), re-register your car, inform banks and insurers

Which pro tips save the most nerves?

• Pack boxes to a maximum of 20 kg – books in small boxes, pillows and bedding in large ones
• Colour code per room: one tape colour per room, on boxes and room doors – helpers never have to ask where things go
• Photograph cable connections (TV, router, hi-fi) before dismantling – reassembly takes minutes instead of hours

Drive yourself or have it driven?

A rental van is cheap for small moves – in return you steer an unfamiliarly large vehicle through narrow streets, load everything yourself, and return it refuelled in the evening. If you would rather skip that, book a van with driver from Maxmove at a fixed price and only take care of packing and unpacking.

Frequently asked questions

How many moving boxes do I need? As a rule of thumb, 15 to 20 boxes per room. If you own a lot of books, plan a few more – half-full boxes do no harm, overfilled ones tear.

When should I book the van? Three to four weeks ahead, earlier for month-ends and weekends – that is when vehicles and helpers are in highest demand.

What does a move cost? It depends on volume, distance, and how much you do yourself – from under 100 euros for the van to four-figure amounts for the full package. You will find concrete numbers in the article What does furniture transport cost?

Do I need a no-parking zone? Not necessarily – but on narrow streets without parking it saves long carrying distances. Apply two to three weeks ahead with your city; depending on the municipality and signage service, it usually costs between 50 and 150 euros.