ᐅ Long-Distance Domestic Move – How to Find a Moving Company?
Created on: 25 Jan 2022 10:42
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kati1337
Hello everyone!
So far, I have only moved within the nearby region using a company.
Now I have a move coming up this summer that’s about 600 km (370 miles) away.
What is the best way to search for a moving company? Should I look for one at the destination or at the original location?
How is it usually organized? Does the company load the truck the day before and then drive off early in the morning? Has anyone here done something like this before?
Our last move (40 km / 25 miles) already took almost an entire day (from about 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.). If I have to add another 550 km (340 miles) on top of that, will this become a multi-day operation?
When I first moved up here, I barely had any belongings (was a student) and organized the move myself with a van. But now we definitely need a truck, and none of us can drive one.
I’d appreciate your tips and experiences.
So far, I have only moved within the nearby region using a company.
Now I have a move coming up this summer that’s about 600 km (370 miles) away.
What is the best way to search for a moving company? Should I look for one at the destination or at the original location?
How is it usually organized? Does the company load the truck the day before and then drive off early in the morning? Has anyone here done something like this before?
Our last move (40 km / 25 miles) already took almost an entire day (from about 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.). If I have to add another 550 km (340 miles) on top of that, will this become a multi-day operation?
When I first moved up here, I barely had any belongings (was a student) and organized the move myself with a van. But now we definitely need a truck, and none of us can drive one.
I’d appreciate your tips and experiences.
Well, the difference is understandable.
The more expensive companies have actual employees who are insured in Germany and pay taxes. The others use a subcontractor who is registered somewhere in the EU and hires their workers from there.
It's the same in construction.
If you’re unlucky, the subcontractor might also be working through another subcontractor in the expensive company, which doesn’t necessarily mean lower quality, but it could have been cheaper. Neither option really says anything about skills or especially motivation.
That’s how an open labor market works.
You can view it positively or negatively, but that’s just the way it is.
The more expensive companies have actual employees who are insured in Germany and pay taxes. The others use a subcontractor who is registered somewhere in the EU and hires their workers from there.
It's the same in construction.
If you’re unlucky, the subcontractor might also be working through another subcontractor in the expensive company, which doesn’t necessarily mean lower quality, but it could have been cheaper. Neither option really says anything about skills or especially motivation.
That’s how an open labor market works.
You can view it positively or negatively, but that’s just the way it is.
bavariandream schrieb:
I looked through the emails and the invoice again (see screenshot). I removed the addresses and personal details, but the distance was almost exactly 880 km (550 miles) from East Frisia to Southern Bavaria, and the move took place last November.
The initial quote was just over 2,000 euros. Since we ended up having more stuff than originally stated/thought (you always tend to underestimate), they adjusted the quote upwards to 2,520 euros.
As mentioned, they came with three people and a 7.5-ton truck, which was just enough. We already had moving boxes; they brought blankets and protective foil. They were really quick and very friendly. No hidden extra costs appeared.
I can’t see why it should cost you twice as much. I also can’t imagine it being much cheaper to rent a truck and drive it yourself. Hi – I need to bring this up again: Do you remember roughly how many cubic meters you had estimated?
Following your tip, I used the same platform for comparisons. The same thing happened to us – apparently underestimated, had to be adjusted upwards.
What puzzles me a bit is that I had already entered over 60 m³ (about 2,120 ft³) on the platform. They then sent me an offer for a single 7.5-ton truck, so I asked if they were sure 60 m³ would fit into one 7.5-ton truck when everywhere you read that a 7.5-ton truck has roughly 30 m³ (1,060 ft³) of load volume.
Then they asked me to send photos, and after seeing the photos they said, “Oh, that’s more, it will be 1,500 euros more expensive.”
I could understand that if we had not already entered 60 m³ on the platform, which in my opinion is quite a lot and clearly NOT possible in a single 7.5-ton truck. So I find the statement “we need a second truck” a bit dubious. They should have been able to tell that from our stated volume, even without photos. I then asked over the phone how that came about, since the initial quote for 62 m³ was given at 3,500 euros, and what volume they now estimate after seeing the photos. There was a lot of evasiveness on the phone and “I have to ask my colleague, I’ll call you back,” but I never received a callback.
MaxiFrett schrieb:
Yes, that sounds more like the type who “discuss while moving.”
Watch out. Some of them are also the kind to just unload everything at the highway rest stop if in doubt. What surprises me is that they are rated exceptionally well, both on the platform and on Google. They have also been partnered there since 2015. I can’t imagine they would pull something like that. o.O
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Costruttrice12 Mar 2022 16:07The current fuel prices are certainly driving the cost even higher, which might be why the statement is somewhat vague or absent altogether…
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HubiTrubi4013 Mar 2022 17:52Hi, we are currently looking for a moving company. It’s not that easy. I contacted a local one that some acquaintances had used. They came to check everything and gave a fixed price offer. Our home is about 115 square meters (1,237 square feet) and we estimate around 100 boxes. The move is 30 kilometers (19 miles), and with packing materials plus furniture assembly and disassembly, they want nearly 3,000. To compare, I also requested quotes on a comparison platform and received offers for half the price. However, those were without an on-site visit, and one company seemed interesting and now wants photos. I’m curious to see how that goes. But I think I’ll go with the one I contacted first. It may be a bit more expensive, but I have a good impression of them.