Moving from Zurich to Geneva

Moving doesn’t have to break the bank (or your sanity). Here are some tips to help you save money and keep stress levels down:

• Declutter Before You Pack: The less you move, the less you pay. Take time to sort your belongings and sell, donate, or recycle anything you don’t need anymore. Geneva apartments can be cozy, so it makes sense to purge extraneous stuff now. By reducing volume, you could potentially move down to a smaller truck or fewer hours. Plus, starting life in Geneva with a lighter load feels great.

• Get Multiple Quotes and Plan Ahead: Prices can vary, so shopping around is key. Invite 2-3 moving companies for a survey or do virtual walk-throughs so they can give an accurate quote. Booking early (several weeks in advance) can often net you better rates than last-minute bookings. If you have flexibility, ask if the mover offers any discount for moving on a certain date or combining loads (some might give a better price if they can combine your move with another going in the same direction). Websites like MOVU (a comparison platform) allow you to receive five quotes at once, which can save you a lot of time.

• Choose Off-Peak Timing: Timing your move can save money. Avoid end-of-month and weekends when demand (and prices) are highest. If you can move mid-month or on a Tuesday/Wednesday, you might score lower rates or more willing movers. Also avoid official holidays. As noted, many Swiss leases end on the 31st, so the 30th/31st and first few days of a month are crunch time – mid-month moves could see crews that are more flexible on price.

• DIY Packing (at Least Partially): Packing services are convenient but come at a premium. Pack what you can by yourself: start early, one room at a time. Get free boxes – you can often collect used boxes from supermarket customer service or buy inexpensive used boxes online. Some movers lend out reusable boxes too. Use your suitcases, laundry baskets, and bags for transporting soft items to save on boxes. For fragile or valuable items, you might let the pros handle those (to ensure insurance coverage). But packing the easy stuff yourself will cut down the bill significantly. Pro tip: Label all boxes with their contents and the room they belong to; it speeds up unloading (saves time if you’re paying hourly) and helps you find essentials quickly.

• Dismantle Furniture Yourself: If you’re handy with an Allen wrench, disassemble things like bed frames, shelves, or tables ahead of time. This can lower moving costs since the crew won’t spend paid time doing it. Keep screws and small parts in zip-lock bags taped to the furniture. (If you’re not comfortable, let the movers handle tricky pieces – better than a DIY mishap. Perhaps take apart simple things like IKEA bookshelves yourself, and leave that giant wardrobe to the pros.)

• Arrange Logistics in Advance: Have everything ready for the movers on the big day. Reserve the elevator in your building, and make sure the moving truck has a spot to park. If movers spend time searching for parking or waiting for elevator access, that’s wasted time/money. Ensure you’ve informed your building managers in Zurich and Geneva of the move date so any necessary precautions are set. Little things like propping doors open or covering floors can make the process faster and prevent minor damages.

• Keep Essentials with You: Pack a “first night” box or two with essentials (think: toiletries, a change of clothes, basic kitchen items, important documents, chargers, and maybe coffee/tea supplies). Take this with you in your car or separately. This way, if there’s any delay with the moving truck or simply the chaos of arrival, you have what you need to get through the first day/night. It reduces stress greatly knowing you don’t have to dig through 20 boxes to find bedsheets or the kettle on day one.

• Consider Consolidated Moves: If you have a small load (say you’re moving a few pieces of furniture and boxes, not an entire household), ask movers about “Beiladung” or groupage options. This means your items share space on a truck with another move going the same direction, and you split the cost. It can be cheaper than hiring a whole truck just for yourself. The trade-off is you need flexible timing (your stuff might arrive slightly earlier or later, coordinated with another client’s move). For flexible schedules, this is a great cost-cutter.

• Take Advantage of Tax Deductions: If your move to Geneva is for professional reasons (e.g., a job transfer or new job), keep your receipts! In Switzerland, many moving expenses can be tax-deductible when a move is job-related. Deductible costs may include the moving company fees, travel expenses on moving day, even double rent if you had to pay overlap months. Check with a tax advisor or the Geneva tax office on the specifics, but a few hours of paperwork could save you hundreds or thousands of francs at tax time.

Finally, give yourself a breather. Moving is stressful, so schedule some downtime around the move. Perhaps take a day off after moving to settle in, or treat yourself to a nice dinner in Geneva as a “we made it” celebration. A positive mindset (and a bit of Swiss chocolate on hand) can do wonders on moving day!

Moving isn’t just trucking boxes – there are a few other services that can make your life much easier during the transition:

• Professional Cleaning: In Switzerland, it’s customary to leave your old apartment spotless. Many tenants hire a move-out cleaning service that guarantees the handover inspection will pass. Consider booking a cleaning crew for your Zurich apartment after all your stuff is out. They will deep-clean everything (inside appliances, every nook and cranny) so you can confidently hand back the keys and secure your rental deposit. Some moving companies (like Kehrli+Oeler, above) offer “Umzugsreinigung” (moving cleaning) services **, or they can recommend a partner. Ensure the service offers a **handover guarantee, meaning they’ll come back if the landlord isn’t satisfied. It saves a ton of stress to let pros handle the infamous Swiss final cleaning.

• Short-Term Storage: If there’s a gap between moving out of your Zurich place and into your Geneva home (or if you’re not sure everything will fit in the new place), look into storage options. Movers can often store your belongings for days or weeks in a secure facility. There are also self-storage centers in both Zurich and Geneva where you can rent a unit. Typical storage costs might start around CHF 50 per month for a small space and go up based on volume. This is great if, for example, you want to gradually move items in, or store seasonal gear (skis, extra furniture) until you need them. Just be sure to arrange transport to storage and then to the final location – some movers will do a single move with one drop-off at the new home and remaining items to storage.

• Furniture Disposal / Junk Removal: Don’t pay to move stuff you ultimately don’t want. If you have old furniture, electronics, or junk to get rid of, plan for a disposal service. Many moving companies offer “Entsorgung” or junk removal as part of their package. They will haul unwanted items to the recycling center or disposal facility for you. There may be a fee per item or per cubic meter of junk. Alternatively, cities like Zurich have recycle centers or pickup services (some require stickers or fees for large items). Clearing out clutter before moving not only saves money on the move, but using a removal service means you don’t have to personally haul heavy old furniture to the dump. Just be sure to schedule it in advance so your old couch isn’t left behind on moving day.

• Handyman Services: Once you’ve moved out, you might need a few touch-ups in the old place (and possibly set up in the new place). Some movers or specialized pros offer handyman services – think of tasks like patching walls where paintings hung, removing light fixtures or curtains in the old apartment, or installing lamps/curtain rods in the new home. If you’re not a DIY enthusiast, hiring a handyman for a couple of hours can be worth it to tidy up loose ends. Kehrli+Oeler, for example, lists “Handwerker” (handyman) services if you need help assembling furniture or minor repairs. This can make both your move-out and move-in smoother.

• Specialty Item Handling: If you have any particularly challenging items – a piano, artwork, sensitive electronics, or even pets – discuss this with your moving company. There are special services like piano transport (some movers have piano specialists), climate-controlled vans for art, or pet relocation services. Even cars or motorcycles can be transported if you prefer not to drive them. It’s good to know these options exist so you can plan accordingly (special transports may cost extra, but ensure safety).

• Settling-In Services: Since you’re moving to another city, some relocation packages (usually offered by companies like Packimpex or Crown) can assist with things beyond moving – for instance, setting up utilities in your new Geneva home, registering your family with the commune, finding childcare or schools, etc. If your employer is relocating you, see if they offer relocation support. If not, you can still hire relocation consultants for specific needs. This is optional, but worth considering if you want a truly hands-off transition. At minimum, do remember to set up essentials: register for Geneva health insurance if needed (or update your address with your provider), get your internet service transferred, and forward your mail (Swiss Post offers mail forwarding for a fee – handy to catch anything sent to your old address).