Moving in Vienna

The biggest question many people ask when moving is: Should I choose a fixed price or an hourly rate?

The right choice depends on several factors.

If you have additional helpers, such as friends or family, an hourly rate is usually worthwhile. In many cases, this option is cheaper. The downside: if there are delays or the move takes longer than planned, the costs also increase.

If you do not have additional helpers and do not want the extra stress of time pressure, we tend to recommend a fixed price. This is usually a little more expensive because moving companies often factor in a safety margin. However, this is not always the case.

We have already seen many examples where the fixed price ended up being cheaper because the move took longer than originally estimated. The big advantage: you have planning certainty, less stress and pay a fixed price, regardless of whether the move takes a little longer.

You should consider taking a day off work for your move and moving on a working day. These dates are usually cheaper with moving companies because most people try to move between Friday and Sunday. This already gives you an advantage, as the date should generally be cheaper and easier to get.

Even if you move yourself, rental vehicles are usually cheaper during the week than at weekends.

Boxes are an unavoidable part of a move, and you should think carefully about where to get them and, more importantly, which ones to buy. Nowadays, there are different boxes for different purposes: for glasses, fragile items, clothing, and so on.

Most of the time, however, you can manage very well with two different types: regular moving boxes combined with tissue paper for glasses and delicate items, and wardrobe boxes for high-quality clothing.

Of course, it depends on the individual case, but it is often cheaper to get the boxes directly from the moving company. Many companies now offer a box rental system. For example, you buy the boxes for €3, and if you return them in good condition after the move, you get half the price or around €1 per box back.

However, depending on the number of boxes needed and the company, you should check the terms beforehand.

At Auftragpro, we also have a free box calculator for anyone who wants to get their own boxes or carry out the move independently.

Disassembly and assembly always sound like a lot of work and make up a large part of a move. However, if you want to save money, this is exactly where you should look for savings. If you have the necessary tools and can dismantle and pack the furniture yourself, you save the moving company a lot of time on moving day and therefore money as well.

Another option would be to hire a separate furniture assembler. However, this is usually more expensive than having the work done directly by the moving company.

Prefer a company? Then consider which pieces of furniture you can dismantle yourself. Everything else can then be dismantled and packed by the moving company’s professionals.

If there are few parking spaces at your new home or parking is hard to find, a no-parking zone can be an important factor in saving money. It can significantly shorten the move because the distance between the transport vehicle and your home is shorter.

There are basically two ways to organise a no-parking zone: apply for it yourself or arrange it through a moving company.

If you handle the application yourself, you can save money. In Vienna, the cost per address is usually around €70 to €90:

• €21 federal application fee
• €6 per attachment, up to €36
• €21 for reports or written records
• €6 administrative charge
• additional costs for official actions or commissions, where applicable

If you leave the organisation to a moving company, you should expect roughly double the amount, depending on the provider. In return, the company usually handles all the administrative work as well as setting up and removing the traffic signs.