Moving household goods to Switzerland is easiest when the load is planned before the first box is closed. A useful plan answers five practical questions: what is moving, how much space it needs, which items require special handling, whether both addresses are accessible for the chosen vehicle, and which documents must travel with the customer rather than inside the shipment.
VANonsite uses those details to match the load to the right European removals service. A shipment of labelled cartons and a bicycle needs a different loading plan from a flat containing wardrobes, a glass table and appliances. Giving the team an accurate inventory early helps produce a more relevant quote and reduces avoidable changes on collection day.
This guide concentrates on the physical preparation of household goods: inventory, measuring, packing, access and loading. For a detailed explanation of Form 18.44, transfer of residence and duty relief, use our separate guide to importing household goods to Switzerland. If you are planning an entire property relocation, see the broader moving home to Switzerland guide.
A practical household-goods plan in seven points
- List furniture and appliances individually, then count cartons by room.
- Measure bulky pieces and record anything that must be dismantled.
- Photograph access at collection and delivery, including stairs, lifts and parking.
- Separate fragile, valuable, heavy and restricted items from ordinary cartons.
- Keep passports, customs forms and residence documents with you.
- Label every carton with a room, number and handling note.
- Confirm the final load and access details before the vehicle is assigned.
Start with an inventory that a removals team can use
An inventory should do more than satisfy a paperwork requirement. It should help the crew understand the real job. “Bedroom furniture and boxes” is too vague. “One dismantled double bed, one mattress, two bedside tables, one chest of drawers and eight labelled cartons” gives the team information they can use for volume, protection and loading order.
Build the list room by room. Number cartons as you pack them and use the same numbers in the inventory. If carton K-07 contains fragile kitchenware, mark K-07 on the box, the room list and the master inventory. This makes collection checks and delivery checks much faster.
| Inventory field | Example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Room and item | Living room: three-seat sofa | Supports loading order and delivery placement |
| Quantity | 12 kitchen cartons | Improves the volume estimate |
| Dimensions | Wardrobe: 210 x 120 x 60 cm | Shows whether dismantling or special access is needed |
| Handling note | Glass top packed separately | Helps the crew prepare protection |
| Condition photo | Photo taken before wrapping | Creates a useful collection record |
| Delivery room | Second-floor bedroom | Prepares the unloading sequence |
For books, clothing and kitchenware, carton counts are usually more useful than item-by-item lists. Furniture, appliances, bicycles, artwork and unusually heavy objects should be listed separately. Tell VANonsite about safes, stone tables, pianos or machinery before booking because weight and handling requirements can affect the crew and vehicle plan.
Measure volume without guessing
The most common planning error is estimating the load from the size of the home alone. Two similar flats can produce very different shipments. One may contain fitted storage and little freestanding furniture; the other may include a full garage, bicycles, garden items and a large book collection.
For a more reliable estimate, record the length, width and height of bulky items in metres. Multiplying those three measurements gives the item’s outer cubic volume. The result is not the final transport volume because furniture can be dismantled and boxes can be stacked, but it gives the removals team a much better starting point than a general description.
- Measure wardrobes, sofas, dining tables, beds and appliances.
- Record whether legs, doors, shelves or frames can be removed.
- Count cartons only after the majority of packing is complete.
- Include balconies, cellars, lofts, sheds and garages.
- Send photographs or a short walk-through video when the load is difficult to describe.
The automatic quote form above gives VANonsite the route and basic shipment information. For a complex home, the team may ask for more detail before confirming the most suitable option. That extra check is useful: the aim is a vehicle and service level that fit the actual load, not a generic package.
Audit access at both addresses
A perfectly packed sofa still causes a problem if it cannot pass through the delivery doorway. Before collection, walk the complete path from each room to the expected vehicle position. Repeat the check for the Swiss address, or ask the landlord, agent or building manager to provide the details.
Check door and stair widths, lift dimensions and weight limits, sharp turns, low ceilings, gates, loading restrictions and the distance from the entrance to legal parking. In older buildings, confirm whether large furniture can use the main staircase. In apartment blocks, reserve the lift if the building requires it. If parking is controlled, arrange permissions before delivery day rather than when the vehicle arrives.
Photographs are especially helpful for narrow streets, underground entrances, sloping driveways and properties where the vehicle cannot stop close to the door. Access information influences the crew, handling equipment and time allocation, so it belongs in the quote process rather than in a last-minute message.
Pack for a European road journey
Household goods travelling to Switzerland may be handled more than once and will experience normal vehicle movement throughout the journey. Strong cartons, complete filling and clear labels matter. A half-empty carton can collapse when stacked; an overloaded carton can fail when lifted.
- Use small cartons for books, tools and dense kitchen items.
- Use larger cartons for bedding, clothing and lighter items.
- Wrap glass and ceramics individually and fill empty spaces.
- Remove loose shelves and secure doors and drawers.
- Place fixings in labelled bags attached to the correct item.
- Photograph cable connections before disconnecting electronics.
- Keep medicines, keys, identity documents and customs papers outside the load.
For high-value, fragile or difficult furniture, the packing method should be agreed before collection. Our specialist guide to moving furniture to Switzerland explains protection, dismantling and delivery considerations in more detail. VANonsite can also provide White Glove Delivery when an item needs a higher level of handling and placement.
Plan the loading order before collection
Loading order should reflect weight, shape, fragility and the delivery sequence. Heavy, stable items normally create the base of the load. Mattresses, mirrors, artwork and delicate surfaces need protection from pressure and movement. Items required first at the Swiss address should not disappear behind goods intended for storage or later rooms.
Prepare a small arrival group for immediate use: basic bedding, a kettle or coffee equipment, chargers, toiletries, cleaning supplies, a change of clothes and essential tools. If those items travel in the removals vehicle, label them clearly and tell the crew. Do not place passports, medication, keys or original customs documents in that group; keep them with you.
Keep customs preparation separate and current
Switzerland is outside the EU customs territory. The Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security states that transfer of domicile is the main condition for duty-free treatment of removal goods. The goods generally need to have been used personally abroad for at least six months and be intended for continued personal use after import. Form 18.44 and a detailed inventory are central to the process.
Check the current official procedure on the Swiss customs relocation page before the move. Requirements can vary with the customer, the goods and the timing of import. VANonsite can coordinate transport around the information supplied, but customs eligibility and clearance decisions remain with the relevant authorities.
For the full document checklist and a focused explanation of the import process, use the dedicated Swiss household-goods import guide. Keeping the customs topic on that page prevents conflicting checklists and gives this article a clear purpose: preparing the physical shipment properly.
What VANonsite needs for an accurate quote
A useful enquiry contains enough detail to plan the job, not only the route. Include collection and delivery postcodes, preferred dates, a room-by-room inventory, approximate carton count, photographs of large items, access notes, packing requirements and any item that is fragile, unusually heavy or valuable.
VANonsite works across European routes with options for smaller loads, furniture, full homes, packing, storage and specialist delivery. The team can recommend a service based on the real shipment. This is particularly important for Switzerland, where border timing and delivery access need to work together.
If dates change suddenly, VANonsite also offers last-minute moving. Collection or delivery within one to three days may be possible on suitable routes when capacity and customs preparation allow. Availability should be confirmed for the specific move rather than assumed.
Common planning mistakes to avoid
- Using the number of bedrooms as the only measure of shipment size.
- Forgetting cellars, lofts, garages, balconies and storage units.
- Listing “miscellaneous boxes” without a quantity or room.
- Discovering on collection day that furniture needs dismantling.
- Failing to disclose stairs, long carries or restricted parking.
- Packing original documents, keys or medication into the load.
- Using one large carton for books and other dense items.
- Assuming that every item qualifies for duty-free import without checking official guidance.
Frequently asked questions
How detailed should my household-goods inventory be?
List furniture, appliances, bicycles and special items individually. Group ordinary contents into numbered cartons by room, such as “kitchen cartons K-01 to K-12”. Add dimensions for bulky items and note anything fragile, heavy or requiring dismantling.
How do I estimate the size of my shipment?
Count packed cartons, measure bulky furniture and include every storage area. Photographs or a video walk-through help VANonsite assess awkward loads. The final recommendation should consider both volume and weight.
Can used household goods enter Switzerland duty-free?
They may qualify when the official conditions are met. Swiss customs states that transfer of domicile is the main requirement and that goods generally need to have been used personally abroad for at least six months and remain in personal use after import. Check the current BAZG procedure and Form 18.44 for your situation.
Should furniture be dismantled before collection?
Dismantling can reduce volume and make access safer, but not every item is designed to be taken apart. Tell VANonsite which pieces are involved and agree the plan before moving day. Keep every fixing in a labelled bag.
What should stay with me rather than in the vehicle?
Keep passports, residence and customs documents, keys, medication, payment cards, essential electronics and irreplaceable small valuables with you. Carry printed and digital copies of important moving documents.
Can VANonsite handle only part of a household?
Yes. The quote should reflect the actual shipment, whether it is a small set of cartons, selected furniture or the contents of a full home. Use the form above and provide an honest inventory so the team can recommend the right option.
Prepare the shipment, then request the right service
A well-prepared household move is easier to quote, easier to load and easier to check at delivery. Build the inventory, measure the difficult items, document access and keep customs paperwork separate. VANonsite can then plan the transport around facts rather than assumptions.
For route information and the full range of services, visit removals to Switzerland. For a tailored estimate, complete the automatic quote form at the top of this guide with your route, dates and household-goods list.
