Moving to Boudry: Old Town, Vineyards and Villas

Moving to Boudry is best planned with the place in mind: a small town on the banks of the Areuse, between Lake Neuchâtel and the gorges, surrounded by vineyards and villa districts. To move to Boudry without nasty surprises, you need to think about access, slopes and your lease date. Describe your project online: professional removal companies in the area will get back to you and prepare a free, no-obligation quote, and you will find here the points to check before choosing a removal company in Boudry.

Boudry at a glance: a town between the Areuse, vineyards and villas

Boudry is a town on the banks of the Areuse, between Lake Neuchâtel and the Areuse gorges. This setting gives the place two faces: an old town centre, and around it villa districts and vine-covered hillsides.

For a move, this means very different types of home. In the old town you will find apartment buildings and older houses, sometimes with narrow staircases or cramped stairwells. In the villa districts, houses generally offer more volume to move, with a cellar, garage or attic to empty. On the vineyard side, sloping ground affects how the lorry can approach and how items are carried.

Before comparing quotes, note the type of home you are leaving and the one you are moving to: house, flat, floor, presence of a lift. This information helps the movers estimate the time and staff needed.

Access, parking and floors in Boudry

Access is often what separates a simple move from a complicated one. In an old town, streets can be narrow and the lorry cannot always get close to the door. You then need to allow for a longer carrying distance, which lengthens the day.

A few points to check before the date:

• Street width and gradient: a large lorry cannot reach everywhere, especially in older areas or on hillsides. Mention it in your request so that a suitable vehicle is provided.
• Stairs and lift: state the floor, the width of the stairwell and the size of the lift if there is one. A sofa or wardrobe may not fit.
• Furniture lift: if the stairs are too narrow, it is set up against the façade and used through a window or balcony. It needs space in front of the building.
• Snow and ice: in winter, a slope or access path can become slippery. Have some salt ready and leave some margin in the schedule.

Occupying the public highway with a removal lorry, a furniture lift or a skip may require prior authorisation from the commune or the police. Check with the commune a few days or weeks in advance. The guide to a parking permit for moving day explains the procedure.

Choosing the right time to move to Boudry

A tenant’s notice period is three months for the term set by local custom or, failing that, for the end of a quarter of the lease (art. 266c of the Swiss Code of Obligations, CO), unless the contract provides for longer. Customary terms vary by canton and commune: the safest course is to reread your lease and find out about local custom. Notice must be given in writing (art. 266l CO). For the family home, a tenant who is married or in a registered partnership needs the express consent of their spouse or partner (art. 266m and 266n CO).

Around the usual terms, removal companies are in great demand: request your quotes early and, if possible, suggest a slightly different date. If you need to leave before the end of the lease, you can be released by presenting a solvent replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms (art. 264 CO). For more details, see the guide on moving dates in Switzerland.

As for the season, a Neuchâtel winter can bring snow and ice, and summer can bring intense heat that makes carrying items tiring. The shoulder seasons are often more comfortable, but above all choose the date that suits your lease.

Your formalities for moving to Boudry

Every move must be reported to the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants): departure in the old commune, arrival in the new one, within the period set by the canton. In many communes, this can be done online via eMoving (eUmzugCH). Check with the commune to find out whether this is the case.

Other formalities not to forget:

• Change of address with the post office, insurers, your employer, your bank and your subscriptions.
• Move-out inspection (état des lieux): prepare an empty, clean home, and note any defects with the letting agency (régie) or the landlord.
• Rental deposit: it cannot exceed three months’ rent for a home (art. 257e CO) and is paid into a blocked account in the tenant’s name. Remember to ask for its release when you leave.
• Arriving from abroad or leaving for France: since the French border is close in this canton, a cross-border move involves customs formalities and, depending on your situation, a residence permit. Check with the authorities before the date.

Useful services for moving to Boudry

Residential moving

Old-town house, villa or flat: removal companies in the area adapt the team and the vehicle to the home. State the floor, the access and the volume to get a realistic quote. See residential moving.

Furniture lift

In an old town with narrow stairs, or for bulky furniture, a furniture lift avoids taking items through the stairwell. It needs space in front of the façade, and therefore possibly a permit from the commune.

Packing and unpacking

To save time or protect crockery and fragile items, packing and unpacking can be handled by the movers. This is useful for a house with a lot of contents.

Storage

If your move-out and move-in dates do not coincide, or if the new home is smaller, storage lets you keep part of your belongings.

End-of-lease cleaning

Handing back the home involves a demanding inspection. End-of-lease cleaning helps you return it in good condition.

Clearance

Cellar, attic, garage of a villa: before leaving, a house clearance lets you part with what is not coming with you and lighten the load.

Requesting a quote

1. You describe your move online: departure and arrival addresses, volume, floors, access and desired date.
2. Professional removal companies in the area get back to you, possibly for a visit to the premises to refine the estimate.
3. You compare the free quotes and remain free to choose, or not.

The cost depends on volume, distance, floors and access, use of a furniture lift, packing and the date. The simplest way is to request a quote.

Around Boudry

If your project involves a nearby commune, see moving to Milvignes, moving to La Grande Béroche or moving to Val-de-Travers. For an overview, see the page on moving in the canton of Neuchâtel or all communes. Whether you are looking for a removal company in Boudry or preparing your move to Boudry yourself, a clear request makes for more accurate quotes.

Frequently asked questions