Moving to Orsières is not like moving on the plain: this Entremont commune stretches as far as Val Ferret and Champex-Lac, with mountain villages, chalets and snow in winter. To move to Orsières without nasty surprises, think about access, the season and the type of home before choosing a date. Describe your project online: professional removal companies in the region will get back to you with a free quote.
Orsières, Val Ferret and Champex-Lac: what to know about the terrain
Orsières is an Entremont commune made up of several villages and mountain areas, including Val Ferret and Champex-Lac. This variety shows in the housing: blocks of flats and apartments in the more populated parts, village houses, and more isolated chalets higher up or at the end of the valley.
For a removal company, these situations are not comparable. A flat served by a wide road is quick to move; a chalet at the end of a narrow track needs preparation. That is why the exact address, and not just the commune, matters in your request: state the village or area, the type of home and how to get there.
In the canton of Valais, the Rhône valley offers easy access, while the side valleys have narrow mountain roads. Orsières lies on the side-valley side: plan for it from the start.
Access, parking and floors in Orsières
Narrow mountain roads and bends sometimes limit the size of the vehicle that can reach a chalet or village house. A large lorry will not go everywhere: removal companies may then choose a smaller vehicle and make several trips, which affects the duration and the quote.
A few points to check before the big day:
- The carrying distance between where the lorry can stop and the front door;
- Stairs: number of flights, width, turns, often tighter in chalets and older houses;
- The lift in a block of flats: its size determines whether large furniture fits;
- Slopes and paths: if there is a steep slope or a narrow path, mention it in your request;
- Snow and ice in winter, which can make a road more demanding or a path slippery.
When bulky furniture does not fit up the stairs, a furniture lift can hoist it through a window or onto a balcony, provided the location is suitable. If the lorry or the furniture lift has to occupy the public highway, prior authorisation from the commune or the police may be needed: ask a few days or weeks ahead, especially if the street is narrow.
When to move to Orsières
Residential leases are generally terminated with three months’ notice, for the term set by local custom or, failing that, for the end of a three-month lease period (art. 266c of the Swiss Code of Obligations, CO), unless your contract provides for longer. Customary terms vary by canton and commune: check your lease and local custom. Notice must be given in writing (art. 266l CO); for the family home, the spouse or registered partner must expressly consent (art. 266m and 266n CO).
The periods around lease terms are the busiest: book early. If you have to leave before the lease ends, you can be released by presenting a solvent replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms (art. 264 CO). To find out more, see our guide to terminating a lease in Switzerland.
As for the season, summer makes access to villages and mountain chalets easier. In winter, snow can complicate mountain roads and carrying: read our tips on moving in winter and allow some leeway in your schedule.
Admin in Orsières: residents, lease and housing
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 deadline set by the canton. In many communes, the notification can be made online via eMoving (eUmzugCH); check with the commune to find out what applies in Orsières.
Also remember to:
- notify your new address to your employer, insurers, bank and subscription providers;
- arrange the move-out inspection (état des lieux) and the handover of the home, with a thorough clean;
- recover your rental deposit: it cannot exceed three months’ rent for a home (art. 257e CO) and it is held in a blocked account in your name;
- take the same steps for the new home.
If you are arriving from abroad, the residence permit and customs formalities should be checked with the relevant authorities. If you are leaving Orsières for France, customs and change-of-residence procedures should also be planned in advance.
Useful services for your move to Orsières
Residential moving
For a flat, a village house or a chalet, residential moving covers loading, transport and unloading. Specify the type of access so that the removal company can adapt the vehicle and the crew.
Furniture lift
In chalets and multi-storey houses, the furniture lift saves you from carrying heavy furniture up a narrow staircase. It needs a clear spot and, sometimes, permission to occupy the public highway.
Packing and unpacking
On mountain roads, boxes are shaken about more. Using packing and unpacking protects crockery, picture frames and fragile items.
Storage
If your new home is not ready or you are reducing your living space, storage lets you keep your belongings for as long as needed.
End-of-lease cleaning
Before the move-out inspection, end-of-lease cleaning spares you from spending your last days scrubbing. Plan for it in your departure schedule.
House clearance
To empty a cellar, a chalet or a house before leaving, house clearance sorts, removes and frees up the premises.
Request a quote
- You describe your move online: departure and arrival addresses, approximate volume, floors, access and preferred date.
- Professional removal companies in the region get back to you, possibly for a site visit, which is useful when access is difficult.
- You compare the free quotes and remain free to choose, or not.
The cost varies with the volume, distance, floors and access, the use of a furniture lift, packing and the date. To get started, request a quote: it is free and non-binding.
Around Orsières
If your project involves a nearby commune, see Sembrancher or Martigny. For an overview of the canton, see moving in the canton of Valais; the full list is on all communes.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions: moving to Orsières
Not necessarily. Narrow mountain roads and tracks to some chalets can limit the size of the vehicle. State the exact access in your request: the removal company will choose the suitable vehicle, even if that means making several trips.
If the lorry, a furniture lift or a skip occupies the public highway, authorisation from the commune or the police may be required. Ask a few days or weeks before the move, especially in a narrow street.
Summer makes access to villages and chalets easier. In winter, snow can complicate mountain roads and carrying. Allow some leeway in your schedule and tell the removal company about the access conditions.
You must report to the residents' registration office (contrôle des habitants), in the old commune for departure and in the new one for arrival, within the deadline set by the canton. The notification can often be made online via eMoving (eUmzugCH): check with the commune.
It can be if the staircase is narrow or the furniture is bulky. However, it needs a clear spot and, sometimes, authorisation. The removal company can assess on site during a visit.