We came to Spain in October 2016 with two large suitcases, four roll-aboards, and two backpacks:
Four years later, we had an apartment full of furniture and stuff, including the crate-full that we shipped from Texas after we had been here for a while. All of that had to be moved to our new apartment.
We contacted a mover that some friends had used. The guy who came confirmed that some of the furniture would have to go out the windows. We waited fearfully for an estimate…we had no idea what that would cost.
Then the bid came: €845.79 – we were expecting well over €1000!
We signed the contract for the new apartment on Tuesday, 25 August. The previous tenants had just moved out that morning, so the apartment still had to be cleaned and painted.
We confirmed with the moving company and got a date: Thursday, 10 September. Two weeks…
On Thursday, 27 August, we picked up one set of keys for the new apartment and started packing….
That Friday we made our first trip to the new apartment, four blocks away. We didn’t leave until about 10:30, so it was hot by the time we were done. That first haul was one suitcase, three roll-aboards, and two bags (one had cleaning supplies and such) – almost as much as we moved here with!
That evening’s trip: one suitcase, two roll-aboards, one backpack, and two camp chairs – and we had seating!
The next day, El Marido took over a stash of drinks. We now had chairs and beverages at the new apartment.
Making one or two trips a day, we moved all of our clothes, dishes, stuff – we managed to schlep everything ourselves except the furniture. That allowed us to set up closets and the kitchen before the furniture arrived, important since we had a road trip with friends planned for two days after the move.
Then the reserved parking signs showed up outside both apartments:
We set an early alarm (6:30)) for September 10.
I saw the van parked downstairs at 7:30, but they didn’t call until right at 8:00. If I had known, I would have invited them on up, but I was waiting for the lift truck to get there.
So – four guys showed up. Each one took a room and started in. They wrapped all of the furniture in moving blankets, wrapped with packing tape. They took doors off the china cabinet and the credenza, took the wardrobe apart, took the lids off the bed frames…
2 hours later, all done packing and they were ready to take a desayuno break.
Then they started moving. The oldest guy loaded a flat dolly, sent it down in the elevator, one guy took it from there outside, the next guy took it to the truck, where he and the fourth guy loaded the truck.
Things came to a halt when they managed to get the sofa to the first landing down, where it got stuck making the turn. (Visualize that scene from Friends.)
They finished sending down what they could until the lift truck arrived.
An hour later, they had sent the larger things down the lift and everything was in the van.
I met one of the movers at the new apartment to line up the lift truck, then a lunch break.
An hour of off-loading with the lift – after carrying everything half a block because they couldn’t park the van any closer.
Then the lift truck was off and they pulled the van into the reserved spot. Unloading and reassembly went the reverse of packing up.
They were done by 6:00 or so.
Friends had us over for dinner, then we slept in our own bed in our new apartment!
Vale!
Retired in Spain 