The furniture lift, in Switzerland also called an outdoor lift or moving lift, is an extendable ladder-rail construction with a platform that carries moving goods vertically along the façade up or down. It is delivered on a trailer or vehicle, set up in front of the building and extended to the desired window or balcony. This gets furniture, boxes and even bulky items quickly and gently to the floor without carrying them through the stairwell.
The process starts with positioning the lift on the road or pavement — depending on the municipality this requires a permit or a short-term parking closure. The platform is then extended to the target floor, and the moving team loads it below while a second worker receives the goods above. Setup usually takes 15 to 30 minutes; the job itself depends on the volume and is often done in a few hours.
A furniture lift makes sense for moves in or out of upper floors with no lift or too small a lift, with narrow or winding stairwells, with bulky furniture such as sofas or wardrobes, and when time and backs are to be spared. It is also rented separately to transport single large items.
As a rough guide (no guarantee), a furniture lift including operation in Switzerland costs around CHF 120 to 180 per hour or, as a half-day flat rate, about CHF 300 to 500, depending on height, region and travel. Any permit for road use or a no-parking sign may be billed separately.
Make sure the company obtains the necessary permit in good time, that there is enough space to set up and that operation is carried out by trained staff. For very great heights or difficult access, the site should be viewed in advance.