It may sound easy to grab a few friends to help you pack and load your boxes, hire a moving van, carry them into your new place and celebrate with some pizza and beer or wine; however, consider these factors before choosing whether or not to hire a house mover. 

Time

Without the right experience, moving to your new home can take longer than expected. Your time can be costly, particularly if you need to take annual leave or time off work to organise your move. 

Lifting large and awkward furniture

You can’t imagine your living room without that couch or kitchen without that fridge, but if you’re deciding the move on your own, figuring out how to get that couch or fridge out of your front door can be a stressful task. This can be particularly difficult if you suffer from back pain or having existing injuries that can worsen with lifting heavyweight. You may also not have the right experience to load the truck properly to avoid damage to your items during transit. 

Two men carrying a large mattress. | Source: WECUBE REMOVALS

Other costs

Additional packing materials, truck hire and insurance will also heavily contribute to the cost of moving house.

A removalist cost will vary based on the type of service you need and the number of goods that need to be moved. Removalists offer a number of different services to suit various types of moves.

Basic removalist services – $200 – $2,000 average reported cost

A basic removal job will usually include the removalist moving items from one room to another, carrying your goods and packing them into the van or truck, transporting your items and handling and unloading your belongings into your new home. Be sure to ask your removalist what house moving services the quote includes.

Removalist specialist services – $200 – $750 average reported cost

On top of the basic services a removalist should provide you with, there are additional special services you can request to reduce your load even more. This may include the dismantling and packing of your furniture, packing your items into boxes, and unloading and arranging your furniture.

Piano removalist services – $250 – $1,500 average reported cost

Whether you have an upright or grand piano, piano removal prices will vary based on the size of the piano and distance of the move. Pianos are large and fragile items to maneuver and will require finding the right removalist that specialises in relocating more bulky items.

We understand how expensive a moving company cost can be and how stressful it can be just thinking about a move in the first place, so here are a few questions to ask yourself before your move:

What items do you need moving?

On Oneflare, the most common job requests for a removalist requires the move of large furniture, white goods, beds, and boxes. House removal costs can also increase if there are additional items in your garage you may have forgotten about.

What type of property are you moving from and to?

The cost of moving house will alter vastly compared to the cost of moving apartment. Local house removal costs can differ because apartments will require considerations such as lifts, stairs, and parking, which will entail more effort to organise.

Customers that move from apartments pay between $170 to $420, whereas moving from a house will cost between $160 to $600. When moving to an apartment, the expected price range is from $170 to $450. On the other hand, people moving to a house can pay an estimated total cost of $160 to $550.

Generally, the conclusion that can be made is that moving to and from a house is usually quoted a higher price on Oneflare. This is usually because houses hold more furniture and belongings than apartments. It’s important to note that while houses have a higher and larger price range than apartments, apartments are usually more complicated moves that require more planning on how the removalist will access your home.

How far is the move?

This is an obvious factor that affects the price you will be expected to pay. Most removalist job requests are for moving residencies within the same state; however, you can also request a removalist to take your belongings interstate. With the extra distance, interstate movers can expect to pay drastically higher compared to a local house removal. Customers on Oneflare have been quoted over $1,800 to have their belongings move interstate.

It’s also important to note that, even with local moves, you may end up paying more if your removalist fees are charged by the hour and they are stuck in traffic. Try to arrange your house move during non-peak hour time to avoid unexpected extra charges.

How many rooms are there in your home?

It’s important to provide the removalist with as much detail as possible, particularly on the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and other rooms that need items being moved. The number of rooms you have will also determine what type and size of the vehicle are needed, such as a truck or ute, and also how many removalists are required.

Is your company moving offices?

Removalists can also cater to companies moving to a new office. Moving company prices will fluctuate with similar factors a homeowner needs to consider when moving to a new place. These include the number of items, the distance of the move, size of the office, the expected duration of the move, accessibility to the office and any other removal services needed.

Are there any other hidden costs?

• Cleaner and electrician: There are some jobs that your removalist wouldn’t typically offer or be qualified for. These include cleaning and any electrical work. Whether your move is because you are reaching the end of your lease or you’re selling your home, hiring a cleaner may be a good investment to save you time. Removalists are also not qualified to do any electrical work, therefore hiring an electrician prior to your move to set up your internet or any other electrical needs in your new home, will ensure you’re able to relax once your belongings have been transferred.
• Parking: If the most accessible parking spot for your removalist’s truck is far from your home, removal costs, in particular, removalist hourly rates, are sure to soar. If possible, prior to your removalist’s arrival, lay out orange cones in the closest parking bay to your home. If you’re in an apartment and the removalist needs access to a lift, be aware that loading docks for trucks may need to be at least 3.2 metres to 3.7 metres high, depending on the truck’s size.
• Other costs: If you’re still waiting for your fridge and kitchenware to arrive, getting takeout may be an unexpected cost. Also, with the excitement of a new home, you’re very likely to spend on new additions to bring your home to life.

Two men move a glass object into a removalist truck. | Source: A2B Removals

Other factors such as the travel distance and the number of contents for your move impact removalist pricing compared to the actual location of the move. Here are quotes Oneflare customers have received in different Australian states for local, interstate and regional moves:

Qualifications and insurance

One of your biggest concerns about hiring a removalist may be having your items damaged. Removalists do not require any formal qualifications to undertake work; however, there are some certificates available for the removalist trade. If a removalist is a member of the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA), they will have Public Liability insurance and therefore will provide insurance for your belongings in transit. Ask your removalist whether they have qualifications, and most importantly insurance.

Questions to ask

Before you hit the hire button, get answers to these questions:

• What is the total cost of the move?
• What exactly is included in the cost?
• Do you charge by the hour or is it a flat rate?
• How long will the move take?
• Are there any additional costs you will charge, fuel, for example?
• How many movers will there be?
• Are my belongings insured?
• Are you a member of any industry association?

Verified and reviewed

As always with any business that you hire on Oneflare, ensure they have a valid ABN to know you’re hiring a legitimate business. For greater peace-of-mind, check past customer reviews on their Oneflare profile. To receive the most accurate quote, be sure to include as much information about the job as possible.

In addition to the basic removal services, additional special services can make your move more seamless and hassle-free. If the price is a big consideration and you don’t mind doing a bit of extra work and organising, there are definitely ways to reduce the time and money spent on the job:

Tip #1: Buy and pack your own boxes. Have them ready for your removalists. This will also save you money if your removalist is charging by the hour. 

Tip #2: Prepare a parking space for the truck in advance.

Tip #3: Try and schedule your move in the middle of the month. Removalist jobs at the start or end of the month tend to be more expensive. 

Tip #4: To make the move a more seamless experience, don’t just label your boxes with what’s contained inside – but also add which rooms they will be going to in the new property.

Tip #5: Defrost and empty your fridge at least a day before moving and wipe up any excess liquid. This will make life a lot easier for your removalists.

Tip #6: Avoid doing a full grocery shop leading up to the move in order to reduce waste for food that requires refrigeration.

* The cost data is based on Oneflare and third-party sources