Factors that Affect Removalist Costs

If you want to save yourself the hassle of Moving your belongings back and forth between your old and new homes, you’ll need to hire a removalist. But before you do that, you should know that there are several factors that can affect the cost of hiring a removalist. These include:

Distance

Just like a taxi, your movers drive from point A to point B. The more kilometres they have to cover, the more time it takes and the more fuel they use. This all gets factored into the overall cost of your move. So, if you’re only moving a short distance – say from one suburb to the next – the cost isn’t going to be as high because it’s a quick trip.

However, when moving between cities, it’s an entirely different scenario. The increased distance results in your moving team spending more time on the road and using more fuel to transport your belongings, which, in turn, increases your moving costs.

Every moving company has its own way of working out the cost of long-distance moves. Instead of a simple per-kilometre charge, some might have a base rate up to a certain distance, then different rates for the additional distance covered.

Volume of belongings

If you imagine the moving truck as a large container, the principle is straightforward. The more items you have, and the larger they are, the more space they’ll take up. And bigger trucks or more trips mean higher moving costs.

Removalists will calculate the volume of your items to estimate how much truck space they’ll consume. This is usually measured in cubic metres. The more space your belongings take up, the higher the cost.

But there’s no need to worry. You can reduce your moving costs by minimising your load. Here are some simple tips:

• Declutter: Try to sort out your items before moving day. If you don’t need some items in your new place, don’t take them with you.
• Sell or donate: If you are left with items that are too good to throw away but don’t need anymore, selling or donating is an excellent option.
• Efficient packing: Try to use all available space when packing. For instance, fill drawers or cabinets with smaller items.
• Dismantle furniture: If possible, dismantle large furniture pieces. This can significantly save space in the moving truck.

Remember, the goal is to reduce the load you’re moving. Fewer items to move not only mean lower moving costs but also less work unpacking in your new home!

Additional services

Things like packing, unpacking, or providing packing supplies will bump up the bill.

• Packing: Packing services entail removalists packing your belongings into boxes for you, akin to having your friends assist with packing, but with less fuss.
• Unpacking: Just moved in and don’t feel like tackling a mess of boxes? No worries, your removalists can unpack for you. It’s like Christmas morning, except you’ve bought all the presents and you already know what they are.
• Storage: Maybe your new place isn’t ready yet, or there’s just not enough room for all your gear. Your removalists might offer storage solutions, like your personal shed, to stash your stuff until you can make room for it.
• Furniture Assembly: With your hands already full, why not let your removalists assemble your flat-pack furniture for you? It’s like a magic show, turning a pile of parts into a ready-to-use cupboard or bed.

Time constraints

When you plan to move can have a big effect on the cost. If you choose to move during peak moving season, which is typically the summer or at the beginning and end of the month, you may find that costs are higher. There’s a high demand for removalists at these times, and as with anything, when demand is high, so are the costs.

Suppose life throws you a sudden curve—maybe a new job in a different city—and you have to move quickly. In such cases, you may require express or urgent moving services. Just like express delivery, it costs more than the standard service.

Additionally, you should be aware of potential extra charges that might come up. These can include:

• Weekend or public holiday moves: Because removalists work on these days too, they might charge a higher than usual rate.
• Last-minute booking: If you procrastinate and leave your removalists’ booking until the last minute, you could be hit with a late booking fee.
• Changing or cancelling your move date: If you suddenly have to change your moving day, you might be charged an additional fee for the change.

Types of Removalist Services

In the process of moving, it’s common to wonder about the different types of removalist services out there. It’s important to understand these, just as it’s important to know all the ins and outs of home improvement. Let’s explore these options.

Full-Service Removalists

This service is quite comprehensive, providing complete assistance. From packing up your items, loading them onto the truck, transporting everything to your destination, and then unloading and unpacking – they handle it all. This can be very convenient if you’re looking to save time and effort. Prices will vary based on factors like the volume of belongings and the distance to be travelled, with a typical range of $800 to $2,000.

Partial Removalists

This service is for those who don’t mind the packing process but lack the necessary transport tools. With this service, a container will be delivered to your home; you are responsible for packing your belongings into it. The company then moves the container to your new location for you to unpack. The average cost for this service can range from $400 to $1,200.

Specialised Removalists

Sometimes during a move, there are special items that need extra care—maybe you’ve got a piano, a whopper of a pool table, or some fragile antiques. Not to worry! Specialized removalists are available for such tasks. However, pricing depends entirely on the specific items to be transported and can vary significantly from one item to the next. A pool table, for example, can be transported from $250 to $1,000, while a piano that needs a little extra care might go for $300 to $1200.

DIY Options

Opting for self-removal means you’re in the driver’s seat, both literally and figuratively. It’s all about getting your mates together, making sure you’ve got all the right equipment, utes and trailers sorted, and spending a fair bit of elbow grease to get the job done. What’s the appeal? Cost savings! Opting for this approach can save you a significant amount of money compared to hiring removalists.

However, you’ll need to consider a few extra bits like renting equipment (think trolleys, blankets, straps, or even a moving van or trailer) and potentially taking time off work to make it all happen. Keep in mind that without the know-how of experienced removalists, you’ll also be responsible for the safe and secure packing and transport of your belongings.

How to Find the Right Removalist

Moving is a team effort, so choosing the right removalists is like choosing your teammates at a footy match. You want someone with a winning reputation, plenty of experience on the field, fair pricing, and a solid fan base.

Research and Compare

Even a splash of time spent researching online will pay off in knowing you’ve found a removalist company you can trust. It may seem like a bit of work, but arming yourself with the right info means you’ll avoid any headaches on moving day.

Additionally, don’t forget to seek recommendations from your friends or explore the websites of local removalists. Make sure you get quotes from at least three different companies and compare their services.

Request Quotes and Inquire

Not all removalists offer the same services – some provide packing, unpacking, and storage. And you’ll never know this unless you ask them. So, the best thing to do is to take a gander at online reviews. This should give you a sense of how satisfied previous customers were and give some idea of what services they offer.

Check Insurance and Licences

Whenever you’re moving your most prized possessions from point A to point B, you’re entrusting your stuff to the removalist, hoping everything will show up in one piece. That’s where proper insurance comes in. It’s like putting a safety net under your valuables, buffering them against unexpected damage. If some of your gear were to get damaged or lost during transit, the removalist’s insurance should cover the costs so you won’t be left out of pocket.

Furthermore, it’s crucial to check your removalist’s license. Anyone can claim to be a removalist for a day, but only those with the necessary licenses are legally permitted to operate a removalist business. A licensed removalist is bound by specific rules and standards, which gives you a safety guarantee and peace of mind knowing that they’re not some fly-by-night operation.

Consider Customer Reviews

Customer reviews, much like a mate’s recommendation, are a valuable source of information when choosing a removalist or any other service. These typically come from people who’ve used the service firsthand. But don’t just trust a 5-star review or automatically blacklist a company for one bad review. Consider reviews as a whole and an opportunity to identify trends. This way, you’ll know what to expect come moving day.