How Much Do Removals Cost
About to move to your dream house or transfer to a new and bigger office, but worried about the cost?
Moving house or relocating to another workplace is no simple job. Removals include various tasks, and most, if not all, might come with a price tag. Between worrying about packing and unpacking and transporting your belongings to your preferred destination, one of your biggest concerns is knowing how much moving costs can take.
What factors influence removals cost?
Many factors can affect removals cost. Knowing these factors can help you allocate how much money you need for the move and avoid any unexpected charges. These factors are:
Distance between pickup and drop-off points
When calculating moving company cost estimates, the biggest factor that affects removal cost is the distance of your move. Information about the location of your move is typically what removalists will get from you first to determine the cost of house moving. While the price may vary from one moving company to another, often, they charge fixed rates based on the distance of your property from the drop-off point.
Costs are much higher when the route is longer because it involves many risks. For example, more time on the road means higher petrol expenses. Removal cost can be higher too if you’re moving to a remote location where road access and protecting your belongings from damage present a challenge.
Also, many removalist companies charge higher for interstate moves. You can expect to pay a higher removal cost if you’re moving from Sydney to another Australian city compared to when you’re moving within the local area.
Size of your property
The size of your new house can affect removal costs. For example, fees are lower if you’re moving to a one-bedroom apartment compared to the cost of relocating to a three-bedroom house. If the front door of your new home is far from the street, it can also affect the cost of the move. A house with many stairs and bedrooms might also entail a higher price. Movers may have difficulty bringing furniture and other belongings inside, hence take longer to finish the relocation.
Number and size of your belongings
The overall size of your move also creates a big impact on the total cost of a moving job. Keep in mind that the more items you are going to pack and move, the higher the price of furniture removal is. Prices also depend on the load or size of your belongings. Unlike distance, the size of your move is a factor that you can control. You can minimise expenses by identifying which belongings are unnecessary for the move.
To assess the size of your move, a removalist company will visit your home or office and ask you what items you plan to move. They will also weigh your possessions to know the insurance costs, the number of movers needed for packing and unpacking and the truck services required for transporting your belongings.
Expect to pay a higher price for a removal job that involves moving from a one-bedroom apartment to a three-bedroom home. Likewise, removal fees may go up if you plan to move fragile items and heavy furniture.
Removals services
Simply the thought of carrying your stuff out of your house towards the moving truck is tiring, especially if you have many items to bring to your new property. Hiring professional removalists can help you move to your new home with ease. Removals service often includes the following tasks:
- Carry and bring your belongings to the van or truck
- Transport your belongings to your new home or office
- Remove your belongings from the truck
- Put your items where you want them inside your new home
Removalists provide several other services. However, remember that additional services have corresponding fees.
What other services do removalists offer?
Packing and unpacking all your stuff is time-consuming. Worrying about keeping your precious items damage-free can be stressful. Plus, lugging bulky furniture, appliances and heavy items in boxes can take a toll on your body.
If you want your move to be stress-free and with minimum disruption, you can let removalists do all the tasks related to your move. It may not be the cheapest alternative, but if you have the budget for it, full-service movers will gladly do all the heavy-lifting and more. Full-service home or business removals typically include the following services:
Packing materials
Instead of buying all the packing supplies yourself, removalists provide all the materials you need. Packing materials include boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap and other accessories. If you have fragile items to pack, removalists also supply protective covering, such as blankets or padding.
Professional packing and unpacking
Removalist companies have packing teams that take care of packing and unpacking your belongings, so you can focus on more important tasks. Professional packers safely wrap or put your possessions in boxes to protect them from scratches and damage during transport. For high-value or specialty goods, like mirrors, artworks or a grand piano, custom-wrapping service is an option.
Furniture disassembly, reassembly and placement
Disassembling and reassembling furniture is a painstaking job. To speed up your move, professional removalists are deployed to disassemble and reassemble furniture, like your bed, wardrobe or office desk. They are equipped with the training and power tools to get the job done fast and efficiently. Once the reassembling is finished, you can ask the movers to place your furniture in your preferred room.
Cleaning services
Moving into your new single bedroom house or office space doesn’t end with unpacking your belongings and reassembling furniture. You now need to worry about disposing of all the boxes and debris after the move. Movers can clean up and properly dispose of packing materials.
If you plan to sell your old property, many removalists provide professional cleaning services, so your house is in tip-top shape for viewing.
Temporary storage
You may have some items that you have to pack but don’t want to bring into your new house. These items could be furniture that you want to sell or hand down to a friend or relative. Or perhaps you’re still looking for a new house and have no place to store your possessions. Removalists have storage facilities that can temporarily keep your valuables safe until you’re ready to sell, give them away or move them into your new home.
Interstate removals
Long-distance moves take longer to plan and can be much more stressful than local removals. Expect to pay higher moving expenses when you’re relocating cross-country because it will involve more time, resources and extra care to ensure that your possessions are safe while in transit.
Ask your removalist company what insurance options are available for interstate moves. While removalists will take utmost care of your possessions during the move, accidents may happen due to certain circumstances, such as poor weather. Having insurance coverage for your precious items will give you peace of mind should any go missing or arrive at the drop-off destination damaged.
Taxi trucks
Some moves involve transporting a single but heavy item or equipment. Instead of hiring removalist services for a whole or half a day, you can hire removalists that provide taxi trucks as a more affordable alternative. You can expect to pay for this type of service based on the number of hours it takes to deliver the item from point to point.
Other services
Additional services that removalist companies provide are:
- Pet boarding
- Plant handling
- Car moving
- International removals
- Handyman jobs (e.g., installation of electrical fixtures)
- Parking permit
- Administrative tasks
How much do removalists charge for removals?
Removalists charge a fixed amount or charge by the hour. The total cost of moving may be as low as $300 and go as high as $3,500 or above.
What is the average cost per hour of moving furniture?
For furniture removals within Sydney, many removalists have hourly rates. However, some moving companies charge in 15 or 30-minute increments.
One-bedroom house
For moving small-sized items, the average hourly rate is $110, while moves involving a one-bedroom apartment cost $125 per hour. This type of local removal usually involves two movers who can get the job done in two to five hours, depending on the size of the move.
Three-bedroom house
The cost for moves for a three-bedroom house ranges from $175 to $245 hourly and will involve three to four movers. The removalist team can accomplish the move in four hours to six hours for small apartments. Meanwhile, for bigger homes, movers can finish the job in about six to eight hours.
Four-bedroom house
Transferring to a large home with over four bedrooms will cost around $315 per hour and entail five movers working for seven to nine hours.
What is the average removalist cost of moving locally, interstate and internationally?
Prices may vary if you’re moving locally or interstate.
If you’re moving within Sydney, expect to pay around $119 per hour, Goods and Services Tax included. Expect an increase of 15% on this rate, if you’re relocating on a weekend or public holiday. The rate includes mileage, insurance, two movers and a moving truck. Hiring an additional mover to help in larger moves or in case there are access restrictions to the location of your home costs $40.
For moves from Sydney to other Australian cities, the fee is based on the number of boxed items or cubic metres. For example, if you plan to move into a three-bedroom home or apartment in Melbourne, the cost of the removal can range between $3,500 and $5,000. This includes the cost of insurance and packing supplies.
International removals are much more expensive compared to relocating locally or interstate. Of course, there are expenses related to booking your flight and getting a visa (if you’re moving to a country that requires it). But you also need to consider other expenses, such as shipping and customs duty. Shipping expenses vary if you’re going to move your items by sea or by land. Customs charges also vary based on your country of destination.
Besides getting insurance coverage for your possessions, you might also need to get medical insurance for yourself and for the people who are moving with you. If you have pets, you need to consider vaccination, passport and quarantine costs.
What are some ways you can reduce removalist costs?
Moving can be stressful, whether locally or in other Australian cities. It’s easier to just let the removalists do everything for you than resort to DIY moving, so you can focus on more important matters. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have a convenient moving experience. However, you can always do a few things to cut down on unnecessary spending while keeping your sanity intact. Below are practical tips that can help you save on moving expenses.
Request for a quote first
Most of the time, removal quotes are free. Removalists provide different services and their prices vary. If you have multiple options, you can evaluate which one will suit your needs and budget better.
Purge items that you seldom or no longer use
Declutter and decide which items you don’t want to bring to your new place. Create an inventory of those items, and choose which ones to sell or donate to charity.
Consider selling heavy furniture or old appliances
Remember, the heavier the package, the higher the cost. By selling your old furniture, appliances or fitness equipment, not only will you make money from the sale, but you’ll also save on furniture removals costs. The money you save may even be enough to buy something new.
Time your move
It’s cheaper to move on weekdays than on weekends. If you’re relocating overseas, book a flight during winter, as prices are lower.
Call your utility service providers early
Inform your cable, telephone, internet and other service providers about your move early. Also, cancel your current accounts to avoid paying double.
Get insurance coverage
It’s a small price to pay should any of your valuables break or get damaged during the move.
