Moving houses is a major inconvenience. Packing all your things, choosing what to keep and what to throw away, it’s all part of the rigmarole. This is a time when every dollar makes a difference. Everyone’s circumstances are different. You may have embarked on a home loan, downsized for fiscal purposes, or upsized to a bigger home. Possibly, you’re a renter and are being careful about where your money goes. In a time of rising inflation, nobody has money to burn. Naturally, you ask, “How much will the removalists cost me to move?” However, other questions spring from this concern: is there a way to cut down on the cost of the removalists? What can you do to limit the cost of moving house? All in all, moving is expensive. It is not only pricey but also laborious. But there are ways to save money and effort.

Rent a Van

A person who is moving house, or their unit, has options. But those options are dependent on practicalities. Firstly, what if you choose to move your stuff? If you already own a one-tonne truck, it’ll be sweet. But most of us don’t. You could load up the hatchback and make 100 trips back and forth. But chances are you won’t be able to shift major items like furniture. The queen-sized bed most certainly won’t fit. This leaves you with two other options. One of which is to hire a removal truck. What will this involve? You’d need to be a licenced driver. If you are hiring a truck, you can use your regular license, but only up to a certain amount of tonnage. Special licences are required for moving vans weighing more than 3 tonnes (4500kg). It is an option, but not for everyone.

However, if a simple 3-tonne truck or smaller is large enough for your moving needs, it’s worth considering renting one. Various agencies rent and lease heavy vehicles. They charge both by the hour and for a set distance per kilometre. Agencies regularly offer deals on rentals. The prices will vary by state, while the terms and conditions might likewise differ. Depending on the agency, you may be able to take the truck over the border. This means you can move interstate. If the agency has a depot in the state you’re moving to, they’ll allow you to return the vehicle there. Of course, you will be required to pay a deposit, which will be returned. That is, as long as the truck is still in one piece. The cost of hiring the truck, which is the most important consideration, varies as well. Some companies will charge $100 a day.

Hire Professional Removalists

The logical option for those moving houses or apartments is to hire a removalist company. A removalist service provides the labour, equipment, and vehicle to enable you to relocate. These days, removalists provide all types of services. If you need them to help you pack, they will do that. If you require speciality lifting, they supply the lift and operator. The team will carefully ensure your delicate goods like glass cabinets, artwork, etc. are protected. They will provide bubble wrap or other means of cushioning fragile possessions, depending upon the extent of the service offered. A good removalist will have a fleet of vans with a vehicle capable of meeting the needs of particular household sizes. The obvious advantage of hiring removalists is that you are spared the back-breaking labour of hauling heavy cartons and objects. They will methodically load your worldly possessions and offload them.

A removalist’s service is not limited to providing the muscle to lift boxes and load them into a truck. Their team will disassemble and reassemble bulky items like beds. Jobs like these can be time-consuming and fickle. As we say, removalists are professionals with all the tools and equipment to get the job done fast and efficiently. Big, valuable items like a piano are in safe hands. Would you trust you and your mates to haul away a Steinway? Essentially, their service provides peace of mind, leaving you to do all the necessary planning for your move. In this way, they save you time and labour. Another advantage of hiring a good removals firm is that your goods are insured. Let’s face it, accidents happen whether we like them or not. If a piece of furniture gets broken or the HD TV suffers a damaged screen, they’re insured.

Comparing the Options

1/ Hiring a truck

When deciding whether to rent a van or hire a removalist, you must consider more than just the price. Above all, this is about efficiency. Never forget, the next stage of hard work awaits once you have moved all that packed gear to your new domicile. If you hire a truck, you might save money. But you will be tasked with the packing, loading, and unloading yourself. You’ll pay a deposit and fill out lengthy paperwork. If the vehicle is damaged, there’ll be more paperwork. Similarly, you may assume your effectiveness. Removalists are, among other things, knowledgeable about the areas in which they operate. They can get you where you’re going much faster. But the biggest disadvantage to hiring a truck is that you’ll need to be able to drive it. You might be great behind the wheel of your Toyota Corolla. However, your driving skills might not translate to anything bigger.

When hiring a truck, you enter into a contract. After the deposit and insurance, you can pay either an hourly rate or daily. On top of that, there could be a hire charge. You’ll be charged by kilometre over a certain amount, usually around 40 cents. A general daily rate ranges from $99 to $160 per day. You’ll pay more on the weekend when you most likely want to move. On an hourly basis, you can pay anything from $16 p/h to $23 p/h. There may be a credit card fee, and you’ll be charged GST. As an option, it is a good one. It will come out cheaper than paying a removalist, depending upon how much you move and how long it takes you. Again, you’ll need the correct license. Age restrictions might apply, meaning you must be over 21 years of age to hire a truck.

2/ The Removalist

Most of us will choose a removalist when moving house. We prefer the inclusive service and the relief of not having to do the heavy lifting. This is especially true if you’re an older Australian. However, it is pricey. Again, this depends on how big your house is and how much stuff you want to move. Someone moving the contents of a small apartment will only require a lighter vehicle. This has a capacity of around 5–13 m3. Their load usually consists of a few boxes and larger items of furniture. Those in a median house or two-bedroom apartment will need something larger. These range from 15-28 m3. You will pay a deposit and maybe a cancellation fee. There will be a two-hour minimum deposit. Thereafter, you pay in increments of every half-hour. The total cost will include added charges like GST. A credit card fee is around $5.

The meter starts running the moment the removalist truck parks in your driveway. From this point onward, everything involving your move is timed. The deposit will cover your first two hours, but things like late packing and dismantling of large items will cause delays. Depending upon the size of the vehicle and the number of men hired, you will pay removalists an hourly rate. The cost varies from a small load at a general rate of $45-$60 an hour. Heavier loads and more men (up to four) will set you back around $95-$140 p/h. The next thing to bear in mind is the distance, traffic conditions, and weather. All these variables matter. For those moving only to a couple of suburbs away, somebody in a single-to-double-apartment will pay around $500-$1000. Anyone with a large load is looking at an easy $1000-$2000. Bear in mind that this is just a conservative estimate.

Reducing the Cost of Moving

You can reduce the overall cost of moving in several ways. The most obvious is to ensure everything is packed. If you arrange for the removalists before you’ve packed, you’ll find yourself lagging come the hour. Everything should be packaged, ready, and waiting with a clear path for the movers. The cost of moving doesn’t end with the removalists: you must also take into account the cost of boxes and packaging. Additionally, you will need a supply of packing tape, scissors, and bubble wrap for delicate items. If you neglect these things, it will be up to the movers. That will add to your removal time, making your bill all the more eye-watering. Make every arrangement so that the truck can park and the movers have easy access at both ends. The quicker the movers get your things onto the truck, the quicker they can move you. Time-saved equals money-saved.

Conclusion

Moving houses or apartments is an expensive and inconvenient chore, but necessary. While moving is expensive, there are ways to reduce the cost. Life requires organisation and being attentive to how you arrange your affairs is a measure of good character and success. Removalists can take a lot of the strain out of the moving process. However, if you want to save money, you must make an effort. And finding the right removalists is also an important factor. Some charge more, some less. You must find the best service available. Perfect Agent understands this because we are dedicated to finding the right real estate agent for you. If you are looking to buy a property, contact us for a free consultation. Our idea of perfection is to match you with the perfect agent.