How much does it cost to move home?

Moving home can be both exciting and stressful at the same time.

On the one hand, setting up and personalising a new home can be very rewarding, whether it's your first home or your forever home.

On the other hand, packing, transporting, unpacking and organising all your items in a new space can be exhausting, and the costs of moving can quickly add up.

Moving home can easily cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Common costs include engaging removalists, purchasing packing materials and hiring a van, ute or truck.

There are also costs potentially associated with cleaning the old home, taking time off work, and putting items into storage.

The following are some of the most common costs of moving home and ways to make the move more affordable.

How much does it cost to hire removalists?

The lowest hourly rate for furniture removalists in Australia is about $70 an hour, and the average is $91.75, according to online marketplace ServiceSeeking. This usually includes two removalists and a truck.

The price can vary widely depending on how many removalists will be on the job, the insurance the company carries, how experienced the workers are, and the property type – homes with stairs or difficult access are often subject to a surcharge.

Moving costs can vary around the country. Removalists in Melbourne and Sydney are most affordable, charging about $85 an hour.

How to choose removalists

Anyone can hire a van and call themselves a removalist, so it is very important to do your research in this field.

A great place to look for a quality removalist is on the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) website. AFRA is an official and government endorsed body that helps regulate the furniture removal industry by accrediting removalists that have the necessary equipment, vehicles, premises and staff training needed for a professional move.

Looking online at reviews can be another valuable way of verifying a removalists’ reputation. Don’t be too put off by the occasional poor review, especially if this isn’t on a platform that verifies customers, but a series of bad reviews without a reasonable reply from the business is a definite red flag.

Questions to ask removalists

Before hiring a removalist, ask them the following questions to learn more about the service they’ll provide and at what cost:

Do you charge a call out fee?

Is there a minimum fee?

Do you charge by the hour or is this a flat rate?

Are there any other potential costs to factor in such as fuel?

How many removalists will be on the job?

What type of truck will be used and what is its capacity?

How long will the move take?

If there are any delays on the day, will you store my items and is there an additional cost for this?

Do you have public reliability insurance?

What forms of payment are accepted and when is this due?

What will the total cost of the move be including GST?

It’s worth noting that removalists are not required to provide insurance for clients’ belongings during a move – they may just have insurance that covers their vehicle if an accident occurs, or have nothing at all. 

All AFRA accredited removalists however have public liability insurance and can provide transit insurance for goods being moved. This cover insures goods while they are being packed and moved by removalists, including those in storage.

All terms and conditions, insurance documents and itemised pricing charges should be provided in writing prior to your booking. 

How much does it cost to buy packing materials? 

You can buy new, sturdy boxes designed for moving from office and hardware stores or storage outlets. 

Some companies offer packs that include several boxes of various sizes suitable for moving house, ranging from about $75-$400 depending on the size of the home being packed up. Online companies may even ship boxes directly to your home.

To minimise box costs, you can also hire boxes from some companies at a reduced rate, or ask friends for any spares they might get at work.

Factor in an additional $100 for an average-sized house to cover supplies, such as tape, a tape dispenser, box cutter and bubble wrap if needed.

What are the other main costs of moving home?

Additional costs you possibly need to factor in when moving include:

Professional cleaners and cleaning supplies

Food such as takeaway while you're still setting up the new home

Pet care while moving

Childcare while moving

Transportation and fuel

Hotel or other short-term accommodation

Rubbish removal

Source - Domain.com.au