Moving house or office can be stressful to finalise as you scramble to ensure you haven’t forgotten any of the finer details. Removal companies’ moving costs and offerings can differ significantly, but having an idea of the average removal costs in Sydney can help you prepare.
For example, a three-bedroom house can average at $245 per hour for the removal, with an interstate removal from Brisbane to Sydney averaging between $2,600 – $3,640. Adding extra services such as packing or storage from the same removal company can be convenient. Using numerous different companies also means there’s more for you to coordinate and keep track of.
Here’s an outline of what you can expect when you engage a professional moving company and how much they charge for the different services offered. Having some market information on averages allows you to make sure you’re on the right track and not over or under budget.
How Do Different Companies Calculate the Removalist Cost?
Some companies charge per time period, such as per hour or half-hour.Â
Other removalists charge a set fee that’s all-inclusive of your requirements, such as distance of the move and number of rooms in the house.
The average hourly removalist cost is dependent on how large your house is. How many movers you need will also depend on how many bedrooms you have.Â
Here are the prices you can expect from a Sydney-based removalist with public liability insurance:
Size of House | Number of Movers | Average Removalists Cost |
One-bedroom apartment | two | $125 per hour |
Two-bedroom apartment | two | $125 per hour |
Three-bedroom apartment | three | $175 per hour |
Three-bedroom house | four | $245 per hour |
Four or more bedroom house | five | $315 per hour |
How Does Distance Affect the Cost of Moving House?
If you’re doing a local move, the average removalist prices can be between $100-$1000. Shorter distance moves can be below $200 but if you’re moving 20 kilometres or more you can expect to pay closer to $1000.
Moving interstate is more expensive and usually isn’t charged at an hourly rate but rather per kilometre. The average price of an interstate move for a three-bedroom house can be:
From | To | Approximate price |
Brisbane | Sydney | $2,600 – $3,640 |
Melbourne | Gold Coast | $3,250 – $4,550 |
Adelaide | Sunshine Coast | $6,000 – $7,500 |
Brisbane | Perth | $7,150 – $8,825 |
Sydney | Canberra | $2,125 – $2,950 |
What Can Make the Removalists Cost More Expensive?
If your move is complex, the removalist cost can increase because it will take longer to move all your belongings. Things that can make a basic removal job complicated include:
- stairs,
- lifts,
- small doorways, and
- narrow hallways,
A removalist company might also charge per weight of the move, for example, if you have heavy furniture such as large couches, fridges or a piano. Heavy lifting can be charged between $50-$140.
When you’re hiring removalists, try and keep in mind the timing of your move. Many removalists charge extra on Sundays and public holidays. And, if your move is scheduled during peak hour traffic, it will take longer and therefore typically be quoted for more.
What Additional Services Can You Add to Your Moving Costs?
The standard offerings provided by removalists include:
- disassembling furniture,
- loading all your belongings and furniture onto the truck,
- transporting your belongings and furniture to your new property,
- offloading the truck at your new property,Â
- positioning your belongings and furniture in the appropriate rooms, andÂ
- reassembling furniture.
There are numerous extra services that most removalists offer to make your move quicker and easier to manage.
Packing Service
Professional packing services are a convenient and efficient option compared to the DIY approach.Â
The professional packers will wrap fragile items in bubble wrap, and label boxes and keep lists of what is stored in which boxes.Â
This means whether you choose to unpack everything yourself or make use of the removalist’s unpacking service, the unpacking process will be as stress-free as possible.
The average cost of one packer is $80 per hour, so the more packers you need, the more expensive it will be. Generally, companies have a minimum hourly booking timeframe for packing services.
Storage Services
Sometimes people are required to move out of their current apartment before the new place is ready. Most local removalists offer storage services for short or long term periods.
Mobile storage is an excellent option because the truck comes to pick up your belongings with the storage unit on the back. Your goods are packed into the storage unit, transported to the warehouse, and the storage unit is safely stored until you’re ready to retrieve your goods.
Then, the storage unit will be loaded onto the truck once more and conveniently delivered to your desired location.
Some companies charge daily rates as low as $2 per day, and others offer flexible monthly plans for long-term storage. A mobile storage facility for a month typically averages at $120.
Cleaning Services
Once all your belongings have been removed from your house, it needs to be cleaned before the new occupant can move in.
Most of the time, it’s cheaper to include cleaning to your removalist bill than to use a professional company as a separate service.Â
Cleaning services from a removalist company average around $285.
Packing Materials
Some companies offer packing materials such as cardboard boxes, butcher’s paper, packaging tape and bubble wrap at an average of $100 for packing materials.Â
Some removalists have specials where customers receive packing boxes for free, with free delivery and pick up of the boxes, for example, if you pay the full deposit upfront.
Why You Should Shop Around
Not all removalists offer the same services at the same prices. Therefore, it’s worth shopping around to see which professional removalist company provides the best rates to suit your unique move to save money.
For example, if you don’t have your own packing materials or your own boxes, it could be beneficial to choose a removal company that offers the service for free instead of one that charges extra.
Most removalists offer an accurate quote for free, with no obligations. So comparing prices costs nothing to do and can save you money in the long run on removalist costs.
Key Takeaways
Removalist jobs are either charged per time period or at a flat fee.Â
How many removalists you’ll need is dependent on how many rooms you have in your house. A three-bedroom house will require four movers, and the average price you can expect is $245 per hour.Â
Local moves can cost less than $1000 distance-wise, but long-distance interstate removal costs are around $3500.
Most professional movers offer extra services to make your move more convenient, such as:
- packing service,
- storage service,
- cleaning service,
- and offering packing supplies.
With several factors influencing your total cost, it’s worth shopping around to find the best price. At ABC Removalists, you can receive an obligation-free and accurate quote on the services provided by our experienced removalists.
Contact us to discuss our services offered and receive your removal quote today.