How Much does it Cost to move in Australia

Relocating carries with it inherent stresses, whether you’re moving to your first home or a bigger place or if you're downsizing when you’re about to retire.

Fortunately, planning for a move a few months ahead can significantly reduce the pressure of moving to a different neighbourhood, town, or city. However, you also need to factor in the cost of moving. This is especially true if you’ll enlist the help of removalists in Sydney or wherever you are located.

So, if a house move is in the offing, you need to budget for the cost of your move. Below is a guide to the various expenses you might need to prepare for:

The cost of removalist services

A removalist might charge anywhere between $300 and $3,500 or about $75 to $300 an hour for an intra-city move in Australia. The exact amount they will charge depends on some specifics:

1. The size of your current home

Most removalist quotes consider the size of your home or the number of bedrooms, as a smaller space is less likely to house more ‘stuff.’ More bedrooms mean there’ll be more things to pack, carry, and transport.

2. The distance between your old and new addresses

Another factor that can impact the cost of your move is the length of time and distance from your old home to your new one. So, if yours is an interstate move, you’re likely to spend more than if you were moving within the same city.

3. Complexity of the move

Any difficulty in relocating your items could add to your moving costs. If there are accessibility problems, such as when your removalist has to park some distance away from your new place because of a narrow street or footbridge, if the service lift isn’t working, or if the movers have to negotiate tricky hallways, stairs, etc., your moving cost could increase.

4. Services needed

If packing big-ticket items and fragile or valuable objects, such as antiques, art, fine china, etc., is added to their list of services, you could be looking at a bigger removalist bill, too. Add to this the need for packing materials, storage facilities, pet or vehicle transport, and insurance — and you could be looking at a sizeable addition to their basic moving quote.

5. Moving schedule

Even the timing of your move can affect the total cost of your removalist service. If possible, book your relocation service for the middle of the month to avoid higher charges. Scheduling your move during non-peak hours when traffic is less likely to become a problem would be a good choice, particularly if your removalist charges by the hour.

Cleaning services

To economise, you might think cleaning is a simple and easy enough task you can take over during your move. However, with a thousand things on your mind and last-minute tasks, it’s highly unlikely you’ll have the time and energy to do any cleaning.

There are moving-out and moving-in cleaning costs to consider, too, although you could prioritise cleaning your old home if you have a clause in your tenancy contract pertaining to this. However, expect to shell out more than $150 for a thorough clean if you have a three-bedroom home.

Moving insurance

Protecting your belongings as you transfer them to a new location is also important. You can get transit insurance to protect your possessions from accidents like fire or a traffic collision on their way to your new address. You can also extend transit cover to include accidental damage during the transfer of your items from the truck to your new home.

You can purchase insurance through your removalist or a specialised moving insurer. But if you already have contents insurance, this cover might also extend to moving your possessions for a period usually lasting up to 14 days. Make sure you check the details of your cover to ensure that the protection you expect is exactly what it will provide.

Transferring or changing utilities

You need to check beforehand whether you need to transfer or change utility providers. Changing utilities means settling pending bills or getting your deposit from your previous providers. You also need to be ready for any fees you need to pay for the setup of the same services in your new address.

By covering all the specifics, you can prepare a reasonable budget to cover expenses related to your house move and enjoy a smoother, stress-free relocation.