Olivia Martin

Quick confession: I once moved a whole two-bedder in a Kia Rio. Five trips, one cracked bedside table, zero dignity. My brother-in-law still brings it up at Christmas. Learn from my stupidity and get removalists Melbourne booked before you’ve even started wrapping the glasses in old tea towels. Your back will thank you, and so will whoever you’d otherwise guilt into helping.

What do removalists actually do, and what’ll it cost?

Removalists are movers who will move, load and unload all your belongings for a charge. In Melbourne, a removalist team consisting of two people operating a van will cost approximately $120 to $200 per hour, with most moves taking three to six hours.

Most places charge hourly or a flat rate. Hourly works for small jobs. For a whole house, say Footscray out to Frankston, get a fixed quote so the invoice doesn’t give you a heart attack. And ask when the clock starts. Some crews start it at the depot, which is how a three-hour job turns into five without anyone technically lying to you.

Cheapest isn’t always cheapest. A mate of mine went with a quote $40 an hour under everyone else. The crew arrived with no blankets and one trolley with a dodgy wheel. Guess who paid for the extra hours? If all you’re moving is a studio, a uni room or a bar fridge from Marketplace, a man with a van Melbourne will get it done for less, and nobody needs to reverse a pantech down your street.

How do you pick a crew that won’t muck you around?

Melbourne is full of movers, which sounds great until you’re staring at forty tabs at 11pm. Some outfits are excellent. Some are a bloke, a borrowed truck and a lot of confidence. Before you lock in any removalists Melbourne crew, run through this:

• Ask if they’ve got goods-in-transit and public liability insurance

• Read the recent Google reviews, not the shiny ones on their own site

• Get the quote in writing, with the hourly rate, minimum hours and extras

• Check how many movers turn up and what gear they bring

• Look up the ABN, which takes a minute and costs nothing

Got a piano, a heavy timber dresser or a leather lounge that’s been through a lot? Ring furniture removalists Melbourne who own the proper gear and know how to use it. A good team will wrap that wardrobe and walk it down a skinny Fitzroy terrace hallway without leaving a mark on the wall. Considering what rental bonds cost around here, that’s money in your pocket.

The decent companies will tell you straight what they can and can’t do, and they don’t mind questions. If someone goes shirty when you ask about insurance, fair enough, ring the next one.

How do you get through moving day without losing it?

Book two to three weeks out if you can. Month-end, Saturdays and school holidays get flat out, and the good crews disappear fast. A weekday move is often cheaper, and you’ll miss the footy traffic around the MCG, which has wrecked more plans than I can count.

Tell the crew about stairs, lifts, narrow driveways and where the truck can park. A surprise three flights in a Docklands block can blow the whole schedule out. On a busy street? Check with the council about a parking permit. Nothing torches a budget like a truck circling the block for forty minutes with the meter running.

Moving a business instead? Office removalists Melbourne deal with desks, servers, filing cabinets and that horrible nest of cables behind everyone’s monitor. Plenty will work after hours or on a weekend so you don’t lose a day of trade. Book early, especially near end of financial year, when half the CBD seems to move at once. Ask about disconnecting and reconnecting the IT gear, or Monday morning is a room of blank screens and angry emails.

Quick FAQ: 

Should I pack myself or let the crew do it?

Short on time? A packing service is worth every cent. Watching the budget? Pack the sturdy stuff yourself and leave the glassware and artwork to the pros.

On the day, keep one box with you: kettle, loo paper, phone chargers, snacks, something cold. Do a final lap of every room, the shed and the roof space before the truck leaves, because there’s always one forgotten thing. And shout the crew a coffee. Nobody’s ever carried a fridge faster on an empty stomach.

Book early, then go have a sit down

Moving’s never going to be a good time, but it doesn’t have to be a miserable one. Get the quotes in writing, check the insurance and pick the service that suits the job. Sort your removalists Melbourne this week, then park yourself on the couch (if it survived). No dramas, she’ll be right.