Choosing a removalist is a decision most people make once every few years, usually in a hurry and with a settlement date bearing down. This checklist is meant to slow it down just enough. It works for any removalist, not only us, and it is written for whole-household moves in Adelaide. Moving Company Adelaide is a service of Moveall Australia Pty Ltd, an Adelaide removalist; how we answer each of these checks is on our page about choosing a moving company Adelaide residents can trust.
Work out what you need before you call anyone
You will get better quotes, and be able to compare them fairly, if every removalist hears the same description of the job. Before you start, write down:
- Both addresses, and the date or the range of dates you can move.
- The number of bedrooms and living areas, and what is in the garage, the shed and the garden.
- The access at each end: stairs, lifts, steep or long driveways, parking, narrow paths.
- Heavy or bulky pieces such as a piano, a pool table or a large outdoor setting.
- Whether you want the removalist to pack, or will pack yourself.
- Anything fragile or valuable that needs extra care.
Book early
How far in advance should you book a removalist? As soon as you know your date. The end and start of each month, when many leases end and settlements fall, book out first. Booking early also leaves time to arrange packing, book apartment lifts and loading docks, and sort out insurance without a rush.
Shortlist removalists you can check
Ask people you know who have moved recently, and read reviews on more than one site, paying more attention to how a company responds to a complaint than to the star count. Then check each business on your shortlist:
- A real business name you can look up on the Australian Business Register, not only a first name and a mobile number.
- A physical address and a website with the company’s own details.
- An enclosed removal truck for a household move, not an open trailer.
- Clear terms and conditions you can read before you book.
Get the quote in writing, and read it
A removalist who gives you a firm price over the phone without asking about the home has not quoted, they have guessed. A proper quote comes after questions and arrives in writing. When you read it, check that it shows:
| The quote should show | Why |
|---|---|
| What it is based on: an inventory or a clear description | So you know what is covered, and what happens if more turns up on the day |
| Packing and materials, if included | Packing can be a large part of the job |
| Heavy items named on their own | They need extra people and equipment |
| Access at both homes | Stairs, lifts and long carries change the time a move takes |
| How extras are charged | Items not on the quote, waiting time, or a longer day |
| The deposit, the balance and how to pay | So nothing about payment surprises you |
| The insurance position | What the removalist holds, and what you need to arrange |
If you are comparing quotes, make sure each one is for the same job: the same inventory, the same access and the same packing. A lower total for less work is not a saving.
Ask the right questions on the phone
- How many people and what size of truck will you send, and how did you work that out?
- Will you pack, and are boxes and materials included?
- How do you protect furniture, floors and doorways?
- What happens if the move takes longer than planned, or there is more to move than the quote says?
- How do you handle heavy items such as a piano or a pool table?
- What do you need from me before moving day?
Understand the insurance
Removalist insurance is where most misunderstandings happen, because two different things get called insurance. Public liability cover protects against damage or injury to other people and their property during the job. Transit insurance covers your own belongings while they are being moved, and many removalists do not include it automatically. Ask each removalist which they hold, what you need to arrange yourself, and get the answer in writing. Then ask your home and contents insurer whether your policy covers a move. Our article on removalist insurance goes through each kind of cover.
Red flags to walk away from
‘What are red flags with moving companies?’ is one of the questions Google shows most often to people searching for removalists. These are the ones that matter:
- A price with no questions. Nobody can price a household move without knowing what is in it and how it gets out.
- Nothing in writing, or a quote that will not say what it is based on.
- Cash only, or most of the money up front, especially into a personal account.
- Insurance answers that change, or a promise that you are covered with no detail of how.
- No business you can check: no company name, no address, only a mobile.
- Pressure to decide now, or a price that drops sharply the moment you hesitate.
- A new price on the day for the same inventory the quote was based on.
- The wrong equipment: an open trailer, no blankets, too few people for the job.
Know your rights
Under Australian Consumer Law, when you buy a service you have the right to expect it is provided with due care and skill, is fit for the purpose you asked for, and is provided within a reasonable time. The ACCC says these rights cannot be taken away by anything a business says or does. Read the removalist’s terms before you book as well, because they set out things the law leaves to the contract, such as what the quote is based on, what you must pack and how extras are charged.
On moving day
- Walk the house with the crew before loading, and point out anything fragile, valuable or staying behind.
- Keep valuables, documents, medicines and keys with you.
- Do a final sweep of every room, cupboard, the garage and the garden before the truck leaves.
- At the new home, look over the furniture as it comes off the truck and is unwrapped.
If something goes wrong
If something is damaged or missing, note it straight away, take photos, and tell the removalist in writing as soon as you can, with the details and the photos. Check the removalist’s terms for how and when claims must be made, and contact your insurer if you arranged transit cover. Most problems are settled directly with the company. If yours is not, your state’s consumer protection agency can explain your options.
Planning a move in Adelaide?
Our page for removalists Adelaide families book for complete house moves walks through a move with us from the quote to the first night.
Want to put us through this checklist? Call Moveall and ask.
Questions people ask
How far in advance should I book a removalist?
As soon as you have a date. The end and start of each month book out first, and early booking leaves time for packing, lift bookings and insurance.
How many quotes should I get?
Enough to be confident, often two or three. Give every removalist the same description of the job so the quotes can be compared fairly.
Should I pay a deposit?
A deposit to confirm a date is normal. Paying most or all of the price in cash before the move is not, and is a reason to look elsewhere.
What is the most forgotten thing when moving?
Often the things outside the house: the shed, the space under the house, the meter box key and the garden. Do a final sweep of every room and the yard before the truck leaves.
Plan your move