Moving company Adelaide: what to expect, and what to ask

What an Adelaide moving company should do for you

A moving company is more than a truck hire. For a whole household, you should be able to hand over the whole job and know who is responsible for each part of it. Here is what to expect, and what we do.

You should expect	Why it matters	With Moveall
Questions before a price	A price without questions is a guess	We ask about bedrooms and living areas, access at both homes and heavy or bulky items
A written quote	You can see what is and is not included	Your quote is sent in writing, built from the inventory
Packing on offer	Packing is the slowest part of a move	Wrap & Pack supplies all boxes and materials and packs the house
An enclosed truck sized to the home	The load stays dry and does not shift	3, 5 and 8 tonne pantechs, chosen from the inventory
Clear insurance answers	Public liability and transit cover are different things	$20 million public liability; ask us about transit insurance
Help with heavy pieces	Pianos and pool tables need extra hands and gear	Extra team members and specialty equipment, as part of the move

The written quote: what it should include

A moving quote is a small contract. Read it before you book, and ask about anything it leaves out. A complete quote from any moving company should show:

• Both addresses and the date or dates of the move.
• The inventory the quote is based on, room by room, or a clear note of what it assumes.
• Packing: whether the company is packing, and what materials are included.
• Heavy or bulky items named on their own, such as a piano or a pool table.
• Access notes for both homes: stairs, lifts, long carries, parking.
• What is charged as extra, and how, if the day turns out different from the quote.
• Payment terms: the deposit, when the balance is due and how you can pay.
• The company’s insurance position, in writing, and what is left for you to cover.

Under Moveall’s terms, a fixed-price quote relies on the inventory list from the quote, and extra items on the day are charged on time. That is why we ask for a full inventory and put it in the quote: you can see exactly what the price covers.

Insurance questions to ask any moving company

Insurance is where moving companies are least clear, so ask three plain questions and get the answers in writing.

1. What public liability cover do you hold? Public liability covers damage or injury to other people and their property during the job, such as a wall or a neighbour’s car. Moveall holds $20 million public liability cover.
2. Are my belongings insured while they are on the truck? This is transit insurance, and it is often not included. Under Moveall’s terms your goods are not insured in transit unless cover is arranged, and Moveall can put you in touch with its preferred insurer. Ask us about it before you book.
3. Does my home and contents policy cover the move? Some do, some do not, and some only cover certain events. Ask your insurer before moving day.

Be wary of any company that says you are covered without being able to say how, by whom and for what. Our article on removalist insurance explains each kind of cover in more detail.

Red flags with moving companies

Google shows ‘What are red flags with moving companies?’ on almost every Adelaide removalist search, and for good reason. These are the signs to walk away from:

• A firm price given over the phone without any questions about the home, the access or what is moving.
• No written quote, or a quote that does not say what it is based on.
• A large payment demanded up front, in cash only, or into a personal account.
• Vague or changing answers about insurance.
• No business name, address or landline you can check, only a mobile number.
• Pressure to book today, or a price that drops sharply the moment you hesitate.
• An open trailer or an unmarked van offered for a whole household.

The full checklist, including your rights under Australian Consumer Law and what to do if something goes wrong, is in our guide on how to choose a removalist.

Moving companies in Adelaide: why local matters

A moving company that works Adelaide streets every week knows things a national call centre cannot: which inner suburbs have no room for a truck, which Hills driveways a big pantech will not climb, how city apartment buildings handle lift bookings, and when Rundle Mall is closed to vehicles. Moveall describes itself as SA born and bred, proudly South Australian owned and operated, with its office in Wayville. Our local movers Adelaide page covers access across the suburbs and the Hills in detail.

The moving services we offer

Moveall’s moving services cover the whole household and more:

• Complete house moves across Adelaide and the Hills: see removalists Adelaide for the full sequence.
• The moving day crew, the truck and the gear: see movers Adelaide.
• Packing and unpacking through Wrap & Pack: see packing services.
• Furniture care and handling to Moveall’s strict handling and packaging procedures: see professional movers Adelaide.
• Pianos, pool tables and heavy pieces inside a full move: see pianos and heavy items.
• Office and commercial relocations through Moveall for Business.
• Moves into and out of South Australia by road and rail freight through Moveall Interstate.

Booking and paying

You can book with us directly, or book online with Moveall, which takes under two minutes. Moveall takes major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Afterpay, which Moveall describes as interest free with no additional processing fees. For local moves a deposit confirms the date and the balance is paid a day or two after the move; for interstate moves, full payment is made on the day of the move. A moving company that asks for the whole amount in cash before the job starts is one to question.

Questions people ask