Main Aspects of the Moving Service

Our main goal with this post is to be informative and clear about the main aspects of the moving service and the main charges involved. I believe that by doing so you will be more prepared next time when hiring a furniture removalist.

Most people get a bit wary and have doubts about the charges incurred in the removal service. Most of the times they are not familiar with them, or they were not made aware of until the bill is finalised. The majority of the removalists in Australia don’t offer a locked price for their removal and furniture delivery services, and the service is usually charged per hour. This operational charging system is put in doubt because you don’t exactly know how much you will end up paying until the last minute, so the best way to protect yourself and your pocket is the knowledge about the main charges involved in the transport service.

Each business has a different way to operate and it is not uncommon to hear customers complaining about extra charges that they were not made aware of.

Here are the six main aspects of the removal service you should know next time you are looking for a home mover in your area:

1.    Charge System

Some companies charge a full hourly rate and all inclusive door to door, which I believe it is the most adequate for both removalist and customer. The rates vary from business to business with some charging per half hour, others every 15 minutes. The latter may sound cheaper, but most of the time they require a minimum of 1-2 hour, or they may add extras such as fuel levy, distance charge, or insurance coverage to balance the lower rate.

2.    Extra charge for difficult access

     Some companies charge an extra fee that ranges from $50 to $100 depending on how difficult or narrow is the entrance to your home. This is usually subject to the mover’s personal judgment on the day, making it hard to contest at the spot. 
     A client came to me complaining about a $100 charged extra because his house was located around 100 metres from where the movers had parked the truck, plus 2 steps into his house. He wanted to contest the charge, but he ended up paying $50 and not happy with that.

3.    Stairs/ Lift

Some companies charge extra depending on how many flight of stairs your house has. Some charge per flight of stairs and others a flat fee. Most companies have a clear rate for stairs, adding certain amount on the top of the usual charges. Make sure you get this information from the company you are hiring beforehand in order to avoid an unpleasant surprise in the end.

4.    Time on transit

It is part of the furniture delivery or home removal service to spend time on transit and in traffic to get from point A to point B. There is no doubt that there will be times where the traffic is more intense than others. It is paramount you trust the business and take its word. The movers on the road represent the business, and their attitude and professionalism is the reflexion of the business ethical values.

5.    Additional pickups and drop-offs

Some companies charge additional for extra pickups and drop-offs. This extra service usually incurs a flat fee of $100 or more, and this fee would still be subject being in a regional area or urban area. Again, please make sure you get this information before booking the service.

6.    Distance

Most removalist companies need to charge extra when distance is outside certain radius. Some charge after 10km, and others after 20km from a specific point. Some offer a flat fee and some would charge per kilometre. Make sure you ask about distance charges before going ahead with the service. A flat fee is better than charging per kilometre as you never know which way the driver will be heading back or forth.  

We will be talking about those points in more detail on our subsequent posts.

Good moving!!

The Leader Transport Team