What a house move involves
A removalist loads, carries and unloads your furniture and boxes, usually with a crew of two or more and a truck sized to your home. Outside the inner cities most homes are separate houses: 86.7% in the Geelong urban area and 90.4% in Bendigo at the 2021 Census (Geelong, Bendigo), and a house often comes with a shed, a garage, outdoor furniture and a garden's worth of pots. List them all, room by room, so the removalist sends the right truck and crew.
Hourly or fixed price
Most quotes are either an hourly rate or a fixed price. Victoria's guidance for people moving house is to confirm which it is and what extra charges apply if the move runs over time (Victorian Government). An hourly rate fixes the price of an hour, not the number of hours, so ask when the clock starts and stops and how travel time is counted. Ask for a written quote with the terms and conditions attached (WA Consumer Protection).
The truck and your street
A big removal truck is often a heavy vehicle (more than 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator) or a long one (7.5 metres or longer). In a built-up area, Victoria's road rules, for example, limit a heavy or long vehicle to one hour stopped on a road unless a sign or the council allows longer, with an exception while it is continuously loading or unloading goods (rule 200, Road Safety Road Rules 2017). Some councils also need a permit for these trucks, so ask the removalist which truck they will send and check your suburb page.
If you are renting
A renter in Victoria must give 28 days' written notice of intention to vacate at the end of a rental agreement (Consumer Affairs Victoria). Book the move for a day or two before the keys go back, so there is time to clean before the exit condition report, which the rental provider must complete within 10 days of the agreement ending (Consumer Affairs Victoria).
What not to pack in the truck
Old TVs, computers and appliances cannot go to landfill: e-waste has been banned from Victorian household rubbish and landfill since 2019 (Victorian Government). Recycle them before the move rather than paying to move them. Then request a free quote.
At short notice
Tell us when you need to move. We'll try to find a removalist who can help at short notice. Choose Emergency (today or tomorrow) or Last-minute (this week or within two weeks) in the form. Emergency requests are passed on first. A whole house is harder to fit in at short notice than a small move, so list everything and say how flexible the date is.
House removals questions
How long does a house move take?
It depends on how much is moving, the access at both ends and the distance. Give the removalist a full list and they will estimate the hours; ask what happens if it runs over.
Should I pay a deposit?
Read the terms first. WA Consumer Protection advises against paying the full amount upfront: pay in full at the end of the job and refuse demands for final payment partway through.
Can the removalist raise the price on the day?
A regulators' guide to the Australian Consumer Law gives the example of a removalist that tried to raise an agreed price mid-move and was told the customer had to pay only the amount agreed. Get the quote in writing.
Is my furniture insured during the move?
Ask before you book. Victoria's guidance for people moving house suggests considering transit insurance, and NSW Fair Trading notes that removalists are not required to insure your belongings and many insure only their vehicle.