A Removalist Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
A removalist shares three important things you need to know before you move house
Settling into a new house is stressful enough – the last thing you want is a difficult or exorbitantly expensive move. Here, Domenic Young, relocation consultant at Sydney Domain Furniture Removals, reveals three things you can do to make the process far quicker, easier… and cheaper!
One of the best things a client can do is to have us pre-pack for them. In the scheme of things, the extra cost is nominal and it makes a big difference to the speed and efficiency of the move.
Professional removalists will pack boxes securely so nothing gets broken, and label boxes so unpacking at your new home is easier.
Moving house? Find a removalist near you on Houzz and read reviews from their previous customers
Professional removalists will pack boxes securely so nothing gets broken, and label boxes so unpacking at your new home is easier.
Moving house? Find a removalist near you on Houzz and read reviews from their previous customers
2. Be upfront about what you have
When we are told there are a couple of extra items to move, but we arrive at a home to find 35 extra boxes or a 400-kilogram piano, this causes unnecessary time wastage and anxiety all around.
Be clear about how many items you have and if there are any particularly large or heavy ones so we can be prepared with the right manpower and equipment on the day.
When we are told there are a couple of extra items to move, but we arrive at a home to find 35 extra boxes or a 400-kilogram piano, this causes unnecessary time wastage and anxiety all around.
Be clear about how many items you have and if there are any particularly large or heavy ones so we can be prepared with the right manpower and equipment on the day.
3. Tell us if you have tricky access
When making a booking, advise your removalist in detail if you have difficult access, such as lots of stairs, a very steep driveway or a shared lift. Tricky access situations often require considerably more time to complete, and having advance warning allows us to arrange the extra manpower that may be required. It also means we can give you a clearer estimate of how long the move will take.
When making a booking, advise your removalist in detail if you have difficult access, such as lots of stairs, a very steep driveway or a shared lift. Tricky access situations often require considerably more time to complete, and having advance warning allows us to arrange the extra manpower that may be required. It also means we can give you a clearer estimate of how long the move will take.
When discussing access, also let us know if there’s a long distance between the front of your home and where we’ll need to park the truck. If, for example, we cannot park the truck directly in front of your residence and have to walk 30 metres and up three flights of stairs to collect items, this can make the process much longer. If we were to go back and forth, say, 50 times to the truck, it can three to 10 kilometres to the distance we’d need to travel – often carrying up to 10 tonnes or so of furniture over the course of the day.
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The one thing I always get asked is…
I’m generally asked two things; first, “How much is it going to cost?” and second, “How long will it take?”
My answer is always the same: every move is different, and price and duration depend on a number of factors. These include how much furniture you have, how heavy the goods are, how many removalists are required, what access is like, whether you will be packed up and good to go when we arrive, and if you have any assembly and/or disassembly requirements.
If, for example, you have a single truckload of furnishings and personal gear, you live on the ground floor and we can park outside your door with clear, level access, and you’re ready to go when we arrive, we may be able to load up in around three hours.
I’m generally asked two things; first, “How much is it going to cost?” and second, “How long will it take?”
My answer is always the same: every move is different, and price and duration depend on a number of factors. These include how much furniture you have, how heavy the goods are, how many removalists are required, what access is like, whether you will be packed up and good to go when we arrive, and if you have any assembly and/or disassembly requirements.
If, for example, you have a single truckload of furnishings and personal gear, you live on the ground floor and we can park outside your door with clear, level access, and you’re ready to go when we arrive, we may be able to load up in around three hours.
That same job with access just 50 metres down the street and with two flights of stairs can often add three minutes per mover, per load, to the truck. If you have 100 boxes to carry, this can add five hours or more to the job.
My golden nuggets
- Secure parking spots as close as possible to your front door on the morning of the move. This can really speed things up and significantly lower your moving bill.
- If you live in an apartment and cannot secure the lift for sole use, expect the time at the location to increase (as much as double) as every wait for the lift can add three to five minutes extra to the hourly bill.
- Do your research and select a removalist who is experienced, professional and shows a duty of care. Ask if the removalist who will be conducting your move is an owner-operator and if the team they work with is experienced. Owner-operators tend to deliver a higher quality of service because it’s their name on the line, not just the name of the business, so remember to read online reviews of their business (you can find many on removalists’ profile pages on Houzz).
Your turn
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments, save your favourite images and like or share this story with someone you know who’s on the move.
More
If you’re moving, renovating or building afresh, read this first – An Architect Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments, save your favourite images and like or share this story with someone you know who’s on the move.
More
If you’re moving, renovating or building afresh, read this first – An Architect Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
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Being packed up and good to go (everything boxed and stacked up, all items dismantled, halls and passageways cleared), and with clear access will result in a faster and more efficient move. From time to time we arrive at a home and a customer hasn’t packed up completely so we have to assist, which can really slow things down and add to the cost.