10 Major Factors Affecting Moving Cost
Nov 04, 2022
Moving to a new home is financially taxing, as people spend up to $3000 for a local move and $8000 for an interstate relocation. You can deplete your savings without considering the moving cost and creating a budget.
It is essential because you need to pay for one-off expenses like a
rental bond, utility connection fees, parking permit fees etc., besides hiring professional removalists in Brisbane. Various factors can affect your move’s total estimate, and you must keep them in mind before you make a budget.
Thus, here are ten major factors affecting moving costs. Have a look.
1. Distance
It is a no-brainer that moving distance significantly affects your moving cost. A local move (less than 80 km) can cost anywhere between $300 to $800 when you have a two-bedroom home.
However, the
house move will cost thousands when relocating long distance or interstate. Therefore, you must calculate the total moving distance, as your hired removalists in Brisbane will ask to provide a reliable quote.
Note: Removalists can include a $60-90 call-out/travel charge, which is a set charge they cost for coming to your residence.
2. Volume of Items
Most reputed removalist measure moving boxes, appliances, furniture and other items in cubic meters (m3). Therefore, how much your things weigh will determine the moving cost. The higher the volume of things, the higher the moving cost.
For example, moving 15m3 with the help of two removalists in Brisbane can cost over $500. Similarly, the cost for 23m3 is over $800, 32m3 is over $1100 etc.
Note: When renting a moving truck to move, the weight of your items will help you decide the right size of truck to avoid round trips and save money.
3. Packing Materials & Their Quality
Packing is one of the most important moving tasks and impacts your budget. The amount and quality of packing materials decide the moving costs. 3ply moving boxes will cost more than 5-ply boxes.
The better the quality of bubble/foam wraps, the more they will cost. Additionally, if you get supplies like cell dividers, compression bags, wardrobe boxes and other special packing materials, expect them to increase the budget.
4. Number of Removalists
Usually, a team of 2-3 removalists is enough for small and medium-scale moves. Each removalist charges per hour, and their rates vary depending on experience. Therefore, before hiring
professional removalists Brisbane, schedule a pre-move survey to help the professionals understand the move’s scale and give a realistic quote.
Since Brisbane is an affordable city, you can find a removalist in Brisbane with a starting price of $55 per hour, but the average cost is up to $75 per hour.
5. Type & Size of Property
Reputed and honest removalists in Brisbane conduct pre-move surveys to determine the type and size of the property. Packing and moving a small property will cost less than a larger house/unit. For example, a two-bedroom house will take less human resources and packing materials than a 3-4bedroom house.
Therefore,
when booking removalists, ensure to share important details regarding the property & ask for a pre-move survey if the removalists need further clarity.
6. Accessibility
Many people don’t consider accessibility when it comes to house moves, but it is a major factor affecting moving costs. For example, moving things from an apartment are often challenging because there are multiple storeys, stairs, narrow pathways etc.
The cost of moving a difficult-to-access house or unit is more because you or your hired removalists need to put in extra effort and use moving equipment.
7. Additional Services & Charges
If you need assistance with unpacking, storage, reassembly and other additional tasks, you’ll need to pay for them separately. Moreover, removalists ask for call out, travel and additional charges depending on the distance and scale of the move.
8. Moving Time
Expect removalists to charge more during peak moving seasons because their demand is high and the availability of good professionals is low. Additionally, their charges can vary on weekends and weekdays. Therefore, if you are moving on a tight budget,
plan to move during non-peak seasons and days.
9. Vehicle Type
The cost of renting an individual moving truck differs from a shared one. If you choose to get your things moved via a dedicated vehicle, the removalists will charge you according to the volume of items.
However, if you avail a backloading service, the charges depend on the space your items take on the truck. It is a cheaper option but good only when you have ample time to get your belongings delivered.
10. Moving Insurance
Moving insurance is a must to protect your things and get reimbursement in case of damage or loss of items. Moving insurance is of different types and offers complete, partial or basic covers. The cost of full coverage insurance is the highest and the basic one the lowest. Aim to get a policy within your budget to avoid excessive moving costs.
Endnote
A house move strains you financially, as you have to manage fixed expenses with one-off costs. Additionally, you have to pay for surprise expenses. Understanding the major factors affecting moving costs is crucial to create a fool-proof budget. Thus, use this guide to determine what can affect your budget and spend wisely.