While the process of moving house is considered one of the most stressful life events a person can go through, it can also be one of the most expensive and complicated. Costs can quickly add up from hiring equipment, planning moving-related services, and purchasing packaging supplies.
For the average individual, it’s also impossible to move large furniture by themselves, let alone a household’s worth of belongings built up over years or even decades. So, it’s easy to imagine why people would want to go through a removalist service. Professional moving companies can help take the load off when it comes to moving homes. Although the upfront expenses may be daunting, most businesses provide end-to-end solutions, from packing services to transport and furniture reassembly.
If you’re hiring removalist services to help streamline and make your move hassle-free, it’s important you don’t go for the cheapest option. While affordability and budget should be considered, hiring whatever company gives you the cheapest quote can backfire.
This article will cover why hiring the cheapest removalist service you find might be detrimental and make the moving process even more stressful. It’ll also delve into what you should look out for and the benefits of paying more for a professional, reputable company.
What The Cheapest Removalists Are Lacking
Cheap removalists are cheap for a reason. Unfortunately, in Australia, there are no formal requirements for a person to register a business and work as a removalist. Anyone with a truck and an Australian business number can technically offer moving services.
Similarly, no organisation in place regulates the removalist industry like there is in healthcare or education. So, it’s possible for cheap removalist services to hire staff who haven’t received proper training, haven’t undergone police checks, and/or don’t have the right equipment.
There have been so many horror stories where individuals have gone to cheap removalist services to transport belongings and have them damaged or even stolen. The only reason why these removalists can offer their services for cheap is that they’re cutting costs somewhere. These could potentially include:
- Not properly training staff. Staff may also be unverified (no police check) and have no formal qualifications.
- It’s also unlikely that they have the right tools for the job. Reputable removalist companies will have high-quality equipment and a fleet of vehicles at their disposal.
- They may not have proper affiliation and licensing. Any reputable removalist company is accredited by the AFRA (Australian Furniture Removers Association). This requires spending money on the proper equipment, vehicles, and staff training.
- It’s also likely they’re cutting costs by not having proper insurance coverage, if they have any at all.
- It’s often a tactic from ‘cheap’ removalist services to provide cheap quotes, but then have many hidden fees. The low quote is just to attract customers initially.
- They might be cutting corners by having no website, social media, or support channels. This might also make them harder to contact if something goes wrong.
Things To Look For In A Removalist
There are a few key factors that separate a cheap removalist service from a reputable professional. If you’re looking to get the most out of your money, we’ve listed what you should look out for below.
Accreditation
While it isn’t a requirement by law to be accredited by the Australian Furniture Removers Association, it’s a red flag if the business isn’t. Any professional removals company will be AFRA-accredited and follow their standards.
Positive reviews
Don’t just settle for reviews on the Google business listing either. Search for the company on various platforms to check their reviews and ratings. You want to make sure there are a large number of positive reviews from real people.
Insurance policies
A good removalist service believes in their skill and staff expertise. If a removalist service isn’t willing to provide genuine insurance cover, that is a red flag. Insurance coverage also shows they will treat all items with care.
Guarantees
Similarly, any reputable removalist company typically has guarantees of some kind. For example, it’s common for them to offer written no-damage guarantees that cover compensation or a replacement if any items are damaged during packing/transit.
Communication
A professional removalist company should be easy to contact and have multiple forms of communication. They should be easy to reach over email or phone, and they should also be transparent about costs and moving timeframes.
Another key sign of a good removalist to look out for is how thorough their assessment is. A reputable removalist company would provide on-site, in-home assessments before providing a quote.
Red flags that you should avoid when hiring a removalist service include:
- They only accept cash payments.
- The company has no information regarding prior experience or customer reviews.
- The business is providing a final quote before even inspecting the items to be moved.
- They are providing discounts that seem ‘too good to be true’.
If you want to go the extra distance when considering potential removalist companies, you can always check if their business details are legitimate. You can check their business name and number (if public) on the Australian Business Registry. This can help you avoid any potential scams.
The Impact Cheap Removalists Can Have On A Move
Cheap removalists can have a massive impact on a move, from damaging items to belongings not even being delivered at all. Scammers pretending to offer cheap removalist services are also becoming quite common.
These scammers will offer to transport belongings at low prices but require upfront payment. After payment is received, they will then ghost the client and refuse to transport the goods, or in some cases, steal them. Spending extra for a reputable removalist service instead of accepting the lowest quote is worthwhile, even if it’s just for peace of mind. In cases where the cheap removalists do transport the goods, they will likely do it incorrectly. This is because the company is cutting costs somewhere, whether it be by not properly training staff, using incorrect equipment, or both. Hiring a cheap removalist will often result in the bare minimum, missing equipment like blankets, tools, and ramps, which are crucial for safely moving heavy furniture.
It’s also more likely that a cheap removalist service will cut corners when it comes to packaging. They might use lower-quality boxes and skip out on any protective items. Because there is less ‘on the line,’ their attention to quality and care will also be lower compared to a professional service that is held accountable through guarantees and insurance. Unless you’re prepared to risk everything you own, saving a few dollars by hiring the cheapest removalist service isn’t worth it. In most cases, the money you would save is going to have to be spent replacing any broken and/or missing items or hiring a more reputable company if things go wrong.
For Professional and Expert Removalists, Hire Ready Movers
Don’t risk your belongings getting damaged or missing by hiring cheap removalists. For a professional team providing moving services, you can trust Ready Movers. Our team is AFRA-accredited with fully trained and insured staff.
Ready Movers has helped over 20,000 clients, and counting, pack and transport their belongings. We can also help if you’re looking for interstate removalists. Our team provides interstate relocation services for all major cities, including helping you transport your vehicle and pets.
For a professional removalist company you can trust, call us today at 1300 787 934 or email nostress@readymovers.com.au. Our team also offers free in-home assessments, written quotes, and fixed price rates.
Don’t have time to pick up the phone or write an email? That’s okay, too. You can now start the moving process with us by requesting a quote online.
