How to find a reliable moving company? Avoid halfway price increases when moving!

Compare the same job, not different assumptions

Two quotations can look far apart because they are pricing different jobs. One may include dismantling and two collection points; another may assume everything is packed and ready beside a lift. Ask what each price covers before deciding that one mover is cheaper.

Prepare a single brief and send it to every company: furniture and appliance list, estimated carton count, photos, collection and delivery addresses, floors, lift access and your preferred date. Identify fragile, unusually heavy or oversized pieces. Add packing, disposal, storage or extra stops if they are part of your plan.

A low quote is not proof of dishonesty, and a high quote is not proof of quality. A clear explanation of scope is more useful than a promise that nothing could ever go wrong.

Show the route from the room to the lorry

“There is a lift” does not describe the whole carrying route. Show the mover the loading point, entrance, corridor, lift and any stairs or steps. If a large item will not fit through the lift or doorway, discuss the handling plan before moving day.

For condominiums and commercial buildings, check the management’s moving window, loading-bay booking, vehicle height limit, lift protection and deposit requirements. For other properties, confirm where the lorry can stop and whether there is a clear route for a trolley.

Use the Moving & Site Access Guide to collect these details. If your building needs a deposit, read the condo deposit guide and confirm the current rules directly with management.

Confirm the price conditions before paying

Ask the company to put the agreed scope, total and exclusions into the quotation or written booking confirmation. If a survey or photo review is still needed, find out whether the figure is provisional and what information is required to finalise it.

Check the deposit, balance, rescheduling and cancellation terms. Ask what happens if the crew must wait because keys or property access are not ready. For fragile or high-value items, ask about the applicable damage-reporting process and any insurance or liability conditions; do not assume all companies offer identical cover.

Keep the final version easy to identify. If the inventory changes several times, ask for a consolidated confirmation rather than leaving the crew to piece together a long chat history.

Agree changes before the extra work starts

Plans can change without anyone acting dishonestly. A new sofa, an extra collection address, a lift breakdown or a previously unreported flight of stairs may change the work. The important distinction is between an explained, agreed variation and an unexplained charge.

1. Identify the difference. Compare the new request or access issue with the written quotation.
2. Ask for the options. Can the work proceed as originally agreed, be rescheduled, or be revised?
3. Confirm the amount. Get the additional work, price and payment arrangement in writing before it begins.
4. Keep the record. Save the revised confirmation with the original quote and photos.

If you disagree with an extra charge, ask the company’s contact person to explain the basis and the available next step. Record the circumstances calmly. Neither party should have to rely on a vague promise or a last-minute verbal assumption.

For concerns about identity or unusual payment requests, see how to avoid moving scams.

Choose with evidence, not one headline claim

Check the business identity through ACRA’s Bizfile. Read recent reviews for details relevant to your move, such as communication, item handling and how problems were resolved. A registration, award or marketplace profile can provide context, but none replaces a clear agreement for your particular job.

You can also view Move Move’s Carousell profile. Use the same written scope and payment checks whichever channel you use to enquire.

Before you accept a quotation

• The company has seen the full inventory and relevant photographs.
• Both properties’ access conditions are recorded.
• The total, included work and possible variations are clear.
• You know the payment schedule and who to contact if plans change.

For item preparation, see our guides to packing a television and moving mahogany furniture. Businesses can start with the office-moving guide.