Moving home is high up the list of life’s most stressful experiences. As well as the long list of jobs to do, documents to sign and people to organise, there is often an emotional aspect too, particularly if you’ve been living in the property for several years.

From the valuable, and fragile to the heavy and awkward, packing and moving your belongings is challenging; while friends and family can help, we can guarantee, there’s always more work than anticipated.

Hiring a professional removal company to move your belongings to your new home is one way to reduce the stress and make your move easier. But you need a removal company you can trust; you don’t want to be adding to the stress of the day!

Here are some pointers when looking for a removal company:

Where to look

Word of mouth is often a good start – there’s nothing like a recommendation from personal experience. Online is the other place most people will turn to, but check out independent reviews and testimonials.

You may also consider searching the Australian Furniture Removals Association (AFRA) member directory; AFRA is Australia’s peak body for the removals industry.

Applicant members are rigorously screened, must meet high standards and are regularly audited to ensure compliance. All AFRA members have public liability insurance, and adhere to AFRA’s policies and diligent procedures. Membership of AFRA is a clear indicator that a removals business values the safety of their staff, customers and their belongings.

What are the costs?

This is the first thing which many people ask – but each house move is different – moving the belongings from a 2-bedroom unit 30km up the road is obviously a lot less work than moving a
4-bedroom house interstate!

Removal companies will quote per job, and will factor in mileage, time spent packing, loading and travel time.

What to look for in a quote

Ideally you should get quotes from at least three different companies.

Compare the quotes for what’s included and what’s not – the cheapest may have not included other costs, and these may add up.

Points to consider when comparing quotes include:

• Will the removal company be expected to pack items, and deconstruct large furniture?
• How to they manage fragile and breakable items?
• What is the delays policy if you have to change the move date?
• Have they got public liability?

A good contract will explain who is responsible for what, and what additional extras you may want to consider, and/or what additional costs you may incur for other reasons.

Furthermore, a reputable removal company will carry out a pre-removal survey before any contract is drawn up and signed; this ensures they know exactly what your requirements are to get your belongings safely to your new location.

Like any other contract, if there is anything you’re unsure of, or you want clarifying, ask before you sign on the dotted line.

Do I need removal insurance?

Removal insurance gives you peace of mind that if accidents do occur during the removals process, you will not be substantially out of pocket. Many removal companies offer removal insurance but you will need to check the small print to see what is or isn’t covered.

Ensure any valuable or precious items are valued; ask whether these items will be covered by the insurance, or whether you will need to pay extra.

Our aim is to make your property sale experience as easy, and stress-free as possible, and that includes giving you tips and information on all aspects of moving house, not just the sales process.

If you are thinking of selling your property, why not come to us to see what we do for our clients, and why we are different from the rest? We are a local, independent family run business with decades of experience behind us.

We are frequently told we go above and beyond expectations, and we are constantly achieving brilliant results for our clients.

Contact us now for a free, no obligation quote. Give us a call on 02 4954 8833, send us an email to: mail@apnewcastle.com.au or call in at the office where we can really talk you through the process and tell you what you need to consider.