Making a move is always a big deal, even if you’re moving just a few miles away. But add an interstate move into the mix and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But making a long-distance move doesn’t have to be a hassle, it just requires proper preparation.
Here are 6 tips to make your interstate move one that is stress free (or practically stress free. I’m not sure a move can be completely free of stress unless you are rendered unconscious during the process…and no one wants that).
1. Start Planning Early
It’s not uncommon for interstate movers to book up months in advance, so it’s important to do your research early and reserve a quality removalist as soon as possible.
2. Start Saving Early
There’s no getting around it—an interstate move is costly, so it is important to budget accordingly. The average cost of an interstate move for a three-bedroom home ranges from $2,500 – $6,000. If you’re wondering how the cost varies based on common interstate moves, you can compare them here:
Location Approximate Cost Sydney – Canberra $2,100 – $3,000 Brisbane – Sidney $2,600 – $3,700 Melbourne – Gold Coast $3,200 – $5,000 Adelaide – Sunshine Coast $6,000 – $7,500 Brisbane – Perth $7,000 – $9,000
3. Get Multiple Estimates
When you’re hiring the team who will be trusted with transporting your belongings hundreds (or thousands) of miles, it’s important to choose a team you can trust. The easiest way to accomplish this is by asking friends and family members for recommendations. You can also head to the internet and read reviews left by former customers.
Once you’ve found 3 – 4 companies that seem reputable, trustworthy, and are fully licensed and insured, ask each of them for a detailed, written estimate. Be sure to request an on-site estimate—you’ll be glad you did as this requires removalists to come to your home and see firsthand exactly what you have that needs to be packed and transported. They can also consider any unusually heavy or bulky items you have (think grand piano).
4. Pay for Insurance
Given the high price of an interstate move, you may be tempted to try to cut corners and skip the moving insurance.
Please, we beg of you—don’t do this.
There’s always a chance that belongings can get damaged during a cross-town move. When you upgrade to an interstate move, the odds only increase that items get broken due to the increased amount of time they are in transit.
Moving insurance can range from $200 – $1,200 and is sometimes included in the fee charged by your removalist company, so it is important to talk to your movers and determine whether insurance is included in your moving fee before making the move.
5. Hire Professional Packers
If you can swing paying for professional packers, you’ll find the service well worth the expense. The thing about hiring a team of professional packers is they’re…well…professionals. They make their living carefully and safely packing items, and they know how to properly protect your belongings for the long interstate trip.
Professional packers also bring the required materials with them — moving boxes, tape, packing paper and bubble wrap. You’ll save yourself countless trips to buy additional supplies (because it never fails that you run short on tape or boxes), and the team will likely get your belongings packed up in a fraction of the time it would take you to complete the job.
When it comes to professional packing, you can decide how much (or how little) you want the pros to pack up. Perhaps you only need them to securely pack that lovely chandelier hanging in the dining room or your collection of modern art. You can request custom packing for select pieces. You can also choose to unpack your boxes yourself when you arrive at your new home or go all out and let the team unpack your boxes once they reach their destination.
6. Consider Renting Short- or Long-term Storage
It’s rare that you’re able to move out of one home and directly into another. Often, you must spend a few days, or even weeks, living out of a hotel room or rental property until your new place is available.
If this is the case, talk to your removalist company to see if they offer short- or long-term storage services in your new location.
Making an interstate move is a big deal, but it doesn’t have to be a big hassle. If you’re planning for a long-distance move, we hope you’ll consider us at Holloway Removals. We’ve been transporting precious cargo on interstate moves for more than a decade. We’d love to tell you exactly how we can help you and your family with a detailed, customized estimate. Click here to contact us today.
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