7 Cheap Ways To Move Your Furniture Interstate In Australia

Overview

• Compare your interstate moving options
• 7 ways to reduce the cost of moving furniture interstate
• What is the cheapest way to move boxes interstate?
• Still need help with the costs of relocating?

Weigh up the following moving options to find the best balance of cost and effort for your move.

There is no single cheapest option for every move. Ask for written quotes before deciding, and check exactly what each price includes.

1. Is it cheaper to sell the furniture and re-buy it locally?

Is your furniture old or inexpensive? Sometimes selling your furniture can help you get extra cash to cover moving costs. Then, once you arrive and settle in, you can choose new furniture that fits perfectly in your new home. There’s nothing like a completely fresh start!Selling second-hand furniture in Australia, whether online or at brick-and-mortar op-shops, is usually relatively easy whether you’re leaving a metropolitan city or regional town. When you first move into a new home, as long as you have a mattress and some basic cooking utensils, you can rebuild your furniture collection with new home decor.

2. Have friends and family pitch in to pack boxes

When you move interstate, you’ll often find much of the budget going toward removalist fees, packing fees, truck hire fees, and refuelling costs. To reduce these expenses, consider asking close friends or family whether they can give you a hand to pack the moving truck, rather than adding the task to the removalist’s bill.Of course, you may have to persuade or thank them by shouting them lunch or a slab of their favourite beer, but it’s a cheaper alternative (and way more fun!) to paying strangers to pack your belongings.

3. Backloading, the cheaper alternative

Third on our list of the cheapest ways to move furniture interstate is backloading. This involves sharing or splitting the costs associated with hiring space in a removalist truck that has already been booked for another person’s planned relocation. Backloading offers a worthwhile option when two or more people need to transport items interstate, but each person has only a small amount of furniture or goods to transport.If your moving dates are somewhat flexible or you’re relocating with just a small load of furniture or other belongings, you may benefit from comparing backloading quotes from removalists. Before you settle on this option and make your booking, ask these questions:

• Are collection and delivery dates confirmed or estimated?
• Will my belongings share the vehicle with other customers’ goods?
• Does the price include loading and unloading?
• Will my belongings go into storage or be transferred between vehicles?
• What cover is available for loss or damage?

Remember to label your boxes and furniture clearly, so they don’t arrive at the wrong house. And if you must be out of your current home by a fixed date, tell the provider before you accept the quote.

4. Compare self-loading containers with DIY vehicle hire

Self-loading containers can help you save money by having a provider send you containers to pack and load the furniture yourself, before they transport them to your interstate destination.Depending on just how much furniture you have, this may be a fantastic, cheaper alternative for your interstate relocation. If you do consider this option, check these key things with the provider:

• How they will deliver and collect the container
• Where they can place it
• How long you have to pack and unpack it

If you can safely drive a removalist truck and can capably handle loading and unloading it, you may want to consider hiring a truck or van and driving it yourself. You may want to weigh up the common expenses of DIY truck hire against the self-loading container option, though, and make sure you compare the overall cost of the journey rather than just the daily rate.

Essential factors to ask about include the included kilometres, fuel requirements, licence requirements, and one-way hire fees. And if you’re required to return the vehicle to its original location, include that return journey in your budget.

5. Reduce your load before you get your final quotes

Before the big moving day arrives, do one last cull of any furniture or other possessions that don’t necessarily need to come with you and would otherwise just be taking up space in the truck. Sort through your belongings and separate them into four categories:

1. Items to keep
2. Items to sell
3. Items to donate
4. Items to dispose of

Not only could you potentially make some extra cash on still-usable items you no longer need, but saving space in the truck will make it easier to pack securely.

6. Research, create a budget, and stick to it

The penultimate item on our list of cheapest ways to move furniture interstate is to create a budget plan in advance. Doing this may help you to organise bills and pay them on time so you know exactly how much money you will need.Keep in mind that your transport quote is just one part of moving interstate. Make a list of the expenses that apply to your plans, including:

• Furniture and box transport
• Vehicle hire, fuel, tolls, and parking
• Packing materials and equipment hire
• Loading and unloading help
• Accommodation and meals during the journey
• Storage and extra collection or delivery stops
• Insurance to cover your belongings during transit
• Replacement furniture and local delivery

Planning out your interstate relocation can help to reduce your expenses when transporting your furniture and household goods across the border.

7. Compare removalist costs before contracting

If you decide that using a removalist will provide the comprehensive and seamless move experience you need, that is just as valid an option. Just make sure you compare companies on price and customer reviews. And as you request quotes from removalists, give them as much information as possible to ensure the quote is as accurate as possible.Mention if there are any stairs, limited parking spaces for the van, lengthy carrying distances, or any significantly heavy items.Ask the removalist to provide you with an itemised quote that shows:

• If the quoted price is fixed or an estimate.
• All packing, loading and unloading service inclusions.
• Any charges for difficult access, waiting time or additional items.
• Whether they include storage or if they charge separately.
• All collection and delivery arrangements.
• Cancellation and rescheduling terms.
• What happens if belongings are damaged or lost.

Read recent reviews for similar interstate moves. The lowest starting price may not offer the best value once you take into account any exclusions and extra charges. If you do need to add to your moving budget, a personal loan can provide the necessary extra funds to make your relocation as smooth as possible.

While we look at the cheapest ways to move furniture interstate, it’s well worth exploring cost-effective ways to move boxes too.

If you intend to send boxes separately from any bulky furniture, compare parcel or freight services with a removalist’s small-load or shared-load service. Before you shop around and seek out quotes, measure and weigh each packed box, and check the provider’s size, weight, and packaging requirements.

For a few boxes, individual parcel quotes may be worth investigating. For a larger collection, ask for a quote for the whole shipment. Include any collection, depot drop-off, and final delivery costs in your comparison.

If the boxes are travelling with your furniture, ask whether including them in the same load is better value than sending them separately.

Still need help with the costs of relocating?

If you’ve gone through each option on our list of cheapest ways to move furniture interstate and still need to cover relocation costs without dipping into your savings, a cash loan from Red Tree Finance may help.

Before you apply for a loan, first reduce any unnecessary expenses and confirm your moving budget. If you are considering borrowing to cover a remaining shortfall, compare the total loan cost and repayments with what you can afford.

Red Tree Finance can help you to reduce the financial stress of moving interstate today. You’re welcome to apply, day or night, or contact our team for more information.

The information provided in this blog is of a general nature and is provided without considering your specific objectives, financial situation, or needs. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial, investment, or other professional advice.

Before making any financial decisions or taking action based on the information presented, you are strongly encouraged to assess its appropriateness in light of your individual circumstances. Red Tree Finance does not intend to provide personalised financial advice, and you should seek independent financial, legal, tax, and other relevant advice tailored to your unique situation.