- Removalists perform local, long-distance and international services, transporting household and commercial goods, such as furniture and equipment.
- Top moving companies often provide packing and storage services in addition to transportation.
- Using a removalist can be cheaper, less stressful and better organised than doing everything alone.
Getting a new home is a reason to celebrate, but the moving process itself can be hugely stressful. Buying the necessary equipment, packing all your belongings into boxes, and finding a suitable vehicle takes a lot of work. And it’s not just manual labour — there’s an emotional toll, too.
Continue reading to discover the top seven removalists in Australia and five reasons to choose a moving company instead of taking a DIY approach.
miodrag ignjatovic/Getty1. Allied Pickfords
Allied Pickfords1 is one of the biggest removalist companies and it has more than 40 outposts throughout Australia. It offers a wide range of services, including end-of-tenancy cleaning, storage, valet packing and unpacking, pet transportation and vehicle transport. The team can help with local, domestic or international moves.
Because of its size and the amount of services that it provides, Allied Pickfords is an excellent choice of removalist for almost any need you may have.
2. Kent Removals and Storage
Operating since 1946, Kent Removals2 has completed more than one million removals. If you need further convincing of its acumen, check out what the Australian Business Awards3 says about the company. The team provides packing, storage, assembly, insurance and baggage, cleaning, handyman and full local and international moving services.
As a full service removalist, Kent Removals and Storage can handle a variety of different scenarios. They also have branches in several key areas throughout Australia, including Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
3. Crown Relocations
Founded in 1965, Crown Relocations4 has a global presence in 54 countries, with more than 260 offices. The company provides moving services, such as relocation, international moving, insurance, packing, storage and assembly.
If you live in another country and are interested in relocating to Australia, Crown Relocations offers a unique service to make your move as seamless as possible. Its immigration management services are available to help international movers understand immigration requirements and acquire a visa.
4. MiniMovers
MiniMovers5 has a reputation for excellence in Melbourne, The Gold Coast and Brisbane, where it operates. It is known for the hourly rate that it offers clients, which gives you more flexibility and control over how much you pay. This makes MiniMovers a great option for you if you’re on a tighter budget or if your moving needs are on a smaller scale than other projects.
Removalist services include move-out cleaning, packing and unpacking, local moves, office moves and recommendations for self-storage.
5. Chess Moving
Chess Moving6 is an Australian-owned and -operated company that’s been in business for almost 150 years. Over time, the team has built an encyclopedic knowledge of local and international moves and goes the extra mile with customer services.
Chess Moving can help you move anywhere in Australia, but the company also has the experience and the expertise to make international moves possible, should you need to relocate outside of Australia. Along with moving, it also offers storage solutions and pet transportation.
6. WhyBirds
Founded in 1857 and previously known as Birds Without Wires, WhyBirds7 has had plenty of time to develop its reputation for excellence. WhyBirds has developed its expertise by working alongside individuals and businesses for all types of moving projects. If you or your business need to relocate outside of Australia, it also offers international relocation assistance. On the other hand, if you’re looking to move to Australia, WhyBirds also has an immigration assistance service to make the move as easy as possible.
7. Palmers Relocations
Palmers Relocations8 provides foreign, statewide and local removalist services, including packing, storage and assembly, insurance and destination services. Palmers Relocations can be seen as a turnkey solution for many individuals looking to move to or within Australia. If you’re an Australian moving elsewhere in the country, Palmers Relocations can assist you in your search for a home and will even research local schools for you. If you’re coming to live in Australia, it will assist you by ensuring your legal and visa documents are in order.
Reason One: Professional Packing
Packing your items into boxes, bags, crates and containers is one of the most stressful, least rewarding things a person can do. If you rush, you risk taking up too much space or breaking items, but doing it neatly and carefully seems to take forever.
Enter removalists. They have professional experience packing and unpacking, meaning they can do a professional-grade job in less time. Not to mention they’re trained in shifting heavy items, so you can sit back and not worry about risking injury. What’s more, a removal company has tools and equipment to keep your belongings safe and secure no matter how long the journey is.
Reason Two: Save Time
You’re in the process of moving property, so you probably don’t need reminding about how time-consuming it is. From seeking a new place and securing a mortgage to changing your address on official documents and buying furniture, your to-do list can feel endless.
It’s not just packing your items that a removalist company can do quicker, but loading and unloading as well. They don’t need to spend time figuring out how to pack fragile items or shift clunky furniture — it’s what they do every day. And without spending all that time worrying about logistics, you’re free to focus on the other areas of moving.
Reason Three: Convenience
If you have children, pets or other circumstances that make moving more complicated, removalists can be lifesavers. Many companies offer additional services such as handyman solutions, assembly and cleaning. Putting furniture back together, hanging pictures and fitting fixtures can feel like a huge burden after the arduous moving process, and removalists can eliminate a swathe of jobs from your to-do list.
What’s more, you won’t need to bother friends and family with requests for help, nor deal with the inevitable consequences. And a removal team comes ready and prepared with everything you need, from trolleys and blankets to boxes and cleaning supplies.
Reason Four: Less Stress
Moving is stressful and chaotic by nature. Not many people think of it this way, but the upheaval of moving is mentally cumbersome. Dismantling your tidy home and favourite items and packing it all into boxes can feel hectic and disorienting.
In addition to the above, movers give you peace of mind that your items are taken care of, and you don’t need to go through the stress of deconstructing and reconstructing your entire life. Hand over the responsibilities of packing, transportation and unpacking to a team of professionals and minimise the emotional burden of moving home.
Reason Five: Streamline Moving Costs
People often think that hiring a team of removalists must cost more than doing it themselves. However, when you add up the price of renting a vehicle, buying boxes, finding dollies and trolleys and spending your precious time, it’s super expensive. Why pay for more stress when you can spend less and relieve yourself of the pressure by hiring a removalist service?
Plus, you can usually get insurance, advice and even immigration assistance from your moving company. Streamlining all your costs and spending on one company makes it significantly easier to track spending and manage your moving budget.