Four state consumer agencies publish advice on quotes. Put together, it makes a short checklist.
Figures checked
In brief
Get three written quotes 3 , each meeting the NSW standard of a written, itemised quote 1 . Ask whether the price
is based on time or quantity, and where the clock starts 2 . Then compare what is included rather than the total alone: Consumer
Affairs Victoria's advice: don't just accept the lowest quote 4 .
Three quotes for one move can arrive as a text message with a number, a one-line email and a two-page proposal. Only
the proposal gives you anything to compare line by line.
What should every removalist quote include?
The same move, quoted three ways. Only the third can be compared line by line.
Checklist for comparing removalist quotes
Check
What to look for
Itemised price
A price given as a written, itemised quote 1 , so the removalist can account for every charge
Rate basis
Whether the price runs on time or quantity, and where the clock starts 2
Surcharges
Ask about storage costs if moving day is delayed, and card surcharges 2 , and get the answers in writing
Payment terms
The contract sets out payment terms in writing 1 , including any amount asked for upfront
Start time
Agree a specific start time 3 , not "sometime Saturday"
Insurance
Ask for a copy of the Certificate of Currency 3 rather than a verbal assurance
Liability wording
Walk away from a clause saying they take no responsibility for damage or loss 3
What the contract lists
NSW says it should include an inventory, addresses, dates and times 1
Should the removalist see my home before quoting?
It helps. NSW advises giving the removalist all the details about your move 1 so it can quote accurately, and a visit
or a video walk-through is the most complete way to do that. A quote built on your own guess at how much you own can
be revised upward once the truck is half full.
Why can two quotes for the same move be so far apart?
Sydney two-person crew: what different operators charge per hour
From Hire A Mover, checked 12 September 2026. Each source is listed at the foot of the page.Show these figures as a table
Hourly rate
Budget or sole trader
$110-$145/hr
Mid-market
$145-$185/hr
Professional operator
$185-$245/hr
Premium or specialist
$245-$320/hr
In Sydney alone, Hire A Mover's tiers run from $110-$145/hr 6 for a budget crew to $245-$320/hr 6 for a premium one. Two honest quotes can sit at opposite ends of that, so ask what the higher one pays for: more
movers, better equipment, or insurance that covers your goods.
How do I check the removalist behind the quote?
Accreditation. NSW points to industry accreditation (AFRA) 1 : members meet standards for equipment, vehicles, premises and
training, but smaller removalists may not be members.
Reviews, carefully. In a 2015 ACCC case a removalist company paid $30,600 5 in penalties over
testimonials the regulator alleged were fabricated, so read reviews on more than one site.
Deposits. Queensland's advice is to avoid upfront payments 2 .
What should I do once I have picked one?
Before moving day, prepare an inventory with photos 2 , as Queensland suggests. If something arrives damaged, that
record is what a claim rests on. Then use the
calculator to sanity-check the total against published ranges.
Run a removal business yourself? Customers who read advice like this arrive with these questions ready, and a
website that answers them up front saves a phone call. That is what our
website plan for removalists is built around.
Checked
Each figure here was last matched against its source on .
How we source prices.