How to Compare Removalist Quotes: A Checklist

Short answer

Get three written quotes↗, and make sure each one is a written, itemised quote↗. Ask whether the price is based on time or quantity, and where the clock starts↗. Then compare what is included rather than the total alone: Consumer Affairs Victoria's advice is don't just accept the lowest quote↗.

Three quotes for one move can arrive as three different documents: a text message with a number, a one-line email, and a two-page proposal. Only one of those can be compared with anything.

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 written, itemised quote↗, so the removalist can account for every charge
Rate basis	Whether the price runs on time or quantity, and where the clock starts↗
Surcharges	The cost of delay storage and card surcharges↗, in writing
Payment terms	payment terms in writing↗, including any amount asked for upfront
Start time	a set start time↗, not "sometime Saturday"
Insurance	a Certificate of Currency↗, rather than a verbal assurance
Liability wording	Walk away from no responsibility clauses↗

Should the removalist see my home before quoting?

For most homes, yes. South Australia's consumer agency suggests an in-person look at the goods↗ instead of estimating the volume over the phone. A quote built on your own guess at how much you own is a quote that 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

Source: Hire A Mover, Sydney Removalist Guide 2026. Links in the sources list below.

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↗ for a budget crew to $245-$320/hr↗ for a premium one. Two honest quotes can sit at opposite ends of that. The question is what the extra buys: more movers, better gear, real insurance, or nothing you can point at.

How do I check the removalist behind the quote?

Accreditation. AFRA membership is voluntary accreditation↗: members meet standards for equipment, vehicles, premises and training, but smaller removalists may not be members.
Reviews, carefully. A removalist company paid $30,600↗ in penalties over testimonials the ACCC alleged were fabricated, so read across more than one site.
Deposits. Queensland's advice is to avoid upfront payments↗.

What should I do once I have picked one?

Before moving day, prepare an inventory with photos↗. It takes twenty minutes with a phone camera and it is the difference between a claim and an argument. Then use the calculator to sanity-check the total against published ranges.

Editor Written and checked by [EDITOR NAME - REQUIRED BEFORE LAUNCH]. Every figure on this page was checked against its source on 12 September 2026. How we source prices.

Sources

Official NSW Government: Choosing a removalist Checked 2026-09-12
- Always ask for a written quote before hiring a removalist, and make sure it is itemised so the removalist can account for every charge.
- The contract should say how payment is to be made, including whether payment is required upfront.
- Removalists accredited by the Australian Furniture Removers Association must meet standards for equipment, vehicles, premises and staff training, but smaller removalists may not be members.
Official Queensland Government: Using a removalist Checked 2026-09-12
- Upfront payments can be risky, so try to find a removalist who does not ask for one.
- Ask whether the cost is based on the time the job takes or the quantity of goods, and where the removalist deems the journey to start and end.
- Ask whether there is extra cost for storage if moving day is delayed, and what the surcharge is for paying by credit or debit card.
- Prepare an inventory noting existing scratches or dents, photograph items and boxes, label fragile items and number each carton.
- Check whether the removalist is a member of the Australian Furniture Removers Association.
Official Consumer Protection WA: Choose your removalist wisely Checked 2026-09-12
- Get three written quotes and compare the prices and the services included.
- Ask for the removalist's insurance Certificate of Currency and check what it covers.
- Avoid contracts that say the removalist takes no responsibility for damage or loss.
- Set a specific start time and clarify any storage fees before moving day.
Official Consumer Affairs Victoria media release, 20 January 2021 Checked 2026-09-12
- Don't just accept the lowest quote: as well as the quality of the provider, consider what services are included.
Official Consumer and Business Services SA: Using a furniture removalist Checked 2026-09-12
- Rather than estimating the volume of goods over the phone, ask whether the removalist can visit your home and view the goods in person.
Official ACCC media release, 30 July 2015 Checked 2026-09-12
- A removalist company paid $30,600 in penalties after the ACCC alleged it posted online testimonials using fabricated customer identities.
Industry Hire A Mover: Sydney Removalist Guide 2026 Checked 2026-09-12
- Budget and sole-trader removalists in Sydney charge $110 to $145 an hour for a two-person crew.
- Premium and specialist Sydney removalists charge $245 to $320 an hour for a two-person crew.