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MD’s important recommendations and issues to consider. |
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Local Removal charges "Must Read" Information |
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I know this information will be extremely useful for you to decide which local removal company you select. This page is designed to make you aware of hidden traps that some removal companies try and charge you without justification. |
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Questions you MUST ask before giving them your hard earned money!
- Depot to Depot - You are paying the removal company to drive to your job and then back again when they may be doing another removal around the corner! How can it be fair for two customers moving on the same day to be paying depot to depot when the truck is already on the road? The removal company is definitely double dipping on charges and you are paying for it! You should only pay a removalist from your pick up point to your new residence because that is when they are actually working.
- Return time - You are paying the removalists to drive back to the original pick up point when they may be going to another job nearby! Some removal companies will charge you back to the original place of pick up when calculating their charge. Not fair!
- Minimum 2 hours - Other companies charge a minimum of 2 hours even if the job is less than 2 hours. This is the cost of business and typically one job will follow another. A good removal company will have more work after a small job. If they don’t have other jobs then I they may be a back yard company with minimal experience and have lack of tools, blankets and equipment to cut corners on their costs. Do not let anyone move what you work so hard for. Ask questions because you have every right to!
- Nearest 30min or 1hr - Some companies charge you to nearest 30min or by the full hour only. You end up paying a lot extra.
- Credit Card Fees - You get charged extra for paying by credit card (particularly Visa & Master cards). Anything from 2-5% is added to your removal cost. How can that be fair! This is a cost that needs to be considered when their hourly rate is established, not plus this plus that etc! Transcorp only believes that extra charges should be charged for premium cards such as AMEX or like cards.
- Road Tolls (such as City link) - Other removal companies forward the costs to you or go the long way (extra time added) when tolls reduce their driving costs.
- Lunch breaks - Companies charge you for their staff / contractors to have lunch breaks! You are paying them to go down the road and get food or to sit for 30 min (that may cost you $44.00-$77.00) whilst they have their lunch! Take this off their final removal charge as you have probably also given them drinks and a snack yourself whilst they where working. Please understand, I am totally for hard working removalists to have a well deserved lunch break but they MUST take this time off your final charge.
- We Break It we fix It - Some removal companies offering this have lengthy conditions that almost always voids any claim. Such as you can’t help, you must follow every trolley/carry load, you must see damage done, you may need to pay an excess, maximum claim limit, they decide the repair method etc... You MUST read all of their 1-2 pages of fine print (please ask them to forward these pages to you). These offers are not insurance based they are only a sales technique to get you to use their service and any claims will be considered only ….they don’t have to pay out and will make it hard for you to claim! They also charge you extra per hour to accommodate for claims and this so called “additional” offer. If you need insurance to cover for accidental damages then consider doing it properly and go through a reputable insurance company that covers you for these type of damages as that is all they do. Besides selecting the best removal company to look after what you worked hard for, this will be the second most important subject for you to consider.
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Moving Interstate? "Must Read" Information |
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Besides death and divorce, moving your precious belongings is rated as the third most stressful experience anyone fears. Therefore, selecting the correct method and furniture removal company is extremely critical. Never base your decision on price alone as it is very easy for any individual to apply and succeed in getting a truck license. This doesn’t automatically make them an experienced removalist. |
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Questions you should ask when moving interstate
- How long has the company (or individual) being performing interstate removals? - Only let an experienced removalist (minimum 3 years) handle your precious belongings. It takes many years to clearly understand how to wrap, stack and safely tie down your belongings to minimize potential damages.
- Who do I call if I have any problems communicating with the removal driver? - Do NOT directly select a one man, one truck outfit because the removalist is more probable to have problems with times, dates and money and your communication with them will be limited as they are continuously on the road. They may decide to divert elsewhere to make extra money and any extra delays may be risking all of your belongings and you will be totally stressed out. Only select a removal company that has an office where communication lines are always open.
- What type of insurance does the removalist offer in case of damages and how do I claim if anything happens? - Any quality removal company should automatically have insurance for their truck(s), therefore if anything happens to the truck whilst on the road ie. fire, overturning etc then your belongings would be covered. If you require accidental damage insurance including loading/ unloading and movement whilst inside the truck then you would seriously need to consider insurance that covers you for this type of potential damage(s).Again, any quality removal company would have the ability to offer this type of insurance.
- Do they use Containers on rail or does the same truck that picked up my goods deliver as well? - Companies that utilize containers to move customers’ belongings may have a greater risk of damages because on most occasions the same removalist packing the container will not be the same removalist unloading the container. At the delivery end they will need to be extremely careful as they will have limited knowledge of how it was stacked. Containers typically have limited tie rails to safely secure your belongings to its walls etc and goods are pushed together minimizing their movement. Nothing beats safely wrapping and tying down your belongings.
- Can they supply a proper written quote including confirming your inventory (very important)? - Any company that is not prepared to supply a written quote including their charges with terms and conditions and cannot attach an inventory of your goods should not be even considered. This is where you are extremely susceptible and the removalist may increase charges when they arrive to pick up your belongings. If you have any problems with their service and you have no paperwork to prove what was expected from the outset then you may have major issues. Companies performing removals this way are “Cowboys” and have been known to hijack your belongings until you pay the additional charges. Do NOT risk it!
- Do they have testimonials that you can read from happy customers? - Even though removal companies will boast about how good they are, it is wise to request written testimonials so you may read what others have to say about their experience with them.
- What happens if the removalist is running late to pick up or drop off my belongings? - As most charges are based on competitive “backload” rates it is still important that you clearly understand the removal company’s procedure for unforeseen delays that may occur from time to time. Do they have a corporate office so that you may be updated of circumstances? Perhaps consider booking the entire removal truck as this will assist meeting exact dates that you may have requested.
- Do they have a website that you may review? - In today’s marketplace a web-site tells you a lot about a company and its ability to service your move. Take your time and read through their website content.
- Do they have the correct tools to disassemble and assemble beds, shelves etc? - As strange as it may seem, many small removal companies cut their cost by not having the latest equipment including tools to perform the work correctly. If you require your beds, shelves etc to be disassembled and reassemble by them, then it is important they know about it and are prepared to assist you. Is this service included in the price quote to you?
- Are there any potential charges? If so, what are they? - This is where the “Terms and Conditions” need to clearly spell out any potential charges that may need to be added to your original cost. Most people moving aren’t sure what information to supply to receive a proper quote so please spend time understanding your quote. Over the phone discussions with a removalist on the road will not have much bearing if your move goes wrong.
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Managed storage facility or self storage facility? |
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Important facts to keep in mind
- Self Storage Companies - Self Storage facilities may have managers / staff that work during business hours and / or after hours but these facilities only provide you with a storage space and on almost all cases will not put your goods away for you. You will need to do this work yourself or have a removal company do this for you. A removal company would, on most occasions be charging you an hourly rate for this service and / or any pre-packing required. Requesting an inventory and/or condition report may not be relevant as you would have the key lock of your storage space and if/ when you choose to move out most companies would not cover you for damages and/or missing items because you always had access yourself and potential problems would be hard to prove. Insurance is strongly recommended and will give you peace of mind.
- Managed Storage facility - Managed storage facility typically is a removal company that has storage locations. They will offer you the benefit of pre-packing, performing an inventory of your goods, removal and safely placing your belongings into their storage facility. They will almost always have their own blankets, plastic covers and boxes to safely stow your goods and should not charge for this service as these materials are reused when you choose to move out. As noted above, charges do apply for the removal to / from their storage facility but you do not have to be at the delivery point because you (if requested) will have an inventory and/or condition report given to you prior to uplift. Access to a managed storage facility is typically by appointment only as your goods are safely put away in timber storage containers which need to be located and ready for access. This type of facility is definitely best for potential customers that do not wish to have regular access to their belongings. Insurance is strongly recommended and will give you peace of mind.
Self Storage facilities are best when?
- You require constant access to your belongings and do not want to be charged for access fees.
- You prefer to delivery your belongings yourself to the storage facility and don’t trust the efforts of a removal company.
- You find removal companies too expensive and prefer to do the hard work yourself.
- You wish to buy or use your own packing/ wrapping materials to put away to belongings and not have them dusty
- You are not concerned about dust, potential insects etc with an open environment facility. Some Self storage companies do protect their facility well from vermin.
- You are not concerned so much about potential 3rd parties tampering with your storage space whilst they are within the facility. Many reputable storage companies have monitored facilities but would require date/time for them to review any potential suspects.
Managed Storage facility is best when?
- You do not require regular access to your belongings.
- You prefer the same removal company that is picking up goods to safely stow them for you.
- You do not want to pay extra for materials to stow, such as blankets, plastic bags and boxes etc for protection against dust etc.
- You require short term storage when moving house and don’t want to commit to excessive minimum charges.
- You prefer your belongings to be stored in an enclosed timber container up and away from potential dust and vermin.
- You prefer to have a comprehensive inventory and/or condition report performed on your goods at uplift. Therefore, any access that you may require at their facility would require them to accurately adjust your inventory report. Not anyone can access your belongings and for this reason it is by appointment only.
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THE FAIR CHARGING SYSTEM
1300 466 838
John Christoforidis
Managing Director
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