Moving from Syd-Mel...What's the best way to do this?

Lnewhere on 11/11/2010 - 15:40

I will be moving from Sydney to Melbourne next month, what would be the best way to do this? I don't have much belongings, just the basics to fill a one bedroom apartment such as queen bed, small sofa, TV, washing machine, small fridge, some chairs and tables and clothes.

Has anyone recently moved interstate with little belongings and what did you do? I've thought of a few options:

  1. Hire a truck/trailer one way and offload the stuff myself? But the quote I get so far is quite expensive. Does anyone recommend any service/business that allow you to hire a small truck one way at an affordable price?
  2. Get a removalist. However, I don't know any good ones. Is it OK to rely on the internet to search for a good removalist? I mean, you don't exactly know their level of service until they actually delivered your good, and by then, it's too late. I don't want any stress of a shonky removalist who don't care for your goods. Does anyone have good experience with a removalist recently who does interstate work?
  3. Sell some of the stuff now. How easy/hard is it to sell a fridge or washing machine? Is it worth the trouble? I mean, I will need it until the last week of staying here and are people willing to wait around for an item? Has anyone sold a white good lately and how long does it take to sell? How do you determine the selling price and where's the best place to advertise?

I hope you guys can help with my queries.

General Discussion

Comments

  • retiredfeline on 11/11/2010 - 15:47

    I don't have enough experience to comment on your choices, but remember there's another side to option 3: if you sell some of your whitegoods, then you have to buy replacements at the other end. And given how delivery people can be inflexible, you may spend a lot of time waiting for the vans. And of course you have to go shopping and lose some money in the upgrade. But then maybe you know you don't need a particular whitegood at the other end, or you want an excuse to replace it.

  • Davo1111 on 11/11/2010 - 16:00

    http://www.standbyrelocs.com/ - they pop up, but are like $5 /day

    Budget does 2 day utes for $135

    the other choice would be to rent a trailer

  • scotty on 11/11/2010 - 16:25
    +2

    I got an inter-state removalist when I moved from Qld to NSW (many years ago). Save a lot of hassle for sure although it's probably not the cheapest. Do ask for many quotes because I found the price varies a lot.

    • janeymac on 08/01/2011 - 13:19

      Scotty, sorry this is a very late reply. Can yo remember who you used? Did they do an OK job?

      • scotty on 09/01/2011 - 21:31

        Sorry that was indeed many years ago and I can't recall the name of the company and whether they are still in business. I only remembered that we have called many removalists with huge differences in cost.

  • lovedeals on 11/11/2010 - 17:27

    Shop around for an interstate removalist, call 50 of them if possible, as Scotty mentioned, prices vary ALOT!

  • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2011 - 03:21
    +1

    You raise some good points in your post, which shows you have thought your options out well. The removalist advice above gives you some thoughts. I would add some others points.

    Removalist - Look in local paper, many of these guy's are not into the internet or even computers so that widens your need. Backhaul is a term used, where 1. They can add your shipment to another to save money and/or they are returning from a job. Having a friend in Melbourne look up local companies in papers there, who ship interstate can help as they are more likely to have a one way job to Sydney, and could be empty going back so will do a deal.

    Selling your goods here, yes worth looking into vs the cost of shipping. Obviously you will need to do the sums vs the shipping costs. The best way if you need to keep the goods and use, is to advertise at your work place or school etc. If the price is right people will wait. When OS I bought a car from a friend returning to Oz, at a good price, on condition they could use it until they left. I even drove them to the airport. They saved and so did I.

    As for selling price, first rule is to say, if I wanted to buy this, would I pay what I am asking. Now you have to be a little ruthless and consider not what you want but what you would pay. That is in effect what you are saying anyway as you will keep it if the price is not right. Its used, and RRP isn't the basis of the price you will ask. That said you can try for more.

    Finally a off the planet idea, which is depends on sizes of what furniture you have left (fridge Washing machine probably unlikely) and availablity, look at a campervan return rental, might even be one Sydney to Adelaide, so go via Melbourne if the mileage allowance is enough. Then a cheap flight back from Adelaide to Melbourne. Hey do some sums if one is available. An old post -> http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/9813

    Maybe let us know how you go.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join