Fresh lifestyle, new job, more space or less maintenance – moving house can open up all sorts of possibilities.
The process can be a bit stressful, though, so you might be considering a professional moving company.
So, how much does it cost to use a professional house moving service, how can you keep the cost down, and what makes it all worthwhile?
We talk to Emma Anderson, head of moving at WiseMove.co.nz, to get the latest advice.
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Moving cross-city starts from $250
For a basic move across town, a professional moving service can be pretty affordable.
Shifting furniture and already packed items costs between $250 and $600 for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home, says Anderson. The price goes up when you have more rooms to clear and more stuff to box up and relocate.
Moving a two-bedroom home costs between $400 and $1300, and a three-bedroom home costs between $500 and $1600. Expect the price to be higher for four- or five-bedroom homes.
And don’t forget to factor in any specialist items from the very beginning, Anderson says.
“A standalone local upright-piano move, for example, might cost around $200 to $500. If it’s coming with the household, our team can price it as part of the move and prepare the equipment it needs.”
Intercity relocation starts from $500
Shifting to a new region or relocating cities is a great time to talk to the professionals, because moving all your belongings yourself is a big undertaking.
Between hiring a truck, fuel costs, mileage charges and ferry crossings, it really starts to add up. And you might find it’s not much more expensive – and a lot less stressful – to just call in the experts.
Let’s say you’re moving from Hamilton to Rotorua, a distance of about 100km. It costs about $500 to $1000 for Wise Move to shift the contents of a three-bedroom household.
More distance means extra costs, so a 500km move – from Wellington to Tauranga, say – would be $1100 to $2500 for the same three-bedroom house.
And if you’re making a major move, like shifting from Auckland to Christchurch, the price would be between $4000 and $7000.
It’s particularly important with a cross-city move to think hard about whether everything needs to make the move, Anderson says.
“What belongs in your next home? Check that your larger furniture will fit and decide which things you still enjoy using,” she suggests.
“Selling or donating items you’ve outgrown reduces the load and gives you less to unpack. Anything you sell can help pay for the move, too.”
Strategies to minimise the moving costs
If you’re flexible and organised, you can help keep your moving costs to a minimum.
Boxing up and moving the small stuff yourself means you only have to pay professionals to move the big items, like the fridge, sofa and beds. That can really cut your costs down and make the move much easier.
“Start with things you rarely use and work through a little at a time,” Anderson advises. “Reuse suitable boxes, suitcases and storage tubs; if you need new supplies, packs of boxes, tape and packing paper can be roughly $75 to $200.”
Can you be flexible about your moving date? If so, it’s worth mentioning when requesting a price, because sometimes different dates offer better value.
“Our moving teams can sometimes make use of available space on a truck already making a suitable journey,” Anderson explains.
“That’s known as backloading, and it can make longer moves more affordable. If we have a window for collection or delivery, that opens up more opportunities for us to use space efficiently.”
It’s also worth planning ahead, as extra journeys and repeated handling can add to the cost.
“If belongings need collecting from both your home and a storage unit, or some furniture is going to another address, include that in your Wise Move enquiry. Your moving team can then plan the whole job together.”
Making your new place feel like home
When you hire professionals to help you move, it should make the whole process run more smoothly. They know how to pack efficiently, protect your belongings, and they’ll sort everything into the right rooms on arrival.
Anderson says it’s surprisingly cost-effective when you compare it to all the accumulated costs of a DIY move.
“The benefit is also how comfortably you can start life in the new place. Let your moving team know where the main furniture belongs and label boxes by room.
“With the beds in place and kitchen boxes in the kitchen, you can get the essentials ready and unpack the rest at your own pace.”
Being surrounded by your familiar furniture and belongings is a much better experience than living in box city for weeks on end, and it makes the entire move feel less stressful, Anderson adds.
“One of the nicest parts of moving is seeing your own things make a new place feel like home. With Wise Move’s moving teams handling the lifting and transport, you have more time to enjoy that moment.”
