Moving: Full Service vs Self Pack?

Moving: Full Service vs Self Pack?

By |January 12, 2016

There are a few different options around when it comes to how you decide to move house.

All have pros and cons and your choice of removalist will reflect what is important to you when you’re moving house.

If you’re moving a short distance then you may consider doing it all yourself. It is an easy process to hire a small-mid sized truck that you can drive with a car driving license. If you can utilise the help of some friends to help load / unload the large items then it’s a relatively simple process to move this way. Fragile and delicate items can be moved by car to minimise damage and although there is quite a lot of work involved and a bit of back and forth, you can move your home contents for a minimal price this way.

Should you be moving interstate or long distance then it is a more involved process. The two most popular methods of moving the contents of your home interstate are with a full service removalist or with a self pack removalist. What’s the difference between the two?

Full Service Removalist:

  • A minimal amount of work for you. The removalist is able to pack all of your belongings, or as much as choose. They will load it into a truck/moving vehicle and transport it to your new home when they can also unpack it.
  • This option is suitable for short or long distance moves as trucks are primarily the main mode of transportation.
  • If you require storage in between your goods leaving your old home and arriving at your new home, it can be difficult and expensive. Everything would need to be unloaded into a storage facility and then reloaded when it needed to be moved again.
  • Moving this way costs the most money due to the convenience of someone else doing much of the work.
Self Pack Removalist:
  • Introduced as an alternative to a full service removalist for people wanting to save money and pack themselves
  • You pack your own removalist moving container (shipping container) which is specially modified for residential moves with ventilation points and tie rails on the interior.
  • This option is best for interstate and long distance moves, rail is used for interstate travel and trucks from rail terminal to residential addresses.
  • Up to 50% less cost than a full service removalist when moving interstate.
  • If you require storage in between your goods leaving your old home and arriving at your new home, your moving container is simply stored in a container holding depot until ready for delivery.
Both of these methods have advantages and disadvantages. Whichever method suits you, it's always best to research your removalist before booking. Check online reviews and read the fine print of your quote to ensure you don't get hit with any additional charges during your move.