Sneaky Traps That Some House Movers Make to Get You to Pay More

When moving, there are often unexpected costs that can quickly add up. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warn consumers to avoid moving companies that guarantee a cheap price, or that offer a “guaranteed” moving quote. Be aware of the sneaky traps some house movers use to get you to pay more after promising a fixed rate. Below are some of the most common money traps movers use to trick people.

Unexpected costs of moving

There are many unexpected costs in the moving industry and whilst some are legitimate part of business, others are a sneaky way to have you pay more than you should. Let’s go over some below:

Call out fee: Whilst a call out fee covers the cost of expenses from depot to pickup location, it isn’t always a fee that movers pass on to the customer. Check with your chosen professional moving specialist and ask if this is something they charge. You shouldn’t have to be paying for a moving truck to get to your house, but for the moving service of moving furniture from one location to another.

Stair fees: You probably don’t expect to pay extra for a moving company to climb stairs. However, this fee can add hundreds to your bill. To avoid such expenses, you should always make sure to ask about stair fees in advance. You don’t want to get hit with an unexpected bill that’s more than you bargained for. You can save money by performing some of the tasks yourself. But be realistic with your abilities. Stairs can add more time to the job, which means more charges.

Storage fees: Another unexpected cost when moving is a storage fee. You may need to store some household items in a warehouse while the movers get them to your new home. If you don’t do it yourself, this can be a costly mistake. Many movers charge extra for storage when they deliver a large piece of furniture, for example. This happens because of repairs, renovations, and paperwork issues. The cost of storage is often insignificant compared to the cost of the movers’ services.

Parking and Toll fees: If there is inadequate parking at the property or no facility of a loading dock, movers are expected to park on the street. They will often pass on the cost at inflated prices of their own, so ensure you prepare some parking in advance if you live in a parking scarce location.

Over cubic meterage fee: If you’ve worked out how much volume of furniture you have and the movers determined otherwise, you are at their mercy when it comes to delivering your belongings. Before unloading, some of the most sneaky movers will get you to pay an exorbitant amount extra saying there are more items than quoted or you’ve gone over the volume. This is understandably unethical practice that is all too common in the industry. To avoid this, ensure you are paying for an exclusive truck use moving service and not a backload that share truck space with others. Although the sharing of truck space is more common for long distance and interstate removalists, it is a good idea to dismantle bulky furniture and pack items in boxes so it is easily stackable.

Misleading advertising

It is possible to have your home moved by a house mover who is using misleading advertising to entice you to pay more. It is a form of deception that distort consumer decisions, and it is illegal. Under consumer protection laws, companies that use misleading advertising must rectify the situation and stop doing so. Here are a few examples of the kinds of misrepresentation that may happen:

Many house moving companies engage in misleading advertising. The best way to avoid this is to be cautious and research the moving company thoroughly. Read customer reviews on different websites to avoid falling victim to misleading advertising. Make sure the company has a good reputation and ask for references from previous customers. If they have a good reputation, they should be able to move your belongings in a timely manner.

House movers who use misleading advertising may be sued for deceptive advertising. The ACCC investigates advertising to ensure that standards are upheld. While it does not make any promises, it looks at the extent of the companies’ involvement in preparing the advertisement and whether the company should have known about the false claims. Consumers are protected with consumer guarantees from products and services paid for. Under Australian Consumer Law, a consumer has the right to remedy, refund or cancellation of services if it fails to meet consumer guarantee.


How to Prevent a Furniture Moving Disaster When Moving House

There are several ways to avoid a furniture moving disaster, but if you have a large item like a couch to move, you need to prepare accordingly. Make sure to measure the dimensions of the new location so that you can properly wrap fragile items. Make sure to take measurements of the rooms in your new place, as well as the dimensions of the new location. In addition, you should also take proper measurements of entries and doorways for your new place so that you can ensure your furniture movers can safely navigate through tight spaces.

Disassemble large furniture

Before packing your large pieces of furniture, make sure you disassemble them. You should gather all tools necessary to disassemble the furniture, as well as sealable storage bags and small containers. You should also gather instruction manuals, especially for pieces of furniture that are difficult to disassemble. You can also take photos of the dismantled pieces to remember the steps. If you are unsure of how to dismantle certain pieces of furniture, ask a friend or relative to help you.

Firstly, if you have any furniture with glass you should take extra care; take off the tops of glass coffee tables and any glass that can slide easily to avoid breakage. Make sure to measure the doorway and the dimensions of the furniture pieces before moving them. If you have a large piece of furniture, be sure to disassemble it first, it can save you time and prevent a costly moving disaster.

Wrap fragile items in bubble wrap

If you’re planning on moving house, you might want to properly pack your fragile items. It’s important to avoid causing damage to delicate items when moving them, so make sure to wrap them in bubble wrap to prevent them from being crushed. Another way to protect fragile items is to place multiple layers of bubble wrap and pliable cardboard around them. You should also wrap any pieces that extend from the body of the item.

You can purchase bubble wrap at any general hardware or storage store, home improvement store, or the post office. You’ll need to wrap your glass tabletop in the material to prevent it from shattering during the move. Then, place it in a sturdy cardboard box, filling it with newspaper or other protective packing material. Label the boxes and bubble wrap with a FRAGILE sticker.

Take measurements of your new place

Before packing and unpacking your belongings, take accurate measurements of your new home’s doorways, hallways, and floor space. It’s also crucial to measure your furniture’s width, depth, and height. You can also note any tricky corners or alcoves. Knowing these measurements will help you decide whether you should move certain furniture pieces to a different room or if you need to leave them at a storage facility.

Make sure that you measure the new place’s doors and windows. Make sure that doors are wide enough for your furniture to fit through. If the doors are narrow, prop them open to make the move easier. Swinging doors can damage protruding parts of your furniture. Make sure to measure doorways and furniture’s dimensions, as well. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a sticky situation and will have to throw away or sell some of your furniture.

Prepare your home for a move

The best way to prevent a furniture moving disaster when moving house is to do as much preparation as possible before the day of the move. Packing materials include floor and wall protectors, old blankets, area rugs and flattened sturdy cardboard. For more protection on sofas and mattresses, consider using furniture wrap. Then find the right furniture movers to assist with completing your move. For the most fragile of items, consider taking it in your own car and handle with care, otherwise pack a storage box within a box to ensure superior protection.

Before the moving day, take all possible precautions to ensure that your furniture won’t be damaged. Don’t let the cold winter weather destroy your furniture if moving during the colder seasons. Ensure the moving company use reliable weatherproof trucks that don’t water damage your belongings when it rains. Also, don’t forget to protect fabric furniture! Any moisture can ruin the upholstery, and mold can form in the damaged pieces. Before hiring movers, try to gather boxes in a single room, preferably on ground level if you live in a multi-level dwelling. This will speed up the moving process as well as prevent damage to the interior by limiting the number of areas accessed.

Relocating and moving to your new home is an exciting life event but it is during these big life-changing events that things can quickly turn sour. Most moving disasters happen due to a series of events, however if you put in the effort and take control of your move and not just leave it to the moving company to figure out, it can do wonders and prevent most moving disasters from eventuating.