10 Tips for a Smooth Melbourne Move
After 42,000 moves, our removalists know what causes delays and what keeps things running on time. These are the highest-impact actions you can take before your Melbourne move day.
Book Melbourne removalists before settlement confirms
Melbourne moving teams book out fast — especially on Fridays during peak periods (Jan–Mar and Sep–Nov). Lock in your movers the moment your settlement date is known.
Check building access rules early
Melbourne apartments commonly have loading dock booking requirements, lift lock-off times, and restricted moving hours. Confirm with your building manager at least one week out.
Declutter before your Melbourne movers arrive
Every box you don't move saves time and money. Go room by room before packing and set aside items for donation. Less volume means fewer loads and a shorter move day.
Label every box by room and contents
"Kitchen — pots and pans" is far more useful than "Kitchen." It speeds up unloading and prevents your Melbourne removalists putting items in the wrong room.
Reserve truck parking in advance
In inner-city Melbourne, parking for a removal truck is a common source of delays. Contact your local council 5–7 days before your move to arrange a temporary no-parking zone.
Pack a moving day essentials bag
Keep toilet paper, phone charger, a change of clothes, kettle, and medications in a bag that travels in your car — not the truck. You'll want these before the Melbourne boxes are unpacked.
Disassemble flat-pack furniture the night before
Bed frames, bookcases and flat-pack wardrobes are faster and safer to move disassembled. Breaking them down the evening before saves significant time for your Melbourne removalists.
Update your address at least 2 weeks before moving
Australia Post, the ATO, Medicare, your bank and your children's schools all need updating. Do this at least two weeks before your Melbourne move to avoid correspondence gaps.
Photograph electronics before disconnecting
Take photos of the back of your TV and computer setup before removing cables. Reconnecting at your new Melbourne address will be significantly faster as a result.
Be fully packed before your start time
The single biggest cause of a Melbourne move running over time is boxes not being packed when removalists arrive. Have everything boxed, sealed, and labelled before your start time.
Our Service Areas
We offer our home relocation services in the following regions...
Moving in Melbourne:
Frequently Asked Questions
Local knowledge from 10+ years and thousands of jobs — covering what movers cost, how parking works, apartment lift access, what to watch for in a moving company, and how to plan your move.
Hire A Mover are Melbourne removalists charging $220/hr for a 2-person team with a truck and $300/hr for a 3-person team, billed in 15-minute increments. All prices include GST, tolls, insurance and furniture disassembly — no fuel levies, no stair fees, no back-to-base charges. Typical costs: 1-bedroom move $400–$700, 2-bedroom $700–$1,200, 3-bedroom $1,200–$2,200, 4-bedroom $1,800–$3,200.
Melbourne moves take longer than most Australian cities due to traffic congestion, toll routes, apartment lift wait times and limited truck access near inner-city properties. Most strata apartment buildings require the goods lift booked at least 14 days in advance, lift padding installed before loading, weekday-only moves (9am–5pm), and a removalist certificate of currency for public liability insurance.
For timing: book 2–3 weeks ahead for a weekday, 4–6 weeks for a Saturday or end-of-month date, and 6–8 weeks ahead during December–February peak season. All Melbourne tolls — Harbour Bridge, Harbour Tunnel, M2, M7, NorthConnex, Cross City Tunnel and Eastern Distributor — are included in the hourly rate.
What does a Melbourne move cost?
Estimates vary by access, stairs, distance and volume. No fuel levy · No stair fees · No back-to-base charge.
Most Melbourne removalists charge between $160 and $260 per hour for a two-person team with a truck. The most common rate for a reputable, fully insured company is around $220/hr inc. GST.
| Home Size | Typical Cost | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $400–$700 | 2–4 hrs |
| 2 Bedroom | $700–$1,200 | 4–6 hrs |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,200–$2,200 | 5–8 hrs |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,800–$3,200 | 7–10 hrs |
Staff: Some budget operators use cash-in-hand labour without employment contracts, training or background checks.
Insurance: Many carry minimal transit insurance or none — if your belongings are damaged you may have no recourse.
Equipment: Worn straps, faulty trolleys and poorly maintained trucks increase damage risk and mid-job breakdowns.
Hidden fees: Fuel levies ($30–$80), stair fees ($50–$150) and long-carry fees mean the cheap quote often ends up costing more.
In most cases it's not an issue. The majority of jobs — Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, Inner North, Collingwood, Northcote, Carlton — have a driveway, loading bay or usable street spot close enough to work from.
In the rare situation where there's genuinely no legal parking, we'll discuss the options. Parking further away adds carry time — at an hourly rate that typically costs more than a parking fine. We'll ask whether you're comfortable covering a fine to keep the job moving. The call is always yours.
Yes — most strata apartment buildings require the goods lift booked at least 3–14 days before moving. Under VIC strata legislation, many buildings require a minimum 14 days' notice. This applies across Melbourne CBD, Carlton, Dandenong, Box Hill, Port Melbourne, Prahran and Green Square.
Buildings typically require: lift padding installed before loading; moves restricted to 9am–5pm weekdays only; and a certificate of currency for public liability insurance.
Melbourne moves run longer than Melbourne or Brisbane due to traffic, apartment lift times and limited truck parking near inner-city properties.
| Property Type | Estimated Duration | Team Size |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom apartment | 2–4 hours | 2 movers |
| 2 Bedroom apartment | 4–6 hours | 2 movers |
| 3 Bedroom house | 5–8 hours | 2–3 movers |
| 4 Bedroom house | 7–10 hours | 3 movers |
With Hire A Mover, the rate is the same every day — no weekend surcharges. Monday to Thursday is less in demand than Friday and Saturday, giving more flexibility on start times. Book a few weeks ahead and we'll have availability on your preferred day.
For a weekday move: 2–3 weeks ahead. For Saturday or end-of-month: 4–6 weeks. Melbourne's peak season is December through February — book 6–8 weeks ahead during this period.
Many companies pass toll costs through as a separate charge. Moves crossing the Harbour Bridge, Harbour Tunnel, M2, M7, NorthConnex, Cross City Tunnel or Eastern Distributor can add $15–$40 per trip with operators who bill tolls separately.
A reputable removalist should carry four types: public liability (required by most Melbourne strata buildings), goods in transit (covers belongings during transport), workers compensation (protects you if a removalist is injured at your property), and storage insurance.
Yes — one of the most common requests, particularly for customers with a gap between settlement dates. Hire A Mover offers secure storage from our Port Melbourne facility. We pick up, store, then deliver to your new address — all as a single coordinated service with no double-handling surprises.
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