Moving interstate carries several hidden expenses often ignored by most people.

Rent a property for a few months in the other state to learn and understand the environment and try shifting closest to the targeted property before buying. This will help you decide whether or no tit is the best area for you.

Hiring a professional to review the property on the your behalf is highly recommended. Seeing the property in person gives a clearer idea about whether or not to seal the deal.

After purchasing the property, create plans for packing and moving. Get organised and start packing 6-8 weeks before the moving date. Sort all the items in the house and get rid of unnecessary items through a garage sale.

During the last few weeks prior to moving et quotes from multiple removalists and check what services they offer in their quotation along with the price.

Prepare the new home's layout for easy unpacking. Plan in advance where to place the items in the new home by finalising each room's usage before more.

How much does it cost to move interstate?

Expect to pay on average upwards of $3,000 when moving to another state. A brief breakdown of interstate moving expenses are below.

Service

Estimated cost

Moving company fee

$3,000 to $5,500

Flight and accommodation charges

$1,200 to $3,500

Storage facility rent

$200 to $400 (per month)

Insurance

$1,000 (optional)

Packaging material charges

$100

Utility transfer charges

$500

Vehicle moving charges

$1,500 per vehicle

Moving costs (including transit insurance and GST) on some common routes in Australia, such as between Perth and Melbourne can be $2,200 to $3,200 and between Sydney and Brisbane should be $3,000 to $4,000. Estimated prices of moving to another state with a container are below:

Location

Estimated cost

Perth to anywhere in Australia

$2,300 to $6,000

Melbourne to anywhere in Australia

$2,200 to $5,200

Sydney to anywhere in Australia

$2,600 to $6,300

Brisbane to anywhere in Australia

$2,100 to $5,500

These prices highly fluctuate and are subject to changing fuel prices and or container availability. The estimated expenditure for moving a three-bedroom property ranges from $2,600 to $5,850. Below are the expenses on various Australian routes:

Location

Estimated cost

Between Brisbane and Sydney

$2,60 to $3,640

Between Melbourne and Gold Coast

$3,250 to $4,550

Between Adelaide and Sunshine Coast

$6,000 to $7,500

Between Brisbane and Perth

$7,150 to $8,825

Between Sydney and Canberra

$2,125 to $2,950

How to move interstate on a budget

Some common strategies for a low budget interstate move in Australia can include moving only the essentials. Avoid carrying items whose transportation cost can be higher than buying a new piece. Don't move rarely used items. According to the "one year rule," it is advisable not to move anything unused in the last 12 months.

Avoid cheap interstate removalists and opt for a reputable moving company. Several companies quote prices for 6- 7 tonnes of goods. If the homeowners have fewer items to move, opt for a removalist who can quote 5 tonnes or less to reduce the expense.

Homeowners can rent a container for 40 days from a removalist that includes loading and unloading time and excludes shipment time.

It is possible to save money on packing materials if the moving company gives them free, including furniture blankets, rope, and a heavy-duty furniture trolley. Try taking the help of friends and family to move instead of hiring labour.

Several moving companies give away discounts as a part of a promotion. Homeowners can take this advantage by conducting rigorous and thorough research on the internet.

What should I know before moving interstate?

While moving interstate, consider the hidden costs - moving interstate carries several hidden expenses often ignored by most people. Insurance of goods ($200- to $1,000) Cost of packing boxes and other materials ($500) Storage facility and temporary accommodation rent Cleaning the new property ($25 per hour or $150- $350 for a three-bedroom house Travel expenses Unpacking cost ($100 if hiring a professional to unpack the goods) Expenditure on purchasing new items for the house Take care of small things such as keys, documents, earphones, mobile phone chargers, and other small items. It is easy to lose these items. Remember to stay friendly and polite to the removalists.

What is the cheapest way to move interstate?

A few cost-effective ways for moving interstate include not carrying any furniture already present in the new house. For example, wardrobes, bed, and sofa are usually readily available in the new home. Selling old furniture will reduce additional charges but consider selling certain heavy objects which are expensive to relocate..

DIY (Do It Yourself) containers are effective in cost-cutting. Australians now move their containers for saving money. Consider self-packing instead of hiring a professional.

Move during low demand. In Australia, school holidays and summer vacations are peak days for moving, which causes increased prices due to high demand. Consider cheapest relocation seasons which are typically autumn and winter.

Most interstate removalists add hidden expenses in the invoice, presented to the customers after shipment. Avoid hidden cost by going through the quotations thoroughly and discussing exactly what the quotation states with the contractor.

The "basic container removal system" is highly cost-effective, where the homeowner receives an empty shipping container. They pack and load the goods in the container. Removalists return and ship the container to the destination. Customers unload the goods, and personnel collect the container.