11 Cheap Ways to Move Interstate

Did you know that interstate moves in Australia can cost over $3000?

Whether you’re planning to move interstate for work or other reasons, there are many things to consider before the move. Logistics, timings, and…budget. Moving can be an expensive endeavour at the best of times, so the moving costs going long distances are likely to be a concern.

But, there are certain things you can do if saving money is one of your primary objectives! In this guide, we offer a few tips on some of our cheapest ways to move furniture interstate.

How To Save Money When Moving Interstate

Summary Of Points

• Start Early – Book and plan well in advance for a better chance of lower rates.
• Don’t Book During Peak Times – Wait for off-peak times and avoid higher prices during school summer holidays or weekends.
• Consider Backloading Services – Share a truck with others to save money.
• Lighten Your Load – Make moving interstate more affordable by donating, selling or recycling items no longer needed.
• Pack Smart – Look for free boxes, newspapers or bags for packing and padding items.
• Sort Packing Supplies Ahead – Shop early for the best deals on packing materials.
• Consider Packing Services – Sometimes, time is money. Packing experts can speed up the moving process dramatically.
• Be Ready for Anything – Keep an emergency fund for unexpected costs.
• Shop Around – Compare quotes, reviews and ask for referrals before you book.
• Balance prices with service quality & credentials – Inexperienced movers may cause more harm than good through
• poor moving processes and low-quality moving equipment.
• Use ZOOM’s Certified Interstate Movers – Leverage our AFRA-accredited team for a reliable, budget-friendly move.

 

1. Start As Early As Possible

There are many things you are in control of, and not in control of, during a move to your new address – and one of the ones you can determine is your time frame.

By booking your interstate move and organising as much as you can in advance, you’re more likely to pay less than you would for an emergency or last-minute move.

Your budget will thank you for getting the best price possible by contacting the various companies you’ll need well ahead of time.

 

2. Avoid Peak Seasons

Another cheap way of moving furniture interstate is to avoid peak seasons, such as the summer or school holidays.

This is because moving companies tend to charge more when they know customers are seeking their services, and instead wait for off-peak times to offer special deals to keep things ticking along until the summer months come back again.

However, this doesn’t mean you should wait until the peak of winter, as this in itself may be more of a challenge for your removalist company, meaning that they’ll charge more.

Therefore, Spring and Autumn are typically the best times to move interstate cheaply to your new property.

 

3. Use Backloading Services

Many removal companies offer the cost-effective backloading option for those moving interstate on a budget. This is where their cargo shares the interior of the moving truck with other people’s boxes to a new location, meaning that you only pay for the space you use.

In other words, when using a moving company, Backloading is considered the cheapest way of relocating and will help save money.

Here are some other advantages of backloading:

• Convenience – Backloading is convenient, especially if you need to relocate quickly.
• Lots Of Choice – When looking to use backloading when moving long distance, you’ll find that many interstate removal companies offer this service.
• The Cheaper Option – Backloading removal services can be cheaper than your standard interstate moves, which means you save money.
• Flexible = Hassle Free – Moving removals are traditionally considered more flexible than traditional moving services. They can usually accommodate emergency moves, your moving company may even pick up your belongings on short notice.
• Less Stressful – Moving is always stressful, but backloading helps save time, not to mention being budget-friendly. For more information, check out our backloading page if you are considering hiring removalists for the job, this is quite simply one of the cheapest ways to move interstate in Australia.

 

4. Lighten Your Load

You can save a bunch of space and money by getting rid of the things you don’t need. Moving is one of the best opportunities to go through your belongings, which is also good for general housekeeping as well as keeping costs down.

Think about things you haven’t used in more than a year, any electronics that are broken and not worth fixing, old clothes and so on.

Of course, you don’t want to feel wasteful, so go ahead and donate what you can to charity shops in the area, who will be more than happy to take your clothes, books, DVDS and so on.

Another way to save the cost of moving interstate is to make money, so if you do have old laptops, TVS or other valuable items that you don’t need, why not sell them online or have a garage sale? Any cash you make can go towards the moving budget

5. Pack Smart

Packing your clothing and utensils should usually come first, and then you can tackle bigger items like furniture and gadgets.

Feel free to start packing up any books or artwork you’ve gathered over the years if there is anything left over at that point.

When moving interstate cheaply, using free moving boxes and other packing supplies is pivotal to saving money and is among the simplest methods to cut costs. If you have the time, think about asking friends and family if they have any extra cardboard boxes they no longer need.

You can also enquire at your neighbourhood grocery store whether any empty cardboard boxes are available from their deliveries and storage.

Newspapers are a fantastic backup if you don’t have access to other packing materials. They are strong and lightweight, and they may be readily broken into smaller pieces without the paper being damaged.

Just make sure to keep them in an airtight container until moving day to prevent dampness or mould growth.

If bubble wrap appeals to you more than newspaper, try using it instead – but it is quite a bit more expensive. Bubble wrap is a great method to preserve delicate goods like glasses or vases while they are being transported, but make sure to avoid poor packaging techniques, such as stacking them haphazardly within a single box rather than individually wrapping them.

Your cargo should be wrapped tightly and with multiple layers before packing away.

 

6. Sort Out Packing Supplies Ahead

If you opt to pack your cargo alone, there’s quite a bit you need to buy. But if you plan for your moving needs ahead of time and give yourself the space, you’ll be able to find good deals from the various retailers that you’ll be shopping at.

If you leave it until the last minute, you’re cost will go up and you’re more likely to just buy what you can quickly, which may end up being more expensive for the convenience.

Here are some basic things you’ll need when moving interstate cheaply:

• Packing tape
• Bubble wrap
• Boxes
• Large trash bags for clothes
• Heavy-duty scissors to help with bubble wrap and tape
• Newspaper for stuffing around fragile items

 

7. Don’t Dismiss Packing Services

While packing services don’t come for free, they can end up saving you money by saving you time. Most moving companies will also be able to give you free quotes pretty quickly.

Packing takes a lot of effort, even to the point where you’ll have to take time off work to do it.

But, more importantly, when you use professional packers from a reputable moving company, they will often offer free moving boxes and packing materials as part of the deal for interstate moves, which is already a saving for you.

And, because they are experts at what they do, they will be able to do all the heavy lifting and pack your household goods more efficiently, taking up less space in the moving van, not to mention keeping things from breaking or being damaged.

You may also find that your removal company offers storage options.

 

8. Be Ready For Anything

Although you’re going to want to stretch your budget the cheapest way possible, it’s always a good idea to leave a little money aside for an emergency fund.

Moving interstate means that you need to be prepared for the unpredictable, such as needing extra gas money, changing your flight, needing some extra packing materials and so on.

By having some money put aside, you can take care of these things without it feeling like you’ve lost out.

 

9. Shop Around

Naturally, a big part of your cost is going to be when you are hiring professional movers when moving interstate.

There are many different companies out there with different service packages and prices, so we recommend that you take your time to find the one that works best for you.

As well as looking at their website, look around on Google, Trustpilot and other online reviews to get candid accounts of what they are really like.

Recommendations from friends and family are also a good way to go, so ask anyone you know who has moved lately.

Then, once you have a few companies in mind, give them a ring to find out more about how they can help you, the cost and most importantly, whether or not they start adding a bunch of admin fees to your move.

10. Cheap Is Not Always Better

When looking for ways to move interstate cheaply, it’s tempting to get multiple quotes from moving companies, compare prices and go for the lowest price you can find, but remember that they are saving on the cost somewhere, and that’s likely to impact the safety and quality of your move.

For instance, you come across a moving company that does not offer removals insurance as standard, and may not even load the van for you. Whoever you choose, make sure that they are a member of AFRA (Australian Furniture Removers’ Association) as a sign of their quality, honesty and integrity.

For information on how much moving interstate might be, you can calculate your final cost using our handy interstate moving cost calculator.

11. Book With ZOOM!

Using a reputable moving company like ZOOM can make all the difference.

As leading cheap interstate removalists, we’ve helped thousands of customers with their interstate move, doing everything we can during the moving process to keep them within their budget while offering a top-tier service at the same time.

We have the best trucks, people and storage options for all long-distance moves and know how to handle an interstate move efficiently by using the cheapest ways to get to your new location, passing on the savings to you.

We never sneak in any hidden additional costs or fees, offer free quotes for your budget-friendly move and are fully AFRA accredited, meaning that your cargo is in good hands. You’ll find our online reviews speak for themselves. Best of all, our price beat policy guarantees you the best pricing.

If you are looking at moving interstate on a budget, give us a ring and see what it’s like to move with ZOOM.

Got An Interstate Moving Query? No Problem!

If you have any questions or queries about storage costs, packing or the cheapest way for you to move to your new address, our friendly staff are always here to help.

Contact Details: 1300 788 164.