FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving involves a lot of variables, and no two moves are exactly the same. Below are answers to some of the questions we’re asked most often. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact the Fair & Square Moving Solutions team.
1. How much will my move cost?
As is the norm for professional relocation providers operating locally, Fair & Square Moving Solutions is typically a time-based service, meaning the final cost of your move is determined by the time and resources actually required, at the rates advertised on our ‘Moving’ page.
While our hourly rates are transparent, this alone cannot provide a meaningful indication of the total cost of a move. To provide an accurate estimate, we first need to properly understand what’s involved.
This process starts with completing our Enquire Now form. From there, we’ll assess the key fundamentals of your move, including:
- Property locations and the distance between them
- Property size and layout
- Parking and access at each location
- Stairs, lifts and walking distances
- Your inventory and approximate volume
- Your level of preparation and any packing requirements
- Furniture requiring dismantling and reassembly
- Any particularly large, heavy, fragile or unusual items
- Any other circumstances that could affect the move
Once we understand the scope of work, we can determine the most appropriate crew size, truck size and overall moving plan.
For larger or more complex moves or where a client prefers, we will investigate further through photographs, video, a virtual assessment or an onsite assessment.
The more thorough we are before moving day, the more accurately we can allocate resources, schedule your move and estimate the likely total cost.
Our aim isn’t simply to provide the lowest-looking hourly rate or an optimistic estimate. It’s to properly understand your move beforehand and provide realistic guidance so you can plan your moving day and budget with greater confidence.
2. How long will my move take?
There is no reliable formula based purely on the number of bedrooms in a property. Any company suggesting otherwise is being unethical and unlikely able to follow through on their estimate, without thorough investigation.
Two three-bedroom homes, for example, can require very different amounts of time to move. Volume of belongings, preparation, stairs, lifts, parking, walking distances, furniture assembly, property access and the distance between locations can all have a significant impact.
This is why we place so much emphasis on investigating your move before providing an estimate.
Once we understand your particular circumstances, we can recommend the appropriate resources and provide a more realistic indication of the time we expect your move to require.
Where we schedule a full day, this simply means we’ve reserved sufficient time for your move. You are only charged for the time actually required of us, subject to the applicable minimum booking period.
3. Do you offer fixed-price moves?
Our service is predominantly time-based, which we believe provides a fair and transparent way to charge for most relocations.
A carefully investigated time-based move means you’re paying for the resources you require, for the time they’re actually required, rather than having a large contingency automatically built into a fixed price.
There may be circumstances where a fixed-price arrangement is appropriate, but this depends on the nature of the move and requires us to have a clear understanding of the scope beforehand.
4. Why do you need so much information before estimating my move?
Because better information leads to better planning.
An estimate based simply on “three bedrooms moving from A to B” can overlook many of the factors that actually determine how long a move takes.
Understanding your inventory, preparation, access, parking, stairs, lifts, dismantling requirements and other circumstances allows us to make informed decisions about manpower, truck size, scheduling and logistics.
Being thorough beforehand also gives us an opportunity to identify potential problems before moving day rather than discovering them when the clock is already running.
5. Should I book two, three or more removalists?
This depends on the size and circumstances of your move.
Although three removalists have a higher hourly rate than two, that doesn’t necessarily mean the move will cost more overall. An appropriately sized team can substantially reduce the number of hours required.
For larger moves, difficult access, significant furniture assembly or time-sensitive relocations, additional manpower can also make the day considerably more manageable.
We don’t automatically recommend the smallest or largest team. We recommend the resources we believe will provide the best balance of efficiency, safety and overall cost.
6. What size truck(s) will I need?
That’s something we’ll help determine during the assessment process.
We operate different truck sizes and select vehicles according to the volume being moved, access, parking and overall logistics.
Importantly, the biggest truck isn’t always the most efficient option.
For example, where two properties are close together, a medium truck completing two quick trips can sometimes be more efficient than a very large truck that’s difficult to park, load or position.
Our objective is to choose the truck and moving strategy that best suits the job rather than simply sending the largest vehicle available.
7. Do you provide packing and unpacking services?
Yes. We provide full and partial packing and unpacking services.
You can have us pack your entire home, selected rooms, fragile items or simply the areas you’d prefer not to deal with yourself.
We can also provide unpacking assistance at your new property. For larger same-day moves, we can coordinate the removal and unpacking teams so that unpacking can begin while the move is still underway.
Professional packing isn’t just about convenience. Correct packing can also protect your belongings and make the physical removal considerably faster and more efficient.
8. Can you supply boxes and packing materials?
Yes. We supply professional moving boxes and packing materials through our Box Shop.
Our range includes tea chest boxes, book/crystal boxes, Port-a-Robes, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape and other moving essentials.
Using the correct box for the contents is important. Heavy items such as books, bottles and records should generally be packed into smaller book boxes rather than large tea chest boxes.
If you’re unsure what you’ll need, we can help estimate quantities based on your property and circumstances.
9. Can you dismantle and reassemble furniture?
Yes. Our teams can dismantle and reassemble many common furniture items where this is required to safely or efficiently complete your move.
Because dismantling and reassembly takes time, it’s helpful to identify these items during the quoting process.
For complicated furniture, specialist items or anything requiring unusual tools or expertise, please let us know beforehand so we can determine the best approach.
10. What should I do before the removalists arrive?
Good preparation can make a significant difference to both the duration and cost of your move.
Unless we’ve been engaged to pack for you, boxes should ideally be packed, securely closed and labelled before the crew arrives. Walkways should be clear, loose items organised and appliances prepared for moving.
Parking and access are particularly important. If parking spaces, loading zones, lift bookings or building access need to be arranged, doing this beforehand can prevent considerable delays.
We’ll provide guidance before your move so you know what needs to be done.
11. Are my belongings insured during the move?
Fair & Square Moving Solutions maintains the appropriate business insurances, including Public Liability, Workers Compensation and Transit Insurance.
However, it’s important to understand that these policies do not provide blanket accidental-damage insurance for every item during a removal.
Transit Insurance relates to specified insured events and is subject to the terms, conditions and limits of the applicable policy.
Customers wanting comprehensive accidental-damage protection should investigate whether their existing contents insurance provides moving cover or consider arranging appropriate specialist cover separately.
Please refer to our Insurance Information page for further details before booking.
12. What happens if something is damaged during my move?
If you notice an issue that you believe occurred during your move, please contact us as soon as possible and provide the relevant information and photographs.
We’ll review the circumstances and, where appropriate, discuss the matter with the crew involved.
Not every incident constitutes an insured event, which is why we encourage customers to understand their insurance arrangements before moving.
Regardless of insurance coverage, concerns regarding the handling of your belongings will be taken seriously and reviewed fairly.
13. Do you provide storage?
Yes. We can assist with short and long-term storage solutions.
Storage can be incorporated into the overall moving plan, whether you need somewhere for a small number of items or the contents of an entire property.
We can help determine approximately how much storage space you’re likely to require and coordinate collection, storage and subsequent delivery.
14. Do you move offices and businesses?
Yes. We provide office and commercial relocation services.
Commercial relocations can require considerably more planning than residential moves, particularly where businesses need to minimise downtime.
Depending on the project, we can coordinate manpower, vehicles, packing, furniture dismantling and reassembly, and the sequence in which different areas or departments are relocated.
We can also schedule commercial moves outside normal operating hours where appropriate.
15. Can you move large, heavy or unusual items?
Potentially, yes, but these items must be identified before moving day.
Examples might include particularly heavy furniture, safes, oversized artwork, gym equipment, stone or marble furniture and other unusual items.
Weight, dimensions, access and the number of people required all need to be considered.
Including these items in your initial enquiry helps us allocate appropriate manpower and equipment and avoids unexpected complications on moving day.
16. Do you work on weekends and outside normal hours?
Yes. Moves can be scheduled on weekdays and weekends, with early starts or out-of-hours arrangements available where appropriate and subject to availability.
Our current surcharges are:
Saturday: +10%
Sunday: +15%
Public Holidays: +15%
Out-of-hours: +15% for applicable hours worked before 7:00 am or after 5:00 pm.
Any applicable surcharge will be explained as part of your booking.
17. How far in advance should I book?
We recommend contacting us as soon as you have a reasonably firm moving date.
Fridays, weekends, month-end periods and other popular moving dates can book well in advance.
However, we appreciate that property settlements, leases and other circumstances don’t always provide much notice. If you have a last-minute move, contact us and we’ll always check what we can accommodate.
18. What areas do you service?
Fair & Square Moving Solutions provides removal services across Sydney and Perth and their surrounding metropolitan areas.
We handle residential and commercial relocations of different sizes and can also discuss moves travelling beyond the immediate metropolitan area.
The easiest way to establish whether we can assist with your particular move is to complete our Enquire Now form with both property locations.
19. What’s the best way to reduce the cost of my move?
The biggest opportunity is usually good preparation and good planning.
Having everything properly packed, arranging convenient parking, reserving lifts where necessary, identifying furniture requiring dismantling and providing us with accurate information beforehand can all help.
Just as importantly, using the right resources matters. Trying to save money by using too few removalists or an unsuitable truck can sometimes result in a longer day and little or no overall saving.
Our objective during the quoting process is to determine the most efficient combination of manpower, vehicle size and moving strategy for your particular circumstances.
20. Why choose Fair & Square Moving Solutions?
Fair & Square Moving Solutions is an independently and privately owned Australian moving business with more than 15 years of industry experience.
We provide residential and commercial removals, packing, unpacking, storage and moving supplies across Sydney and Perth.
Our approach is based on preparation, transparency and realistic planning.
We don’t believe a cheap-looking hourly rate or an optimistic estimate necessarily represents good value. A successful move depends on understanding what’s involved, allocating the correct resources and having experienced people complete the work efficiently and carefully.
That’s why we invest time before moving day in understanding your circumstances and developing an appropriate plan.
The result we’re aiming for is straightforward: a well-planned, efficient move with realistic expectations around timing and cost.