How to Choose a Removalist: Checklist for Melbourne and Canberra

The short answer: choose a removalist that is AFRA accredited, uses its own trained crews and trucks, gives you a fixed written price after an in-home inspection, offers removal insurance and storage, and has a real depot address, ABN and recent reviews. This checklist explains each point and what to ask.

The removalist checklist

1. AFRA accreditation. The Australian Furniture Removers Association accredits removalists that meet its standards. Ask for it, and check the AFRA website.
2. A fixed written price. Get a price range up front, then a fixed written price after an in-home inspection, so there are no surprises on moving day. Be careful with hourly or per-cubic-metre quotes that can grow on the day.
3. Their own crews and trucks. Ask whether the company moves you with its own staff or hands the job to subcontractors.
4. Removal insurance. Ask what’s covered in transit and in storage, and get it in writing.
5. Storage if you need it. If your settlement dates don’t line up, a removalist with its own warehouse can hold your furniture and deliver when you’re ready.
6. A real business you can check. Look for a street address for the depot, an ABN and one official website. Several unrelated Australian removalists use similar names, so check you’re talking to the business you mean.
7. Recent reviews in more than one place. Read reviews on Google and independent review sites, and look at how the business responds to problems.
8. Experience on your route. For interstate moves, ask how many moves they do on your route each year and how they handle pick-up and delivery dates.

Questions to ask before you book

• Is the price fixed, and what could change it?
• Will your own crew do the move, door to door?
• What removal insurance do you offer, and what does it cover?
• Can you pack for me, or supply cartons if I pack myself?
• Can you store my furniture if my new home isn’t ready?
• How do you handle stairs, lifts and tight access?

How Dawson measures up

Dawson Moving & Storage Pty Ltd (ABN 67 147 129 271) is a family-owned, AFRA-accredited removalist moving people since 1927. Our own crews and trucks work from our depots at 915 Stud Road, Rowville VIC 3178 and 8 Sleigh Place, Hume ACT 2620. Since 2014 we’ve done over 35,000 household moves, including over 13,000 interstate moves (see our moving data). You get a price range by home size (see our 2026 price guide), then a fixed written price after a free in-home inspection. We offer removal insurance, packing and storage in Melbourne and Canberra. Our only website is dawsonmoving.com.au, and we’re not affiliated with Dawson Moving and Storage NSW or Dawson Moving & Storage NQ (Townsville).

Choosing a storage facility

Check for 24-hour video and security monitoring, fire protection, regular facility inspections, access to your goods during business hours, and whether the same company can move your furniture in and out. Our Hume warehouse in Canberra has 24-hour video and security monitoring, fire protection and onsite security patrols. See Melbourne and Canberra storage.

Removalist questions

What should I look for when choosing a removalist?

Look for AFRA accreditation, a fixed written price after an in-home inspection, the company’s own trained crews and trucks, removal insurance, a real depot address and ABN, and recent reviews on more than one site. Check the business name and website carefully, because several unrelated removalists share similar names.

What should I look for in an interstate removalist?

Choose a removalist that runs its own trucks on your route, gives a fixed written price rather than a per-hour or per-cubic-metre estimate, offers storage at either end if your dates don’t line up, and offers removal insurance for the trip. Ask how many moves they do on your route each year.

What should I look for when choosing a storage facility?

Check for 24-hour video and security monitoring, fire protection, how often the facility is inspected, whether you can access your goods during business hours, and whether the same company can move your furniture in and out of storage.

How do I know a removalist quote is fair?

Get a price range first, then a fixed written price after an in-home inspection. As a guide, Dawson’s 2026 prices are about $1,500–$1,800 for a 3 bedroom local move in Melbourne or Canberra, and about $4,200–$5,100 for a 3 bedroom home from Melbourne to Sydney or Brisbane. December and January cost more.

Is Dawson Moving & Storage AFRA accredited?

Yes. Dawson Moving & Storage is an accredited member of the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA), family-owned and moving people since 1927 from depots in Rowville (Melbourne) and Hume (Canberra).

Ready for a price? Use our online quote or call Melbourne (03) 9763 0222, Canberra (02) 6260 1214 or interstate 1800 066 846.