Most people pick a removalist by price and hope for the best. After moving 2,400+ houses, here are the questions that actually predict whether you'll have a good experience.
1. "Are you insured for goods in transit?"
Should be a quick yes with a policy name. If they hedge, walk away. Public liability is not the same as goods-in-transit insurance — the first covers them if they damage your property, the second covers your stuff.
2. "What's included in the quote?"
Trolleys, blankets, straps, fuel, GST — all of it should already be in the number. If any of those turn up as a separate line item later, the quote you compared was never the real price.
3. "Can I see recent Google reviews?"
Not the homepage testimonials — those are curated. Real Google reviews show the picture. Look for the 3-star ones too — companies with no negative reviews are usually too small or the reviews are fake.
4. "Are these your employees or subcontractors?"
Employees are trained and accountable. Subcontractors are often a roll of the dice. If they subcontract, ask how they vet the crews.
5. "Is this a fixed price or an estimate?"
This is the question that saves people the most money. An estimate can move on the day; a fixed price can't. If it's an estimate, ask what specifically would make it go up — and get the answer in writing before you book.
6. "What happens if you damage something?"
A confident answer ("we file a claim with our insurer, we replace or pay out within 14 days") is what you want. A vague answer means they don't handle it well. Bonus question: ask how many damage claims they had last year. Good companies will tell you because the number is low.
Now stop reading, let's do it.
Get a fixed quote in under 60 seconds. No phone tag, no pressure — just an honest price.