Ask RiotACT: Canberra removalists?

I have used Leader Removals and Storage several times over the last 10 years. I could not have asked for a more supportive and understanding team of people to assist with this. Andrew and Frances lead a team of dedicated staff who go above and beyond to get the job done. They were responsive to my requests and also helped with recommendations when needing to dispose of excess furniture etc.
I have no hesitation in Highly recommending them, their friendly staff and services.

White knight removals were excellent. Efficient, great value and they delivered packing boxes a month before and collected them after. Was about $500 2 years ago to move from Campbell to North Belconnen.

I was a removalist for a number of years. Don’t use City Move (“sh#$ty move”), they employ backpackers with little to no experience or training.

The only time I’ve paid someone else to do a move for me I used Owl Removals who you can find on Gumtree. Very professional and friendly and a decent rate. I unreservedly recommend them.

You can make things easier by making sure everything is packed and ready to go before they arrive. Use boxes for everything; the more fiddly, weird shaped stuff they have to Tetris into the truck the longer it will take. Avoid archive boxes; the bottoms fall out of them without provocation. Tape your furniture drawers and cupboards closed (after emptying them) but use duct-tape or paper tape, not sticky tape, as it leaves a residue. Try to stack and organise boxes and smaller furniture in the front room and the move will go faster.

And you can absolutely feed your removalists takeaway and/or tip them.

You get what you pay for. We have moved a few times in Canberra and if we have time overlap, we do all the small things ourselves. You can often get good removalist boxes at The Green Shed or you can buy new ones as well as butchers paper and bubble wrap at any of the big storage places like Storage King in Mitchell and Belconnen. Then you can employ a smaller company to move your furniture. If they charge by the hour, make sure their truck is big enough to take all your things in one move otherwise you end up paying double as you will end up with two journeys. If you decide to let the removalists do everything, they will come in and do a pre-pack, uplift and depending on how much you have, even deliver the next day after taking the truck back to base overnight. This is the most expensive option but what the big companies do best. Do phone a couple of companies and chat to them as you will get a feel for how flexible they are. Book early as removalists always seem to be at their busiest just when you need them. You also have to decide on insurance. It can add to the overall cost, but if you are doing a one day removal, it is unlikely anything will get lost. I hesitate to recommend anyone as it depends on the individual removalist employed by the company and if they are careful.