Brisbane moving services
Removalist Costs in Brisbane: A Clear SwiftMove Guide
SwiftMove's typical local rate is $170–$220 per hour, depending on the truck and crew. Allow for a two-hour minimum, 30-minute billing blocks after that, and one call-out fee confirmed in writing with the rate. Here is how the quote is built, what is included, and how deposits, rescheduling and payment work.
How your move is priced
SwiftMove prices your move around the agreed truck, crew, inventory, route and access. Local hourly bookings have a two-hour minimum, followed by 30-minute billing blocks. Time spent travelling from the pickup address to the delivery address is part of the paid moving time. If the crew arrives at the agreed time but access or the customer is not ready, waiting time is also chargeable.
One call-out fee covers dispatching the truck and crew to your job. Your written confirmation sets out the applicable rate, the call-out fee and the agreed scope together, so the call-out is never added on top of a figure you have already been given. The online estimate shows a time range and crew size, not a confirmed booking or a guarantee of the final duration.
What is included and what needs agreement
The agreed truck and crew, moving equipment and packing materials used for your booking are included in the agreed price. Packing materials are included across our moving bookings, including materials you keep. Full packing, unpacking and putting belongings away are additional work that must be requested and scheduled; that labour is charged at the agreed hourly rate.
Rubbish and used-packaging removal is a separate service. It is charged for the working time plus recycling or disposal costs and is not included in the online estimate. Any other additional work or costs are discussed before we carry out the extra work.
Access and changes to your booking
Stairs, narrow turns, long carries and heavy items affect the time and resources a move needs. Stairs can also increase the hourly rate. Send photos of the stairs and access route so we can assess the conditions and agree the rate before you book.
A fixed quote covers the inventory, route and access agreed in writing. Extra items, undisclosed stairs or a different type of heavy item can change that scope. We discuss any revised work and price before proceeding. If you do not want the additional work, we can complete the original agreed scope where it remains practical and safe.
Payment and the final adjustment
Payment may be requested before the move is finished, for example on arrival at the delivery address or around an hour before completion. For an hourly booking, we reconcile the payment against the final bill using the agreed minimum and billing blocks. If you paid too much, we refund the difference. If additional time is payable, we explain the balance due.
Work out the hourly part first
For an illustrative four-hour booking at $180 per hour, the hourly component is $720. The call-out fee confirmed with the rate and any separately agreed services such as packing labour or rubbish removal are additional; packing materials are included. This is an arithmetic example, not a fixed quote or a guarantee that a particular home takes four hours.
Understand the minimum and billing blocks
The two-hour minimum means a job completed in less than two hours is still billed for at least two hours. After the minimum, time is charged in 30-minute blocks. At $180 per hour, one additional half-hour block is $90. Ask for the applicable rate and call-out fee in writing before booking.
Compare the same scope across quotes
Check that every quote includes the same inventory, crew, pickup and delivery addresses, stairs, access and materials. Ask how waiting time and changes to the inventory are handled. A quote for a prepared ground-floor home cannot be compared directly with a full pack-and-move job through several flights of stairs.
Keep the estimate realistic
The online quote tool uses your move size and selected details to estimate the hours and crew for a standard local move. It shows a time range, not a dollar total; the written quote states the hourly rate and the call-out fee together. Describe additional stops, heavy items, lift windows and packing help so the written quote covers the actual job.
Deposits and booking confirmation
Nearby local moves are often booked without a deposit. A deposit may be required for a pickup a long way from our base, and a deposit is required for interstate moves. The amount depends on the booking and is agreed before you commit; it is not a standard fee for every move. Your booking is confirmed when our operator confirms it to you by phone or email.
Rescheduling your move
If your plans change, contact us as soon as possible. Subject to availability, your deposit can be carried over to the new agreed date and credited towards that move. This applies whether you contact us more or less than 48 hours before the original booking. Rescheduling with at least 48 hours' notice is free. Repeated changes may mean we cannot accommodate a further date; we will discuss the booking with you directly.
Cancelling your move
If you cancel and do not reschedule, our booking policy is to retain any deposit paid, except where a refund is required by law. We do not seek an additional cancellation payment, including where the truck has already been dispatched. If no deposit was paid, we do not charge a cancellation fee. If SwiftMove cancels for a reason on our side, we refund the deposit. Nothing in this policy limits rights or remedies that cannot be excluded under Australian Consumer Law. Read the full booking terms for the complete policy.
Details that prevent avoidable delays
Provide the real inventory, stairs, lift rules, parking distance, heavy items and timing constraints. Have cartons closed and labelled, dismantling decisions agreed and the route clear. Keep valuables and essentials with you, and never pack gas bottles, flammables, aerosols or hazardous goods for the removal truck.
Important belongings and transport limits
Keep passports, money, jewellery, medication, keys, settlement papers, irreplaceable data and other valuables with you. SwiftMove cannot load gas bottles, flammables, aerosols or hazardous goods. Tell us before booking about pianos, safes, slate tables, workshop equipment and any item over 100 kg so the job can be assessed safely.
Read the current Terms for liability, exclusions and claims conditions. Tell us about high-value or fragile belongings before booking so the handling requirements can be assessed.
Why access can change the total
Long carries and stairs add working time, and stairs can also change the agreed hourly rate. On a Gold Coast fourth-floor move, a roughly 150-metre carry to the stairs contributed to an overall job of about six hours. That is one recalled example, not a standard time or price for an apartment. Include the whole access route when requesting your estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Does the estimate include the call-out fee?
The online estimate shows a time range and crew size rather than a dollar total. Your written quote states the hourly rate and one call-out fee together, so the call-out is never added on top of a total you have already been given. The result remains an estimate based on the details supplied; we confirm the scope and pricing before you book.
Is travel between my two addresses charged?
Yes. For an hourly booking, travel from the pickup address to the delivery address is part of the paid moving time. This is separate from the call-out component that covers dispatching the crew to your booking.
Do stairs change the price?
They can affect both the working time and the hourly rate. Send photos of the stairs, turns and access route before booking so we can assess the job and agree the rate with you.
Do you require a deposit?
Nearby local moves are often booked without one. A deposit may be required for a distant pickup and is required for interstate moves. Any amount is agreed before booking and credited towards your move.
Can I reschedule or cancel?
Contact us as early as possible. Subject to availability, a deposit can be transferred to a new agreed date and credited towards that move. If you cancel without rescheduling, our policy is to retain the deposit unless a refund is required by law. We do not charge an additional cancellation payment; where no deposit was taken, there is no cancellation fee. If we cancel for a reason on our side, we refund the deposit. See our booking terms for the full policy.
What if I pay before the move is finished?
We reconcile hourly bookings against the final bill using the agreed minimum and billing blocks. Any overpayment is refunded. If more time is payable, we explain the additional balance.
What is included in my moving booking?
Your agreed truck, crew, moving equipment and packing materials are included. Packing materials are included across our bookings, including materials you keep. Full packing, unpacking, putting belongings away and furniture assembly must be included in the agreed scope; the working time is charged at the agreed rate. Rubbish and packaging removal is separate.
Can the estimate change?
Yes, if the scope, access, waiting time, volume or route differs from the information supplied. Accurate details and a written confirmation reduce that risk.
More help with your move
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