The public have nominated their top moving companies, by leaving reviews on an independent site. Chess Moving ranks as one of the best national removalist groups in Australia.

Consumers beware...

Let’s be real, opening boxes filled with damaged goods probably isn’t the outcome you visualise when hiring removalists.

But this is happening more often, at the hands of unlicensed movers. To add insult to injury, there’s no compensation involved, because these movers aren’t insured.

Even worse, some people have been asked to pay additional fees, before their furniture is returned to them.

Unfortunately these aren’t isolated cases.

Thousands of consumers have complained about dodgy removalists failing to show up on time, charging steep fees or delivering poor services.

As a result, Fair Trading has warned people against hiring unregulated furniture removal companies.

The government agency urges consumers to seek out removalists that have been accredited with the Australian Furniture Removers Association.

What do the top moving companies have in common?

It comes as little surprise that Australia’s top moving companies are members of AFRA.

The moving industry is regulated by the Australian Furniture Removers Association, which works closely with various government departments. If you’re seeking quality service and don’t want to be ripped off, it’s in your best interest to hire an accredited company.

Removalists must prove they can deliver professional services, every step of the way, in order to be endorsed by AFRA.

AFRA members meet the following benchmarks:

• Quality equipment and vehicles
• Premises are regularly inspected to make sure that high standards are being met
• Storage facilities are kept in top condition
• Staff are trained to provide superior services and adhere to work safety laws
• Public liability and transit insurance, to protect you in case something goes wrong
• Connect with associate services (such as pet transportation) to take care of all of your moving needs

What to look for when hiring a removalist company:

Do your research and read between the lines before hiring a removalist company. Some removalists look cheap on paper, but you risk paying through the roof if your goods are damaged and you’re not protected by insurance.

It's likely that your move will go smoothly with an AFRA company, since they work to high standards. All that's left to do is compare services to make sure you're getting the best value.

Go that extra mile to make sure you're picking one of the top moving companies, even when hiring an accredited removalist.

Read customer reviews on independent websites to see if there’s a pattern of positive or negative experiences for your potential removalist.

Other factors to consider:

• Is the removalist qualified to offer insurance?
• How does their customer satisfaction rating compare to other removalists offering the same service?
• Do they offer a comprehensive range of services (such as cleaning, packing and storage)?
• Is their quoting service free, non-binding and delivered in writing?
• Look out for hidden costs in the terms and conditions
• If you’re moving interstate, choose a company that has offices around Australia

Chess Moving is on the list of top moving companies for national services:

Chess Moving has been voted as one of the most popular national removalist groups, according to independent reviews of furniture removalists.

Product Review hosts a community of consumers who rate services and products to help people make better decisions.

They’re the most comprehensive consumer opinion site around, since their inception in 2003.

Chess Moving has received outstanding feedback from the majority of commentators - leading to an overall ranking of 4.4 out of 5 stars. There aren’t many national removalist groups that meet this score.

Here’s a sample of the glowing testimonials:

"Moved a 2BR house from Cairns to Karumba, Workers were very good, nothing was a problem. Everything arrived safely in good condition, would use again and highly recommend." - Kim Daniels

We recently moved from Tasmania to Victoria, we got 3 quotes and the lowest was Chess Removals. From the first enquiry we were confident we had done the right thing and it just got better from there. Office staff, excellent, Manager, excellent, Salesman, excellent, three men at either end of the move, excellent, we were delayed by 4 weeks, no extra charge! Excellent! We would highly recommend them for any moving requirements, nothing was a bother and everyone was very friendly and helpful. Yvonne Bond

“Packed my four bedroom house and moved it into storage for about 14 months while my new house was being built. Storage costs were reasonable and when my belongings were delivered to the new house, everything was received in the condition I left it. The guys were friendly and very helpful in getting the furniture put together in each of the rooms- especially considering it's a two storey house! Wouldn't hesitate in using them again and would highly recommend them.” - Louise Doyle

Chess Moving has offices in every Australian state and territory...

Chess Moving has been relocating families, couples and individuals for more than a century.

As an AFRA accredited company, we cover all steps required to move people locally, interstate and overseas.

We’ve earned a reputation for connecting clients to services that guarantee a smooth transition.

Our priority is to make sure you begin this new chapter on the right note - whether you’re moving down the road, crossing state lines or flying across oceans.

As one of the top moving companies in Australia, we do everything we can to meet your relocation needs.

Moving interstate or overseas

Our offices are based in every state and territory, enabling us to deliver the best service to people around Australia.

On a national level, we relocate to:

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory
• Western Australia
• Australian Capital Territory

As members of the global Harmony Relocation Network, we also move clients to over 1500 destinations around the world, including Australia.

This service includes:

• Comprehensive and obligation-free quotes
• Packing services and materials
• International customs management
• Long and short-term storage
• Landing charges at destination
• Cleaning services
• Management of sea and air freight
• Vehicle relocation
• Moving insurance
• Competitive prices

Whether you’re moving locally, interstate or overseas, we provide the following services:

Packing and unpacking

Sometimes it’s impossible to decide what to take with you. We give you tips or send a team to do the packing for you.

Our trained specialists can professionally pack for you, no matter how delicate the items. We only use durable packing materials - providing optimal protection for all distances and modes of transport.

• Bubble wrap
• Tissue paper
• Special wine cartons
• Special glassware cartons
• Wrapping paper
• Foam inserts
• Linen cartons
• Portable robe cartons
• Tea chest cartons
• Wine cartons
• Audio cartons
• Essential cartons
• Lampshade cartons
• Book cartons
• Wooden crates made to order
• Felt fads, when required

Planning and preparation

We also tell you what to expect when you reach your destination and provide tips for settling in. We keep you posted on the latest travel information and can help you navigate paperwork for visas and permits. Our experts can inform you about customs requirements, cultural expectations, health standards and more.

Pet relocation

Moving can be stressful for your pets, since animals don’t cope well with change. We’ve partnered with Jetpets to make this process easier for you and your furry (or feathery) companion. They know what it takes to help your pet settle into their new home.

Comprehensive Insurance

Rest assured that your belongings will be taken care of, in the unlikely event of an accident. We offer transit insurance, following the code provided by AFRA. Incidents can happen that are outside our control, especially when driving interstate. We have an excellent track record and our insurance is incredibly competitive.

Specialist Removals

If you own a boat, trailer, caravan or similar vehicle, we can get it to your new home in one piece. We offer a range of cost-effective, inclusive solutions to relocate your specialist items, without the hassle.

Cleaning Services

Who has the time or energy to worry about cleaning their home when moving? Our dedicated cleaning team makes sure your current home is in good shape for the new tenants. They can also clean your new home or office for you.

Secure Storage

Our storage facilities are clean and secure, fitted with the best technology. You can be assured there are no creepy crawlies snacking on your possessions, since we regularly dust and fumigate our facilities to keep them vermin free. We’ve also installed fire protection systems to boost overall protection.

Vehicle Relocation

If you’re wondering how to move your car, boat or vehicle interstate or overseas, we can help, by filling out the correct paperwork and using careful packing techniques. Additional fees and taxes may apply in your country of destination.

Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about our local, international and interstate moving services.