Moving house is one of those jobs that sounds easy until you’re standing in the lounge staring at a fridge, a big couch and 20 boxes you swear weren’t there last week. If you’re only shifting a unit, share house, small office or a few bulky bits, booking a man with a van can save you a heap of messing around.
A 2 man and a truck setup is usually a good middle ground. You get the truck space, two people to handle the heavy stuff and no need to call in every mate you’ve got. Better still, your mates can keep their Saturday free instead of pretending they’ve got a bad back.
What a Man With a Van Can Do
A man with a van service is handy for smaller jobs that don’t need a huge removal truck and a full crew. It could be moving from a one-bedroom unit, picking up furniture from Facebook Marketplace, shifting stuff into storage or helping your kid move out of a share house.
For example, say you’re moving from a unit in West End to a townhouse in Toowong. You’ve got a bed, fridge, washing machine, couch, TV unit, dining table and a few boxes. That is the sort of job where 2 men one truck makes sense. The movers can get the furniture loaded safely while you deal with keys, cleaners, lift access and finding where you packed the kettle.
Why Book Two Movers?
For a quick, light pickup, one mover might do the trick. Once stairs, tight corners or big bulky furniture are involved, having two people on the job makes a world of difference.
Trying to wrangle a fridge, washing machine or heavy dining table on your own is a good way to end up with a crook back—or a nasty mark on the wall. With 2 men and one truck, there’s someone at each end to keep things steady, get around awkward corners and avoid dings in the walls—or a crook back by the end of the day.
Just know the general laws: How to transport loads – qld.gov.au
Two movers are especially useful if you have:
- A fridge or washing machine
- A king-size mattress or bed frame
- A big lounge or recliner
- Heavy drawers or wardrobes
- Gym gear
- Furniture that needs taking apart and putting back together
If you’re moving out of an apartment, two movers can also make lift runs much easier. Nobody wants to spend half the day taking one box up at a time because the couch did not fit in the lift.
Give Them the Full Story
Before you book 2 man in a truck, let them know exactly what they’re walking into. A quick call can stop plenty of dramas on moving day.
Before moving day, give the removalists the full heads-up on what they’re in for. Let them know about stairs, skinny driveways, tiny lifts, dodgy parking or a long haul from the truck to the front door. A fourth-floor unit with a cramped lift is a whole different ball game to a house where the truck can pull straight into the driveway.
Got any real monsters to move? Give them a heads-up about anything extra bulky or hard to shift, like a big fridge, piano, pool table, solid workbench or oversized lounge. That way, the crew can turn up with the right equipment and won’t be hit with any surprises on moving day. .
Check the Quote Properly
Don’t jump at the first figure you see and assume that’s the final bill. Check whether you’re being charged by the hour or given a set price, whether there’s a minimum booking period, and if the movers charge for travel to and from the job.
It’s also smart to ask upfront about any extra fees for:
- Stairs or difficult access
- Long carries from the truck
- Weekend moves
- Toll roads
- Fuel
- Furniture disassembly
- Extra boxes or packing materials
- Waiting time for lifts or keys
Get the details in writing before the day. That way, you know what you’re paying for and you are not caught off guard when the job wraps up.
Do a Bit of Prep First
The movers can take care of the heavy, awkward gear, but doing a bit of prep beforehand will save you a heap of hassle on the day.
Get your boxes packed, taped up and labelled with the room they’re heading to. You’ll be glad you kept an “essentials” bag aside when you need your keys, paperwork, medication or charger straight away. Keep valuables, important documents, medication and everyday essentials in a bag you carry yourself, rather than sending them off with the truck.
Before the movers rock up, clear out drawers, unplug appliances and make sure there’s a clear run through the house. If a bed, table or shelving unit needs to be taken apart, flag it when you book. Chuck all the screws, bolts and little fittings into a labelled zip bag so they’re easy to find when it’s time to put everything back together.
Parking is worth sorting early too, especially on a busy street. If the truck can pull up close to the door, the movers won’t have to lug everything halfway down the block.
Is It the Right Option?
A man with a van is a handy option when you’re not moving a whole household—maybe it’s a unit, a couple of big items, or a quick run across town. If you’ve got a full family home to pack up, plus kids’ stuff, shed gear and furniture in every room, a bigger truck and removal crew will usually be a better fit.
For the smaller jobs, a man with a van can save you a heap of stuffing around. They’ll do the lugging, loading and tricky furniture manoeuvres while you get stuck into unpacking and making the new place feel like yours.
Moving day can still be a bit of a circus, but having a decent crew on hand makes the whole thing far less painful.
