When you are planning your move, it is essential that you get a moving quote from more than one removalist company to give yourself a chance to compare price and service options.

Before you start with quotes, it is best to ask around and get referrals from friends, family and co-workers. Word of mouth recommendations are always best so find out who other people have been using and whether they would be worth contacting for a moving estimate.

When you check business directories or search the internet for a moving company, ensure you are looking at companies that specialise in your needs. Companies will more often than not, advertise about their specialty areas including but not limited to:

• Apartment moves
• Residential moves
• Commercial moves
  
• Removal of large items ie pianos, pool tables
• Long distance moves.
  

Identify which category fits your situation and contact the appropriate removal companies to get a moving quote from them.

Before you contact a company to obtain a moving estimate, you need to create a full inventory of the items that you plan to move including fridges, heavy furniture, couches etc. The more accurate your inventory is the more accurate your moving quote will be.

You can get quotes over the phone, online or by inspection, depending on the companies you select to receive moving estimates from. Majority of services usually will provide free quotes that are obligation free to.

It's worth asking the company you are getting a quote from, what their charges are, as some companies charge per hour and others charge for the move as a whole. Most companies will charge extra if either property has difficult access or if you have complicated, heavy or awkward furniture to move.

Some companies may also charge an hourly fee for 'back-to-base', which is the return of the truck to its original location, after the move has been completed.

Identify and understand all the charges involved, what they cover and what you are going to be expected to pay on the day, so that you can compare quotes from other removalists.

Always try to get your moving quote in writing so that you have proof of price. When you are looking over contracts, read the fine print to make sure you are aware of all of the terms and conditions before making a final decision.

Finally, look into the cost of insuring your move. Insuring your belongings during the move is essential. Include this cost as a part of your moving estimate.

After you have managed to obtain three or four complete moving quotes, compare them and decide which removalist is going to be right for you.