If you’re planning a move from Victoria to Queensland, choosing the right removalist can make all the difference. Unfortunately, our families experience with 1st Move Removalist turned out to be far from what we expected. I’m sharing the details of our journey to help others make an informed decision before hiring them for an interstate move.
1. Misleading Promises from 1st Move Removalist
One of the reasons we chose 1st Move Removalist over other options was the assurance of their professional, in-house staff handling our move. Their representative, Ella, emphasized that 1st Move Removalist does not use subcontractors, and she claimed their team had extensive experience with furniture handling.
However, on moving day, it became clear that the reality didn’t match the promise. One of the movers told me this was his first experience moving furniture, and another showed up wearing pajamas. This lack of professionalism was concerning from the start, especially given 1st Move’s claims of handling moves with trained staff. If professional, experienced movers are important to you, double-check with 1st Move Removalist to ensure they’re sending experienced people.
2. Bad Payment Structure
Another issue we faced was 1st Move Removalist’s payment structure. Most companies only require a deposit and payment upon delivery, but 1st Move Removalist asked for the full balance at pickup. After some negotiation, they allowed us to make an upfront payment and pay the remaining balance on arrival in Queensland. But on the day of delivery, as we were en route to our new home, we were asked to pay the balance immediately due to their early arrival—a situation that caused unnecessary stress.
If you’re moving with 1st Move Removalist, I’d recommend discussing payment terms in detail, ensuring they’re fully clear and suitable to your timeline. Consider getting everything in writing to avoid surprises.
3. Unreliable Delivery Timing
Our agreed delivery date with 1st Move Removalist was supposed to be 2–3 days after pick-up. We were prepared to accommodate this, but their estimated date kept shifting. The movers eventually confirmed they’d arrive on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, so we arranged to arrive Thursday. Yet the morning before, I received a call from the movers saying they’d be at the new house in two hours.
Caught off guard and still six hours away, I was forced to scramble and arrange for keys to be collected from our real estate agent. However, 1st Move Removalist threatened additional fees if they had to wait for us, despite arriving hours earlier than expected. Fortunately, I managed to arrange access to our home, but the poor communication left us frustrated.
For anyone using 1st Move Removalist, I’d strongly recommend getting firm confirmation on delivery dates and times, and asking what happens if they arrive earlier or later than planned.
4. Damage to Belongings and Refusal to Take Responsibility
After all the challenges with timing, payment, and professionalism, we hoped the worst was over once our items were finally in the house. However, as we began to unpack, we noticed several items were damaged. The rear door frame, our couch, and our TV were all visibly affected.
The most significant issue was the damage to our 55” Polaroid 4K TV. Despite using protective wrapping, including double layers of air columns and bubble wrap, we discovered deep cracks in the center of the screen that likely occurred during transit. When I reported the damage, 1st Move Removalist’s representative, Ella, dismissed my claim, saying that items wrapped by the customer were not their responsibility. This contradicted her earlier assurances that any damage incurred in transit would be covered by 1st Move Removalist. The best part about this, as I run a business I record all phone calls so I can listen back to ensure nothing was missing with my customers, however despite even raising I have recording about their responsibility, they still denied it.
If you choose 1st Move Removalist, document everything carefully. Take photos or videos of valuable items before the move, especially if you’re packing them yourself, as they will do anything they can to refuse responsibility otherwise.
Final Thoughts on 1st Move Removalist: Proceed with Caution
Our move from Victoria to Queensland was supposed to be a positive move for our family, but dealing with 1st Move Removalist added unnecessary stress to the experience. Between misleading promises, bad payment terms, unreliable delivery timing, and refusal to take responsibility for damages, this was a highly disappointing service.
If you’re considering 1st Move Removalist for an interstate move, I strongly recommend weighing your options carefully. The right removalist should bring peace of mind—not create more problems along the way.
Disclaimer: This post is based solely on my personal experience with 1st Move Removalist and is not intended as defamation. I am sharing this review to inform others about what I encountered during my interstate move from Victoria to Queensland.