| Notes for moving especially large items When moving tall furniture like cabinets and wardrobes, take its height into account when selecting a lorry for rent. Consider dismantling the furniture if possible. Also, check for the height limit of where you intend to load/unload your furniture as larger vehicles may not be able to enter the area. You may also need to rent a skylift or forklift to move big items if you’re living in a high-rise building. Here is a size guide for large, bulky items that you’ll need specialised movers for:
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A comprehensive breakdown of all the costs, plus some hacks that you’ll thank us for!
You’ve signed the papers; the renovations are complete—it’s finally time to move into your new dream home. Moving feels like you’re starting a rosy new chapter in your life – that is, until you come face to face with all the stuff you need to pack up, arranging for packers and movers (and paying the moving costs), plus settling all the other things you need to do before you bid your old abode adieu, like utilities and mail.
If panic bells are ringing in your head, fret not. We’re here to help you break down all the costs of moving into a new home, regardless of the size of your current home. We also included some additional pointers on bases you need to cover before moving out.
Before you even start looking around for a mover, the first step is to Marie Kondo or declutter your home. It simplifies packing, you save costs for getting rid of things you don’t need instead of bringing them over, plus you can even make an extra Ringgit selling some stuff to secondhand shops.
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Do I need to hire movers and packers?
The first thing you need to ask yourself is if you even need to hire movers in the first place.
If you don’t own heavy furniture or large items, renting a van could be a better value for money. On top of that, you can save costs by getting friends and family to lend a hand (don’t forget to belanja makan later for all the hard work). Alternatively, you could hire one worker with a van to help move your stuff if you don’t need a lorry.
For those of you who own a piano or gym equipment, you may need specialised movers in Malaysia.
General moving and packing checklist
- Set aside your toolbox and first aid kit before packing or unpacking
- Make an inventory of all the things you need to pack per room
- Pack all the same type of items in one box, or combine based on function
- Don’t overpack / fill your boxes up to the brim
- Separate your valuables and important documents
- Pack essential items together for the first few days of moving into your new home
- Label everything!
- Mark boxes with fragile items as “FRAGILE” with clear, big font
- Supervise movers always so you know where your stuff will go
How much do house movers and packers in Malaysia charge?
The packers and movers price is based on the number of things you need to move, the number of trips the movers have to make, and the distance between your new and old place. When you’ve finally decided on a mover, don’t forget to get a fixed quotation that covers any additional costs. Better still, get the movers to give you a fee breakdown so that you know what’s covered and what’s not. Otherwise, get the quoted fee for the services that you’ve agreed with the mover in written form and get the company to sign off on that.
The various moving companies will offer different packages but most will help disassemble furniture or other bulky items, wrap fragile items using bubble wrap, load and unload your stuff into the moving van or lorry, and drive said vehicle to your new home. Check out the lorry price in Malaysia.
A. Small house
Small houses are flats, apartment units, and condominium units. Do check with the building management regarding rules and regulations for moving in / out. Some managements only allow trucks and lorries into the premises within certain hours.
1 ton lorry (10-feet) inclusive of two workers
- 3m (10ft) (L) x 1.5m (5ft) (W) x 1.8m (6ft) (H)
- Klang Valley (within 30 km) RM250 – RM300
- Klang Valley ↔ Negeri Sembilan RM650 – RM700
- Klang Valley ↔ Melaka RM700 – RM750
- Klang Valley ↔ Perak RM700 – RM750
- Klang Valley ↔ Penang RM1150 – RM1200
- Klang Valley ↔ Johor RM1150 – RM1200
B. Medium house
Medium houses include terrace houses and semi-detached homes. For gated and guarded communities, do check if there are any rules and regulations for trucks and lorries entering within certain hours. How much would it cost to move to a three-bedroom house? Here are the costs:
3 ton lorry (14-feet) inclusive of three workers
- 4m (14ft) (L) x 1.8m (6ft) (W) x 2m (7ft) (H)
- Klang Valley (within 30 km) RM450 – RM500
- Klang Valley ↔ Negeri Sembilan RM950 – RM1,000
- Klang Valley ↔ Melaka RM1,050 – RM1,100
- Klang Valley ↔ Perak RM1,050 – RM1,100
- Klang Valley ↔ Penang RM1,500 – RM1,600
- Klang Valley ↔ Johor RM1,500 – RM1,600
C. Large house
Large houses include bungalow homes. For gated and guarded communities, do check if there are any rules and regulations for trucks and lorries entering within certain hours. How much does it cost to pack and move to a five-bedroom house? Here are the costs:
5 ton lorry (24 feet) inclusive of three workers:
- 5m (24ft) (L) x 2.35m (7ft) (W) x 3.63m (12ft) (H)
- Klang Valley (within 30 km) RM650 – RM700
- Klang Valley ↔ Negeri Sembilan RM1,200 – RM1,300
- Klang Valley ↔ Melaka RM1,300 – RM1,400
- Klang Valley ↔ Perak RM1,300 – RM1,400
- Klang Valley ↔ Penang RM1,650 – RM1,750
- Klang Valley ↔ Johor RM1,650 – RM1,750
Read more: Your ultimate guide to the different types of wardrobes in Malaysia
Moving from Klang Valley to Sabah / Sarawak
It is possible to move your car and/or your precious belongings between East and West Malaysia, but the costs are astronomical.
The cost of moving your car via ship is between RM1,500 to RM2,000. While we’ve heard that it is possible to put some belongings you want to be moved into the car, it is not advisable as they could go missing.
As for furniture, you will need to rent a container. This will set you back RM3,000 and above and does not include costs for loading and unloading the lori kontena or any possible damage your belongings might sustain during the long trip. Unless you’re moving precious family heirlooms, we highly recommend you simply buy new furniture for your new home.
If you need to move boxes of important documents and smaller items, most delivery companies like PosLaju will suffice. It will cost you on average RM650 to ship five big boxes totalling 180kg.
READ: 11 house moving services in Malaysia
Do you need temporary storage?
There is a possibility that you may need to find a temporary storage option for your furniture and other belongings before you can move into your home due to situations out of your control. There are a few temporary storage choices in Malaysia:
- Extra Space Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya
- Lock & Store Shah Alam
- Moomtaz Self Storage Cheras
- 3S Self Storage Penang
- Storage.my Iskandar Putri, Johor
Take note that you will have to pay the movers to move your stuff to the temporary storage facility and later on to your new place. However, some packers and movers in Malaysia do have their own warehouse space to temporarily store your belongings for a fee. Do check with your movers whether they can offer such services.
For valuable items, it’s best to purchase a Chubb safe box instead of leaving it in temporary storage. Check out Chubb safes Malaysia for various professional safes available.
Do you need to redirect your mail?
You can’t redirect regular mail, but you will be able to redirect PosLaju parcels to your new home. Simply head to the nearest Pos Malaysia from your new home and fill out an application form. It takes a few working days before your application is processed.
Do you need to pay for cleaning?
If you were renting your old place, do check your tenancy agreement on whether you need to arrange cleaning services when moving out. Some agreements may require you to pay the landlord for cleaning services.
Time to settle into your new home
Do you need to buy new furniture?
- Depending on your household budget and how long you plan to stay at your new home, you could consider buying second-hand furniture. There are a number of second-hand furniture in Klang Valley and in other states. Check out these furniture shops here and here.
How do you deal with utilities?
- Water, electricity, gas, and sewerage – For these typical utilities, a name transfer should be arranged if you’re buying a resale property but if you’re buying a brand new home, these will already be covered by your developer. Don’t forget to settle all outstanding bills from your old home.
- Unifi – You can transfer your existing Unifi contracted package to your new home. A request can be made at any TMpoint outlet, subject to service availability in the new area. Unifi Lite customers will need to fork out RM50. Standard Unifi subscribers won’t be charged a relocation fee but wiring charges may apply. You can also retain your Unifi number if the new address is within the same exchange location.
- Astro – To transfer your existing Astro package, you will need to go to your online Astro account and head to My Account > Menu Options > Relocate. Alternatively, you can submit a feedback form or contact them requesting to relocate. You won’t have to take on a new contract when you move. It costs RM65 to dismantle and reinstall your Astro, plus any other additional charges if the reinstallation process requires extra cables/fixings.
Take the time to reassess your items when you’re unpacking into your home. Do you really need all of them? Once you’re all settled in, it’s time to organise a housewarming party!
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