We are seeing significant progress in the fight against the Coronavirus with vaccines rolling out in many countries. Still, COVID 19 is not yet behind us. We must still follow strict rules such as social distancing, quarantine as well as good hygiene in order to reduce the spread of the virus.

Despite the situation, people are relocating from their homes for an extensive number of reasons including moving back to their home countries to be closer to family, moving for work purposes or simply looking for a new lifestyle in light of the pandemic. We know moving house can be stressful and that was before adding in the extra stresses surrounding COVID 19.

We also understand that many people have questions about their move, the process and what is involved in these particular times. Some of you may just want to know if moving house is still possible or not. So, we have answered some of the main questions we have on moving house during covid 19 (Q&A).

Are Moving Companies Impacted by Coronavirus Restrictions?

Moving Company in Australia during COVID-19

There are currently no restrictions on removal companies in Australia.

In other words, moving companies like Palmers Relocations can operate as normal.

The government has separated business into 2 categories; non-essential and essential service. At this time, removalists are listed as essential service (falling under the category transport and logistics). It means that we still can move your goods wherever you need including local, interstate or overseas moves.

Through utilising the rail network and sending shipments interstate in shipping containers, we avoid any unwanted issues with border closures as well.

At Palmers Relocations our offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are open for business and to assist with every step of your move. You can rest assured that we are operating under strict hygiene guidelines and are registered as “COVID safe”. More questions? Feel free to discuss with our team.

Can I Still Move House During the Pandemic?

Most of the time, yes, but a few nos apply.

This cannot be taken for granted as state and federal governments restrictions vary considerably. Indeed, it depends on how the virus spreads in Australia and overseas as well as if there is an outbreak and (new) restrictions in place.

That being said, at the time we write this article, you can move in most cases. We so, however, advise you to prepare your move a little bit more in advance than usual.

Indeed, you and your family will probably be required to apply for a permit, or in some circumstances, you will need to self-quarantine after your move especially if relocating interstate.

Moves overseas as residents or Australian citizens are rather different. You will need an exemption to leave the country. For more detailed info, visit the Home Affairs website as well as the government or health website of the country you are moving to.

Still, even during COVID 19 moving house either locally, interstate and internationally is possible. For more information, our team is always here to assist with any questions you may have.

Can I Still Move Locally During Coronavirus?

Yes, you can move home locally.

Moves in the same state or city are allowed. While at this point when moving house locally there are no specific restrictions, common sense and state guidelines apply such as social distancing, good hygiene and you might need to wear a mask depending on the state you live in.

Can I Move Interstate in Australia During COVID-19?

It depends on the state stage and border restrictions in place at the time of your house move.

Currently, most of the Australian states require a permit and/or a border pass to enter their territory. In other words, you will need to apply for a permit online, on the states’ website before entering a new state.

In addition, most of the states such as VIC, QLD, WA, South Australia and Northern Territory might require 14 days self-isolation/quarantine.

If you are unsure about the current coronavirus restrictions, seek the latest news or on the states’ website using the links below:

• NSW Covid updates: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
• VIC Covid updates: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
• QLD Covid updates and border closing: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/border-closing
• SA Covid travel restrictions: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/restrictions-and-responsibilities/travel-restrictions
• WA Covid Updates, travel and quarantine: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-travel-and-quarantine
• NT Interstate Arrivals and Quarantine: https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/quarantine
• TAS Covid updates: https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors/coming-to-tasmania

Can I Move Internationally During COVID 19?

International Relocation during COVID-19

Yes, but you need an exemption first.

For moving house overseas, you will need an exemption from the Australian government. Since covid 19 pandemics started, Australia has banned overseas travel. This does not mean you can’t leave the country but it involves extra preparation for people who want to move their house.

If you are an Australian Citizen or a permanent resident, you need to refer to the checklist provided here. For instance, you can leave the country for work and permanent relocation to another country. Our team can help you with paperwork and provide evidence that you are moving overseas.

If you are temporary visa holders such as WHV, Sponsor Visa (457) etc… Those requirements do not apply to you. You are automatically granted an authorization to leave Australia (without exemptions). However, we strongly advise you to check the travel information and advice as well as border controls in your home country or the country you are moving to. Most, if not all of the countries around the globe have some kind of restrictions for people travelling such as total ban, quarantine etc…in order to reduce the spread of covid 19.

Check the government website for more details.

Can I Move From Overseas back into Australia During Covid 19?

Moving from Overseas to Australia

Yes, but only if you are you and your family members are Australian citizens, residents or exemption category.

The same as with leaving Australia, there is a ban if you want to return home or migrate to the country. As removalists, we can import your goods anywhere in Australia, however, you will need to follow strict requirements for entering Australia, such as a mandatory quarantine and negative covid 19 test before flying.

Do I Need to Self Isolate When Moving House?

Local Moves: no – Interstate Moves: Potentially

• Moving house locally: there are no quarantines in place for local moves.
• Moving house interstate: currently, some restrictions with self-isolation are in place in QLD, VIC, SA and WA. There is no need to worry about your goods, however. As an essential service, we do not need to self isolate, which means that we can work on moving your home and personal effects as usual. For any questions regarding what you can or can’t do at the time your move is planned, you always can get in touch with our consultants. They will be able to provide you with the latest updates and rules.
• Moving house overseas: if you are moving internationally, it’s important to read the international section above. Almost every country, if not all, have quarantines requirements upon entry on their territory. Sometimes, they have bans on who can enter such as Australia and most of the European countries for example. As a moving company, we are still able to collect your house goods and to ship your items worldwide.

Is it Safe to Move With a Relocation Company?

When moving with a removal company such as Palmers Relocations, we put your health and safety first.

When quoting, we can provide a virtual in house inspection with one of our consultants as an alternative to a face to face meeting if you are more comfortable with this.

As a registered Covid-Safe business, we also comply strictly with all regulation in place by Government Health Authorities. Our team practices social distancing on every move as well as extra hygiene steps such as hand sanitiser and facemasks where applicable.

In addition to this, we also ask our customers to play their part. This includes opening all doors both internally and externally before our arrival, opening windows prior to our arrival, turning on all lights in advance and ensuring we never have more than 2 x people in a room where possible.

All these steps help us make your move as safe as possible. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact our team for more information.

Disclaimer: Information in the blog post is not guaranteed as details about coronavirus change regularly without notice. You must follow the Australian government advice and/or the rules of the country you are moving to.

Overview

Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city, and not by much. In fact, statistics say that Melbourne’s population will overtake Sydney by 2050. There’s a reason why Melbourne is growing faster than Sydney. For the sixth year in a row it has been rated the world’s most livable city. This is because of its numerous parks, art galleries, restaurants and also cheaper housing.

Melbourne As A Moving Destination

When moving to Melbourne accommodation will seem well-priced if you are coming from Sydney. But if you are coming from virtually anywhere else it will seem expensive. Melbourne is Australia’s fastest growing major city and to an even greater extent than Sydney—prices have been soaring for two decades.

Which part of Melbourne you want to live in depends on what you want out of this city. For affordability—west Melbourne is your best bet. But for transport to the city—the east has less congestion during rush hour because it doesn’t face the bottleneck of the West Gate Bridge. The east has better infrastructure and services and a denser population, however more development plans are in place in the west in order to reduce this discrepancy.

But nowadays, almost as important as the east vs west debate is the hipster vs yuppie area debate in Melbourne. The hipster epicenter of Melbourne is Fitzroy—inner north-east Melbourne. And the classic distinction is that north Melbourne is for hipsters, south Melbourne is for yuppies. It’s a very socioeconomic rule-of-thumb also which is basically the inverse of Sydney’s north/south divide. In inner Melbourne, the south is the expensive area.

Climate

Melbourne’s climate is the talk of Sydney and several other slightly more climatically fortunate cities. Melbourne has a temperate-oceanic climate that is cooler than Sydney, and also more stormy in winter. It is also oft remarked upon that Melbourne’s weather is more mutable than Sydney—prone to sudden change.

But this is mainly compared to Sydney. Objectively . . . Melbourne’s weather is quite mild and pleasant most of the time.

Cost Of Living

The cost of living is a degree lower in Melbourne than it is in Sydney for all purchases except accommodation. Accommodation in Melbourne is significantly cheaper than in Sydney (Source).

Accommodation prices are one of the main reasons why people are choosing Melbourne over Sydney, causing Melbourne to grow at a faster rate.

Transport

Driving into the city is a common practice in Melbourne, and the standard commute is around 40min to the city. But, especially if you live in west Melbourne, traffic delays are common.

Driving around the suburbs is by far the quickest transport option, but for transport to the city, many people take the train. Melbourne’s train system is quite good and its network of trams (the largest in the world) make micro-transit a breeze. However, expect crowding in the morning on the trams and you may even fail to get on the first one that goes by because it is just too full.

Infrastructure

Melbourne’s public infrastructure of parks, art galleries, museums and sport stadiums always amazes people from Sydney because they are so large, numerous and of such a high quality. Melbourne truly realises the importance of spending money on public infrastructure to keep its people happy.

Culture

Melbourne’s appeal could not be talked about without mentioning culture. Melbourne is a cultural hub of Australia and its cultural center has traditionally been Fitzroy. Fitzroy is known for its hipsters, its IceBar and its warehouse parties. But of course, a place can only stay cool and affordable for so long, so the next hip suburb in Melbourne is always a matter of speculation, but it is usually somewhere near Fitzroy.

As a whole, Melbourne is known as the artsy alternative to Sydney. Not in a bad way at all actually. It is known for its slightly slower way of life and numerous art galleries, making it a choice city for many creative types.

4 Tips For Moving To Melbourne

• Expect stormy weather in winter. Buy coats, get property insurance and stay inside if it gets too stormy. Not to scare you, just so you can be prepared.
• Try to find the right balance between appreciating hipster culture and the boundless creative contributions that hipsters have made, and becoming overly hip and pretensious.
• Discover some hidden bars and even restaurants. In the labyrinths of Melbourne’s alleyways there are countless secret places that only the in-crowd knows about.
• Find your favourite coffee place. Every Melbournian has a favourite coffee place. (A stereotype but . . . it is true that there is a lot of good coffee.)

If you are one of the many former Western Australian residents who have decided to pack it up and head east, whether for work or just a change of scenery, you’re probably torn between the two big cities in regards to your new home.

Melbourne and Sydney represent the business population of the country and are home to a diverse range of art and culture which attracts people from all over the world.

While Sydney is the most well known place in Australia, it seems that Melbourne has overtaken it when it comes to new arrivals with an increasing population, which can’t be said for Sydney. According to recent statistics, NSW took a population loss of 6,305 residents in 2014 while Victoria gained 8,455 new residents.

This isn’t a huge surprise when you take a look at the property markets of Sydney and Melbourne, with the median price of a house in Sydney just surpassed $1 million while Melbourne, still hovers around $670,000, making it a much more affordable city to live in.

Although Melbourne is cheaper to buy property in, Sydney holds its value for a reason. If you have gotten used to the sunshine and beachside lifestyle of Perth, then Sydney is an easy transition with some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world and great weather to enjoy them, which can’t really be said for the always-unpredictable climate of Victoria.

If you’re more into the arts and artistic culture, then Melbourne may be more suited to you. With a thriving nightlife which proudly supports local artists, Melbourne is seen as the cultural hub of Australia.

As well as the arts, Melbourne has a great reputation for its food and drink. While Sydney certainly has high class restaurants, you will find a more in-depth range throughout Melbourne which vary in price and can suit any occasion.

Don’t think that the benefits of Melbourne are going unnoticed. As population decreases in NSW it is rising at record rates in Victoria. This cultural transformation of young Australians is starting to make Melbourne seem like a great choice for first home buyers due to the significant difference in the market.

Although, this won’t last forever. Future projections are showing that Melbourne may be the most populated city in Australia by as early as 2037, which will likely raise the price in property value.

No matter whether you decide to the surfside suburbs of Sydney or the quirky laneways of Melbourne, Palmers Relocations can provide you with reliable and affordable relocation of your belongings. Whether you are moving the family home or a bachelor pad, our wide range of transportation services will meet your individual needs perfectly, so get in touch with us today, and start your East Coast journey with us here at Palmers Relocations.