Moving House in Sydney: The Mattress, Fridge and E-Waste Checklist
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Every Sydney move has the same leftovers: a mattress nobody wants to carry, a fridge that doesn't fit the new kitchen, a pile of old electronics, and sometimes a car that hasn't moved in years. Deal with them on a schedule and they're a non-event. Leave them to the last two days and they become the most stressful part of the move.
Four weeks out: decide, don't defer
Walk through the house and make an actual decision on each large item. Be honest about the ones you're inclined to "deal with later":
- The mattress. If it's older than about seven years, you're paying a removalist to relocate a problem. Here's how to tell if it's done.
- The fridge. Measure the new kitchen's fridge space — width, depth, height and door swing. This is the single most common moving-day discovery, and it's discovered too late.
- The second fridge in the garage. You're about to pay to move something that costs $200–$400 a year to run. Worth reading before you do.
- The electronics drawer and cupboard. Old laptops, phones, chargers, a TV in the spare room. Moving these is moving a drawer of dead weight to a new address.
- The car. If there's one that hasn't moved in years, moving house is the moment to deal with it — you can't take it with you and you can't leave it.
Three weeks out: measure the route
Not the rooms — the route. Five minutes that prevents a failed delivery:
- Narrowest doorway on the path in
- Stair width, and the width at the turn or landing
- Ceiling height over the stairs — low bulkheads are the hidden problem
- Lift internal dimensions and door height, for apartments
- Whether the building requires a lift or loading dock booking
A King mattress frequently will not go up a Victorian terrace staircase. Sizes and what fits where.
Two weeks out: book everything
- Book the removalist
- Book the lift and loading dock at both ends if either is a strata building. Most towers require it and many restrict removals to weekday business hours.
- Book the disposal pickup for a date before your final inspection or handover — not after, when you'll have lost access
- Wipe your old electronics while you've got time to do it properly. Device-by-device guide.
One week out: run the fridge down
Stop shopping. Eat what's in the freezer. A frost-caked freezer holds litres of water, and defrosting takes a full day.
The day before
- Defrost and empty the fridge, unplug it, mop up the meltwater
- Strip the mattress and arrange for it to be safely placed outside at the kerbside before the booked pickup
- Arrange for the old fridge and e-waste to be safely placed outside at the kerbside before the booked pickup
- Clear the car — glovebox, boot, under the seats, toll tag
The 24-hour fridge rule
If the fridge you're taking with you travels lying down, don't plug it in when you arrive. Stand it upright and leave it 24 hours. Compressor oil migrates into the refrigerant lines when a fridge is tipped, and switching it on before that drains back can kill the compressor — sometimes immediately, more often a few weeks later. Full explanation.
What each thing costs to remove
- Mattress — $80 flat, any size, any condition
- Fridge or freezer — $80 for a small–medium unit, $150 for a large one
- Electronics — $80 flat per load; old TVs from $80 ($150 for a large TV)
- Car — quoted on the vehicle; sometimes we pay you
All in one visit if you want. Fixed prices, no call-out fee.
Renting? Book before the inspection
Anything left at the property comes out of your bond at the agent's contractor rate, which is reliably more than doing it yourself. And nothing can go on the nature strip without a booked council collection — that's illegal dumping and it's fineable. Full end-of-lease guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you collect on moving day?
Yes, Monday to Friday, 6am–4pm, subject to availability — name the date when you book.
Do I need to be there?
Not for mattresses, fridges or e-waste, provided they are outside at the agreed kerbside collection point before pickup. Yes for a car.
Can you take everything in one visit?
Yes, as long as it's something we collect: mattresses, sofas and lounges, appliances (fridges, freezers, washing machines and TVs), e-waste and cars. We don't take other furniture, dryers, dishwashers or ovens.
What if my new place is a walk-up?
Collection is kerbside only. Please arrange for items to be safely placed outside at the kerbside before pickup; our team does not carry items down stairs.