Tips for Moving in Bangkok
First, a move is a great opportunity to clear out the things that you never use. Sort out items to toss, give away to friends or donate. For the latter, there are many Bangkok-based charities that will accept gently used stuff, including clothing, household goods and children’s toys and gear.
Next, consider the financial implications of your move. Moving costs money but the amount will largely depend on how much grunt work you are prepared to do. You can save a considerable sum if you find free boxes and packing materials, and pack everything yourself. You can then hire a local crew, usually comprised of a truck and a couple of guys, to be responsible for the heavy lifting and transportation. The servicemen usually bill by a combination of hourly labour rates and mileage; this is to be negotiated in advance and insurance may not be available.
For those with less of a budget, turn to complete relocation services, where a professional moving company will do everything from A to Z. These guys pack up the entire contents of your home, and on arrival, they will arrange everything in your new place as instructed. This option is expensive, but it saves time and effort – you won’t even break a sweat!
An intermediate solution is to pack yourself and engage professional movers to take charge of the core logistics, encompassing the movement and transport of furniture and boxes. Be aware that you are liable for the things you have packed if something breaks while in transit.
Some additional points to consider are below.
If you hire someone to help you move…
- Compare costs by getting a price quotation from several contractors
- Ask if the company doing the lifting and transport has moving insurance (there is usually a maximum coverage limit per item)
- Inform the moving company in advance if you have any items that exceed the value of their insurance coverage
- Get a written quote with terms before the move gets underway
- Check whether the offer includes compensation for delays
If you are going the DIY route…
- For van or truck rentals, there are often a number of free kilometres included in the price; after that, there is a standard cost per kilometre or per hour
- Check the distance, route and approximate moving time beforehand to get a rough cost estimate for your move
- Consider that certain days of the week can be busier than others in various areas; for example, on Sunday afternoons the ring roads in and out of Bangkok are nearly always more congested than on Monday mornings
- For local long-distance relocating (e.g. from Bangkok to Isaan), remember that the price of hiring a van often includes the return trip to bring it back
If you’re not quite ready to move yet but are in the process of looking at real estate in Bangkok, check out the listings on our site to find the perfect property for you.