The moving industry in Sydney has undergone significant shifts in recent years, driven by a tight rental market, changing urban living preferences, and the rise of remote work. At Men That Move, we’ve been keeping a close eye on these trends to ensure we’re always delivering the best service to our customers. In this article, we’ll dive into the latest insights, sharing how these factors are shaping the moving landscape in Sydney and how we’re adapting to meet the evolving needs of our clients.
The trends and stats we discuss are based on our own experience at Men That Move, from booking patterns to customer feedback. While they may not represent official city-wide data, they offer a valuable snapshot of the current state of Sydney's moving scene from our perspective.
Since 2023 and into 2024, we’ve seen a big jump in customer inquiries for moves to Sydney's 'outer' Inner West suburbs. Places like Rhodes, Homebush, Concord, and Strathfield have become popular, thanks to their proximity to the CBD and more affordable housing options. We've noticed a 25% increase in requests for these areas, which has led us to add extra service days. To keep up with the demand, we’ve even introduced an additional day of box delivery each week for these suburbs, ensuring customers get their packing materials on time for a smooth and stress-free move.
This trend shows that more homebuyers and renters are prioritising lifestyle changes, where affordability and convenience are key.
According to Adam, our General Manager,
"The outer Inner West suburbs of Rhodes, Homebush, Concord, and Strathfield have seen the biggest increase. We’ve had to add an extra day just to keep up with the demand for box deliveries!"
Before the pandemic, Saturdays were by far the most popular day for booking our removalists, and customers typically booked 2-3 weeks in advance. But with Sydney's rental market becoming more competitive, we've seen booking habits change a lot. Now, we’re noticing more and more customers giving just 7-10 days' notice, especially in the Inner City areas.
This shift seems to be driven by the fast turnover of rental leases. With that in mind, people are now booking moves during the middle of the week and often requesting boxes be delivered as soon as possible, usually aiming for the weekend. The old norm of booking 2-3 weeks ahead has given way to the new pattern of last-minute bookings and shorter timelines.
We’ve also noticed a shift in when people are booking. Now, Tuesday and Wednesday are by far the most popular days for customers to call and schedule their moves. Most people want their boxes delivered before the weekend and then book their actual move for the following week. This change is tied to the ongoing issues in Sydney’s rental market, which has hit crisis levels. With rental vacancy rates plummeting to just 1.3% as of January 2024 (the sharpest drop in the country), there are only about 9,114 available properties across the city. As rental competition heats up, people are locking in their leases fast, leaving them with less time to plan their moves. These tighter deadlines mean many renters are booking their moves with just 7-10 days' notice. Here’s the trend we’ve noticed: Bookings are typically made on Tuesday or Wednesday. Most moves are scheduled for 7-10 days later. Boxes are delivered on Fridays. The most popular move-in days now are Mondays and Friday
In the past, Saturdays were always the busiest days for removalists, but recently, we've seen a noticeable change. Fridays and Mondays are now just as, if not more, popular for bookings. This shift seems to be all about changing lifestyles—people now want to reserve their weekends for relaxation and fun, not for the stress of moving.
This trend could also be linked to changes brought on by the pandemic. With lockdowns and remote work blurring the lines between weekdays and weekends, people have started to view weekends differently. The days of spending Saturdays packing up and shifting homes are fading as people prioritise their downtime and move on weekdays instead.
“Weekends have become sacred for relaxation, and we’re seeing a clear shift to weekday moves,” Adam shares.
The pandemic prompted a surge in people relocating to regional areas like the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, and Southern Highlands as remote work became the norm. However, by mid-2023, Men That Move noticed a significant dip in regional moves as more businesses began calling employees back to the office. With fewer people working remotely full-time, moving to areas just 1-2 hours outside of Sydney has become less common. This shift is based on our booking patterns, but we’ll likely see official data catch-up in the coming years.
Sydney’s housing market experienced an 11.6% rise in property prices in 2023, and this trend has remained steady into 2024, especially in the outer west suburbs, where growth is expected to continue. Housing demand, particularly in the mid-range and luxury segments, is driven by factors like population growth, urban migration, and Sydney’s strong economic position. This increased urban migration has largely remained within a 45-minute radius of Sydney, which could explain the drop in regional move bookings seen by our team. Additionally, with ongoing international immigration contributing to Sydney’s growing population, both rental and home purchase demand continues to rise.
During the pandemic, regional relocations surged as remote work became widespread. However, by mid-2023, this trend reversed:
- Moves to regional areas like the Blue Mountains and Central Coast have significantly declined.
- The return to office-based work has made these relocations less feasible.
“We’ve noticed a drop in regional bookings. People are staying closer to Sydney as the flexibility of remote work diminishes,” Adam observes.
In today’s economic climate, more and more customers are focusing on getting the best value for their money. At Men That Move, we’ve seen a 90% uptake in the use of our reusable packing boxes for local removals, as customers opt to cut down on the costs of single-use packing materials. Many clients are also choosing to handle smaller items themselves while hiring removalists for the bigger furniture and heavy lifting. This not only saves on moving costs but also helps streamline the moving process, reducing the time needed for the job.
As Sydney continues to be ranked as the most expensive city in Australia, with housing costs playing a major role, it’s no surprise that people are becoming more budget-conscious. Sydney is also regularly listed among the world’s priciest cities, making it essential for many residents to find ways to save. For many of our clients, this has meant opting for “big item only” moves, where they handle the small stuff and leave the heavy lifting to us. It’s a clever way to cut down on moving time, lower costs, and ultimately make the process more affordable.
Sydney's rental market has become increasingly challenging, prompting a significant number of customers to relocate every 12 months. This trend is not limited to singles or young couples; families are also frequently seeking better lease agreements or more affordable housing options. Consequently, our team has observed a noticeable increase in repeat clients requiring assistance with their annual moves. The demand for their services has grown as more individuals and families recognise the benefits of relying on experienced professionals to navigate the complexities of Sydney's rental market. They know the costs from the last removalist booking and trust our services from then also.
- The rental market in Sydney remains tight, with vacancy rates at historically low levels.
- This has led to rising rents, particularly in the inner city and popular coastal areas.
- Renters can expect continued competition for properties, with prices expected to increase by around 5-7% for the year.
- More families moving annually due to rental market pressures.
- Families and individuals alike face short-term leases.
Sydney’s urban density continues to grow, especially within a 20 km radius of the CBD, leading to a dominance of apartment moves. Men That Move’s anecdotal data reveals that:
- 65% of moves are apartment-to-apartment, reflecting the lifestyle shift toward high-density living.
- 18% are house-to-house relocations.
- 16% involve apartment-to-house transitions, and just 1% fall into other categories, such as moves to storage facilities.
“Apartment moves are our bread and butter. Poor access—like shared lifts, narrow stairs, or strict building rules—makes these moves more complex but manageable with the right planning,” says Adam, General Manager of Men That Move.
Many apartment moves require precise coordination, especially in high-rise complexes where building managers enforce strict guidelines. We know from experience that a move may need to be booked with the building manager, especially in high-rise apartment buildings. Common restrictions include:
- Booking service lifts ahead of time.
- No weekend or public holiday moves.
- Limited moving hours, typically between 9 AM and 4 PM.
“Weekends have become sacred for relaxation, and we’re seeing a clear shift to weekday moves,” Adam shares.
Seasonality plays a significant role in Sydney's moving trends. The busiest months are November to January, aligning with the spring real estate boom. However, shorter booking windows have become the norm:
- Pre-pandemic, customers booked moves 2–3 weeks in advance.
- In 2024, most bookings are made with just 7–10 days' notice due to the tight rental market.
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays are now the most popular days for bookings, with many clients opting for Friday moves to avoid interrupting their weekends.
“The rental market is incredibly competitive, and people often only have a week or two to organise their move once they’ve secured a lease,” explains Adam (the General Manager).
With a rental vacancy rate of just 1.3%, Sydney's rental market remains one of the most competitive in the country. This environment is driving renters to relocate more frequently:
- Families and individuals alike are moving every 12 months in search of better lease agreements.
- Rising rents and short-term leases are common, particularly in the Inner City.
“Repeat clients account for a growing share of our bookings. They trust us to deliver a seamless experience year after year,” Adam adds.
The high cost of living in Sydney is prompting clients to make smarter financial choices during their moves:
- 90% of customers use our reusable packing boxes, reducing expenses on single-use materials.
- Many clients handle smaller items themselves, hiring removalists only for heavy furniture.
“Reusable boxes are a win-win: they save our clients money and reduce waste. It’s one of our most popular services,” Adam notes
Sydney’s moving trends are always shifting, and at Men That Move, we’ve seen it all. From our anecdotal data, it’s clear that shorter booking windows, frequent relocations, and the rise of apartment moves are shaping how people move across the city. Whether it’s managing tight timelines, navigating tricky building rules, or helping clients cut costs with reusable packing boxes, we’re here to make moving as smooth as possible.
The stories we hear from our clients and the patterns we’ve noticed over the years give us a unique insight into the challenges Sydneysiders face. Families moving every year to chase better leases, and last-minute bookings due to the competitive rental market—it’s all part of the picture, and we’re proud to be the team people trust to handle these moves.
At Men That Move, we’re all about making the process easier, whether it’s a big family relocation or a quick apartment switch. With our experience and understanding of Sydney’s moving landscape, we’ll take care of the hard stuff so you can focus on settling into your new space. Let’s make your next move your best one!
