Say Goodbye to Your Lipat Bahay Problems
There are mobile apps that can help you book a truck for as low as P350
Moving into a new home sounds good in almost all aspects: it signifies a new chapter, a change of ways, and in some cases, it means the fulfillment of a dream. While all of these sound exciting, the actual process of packing or moving into a new space, isn’t much so. Admit it—just thinking about the boxes waiting to be filled, the papers to be signed, and transporting everything your past space contained can be stressful.
There's no need to worry. Renting trucks and availing of moving services have become easier in recent years—thanks to the emergence of new startups specializing in logistics. With these four apps, you can get a trusted driver and a truck of your choice in a click or a simple tap:
- Fare starts at P350
- Service area: Metro Manila
This startup claims to be the “number one services marketplace in Southeast Asia” as it offers almost anything you need a help with: from looking for a trusted caterer for a special event to hiring a plumber to fix a leaky faucet. With the vast range of services it offers, it’s no surprise that movers and trucking services are part of the list, too.
As of this writing, the app can only provide a price quote from one trucking service, still, the price offering is relatively competitive compared to the rest of the apps listed here. A four-wheeler truck that can carry four tons can fetch for as much as P3,200, while a six-wheeler truck that has a weight capacity of six tons has a price tag of P3,800. The deal already comes with a pair of moving assistants. If ever you need more hands, an extra assistant will cost you P300.
However, Gawin.ph expects the entire moving process to be done in four hours, including the expected traffic and waiting time. The customer has to pay P500 for every extra hour of labor. If ever the space you’re moving out of, or moving into is a building with no elevators, an extra charge of P350 will also be incurred.
All costs are still subject to 12 percent VAT.
- Fare starts at P3,000
- Service area: Metro Manila
Homegrown startup Mober was one of the first startups to introduce on-demand cargo delivery services in the country. It used to mainly focus on delivering packages for small and medium enterprises in 2015, but it has since added lipat-bahay to its list of services.
The base fare for a four-wheeler closed truck which already comes with one assistant is P3,000. That cost only covers the first five kilometers, though, and there's an additional P25 for every succeeding kilometer. A fee of P3 for every minute of service is also charged. So if your new place is around 15 kilometers away and the whole moving service took four hours to finish, the total bill can only go for P3,970, a relatively fair price.
Note however, that it is only an estimate and it’s subject to extra charges for deviations in routes and waiting time.
Mober is available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
- Fare starts at P2,100
- Service area: Metro Manila, selected cities in Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan and Laguna
This startup only entered the market in 2016 and yet Transportify caters to the most number of areas on this list, as it extends to as far as Taytay, Rizal to Silang, Cavite.
It also offers the most flexible prices as customers may opt for either the standard fare or the full day option. The standard fare for a truck that can carry 1,700 kilograms or around 31 balikbayan boxes has a flat rate of P2,100 for the first three kilometers of travel, with a P50-charge for every succeeding kilometer. This deal already comes with one assistant that can help you with the move. If two pairs of hands aren’t enough, an extra helper will cost you P200.
If your new place is only around 15 kilometers away, the bill may only fetch for P2,700, the cheapest fare (for a huge truck) on this list. If ever you need a bigger truck, just add P400 and the number of balikbayan boxes you can carry will climb to 62.
Meanwhile, a full day rate is already fixed at P6,000, but may only be availed if your destination covers Transportify’s service area as seen here. Same as the standard fare, the deal already comes with an assistant. An extra helper under this rate will however cost you P400. Note that if the service extends beyond 10 hours, an extra charge of P150 will be incurred for every succeeding hour.
- Fare starts at P350
- Service area: Metro Manila
The youngest startup on this list, Lalamove only became available locally last November 2016. A word of advice though, it may be best to avail of the app’s services if you’re only moving few pieces of furniture, as the largest truck available in its fleet is an L300 van.
The base fare for its truck, which can carry as much as 1,000kg, is P350 with an added charge of P30 for every kilometer travelled, and P100 for every hour of service.
If you need an extra pair of hands to help you unload boxes, a helper will also cost you P200. The same amount will also be added to the bill if ever you decide to avail of their services on holidays or during the graveyard shift (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
If for example your new home is 15 kilometers away and the whole moving process took four hours to finish, expect to only shell out P1,200.
Have you tried these apps before? Do you have a moving story you'd love to share? We'd like to hear about it! Send us a message on Facebook.
PHOTOS: Realtor.com and EZStorage (Main)
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