There are several reasons to consider hiring professional packers:
• If you move infrequently, you are inexperienced at packing
• If your schedule is packed (with work, school, or kids) you may not have much spare time
• If you have physical limitations, you may need extra hands
• If time is of the essence, you may need the manpower to beat a deadline
• If you have a lot of other stresses, you may take solace in relying on professionals
There are also many reasons to pause before outsourcing packing.
• It may be beyond your budget
• There are private or sensitive items you want to handle personally
• You have difficulty vetting suppliers
MAKING TRADE OFFS
Most of us do not have unlimited resources and as a result must make trade-offs when deciding how to allocate time or money. Through our 35 years of moving families and businesses, we hope to highlight some pros and cons to help you make better decisions about evaluating professional packing services. The most basic thing a moving company can provide is packing tips and supplies, that typically include all or some combination of:
• Bubble wrap, wrapping paper or furniture pads to protect packaged items
• Moving boxes, custom crating or specialty dish pack or glass pack kit(s)
• Permanent markers or labels
• Tape dispenser
• Box Cutter
• Hand trucks or dollies
Then there is a handful of packing service levels, ranging from packing piece(s) to full home packing:
• Specific Items to Pack
• Per-Room Packing
• Full Home Packing
• Storage
• Unpacking
Specific items that are bulky (a piano) or fragile (a wine collection) might require special care and therefore could be singled out for special handling by professional packers. Of course, to stretch your budget while avoiding certain heavy lifts, you could designate a specific room – say, a kitchen or a living room to be professionally packed while handling the bedrooms yourself. You could opt for turnkey service by electing the full home package, which includes packing everything from furniture to silverware. Most moving companies essentially offer volume discounts. The more you pack with them, the lower the hourly rate charged per mover per hour.
If your move-out and move-in dates are not aligned, you may need to have your furniture stored temporarily. The benefit of having organized packing, especially one where items are labeled by room could be of immense value in this scenario. When you are ready to move into your new home, it might be just as convenient to have your possessions unpacked and placed in their new locations. Businesses, for example, may opt to have network systems connected by an IT provider who can coordinate with your movers.
As it is in many situations, communication makes things better. Packers may be able to offer bundled discounts with other services, such as cleaning or moving. Some movers may encourage you to provide packing supplies to stretch your budget. But others might reduce their liability coverage if you do so.
My move from NY to SC went exactly as planned. Even though they had a glitch on staffing for the “packing” day, they [added] more team members on the loading day to make up the time. I was told my truck would be in South Carolina on Tuesday morning at 9:00 at it was there at precisely 9:00 on Tuesday morning. The invoice was exactly what Brian quoted me – no surprise charges. Would highly recommend.
Marianne L.
Packers and movers factor items to be moved as part of their cost estimates. Therefore, it will save money to eliminate obsolete items. While some can declutter ruthlessly, others are more sentimental. For the latter, packing may become a prolonged trip down memory lane. While “keep” or “discard” might be simple for you, are you as confident in doing the same for family members or work colleagues if you are involved in a commercial move?
So, while a pre-move purge could be outsourced, it should not be – unless your time is more constrained than your budget. Keeping the many moving parts on schedule will require organization. Professional packing will pack quickly and safely. Items are less likely to break and if they do, you are protected with insurance.
PACKING SELECTION CRITERIA
Assuring that your packer is licensed, and insured is the first selection screen. Next, ask for references, read reviews, and pay attention to years of experience. Be sure that you are comparing apples to apples. Get multiple quotes to assess market prices. An estimate based on a walk-through will be more accurate than one based on square footage, sight unseen. You may need to pay a premium for a job that is rushed or can only occur during restricted hours. Consider all your options that fit within your budget before deciding whether to use packing services.
Packing smart is essential for any move. Planning well will improve the experience; experienced packers will help you plan better. McAvey Moving can pack as much or as little as you need for your next home or business move. We offer supplies, including specialty boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and other items to simplify your move. You can add storage, moving, unpacking and set-up services to our packing services.
Minimize the down time for your household or your business, reduce the stress of any planned move. Assure that the benefit of experience and professionalism makes for the smoothest moving process possible. Whether your move is local or long-distance, commercial or residential, McAvey can support you for parts or the entire process. Our rates are transparent, our workers have passed the most rigorous background check, and our customer service is first rate. We offer customized services, accurate quotes, and guaranteed service dates. Remember, to move the right way, call McAvey.
BOOK NOW
Moving is stressful. And it didn’t help when I picked a moving day with monsoon like rain and wind conditions. From the moment when Brian provided an in person estimate to the time his team picked up and delivered everything into my new home, these movers were professional, efficient, and courteous. They carefully wrapped everything so nothing would get wet. Their fees were very reasonable. They are the best movers for the simple reason that from beginning to end, there was nothing I saw that they could improve upon. I highly recommend McAvey. “