When it comes to moving, the mental checklist can seem never-ending. It’s more than likely you are concerned with the total cost, which moving company you’ll hire, how much work you’ll have to do yourself, and so on.
Sometimes these things can seem blurry. So we’re here to answer a common question: do moving companies pack for you? The short answer is that it depends! Keep reading to find out if you’ll have this part of moving taken care of, and if not, how to get it handled.
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Moving Companies that Pack
You may be surprised by the large range of services that moving companies provide depending on their specialties. Some companies include more services than others, while some have optional add-ons. Three types of companies that will take care of the packing aspect of moving are labor-only movers, full-service movers, shipping companies, and you guessed it, packing companies.
Full-Service Movers
Full-service movers are a type of moving company that you can expect packing from. Just as the name suggests, these movers will take care of most of the process. Not only will they pack your belongings for you, but they’ll supply all the materials needed to do so. No need to make a trip to the store or order any supplies online.
The trade-off for the services these companies provide is their high rates. Regardless, you won’t have to worry about packing (as well as carrying, transporting, and unloading everything). It’s important to note that typically full-service companies offer customizable options- it’s possible to only book packing/unpacking services from them. Some quality full-service movers with this option are Mayflower and United Van Lines.
Labor-Only Movers
Some labor-only moving companies may offer packing services as add-ons to their moving package. If you’re considering a labor-only moving company for packing services, be sure to check if their packing services are a stand-alone package or can only be utilized as an add-on. Some packing add-ons also incur an additional cost so keep that in mind as well.
At UniMovers, we charge the same flat hourly rate for all services. So whether you’re moving boxes, assembling furniture, moving items up and down stairs, or packing, you’re guaranteed a fair flat rate.
You may choose to have movers pack your items on moving day or have two separate bookings, one for packing and one for booking. You can also just utilize UniMovers for packing services if you’ve got the moving part down already.
Shipping Companies
It may be best to opt for a shipping company if you only have a few items you’d like to transport. This isn’t a traditional option for most looking to move, since it can get pricey and you’ll have to transport everything into the company’s facility which can be impractical for heavy items or a large number of them.
However, this is a popular route for out-of-state college students who have to use planes as transportation between home and school. Since there’s limited luggage you can bring on a flight, it makes sense to ship belongings as necessary.
All you have to do is bring your items to a shipping company’s location near you and they will pack them up for you with their own supplies. Then, it’ll be shipped to wherever you need it. A well-known company that offers this convenient service is UPS.
Packing Companies
Some companies specialize in packing. Professional packers will be responsible for packing all of your items and providing the supplies necessary. This includes boxes, tape, cushioning, and dollies.
Since you’ll be hiring well-trained professionals, you can be rest assured all your belongings will end up in one piece. If you need additional support, you can request unpacking services as well. They’ll unload your stuff and organize it however you’d like.
Should I Pack Myself?
Packing services total up to an average cost of $1000, but this can vary depending on factors like house size and the number or weight of items. This certainly is not cheap, so if you’re looking to save money you should assess your abilities and needs.
The labor of transporting items is difficult, but so is packing everything up into boxes. You may want to hire packers if you’re not physically fit enough to handle large items like televisions and dressers.
Even if you do consider yourself fairly strong, you should also ask yourself if you’re willing to take the time and effort to pack. Professionals are bound to pack more efficiently than the average person, and you probably won’t end up with broken items.
Looking to move soon?
Check out UniMovers and save 30-50% on your move as compared with traditional moving!
Where to Buy Packing Supplies
Whether you’ve decided to pack individually, or you’d like to supply a packing company with your own materials, the next question is where to buy packing supplies. Some trustworthy stores for this purpose include Lowes, U-Haul, Home Depot, and even Amazon.
Conclusion
If you are moving and don’t wish to pack, you now know which moving companies will pack your stuff! Just hire a packing company, a full-service moving company, or specifically book the packing service from a full-service moving company. And, if you only have a few items that need to be packed and shipped, consider dropping them off at your local UPS store.
If full-service moving doesn’t seem like the right fit for you, there are fortunately different companies that may suit your needs better. While these movers don’t generally include packing services, you can still hire them in conjunction with a packing company.
The number of options is vast, so just evaluate your situation and determine which services are essential to you. If packing happens to be one of them, you now have the key details surrounding it!
Olivia is an undergraduate student at University of South Florida studying Health Sciences and pursuing the Physician Assistant career. She is from a small town in Massachusetts and enjoys taking day trips to Boston! Olivia's interests include health, weightlifting, writing, and watching movies.
