Do Most Home Removals Companies Also Provide Packing?
Moving house always seems exciting when you’re thinking about the new home. Choosing where the furniture will go, imagining what you’ll do with the garden and deciding which room you’re going to decorate first can all be quite fun. Unfortunately, before you get to any of that, you have to somehow get everything you own into boxes.
And there are always considerably more belongings than you thought you had.
Packing can easily become one of the most time-consuming parts of moving house, particularly if you’ve lived somewhere for years. Cupboards you barely think about suddenly contain approximately four million things, half of which you don’t remember buying, and that drawer full of random cables you’ve ignored for years finally has to be dealt with.
If the thought of packing an entire house fills you with dread, however, you don’t necessarily have to do all of it yourself. Many home removals companies now offer packing as an additional service, although exactly what’s available varies between companies.
Can a removals company pack your house for you?
Yes, many removals companies can pack some or all of your belongings as part of your move, although packing isn’t automatically included with every removals service.
Smaller companies and man-with-a-van services may concentrate mainly on collecting your belongings, transporting them and unloading them at your new home. Larger removals companies are more likely to offer additional options such as packing, supplying packing materials, dismantling furniture and storage.
It’s worth asking exactly what a company’s packing service includes rather than assuming they’re all the same. One company might offer a complete service where virtually everything is packed for you, while another may offer help with particular rooms or fragile items.
You should also check whether packing materials such as boxes, tape and protective wrapping are included in the quote or charged separately.
Is paying for a packing service worth it?
I’ll admit that paying someone to put your belongings into boxes can initially sound like one of those luxuries you could easily save money on by doing it yourself. Depending on your circumstances, though, it can be money well spent.
For me, the biggest question would be how much work you’re actually facing.
If you’re moving from a small flat and don’t own very much, paying for professional packing might not make financial sense. You could probably work your way through it yourself over a few evenings, especially if you’re reasonably organised and can start well before moving day.
Moving the contents of a large family home is a completely different prospect. The more rooms, furniture, books, kitchen equipment, clothes and assorted belongings you’ve accumulated, the more hours packing is likely to take. If you’ve lived in the same house for a long time, you may be surprised by just how much there is once you start opening cupboards.
In that situation, getting somebody else to tackle at least some of the packing can suddenly seem considerably more appealing.
Think about how much time you actually have
It’s easy to underestimate how long packing takes, especially when you’re trying to fit it around normal life.
If you’ve got several weeks before moving day and plenty of spare time, you can gradually pack things you aren’t using and leave everyday essentials until the end. If your moving date has come around quickly, you’re working long hours or you’ve got other things going on, that leisurely approach might not be possible.
When you’re under time pressure, a packing service from somewhere like Bright Movers could take a substantial job off your hands. It may also mean belongings are packed more systematically and with appropriate protection rather than everything being thrown into whatever box happens to be available at midnight the night before the removal van arrives.
If you’re considering this option, I’d get quotes early rather than waiting until you’re already surrounded by boxes and panicking about how much is left to do.
Packing help can make moving less overwhelming
Moving house can be stressful even when everything goes reasonably smoothly. There are forms to complete, addresses to change, utilities to sort out, keys to collect and approximately seventeen people who suddenly need information from you at the same time.
Packing is then another enormous job sitting in the middle of all of it.
Paying for help doesn’t remove every bit of stress from moving, obviously, but taking one large task off your list can make the whole process feel more manageable. You might decide to have the removals company pack everything, or you could choose a partial service and deal with the easier belongings yourself.
For example, you might be perfectly happy packing clothes and bedding but prefer somebody experienced to deal with glassware, pictures, mirrors and other fragile items. Equally, you might want help with the kitchen because you’ve somehow acquired enough mugs to open a small café.
There isn’t really a right or wrong amount of help to have.
Sometimes other responsibilities have to come first
There’s also a tendency to assume everyone can simply dedicate the week before moving house to packing, but real life rarely works like that.
You might have children at home, care for someone else, have health or mobility issues, or simply be unable to take much time away from work. In those circumstances, packing an entire house yourself might be difficult regardless of how organised you are.
This is where I’d think about the value of the service in terms of time and energy as well as money. If paying for packing means you can continue dealing with work, caring responsibilities or everything else associated with the move without completely exhausting yourself, it might be worth considerably more to you than it would be to somebody with plenty of spare time.
What should you ask before booking a packing service?
Before agreeing to anything, find out exactly what you’re paying for.
Ask whether the company offers full or partial packing, whether packing materials are included and how fragile or particularly valuable belongings are handled. You should also check what they won’t pack, because there may be restrictions around certain items.
It’s sensible to ask about insurance too. Find out what cover applies to belongings packed by the removals company and whether the position is different for boxes you’ve packed yourself. If you have particularly valuable items, mention them rather than assuming they’re automatically covered.
I’d also want to know when the packing would happen. Depending on the size of your home and the service you’ve chosen, this might take place on moving day or during the day or two beforehand.
Getting everything clearly included in a written quote makes it much easier to compare companies properly rather than simply choosing whichever initial price looks cheapest.
You don’t have to hand over everything
Even if you book a full packing service, there are some things I’d still keep with me.
Important documents, medication, keys, phones and chargers, jewellery and anything you’ll need immediately should ideally travel with you rather than disappearing into the back of a removal van.
I’d also make yourself a little first-night box or bag. Think toilet roll, toiletries, clean clothes, basic food and drinks, bedding and anything else you’ll want without having to open fifteen boxes when you’re exhausted.
And definitely keep the kettle accessible. Moving house without knowing where the kettle is feels unnecessarily reckless.
Is a removals packing service right for you?
Professional packing isn’t something everybody needs, and if you’re trying to keep moving costs as low as possible, packing yourself is an obvious place to save money.
However, I wouldn’t automatically dismiss it as an unnecessary luxury either.
If you’re moving a large amount of stuff, working to a tight deadline or already juggling work, family and other responsibilities, paying someone to take care of some or all of the packing could make moving day considerably easier.
The important thing is deciding what help you might need before choosing your removals company. Compare what’s included, ask about additional costs and insurance, and get a few quotes so you can judge whether the convenience is worth the price for your particular move.
You may decide you’d rather spend the money elsewhere and pack every box yourself. Alternatively, after opening the cupboard under the stairs and seeing what you’ve somehow accumulated in there, paying somebody else to deal with it might suddenly seem like the best money you’ve ever spent.
