Moving can be a stressful, time-consuming experience that forces you to say goodbye to your old neighborhood and home, start a new life in an unfamiliar area, while handling the process of relocation. Considering everything, the most dreaded component is packing. Seemingly impossible to tackle given the breadth of items to move, packing is often put off until the very last minute. This forces people to frantically start throwing things in boxes.
A good way to go about packing is to hire and contact a residential moving company. But, this option also has cons. So, what should you do? Should you consult a home mover closeby? We have gathered the pros and cons of packing your own belongings vs. hiring professionals, so that you can choose wisely.
Pros of Hiring a Packing Service
1- It’s quick. If you have a substantial home with numerous rooms full of belongings, heavy furniture to dismantle and wrap, and constrained time to achieve it, hiring professional movers to help pack could be a lifeline. What may take you weeks to finish, professional packers can complete in only a couple of hours to several days.
2- Your items will be packed properly.
3- Your items are less likely to be damaged.
B- Cons of Hiring a Packing Service
Increased cost.
1- Obviously, any extra administration comes with extra expenses. Costs can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, contingent upon the volume of effects that require packing and the time it takes to pack them. Some moving companies will charge youby the hour and some will provide a fixed cost. You may likewise be charged additional for packing materials, or they could be incorporated into the rate. Make sure to approach any moving companies nearby and request a clear agreement so you know what is included and have a guaranteed cost that won’t escalate.
2- Lack of control. While local movers can pack while you’re at your move location, it’s difficult to exercise quality control as they’re typically packing multiple boxes at once in difference areas.
C- Pros of Packing Yourself
1- Lower costs.
The greatest benefit of packing on your own is the diminished cost. This might be critical considering that many are on a financial plan in the wake of acquiring a new home ormoving offices. Your packing materials are also typically cheaper when packing yourself as there is no mark up.
2- You have more control. You can ensure that sensitive and fragile items are packed carefully and that those boxes are clearly marked as fragile.
3- You are less susceptible to theft. By taking packing into your own hands, you can decrease the number of unknown people in your home and keep them from seeing valuable items as they’re being packed.
D- Cons of Packing Yourself
1- It’s time-consuming. The process of moving includes a variety of tasks and planning–including preparing your new home, changing your address, hooking up utilities, preparing children and pets for the move, and making travel arrangements. Packing is a tedious burden for those of us that already have busy, jam-packed schedules. If you can’t find adequate time to pack, the process could take you months–or you could even be forced to take time off from work to complete the chore.
2- You may not pack items correctly.
3- Furniture disassembly can be difficult.
4- Boxes and furniture are heavy and you can risk hurting yourself.
The Bottom Line
The choice to pay for packing services will depend on your preferences, your move, and your needs. If you have very little time and the extra cash, hiring packers will be a lifesaver. If you have a tight budget, very few belongings, and are not that strapped for time, hiring professional packers would probably be unnecessary.
If you have trouble deciding whether convenience or money is more important to you, you could also hire packers for a “partial pack”–where you pay them to pack or wrap only certain items that are especially fragile, oddly-shaped orespecially heavy. Some examples of these items include furniture, china, glassware, electronics, paintings and mirrors. This will allow you to save a bit of money without compromising the safety of your most valuable or breakable belongings.