For most people, moving house is a stressful and even emotional time. You might feel anxious about the change, second-guess your decisions, or feel a sense of loss for the home you became so comfortable in. One of the most physically and emotionally draining parts is a job that no one looks forward to: packing.
Packing takes planning. It needs to be done carefully and efficiently while being mindful of your other commitments and your large and fragile items. The best way to pack up a house for moving is to clearly label each box, use high-quality supplies, and start early (it always takes longer than you expect). Taking some pre-packing tips on board can help make the move a little smoother.
Someone needs to do the packing before removalists come and clear out the heavy stuff: the couches, refrigerators and bookshelves. If you’re seeking easy ways to pack for moving, one of the simplest approaches is hiring the services of professional packers.
Deciding on the best way to pack up a house for moving can feel like additional pressure and stress when you just wish your move was over already. That’s why Ready Movers is here to lay out the pros and cons of DIY packing vs. hiring a professional packing service.
DIY Packing Before Removalists
Do-it-yourself packing is a big job, even if you don’t have much stuff. The larger the square foot of your home, the more boxes (of different sizes) you’ll need, with any possible number from 15 up to 70 or more required. It’s almost inevitable that you’ll need more time and more supplies than you plan for, but there are tips you can take on board to make DIY packing before removalists easier.
Tips for DIY Packing
Purge as you go
Packing for a move is the perfect time to get rid of possessions that don’t spark joy, or that just don’t serve you anymore. Holding a garage sale or taking these items to the op shop will get this excess weight off your hands before you move.
Label the boxes well
Label every box clearly on the top and sides with information like what’s inside and which room it belongs in.
Keep the boxes light
Don’t over-pack your boxes. While it’s understandable to want to minimise the number of boxes to shift and the space they take up, the last thing you want is for the bottom to fall away.
Protect delicate objects
Whether you use bubble wrap, tea towels or newspaper, wrap glasses and other delicate objects for their protection before you pack them away in boxes.
Advantages of DIY packing
It can save you money
There’s no denying that unless expensive mistakes occur, the DIY approach is always more affordable than hiring a professional.
You can work on your own schedule
When you do it yourself, you can work at your own pace and rhythm, take breaks when you want to and don’t have to coordinate your schedule with a packing company’s availability.
You have control over where your belongings go
When you’ve personally packed every item, large and small, you know which box it’s in and can find it faster at the other end.
Disadvantages of DIY packing
It requires hard work and time
The DIY approach requires a lot more time and physical labour than calling a packing company. This is on top of all the usual stress involved in moving, plus the pressures of balancing work and family. Moving house is already a stressful and demanding endeavour, and trying to tackle too much on your own can lead to burnout.
Any damage is on you
Professional packers and movers usually have liability or at least a public reputation to protect when you use their services. Accidents happen, and when you break your own possessions, there’s no real recourse.
It can cause injury
When lifting heavy boxes, there’s the risk of physical strain or injury from too heavy a load or the wrong technique. If you have physical health problems and you don’t have some strong helpers at hand, it’s often not worth the risk.
Hiring Professional Packers
Professional packers provide you with the easiest way to pack for moving. They wrap up and box every item in the house and typically bring all the materials you require, including boxes, tape and packing paper.
Tips for finding the best packers
Finding the right packers is a lot like finding the right business in any industry. It involves doing a lot of research, reading reviews, examining professional accreditations, getting quotes and carefully reading contracts. All things are easier said than done when you already have a move to contend with.
Advantages of professional packing
You don’t need to take time off work
Moving house can get expensive, and losing out on your income is a complication you don’t need. With professional packers in your corner, you can focus on your job and other commitments and make sure you don’t fall behind on work.
Professional packers have experience
Professionals pack houses day in and day out. They’re extremely experienced, know the best and most efficient techniques and can help you avoid the kind of mistakes that lead to someone getting hurt or something getting broken.
Professional packers are accountable
If anything gets broken or damaged under a professional packer’s watch, you have recourse. Usually, the packer will be obligated to compensate you.
Disadvantages of professional packing
The cost is higher
There’s no getting around having to pay more for a professional, although you may find the rates more affordable than you expect.
You have less control over your possessions
Hiring professional packers can feel like giving someone else control of your things for a while. You may worry about whether they’ll pack them in the right box or wrap them properly.
Not all professionals are at the same level of quality
Just like any industry, there are some packers in the removalist business to steer clear of. Thorough research will better enable you to identify who you should engage with and who you should avoid.
How to Decide Which Is Best For You
Ultimately it depends on your budget, the distance of the move, time constraints and your physical capabilities. If you’re on a very low budget but have a lot of friends or family who can help you, or if you’re just moving one bedroom from one sharehouse to another, DIY may do just fine.
If you have to move an entire house, have a family, a full-time job and a busy life, or have a lot of possessions to shift, a packing pro can take a lot of the weight off your shoulders.
You also don’t have to make a binary choice between one and the other. Packing professionals offer a flexible range of services. You can start the packing yourself, and they can do the rest.
Professional Packing and Removalist Services with Ready Movers
Ready Movers provides flexible packing services that suit your needs. Whether you plan to start the packing yourself or need help with the packing or unpacking, we can assist you.
We can pack and unpack anything from a single room to an entire home, with packing materials supplied and special care for large and bulky items. We’ll help you avoid having to take time off work or a frenzied last-minute packing marathon.While our skills, experience, and top-notch equipment make it unlikely that anything will break or damage during the move, our Ready Movers Written Guarantee on local moves ensures we’ll pay for the repairs if it does.
Our home removal services are at the heart of what we do. We don’t just pack your stuff up; we also transport it anywhere from down the road to interstate. We’re a trusted name in home removals not only throughout Brisbane but also in Townsville, Cairns, Adelaide, Darwin, and other major cities.
If you’re facing a massive moving job and you’d like to make it easier on yourself, contact Ready Movers to get your moving quote and get ready to pack, move, and live.
