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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think paying for packing service when moving is ok

136 replies

Funnyhoney · 10/09/2018 15:01

I am moving soon so getting quotes for removals. I asked for quotes and the packing service is around £200 extra (and an extra half day). Thinking this is the way forward I told DH who thought it s waste of money.
He asked his mum and brother who we saw on Saturday. They recoiled in horror, his mum open mouthed that we would even think of having this service. I couldn't quite believe this as I thought it was a no brainer and so much easier than doing it ourselves. DH even suggested moving furniture himself to which I replied I wouldn't help him and he'd have to ask his family to help him if that's what he wanted to do.
AIBU to think paying for packing is a great idea? Thoughts please as I am just shocked at negative reaction to what I thought was a very reasonable idea.

OP posts:
CassandraLamontaigne · 10/09/2018 15:03

Yanbu. I'd spend £200 to not have to pack.
You're going to be the winner here either way though - you'll hire the packers or get to say "I told you so" when your DH realises you should have got the movers to pack too

icecreamcrackers · 10/09/2018 15:04

I can't really help with the packing side of things but my husband builds furniture for a living and he is often asked to dismantle furniture and move it to a different house when people are moving.

Loyaultemelie · 10/09/2018 15:05

It's the only way to do it in my eyes! £200 is nothing to save a marriage and my sanity

SlartiAardvark · 10/09/2018 15:07

God yes, we paid for packers - it's the only way to move!!

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 10/09/2018 15:08

Having only done this once before (the last time of nine moves Shock) I would always always do it in future (mind you it was BILs company and didn’t have to pay Wink) . GBP200 wouldn’t stop me though!

milkmoustache · 10/09/2018 15:09

Worth every single penny. They are ten times faster than you or I could ever be.

FresasAndFrambuesas · 10/09/2018 15:10

Honestly we always packed ourselves. Then one time we had them pack. I am never packing for myself again.

Fireinthegrate · 10/09/2018 15:10

Last two. Oves we had packing done by the removal company.
Absolutely worth every penny.
Your husband and his family are being unreasonable here.

Birthdayhat · 10/09/2018 15:11

Best money we spent! I would never move again without someone else packing tbh unless I really couldn't afford it. It is a tiny amount compared to moving costs. Do it!

Shoxfordian · 10/09/2018 15:12

Of course its a good idea

Trillis · 10/09/2018 15:13

Blimey, that's great. I wouldn't think twice at £200. I have also had quotes for moving recently and the packing charge would be about £500. And I'm still considering it! My sister who moved a couple of years ago told me absolutely no contest - she would definitely pay £500 for packing. She found her move a nightmare and said that not having to worry about packing would have taken so much of the stress out of it. When you are spending many tens of £000s on a house, a couple of hundred is a very small proportion.

carbuckety · 10/09/2018 15:14

Always had a packing service for the last three house moves ( first when I was pregnant and on bed rest, so a medical necessity). Always use it but now but yiu do need to watch them a bit especially if packers are young imo last time we had an idiot undo a box with a new table lamp in and he shoved some books in and crushed the lampshade. But it's so much better than doing it yourself. I would not move if my DH wanted to do it all himself. No way. Last time we had a move that was so far the movers had to sleep in their van but we were totally unpacked and ready to go by the end of day 2

peachgreen · 10/09/2018 15:14

Do it! They know how to pack quickly and efficiently, and will avoid breakages. The only downside is that the boxes won't be as organised as they would be if you packed yourself so unpacking takes a bit longer. But otherwise it's worth every penny.

ineedaholidaynow · 10/09/2018 15:15

Get packers. Just recently moved my DM who is in her 80s. Obviously she couldn't do it and we didn't live locally so would have been hard for us to do it. So got packers. They were so efficient. Do it all in one day so no need to live with packing cases for days. £200 well spent

MeloCocoBanan · 10/09/2018 15:15

Get the packing service.
We have moved 11 times with the full packing included. They are professional. They can pack stuff faster and better than you ever will.
Also packing yourself can invalidate some insurance.
Just have them pack. You'll be so so so glad you did.

krustykittens · 10/09/2018 15:15

Worth every penny. It's not just the packing, it's also that they store it as they are doing it. When you do it yourself you quickly find the boxes pile up and make it harder for you to move around a room.

RayRayBidet · 10/09/2018 15:16

The removal guys do such a great job and are so quick, way faster than we would do it. It is worth every penny.
If he continues to object I would LTB. Grin

Kimlek · 10/09/2018 15:16

it makes soooooo much difference! I’d never do it ourselves after having packers the last couple of moves. Plus I’m pretty sure that if you pack stuff that then breaks during the move you’re not covered by the removal company. If they pack, you are.

squadronleader87 · 10/09/2018 15:17

It’s so worth the money. I’ve paid for it twice and it took away some of the stress of moving. My rationale is that the extra £250 was a drop in the ocean compared to legal fees, stamp duty etc.

PolkerrisBeach · 10/09/2018 15:19

Up to you. People choose to spend their money in different ways. I think people who spend hundreds of pounds on tattoos or having lip fillers are crazy, but their money, their choice.

BlaaBlaaBlaa · 10/09/2018 15:19

Best money I ever spent and it made moving so much easier. I'm.hoping not to move again anytime soon but if did I would definitely pay for a packing service again.

ConsiderHerWaysAndOthers · 10/09/2018 15:19

Only £200?! I think that’s a brilliant bargain. Unless you really can’t afford it and it would be going on a credit card or your DH is proposing to do it all whilst you go out for the day then definitely book the packers.

Theconifers25 · 10/09/2018 15:20

Had it done 2 weeks ago and it’s best £210 I ever spent.
The move was virtually stress free as a result.
I avoided telling certain family members as they would recoil at the fact I was so frivolous.
Go for it!

Pikehau · 10/09/2018 15:20

Worth it 100%

Just do it

Spiderdemon · 10/09/2018 15:21

if you are thinking about moving like it used to be when you're an early 20s renter/student, I can see why you might be surprised at having to pay for packing. Maybe your DH is fondly imagining the old days of a couple of binbags and a guitar.

Moving children and a proper functioning adult household is a totally different kettle of fish.