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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:
SewButtons · 10/09/2018 15:23

Definitely worth it.
We moved recently and between the fact that I would have had to take an unpaid day off work to pack and that would have had to pay for boxes/tape/bubble wrap it actually worked out cheaper for us to pay for the packing service.

ineedaholidaynow · 10/09/2018 15:31

Our packers even packed the loft for us. They were amazing. I am sure we ended up with more boxes than we would have done if we had done the packing as they used so much wrapping but that was fine. You literally don't have to do anything, although that does feel a bit strange. They also had to pack things for 3 different locations as we were taking some of DM's stuff as she was downsizing. They coped with everything

OlennasWimple · 10/09/2018 15:37

Professional packers is the way forward always!

They are so much quicker than you can ever be, even if you have a hoard of helpers. And you can easily spend £200 in packing materials ans sturdy boxes, so there really isn't much of a saving with DIY, just lots of stress when moving is stressful enough

BackforGood · 10/09/2018 15:48

Go for it without a doubt.
They are professional packers - they do it every day and know what they are doing. They are not emotionally involved (won't get distracted and start flicking through that old photo album, or looking at things you get out the loft).
I would have assumed it would cost s LOT more than that.
In the scheme of what you are paying to move, £200 is such a small amount and the best value of anything in this whole process. (Don't foget if doing it yourself you'd have to buy the boxes, and packing material and tape and labels etc etc)

CMOTDibbler · 10/09/2018 15:48

It is worth every single penny. For £200 I'd be biting their hands off!

TotHappy · 10/09/2018 15:48

Do they pack all your bits and pieces though? Everything? Everything?
I have so many random fiddly little bits in my house which I somehow would feel ashamed asking movers to pack...? E.g. old diaries/notebooks from when I was a kid, a dozen miniature toiletries from hotels in the bathroom cabinet...

Original poster
Funnyhoney · 10/09/2018 15:50

Thanks for your replies.
Great to have opinions on this. Definitely getting packers but may leave DH to stew and try to arrange to move stuff with his family and see how long till penny drops!!
Could be fun!!

OP posts:
BitOfFun · 10/09/2018 15:52

Without having read the other replies yet, I say a BIG FAT YES to a packing service. I did it when I moved with a young baby, and it was a godsend. Do it!

LakieLady · 10/09/2018 15:54

Absolutely worth every penny.

If there's a downside, it may be that you throw less away than when you pack yourself.

Original poster
Funnyhoney · 10/09/2018 15:54

To be fair Tothappy I was thinking of doing full tidy before and would pack smalls myself!! Some areas are personal!!
But that aside...!

OP posts:
HugeAckmansWife · 10/09/2018 15:54

Definitely worth it but before they start put jewellery and paperwork in your car and move that yourself. Put anything you need for the next 48 hours in a suitcase and likewise put in the car. If you want them to leave the kettle, tea stuff etc accessible put it in one cupboard and label do not pack. Be prepared for things not to be where you might imagine when unpacking as they pack efficiently, not necessarily like with like.

lowtide · 10/09/2018 15:56

I packed everything on my own in the last move. It was soul destroying. I actually cried into boxes.
I would pack your precious things yourself though.

MyOtherProfile · 10/09/2018 15:58

Definitely get packers! They have no emotional attachment so they go through the house like a swarm of locusts. None of this cooing over old photos or bits of tat.

Original poster
Funnyhoney · 10/09/2018 15:59

Yes HugeAW
Does sound like you're an expert and hmm..
there will need to be a bit of thought on making sure everything will be as smooth as possible at other end too!

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 10/09/2018 15:59

I thought it would be about £1,000! I've only moved into this house, though, and have been here for years. When we moved it took two car journeys - and there was virtually nothing in the second car! It's the thought of the move that would put me off ever leaving, but if it was £200 then surely that's nothing in the scheme of things?

CuntyMcFuckerson · 10/09/2018 16:00

I can see the appeal but I wouldn't/didn't as I'm funny about people going through my stuff. It's why I can never have a cleaner (though I'd love one)!

Moving/packing was so so stressful that if I could have relaxed about it I definitely would have packers.

Easilyflattered · 10/09/2018 16:01

Even with Packers, moving day was so busy. Just the logistics of school runs, collecting keys, cleaning, last minute tip runs, it was an exhausting long day.

If 200 means that much to him volunteer to have no Christmas present or Birthday present, I would eat beans on toast for a month rather than not have Packers.

IsabelleSE19 · 10/09/2018 16:04

Best money I ever spent (think ours was about £200 as well). I am quite tight about some things but I would definitely use a packing service if we move again. In the context of what the whole move costs it isn't really that much anyway.

Easilyflattered · 10/09/2018 16:04

To answer a PP, yes they pack everything. Including empty crisp packets under my son's bed. If it's there, it goes in a box. And you get to discover it at the other end.

TeaOrGin · 10/09/2018 16:04

Good friend does this for a living, one key advantage to getting the professionals is they know how much to pack into boxes, on occasion they have had to repack when clients have over packed boxes and sometimes badly packed boxes end up with breakages (not saying the pros never get it wrong but...)

bimbobaggins · 10/09/2018 16:07

If you can afford it then absolutely get it. I definitely would. In fact when we went to Australia on holiday last year with 40 kilos of luggage each I’d have happily paid for someone to pack my cases

TerfedOff · 10/09/2018 16:07

Makes sense. I've always used packers and think they are worth every penny. Takes all the stress away.

AutumnMadness · 10/09/2018 16:07

But how do packers actually pack? Especially if you have a massive house full of stuff. How would they know how to label boxes? How would they know which rooms the boxes are going into in the new house? Do they disassemble furniture and label the parts?

AutumnMadness · 10/09/2018 16:08

I just know that it would take days to pack my house (even by people who move fast). Can't imagine paying just 200 for it.

SteggySawUs · 10/09/2018 16:11

Worth every penny, rather than spending every evening packing for the month before you move, you live in your home as-is until moving day, then they come in like a swarm of locusts and bam it's all packed!