Paying removal men to pack too - how does it work?

[Adollop]

If I pay extra for packing, how does that work? Do I leave everything where it is and they pack it all or do I need to help them? Or do I put everything in a big pile sou they know what to pack?

Sorry, I know this sounds stupid, I've never done it before, but am very tempted due to not being very well at the moment, but can't imagine how it works. Do they also take down bookshelves, take apart beds etc?

Use word of mouth for local recommendations of good firms. Do you have a local FB community where people could recommend firms? As I said we ended up with national but they had been recommended to us.

There's no one I can ask, but I'll check on fb.

I've never heard of having to list every item you own, that would take longer than packing it yourself!

If you give us a rough guide as to where you are maybe someone on here can also recommend.

So apparently I just tell them how many boxes are needed.

I'm near Cardiff, South Wales.

I contacted a local company this morning and they've quoted approx £1300.

I think you need a third quote. Those are too different.

Packing services is one of the worlds best inventions. The guys are amazing!

We used packing service for my DM. They came round and had a look at what she had (didn’t count every plate!) They also did the loft and shed for her (not all companies offer this or charge extra). Would thoroughly recommend it. I am sure her quote for small 2 bedroom bungalow was in between your 2 quotes and involved about 80 miles distance.
You need to tell them which room you want things going to and they label accordingly. They use more wrapping material than we would have done, so you may end up with more boxes. They are like a team of locusts. Ensure you keep things separate that you need with you otherwise they will be packed before you know it. Ensure things are labelled that you don’t want taking eg recycling boxes and ensure all bins are emptied of rubbish otherwise the rubbish will be packed too!

You don’t have to count things. But they should come around and see what you have, though they can give a ballpark figure for, say, a three bed house. But if you have a lot of art work for example that will need careful packing, and things like a treadmill or piano will add to the cost.
They will pack your rubbish too so have a really good clear out beforehand.
Pack yourself a suitcase of clothes/uniform/toiletries to get thru first few days along with basic kitchen kit. Then you transport that.
Have labels at the ready! A clearly marked floor plan of new house will help them.
If you have a dog or cat put it in kennels or with a friend during move as it will be distressing for them.

I've now entered the amount of boxes I think will be needed and the quote has changed to £900. They don't come out to check, but base it on the furniture I list plus boxes for everything else. I guess this way they keep the cost down by being purely web based.

Just had a look at the quote for DM's move and it was £1,400, so your revised quote is still cheap. Do you have much furniture that needs moving?

No, just one double bed, one 2 seater sofa, coffee table, washer, fridge and freezer, bookcase, tv and stand, small garden table and 2 chairs, chest of drawers, small nest of tables, think that's it ... I've no idea how many boxes I'll need though

In theory the stuff in the drawers won't need emptying as they will just take the full drawers out of the unit and then put them back in.

They usually have special boxes for hanging clothes in from wardrobes.

That all sounds utterly amazing!

Next time I move I'm definitely getting them to pack it up as well.

When I moved from a 2 bed to a three bed we used the packing service, my mum said it would be a waste of money but it was the best. They did it all including the garden shed ( even bagged up the sand in the sandpit) it was £900 but that was 7 years ago. I'd pay for the sane service again when we next move. It completely took the stress out of moving day. On moving day we were in the house 2 hours after completion including everything reassembled.

Packing service is brilliant. Also many home insurance policies will cover breakages if you had packers but not if you didn’t.

However I’d want to use someone who’d come to visit and made their own estimate of what stuff I have. With the online only system there is too much room for “well you said 9 boxes and we used 11, that’s another £300” or “we don’t have enough boxes as you said 9” or “we’re clocking off now, you mis estimated so we haven’t got enough time”.

Do this - its worth the money

minipie yeah that's my worry 😫

My budget is quite small, and no way to change that, so I'm weighing up cost vs. my health and inability to do it myself

We’ve always used packers, it’s brilliant. They are like locusts!
We put important docs etc in the boot of our cars.
One tip: keep car keys and house keys in your pockets, or round your neck!

I will never pack myself again. Packers are THE best thing to happen to a house move since, well, since for ever.

Leave things as they are.

And yes, they are worth every single penny.

If you can afford it it's a brilliant service. We've always done it because our first move I was pregnant and not allowed to lift (placenta Previa) and we always budget for it now. The companies we've used ( always get 3 quotes) come and look at everything, you tell them what not to take eg if leaving dishwasher and they quote. It includes insurance for breakages etc. Our last quote for moving a long distance was over £2k but honestly worth every penny. The blokes were lovely, so helpful

I have had packers twice. The first time I was a novice and an empty bottle of ketchup as well as a half full ashtray got wrapped up and transported to my new home. Second time I was more savvy so decluttered ruthlessly before they came. Worth every penny. As a PP says, you spent £10 - 15K on moving expenses so another £300-£500 on top is nothing.