Full packing service anyone?

MovingHouseAgain · 2022-01-28T12:35:47+00:00

We have booked a full packing service for our forthcoming house move - first time we've done this. Has anyone done this before and how best can we prep for it? They are coming the day before the actual move to pack everything. For context we also have a toddler and no childcare or family to help, so just me and DH.

loobylou44 · 28/01/2022 13:01

I've used a full packing service twice and it was so simple. The only thing we did to prepare was to put anything we wanted to keep out e.g. stuff for the kids, medication, kitchen things you need and any clothes all in one place and then made sure to let the firm know they were to be left alone.
It was worth every penny!

Elpheba · 28/01/2022 13:03

I’ve done it once and it was incredible. Will 100% do it again. Like pp says, just put aside things you definitely don’t want packed and be very clear about them not being packed and then I’d say be ready to get out of the way. They are super quick!

MarshaBradyo · 28/01/2022 13:06

It is great

Just keep a bag of stuff you don’t want packed eg for dc and leave them to it

ItsSnowJokes · 28/01/2022 13:07

Have a clear out before they pack. Otherwise you are just shifting a load of stuff you don't need to the new place. Have a massive declutter and will be so much easier when you unpack. Packing service is fab though. I have used it twice and wouldn't do without it now.

Candleabra · 28/01/2022 13:09

One of the best value for money services I’ve ever paid for.
Incredible. It would have taken me weeks to do what they did in hours.
Keep out the stuff you need and clearly mark it as not for packing (I put that stuff in the bathroom to keep it out of the way). They’ll pack the toddler if you leave him out!

Iggly · 28/01/2022 13:09

I packed a separate box of stuff we would need immediately to hand including bedding for the new house so we could sort that quickly.

I sorted through drawers etc and folded clothes neatly which meant that they could be packed and unpacked easily.

Main thing was a big declutter

Christienne · 28/01/2022 13:10

As above - Keep anything you need separate.

Think about that you don’t want them to pack. I packed underwear, jewellery and, ahem, personal items myself.

They will move anything that isn’t nailed down. If your kitchen bin has rubbish in it, it’ll get moved to the new place as is…

I’d never move again without it.

Christienne · 28/01/2022 13:11

what you don’t want them to pack

BlueChampagne · 28/01/2022 13:16

Well worth the money. Ply them with tea/coffee and biscuits.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 28/01/2022 13:18

As soon as they arrive agree a no pack place and label it. They are like awesome locusts who just pack what they see except for keys and chemicals. They'll pack a full bin etc. Make sure perishables are kept separate and don't do what I did and leave your favourite (clean) baking tray in the oven.
Remember to put any cleaning supplies or stuff you will need overnight in your no pack place.

Icaru · 28/01/2022 13:20

How much did it costs vs the quote without?

Hopefully moving in two weeks so trying to finalise a quote and a company. Would be lovely to just not do any packing.

CMOTDibbler · 28/01/2022 13:25

Pack what you would need for 3 days (toddlers night time toy, nappies, wash bags, clothes and shoes, plates, cups, cutlery, bedding, chargers) and lock it in the car. It is the only way to go.
Then you and the toddler go out and leave DH to supervise. Our last move, we went from a totally normally, not decluttered 3 bed house to it all packed and on the lorry in 5 hours - and that included them having to shuttle everything by van to the lorry due to the parking situation.

Waspie · 28/01/2022 13:31

Full packing was a major revelation. It only cost about £400 extra for my move 4 years ago and it really worth it.

As everyone says, make sure you have the stuff you don't want packed kept out. I put ours in the car to make sure it didn't get picked up by the packers. They were like a wonderful hoard of locusts sweeping through the house

SeasonFinale · 28/01/2022 13:36

More pack area (or put in car)

Empty bins or they will pack them full!

CrotchetyQuaver · 28/01/2022 13:54

Worth every penny!
Just pack up anything you don't want them to see before they get there.
Only thing I couldn't find at the other end was the iron which is no great loss anyway and I eventually found it a month later hours after I admitted defeat and bought a new one

absolutelyknackeredcow · 28/01/2022 13:58

@loobylou44

I've used a full packing service twice and it was so simple. The only thing we did to prepare was to put anything we wanted to keep out e.g. stuff for the kids, medication, kitchen things you need and any clothes all in one place and then made sure to let the firm know they were to be left alone. It was worth every penny!

This. I moved heavily pregnant with my second and I had about ten labels on my birth stuff as I didn't want it packed.

Also best thing is to get out the way. I went out for cake and coffee once

WombatChocolate · 28/01/2022 15:03

I agree that it’s well worth it.
Too many people decide they will save the few hundred quid, but in the context of the cost of a hosue move it really is tiny.

And people forget how long it takes to actually pack and how it’s harder than you think. It’s a key reason why people don’t get out before lunchtime on moving day.

Definitely worth doing.

MaggieFS · 28/01/2022 15:09

I've done it four times, it's a fantastic service.

Tips:
1)declutter and dispose of anything before they come
2)If you want to pack any valuables or e,g, underwear yourself, you can ask them for some boxes beforehand
3)keep aside in just one place kettle, mugs etc for moving day
4)if you want to clean at your new place first, ideally take what you will need to do that with you
5)they will pack at lightning speed and mine sweep a room. Don't think you'll come back to anything, it will probably get boxed up before you've realised.

If you do have anything staying which you can't move, get some coloured stickers so they know not to pack anything with a sticker

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 28/01/2022 15:09

They will pack anything they are legally allowed to. (Probably not as important on domestic moves!). Phone charger on the bookcase? In the box. Bag of dirty clothes? Packed. And they will pack things where they are, not necessarily with logical things. So if you want quick unpacking, make sure your old house is tidy.

Check with them about drawers etc... some move them full, some want them emptied.

MaggieFS · 28/01/2022 15:13

Oh - one more - boxes are generally marked by room name so if your rooms in your new place will be slightly different, you can pile things up for packing and ask them to label them accordingly which makes unpacking so much easier.

For example if you currently have all your kids stuff in the lounge and are moving to a house with a playroom, you can segregate them in your current house. Sounds obvious using kids toys as an example, but they assume nothing and will literally just do as asked. Perhaps moving to a house with a separate utility and splitting those items from kitchen items is a better example.

It just means you can completely ignore many boxes until you need them.

ThisMustBeMyDream · 28/01/2022 15:15

How much does this amazing sounding service cost?! I'd be definitely up for this!

Barnabyted · 28/01/2022 15:17

We have this every time we move. My tips would be to:
*sort through your belongings before you move. There is no point moving stuff from one location to another if you are never going to use it again.
*If you can, clear a room or create an area where you can put things that you need will immediately in the first few days. Put tape on the door to stop them going into that room! These things can either go with you ion the car if you have the space, or they can be put on the van last and removed first at the other end.
*remove wet towels, dish cloths, toilet brushes ( if you have them) as they will pack everything, and they aren't fussy about what gets packed with what.
*if they don't offer a disassembly package, take down beds and anything else which needs dismantled.
*if you have pets, put them in a boarding kennel/cattery for the day.
*be prepared for the amount of dust/muck behind really heavy objects which are rarely moved!!

At the other end, if they are not unpacking your belongings, make sure that your insurance company is happy with this. We fell foul of this once as the packers arrived late and we thought it would be easier to unpack ourselves. Our insurance company would not pay out for breakages as the packers had not unpacked.
If you can, ask them to take away the boxes and packing paper. Some offer to collect later, and then never turn up, leaving you with piles of packing material to recycle.

Cheeseontoastforlunch · 28/01/2022 15:21

It cost £200 for our small 3 bed about 3 years ago, so worth it! They will pack everything, without thinking or emotion so make sure everything is in the right rooms before the come. We took our valuables, tv and computers in our cars with an overnight bag and baby stuff but otherwise they did everything.
Give them lots of tea and biscuits and some beer money at the end

Cheeseontoastforlunch · 28/01/2022 15:22

And they provided all boxes and bubble wrap then took it away again a few weeks later. They also took down and reassembled large furniture items.

OllieTheCat · 28/01/2022 15:27

Brilliant service but they will literally pack everything in sight. On one move, we had items going into storage and I was unwrapping individual tea bags, an unwashed cat bowl....and my toothbrush six months later...