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Original poster

Full packing service anyone?

37 replies

MovingHouseAgain · 28/01/2022 12:35

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.

OP posts:

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 28/01/2022 15:39

I discovered a rather dead pot plant in a box marked ski equipment (which we hadn't unpacked as we weren't skiing anytime soon as we moved Easter...

RidingMyBike · 28/01/2022 17:43

Double check what they actually do - we've used several companies to move over the years and the packing service differed slightly. Most of them packed crockery, pictures etc but moved chests of drawers type things as they were without decanting the contents into boxes (or else took the drawers out with the contents still in, then put them back in when at new location so contents wasn't emptied out and packed). The company we most recently used emptied out every single drawer and cupboard into boxes, creating loads more boxes of stuff to move and leaving us with a huge amount of sorting and putting back to do which we hadn't planned for. That was all of our clothes drawers, desk drawers containing stationery/financial paperwork. It was infuriating.

Otherwise, have a good declutter in advance. On the day, group things together that you want to end up in the same room as they'll pack and label according to where they currently are.

Citymum2one · 28/01/2022 17:51

I agree with everything said above - we just moved and our packers came the day before and everything was in a box by 4pm (except stuff left where we agreed it wouldn't be packed). I couldn't move without packers! Just to add if not said already,they may move big items into the van overnight so check what's going - we had beds obvs but no sofa or chairs or tv.

RidingMyBike · 28/01/2022 17:55

We also packed stuff for five nights (it was a 3 day long distance move) into suitcases and put in the car to keep it out of the way. Keep back things like towels, tea towels etc that you'll need until the last minute as otherwise they'll pack them (wet or not!). I had to go out and buy new tea towels on our packing day as they'd already disappeared into boxes! Also anything you'll need at night like phone charger, alarm clock, kid bedtime story. It'll all disappear into boxes at the speed of light otherwise!

They should specify what you'll be left with overnight - depending on size/distance they may pack one day and load/move the next. We had one night of 'basic set up' on packing day which was really just beds, then another night with everything in vans so we had to stay at a hotel, then a third night of 'basic set up' again (DH did the third night on his own at new house whilst I took DD to my Mum's to keep her out of the way!).

We put DD (5) into holiday club for two days to keep her out of the way of it all. Made it a lot easier and less distressing for her. She didn't actually see the house empty as we picked her up straight from hol club and began the drive to our new house. The packers won't want a kid under their feet so be prepared to go out for the day.

CraftyGin · 28/01/2022 17:55

@MovingHouseAgain

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.

Make sure you get rid of any rubbish, and other unwanted items.

When we moved to the US, our packers packed dirty nappies. Nice after 6 weeks in transit.

They will probably pack really fast, so you have to be ahead of the game.

Put anything you want in your new house straightaway (eg kettle and some clothes) in the car.

Go out for lunch on the day of the packing.

CraftyGin · 28/01/2022 17:57

@Candleabra

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!

Agree 100%.

Of all the people involved in the whole house move process, the packers are the best value for money.

CraftyGin · 28/01/2022 18:03

Keep your hoover and cleaning products out.

ThisMustBeMyDream · 28/01/2022 21:57

Anyone going to share the cost of this yet, so I know if I can carry on dreaming?!

ThePoint678 · 28/01/2022 22:01

Top tip - when they ask you if you want them to pack everything, they really mean “everything”.

Ours packed the spare house keys, the keys in the window locks, smoke detectors, sink plugs etc. We got a bit of a shock unpacking and had to return the stuff that should have stayed with the house!

toomuchlaundry · 28/01/2022 22:14

I have seen it suggested on here if you don’t have a car to put things in you don’t want packing, put them in the bath.

Have also seen someone say they went to take off their slippers and put their shoes on and found that they had been packed!

We used this service when my DM moved, they even did the loft. They did end up packing compost food caddy and the doorbell ringer!

Thoroughly recommend, it wasn’t that expensive for a small one bed bungalow

TooManyPJs · 28/01/2022 22:44

We packed a box of stuff ourselves that we definitely didn't want to be damaged/broken/lost - irreplaceable sentimental stuff and packed and moved that ourselves.

RidingMyBike · 29/01/2022 08:19

@ThisMustBeMyDream Previous moves (over 12 years ago) it cost about £200 for one day (3 men) packing a 3 bed terraced house.

Our most recent move (3 men packing 4 bed detached with garage and shed contents to pack too) was about £415 in the context of a total move cost of more than £4000.

When you get a quote for the move you can ask to include a packing quote, then decide if you want that bit or not. It does save days/weeks of having to live surrounded by boxes (as they usually pack day before actual move) and they usually include the cost of boxes, wrapping material which saves having to source it all. We found they also have the right sized boxes that fit well together - so smaller ones for heavy stuff, which can be harder to find if you're sourcing from shop castoffs. They have special wardrobe boxes with a rail in so clothes in wardrobes are just lifted into wardrobe box, hang there for the move, then lifted out straight into wardrobe in new house.

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