Packing is one of the major activities in house shifting. Almost all items that need to be moved from one place to another including kitchen items, clothing, books, electronic items, and personal items have to be packed. This is the reason why many people have been wondering if they should opt for self-packing or professional packing services.
Both methods have pros and cons. Self-packing gives you total control over your household goods and also helps you cut down the cost of moving a bit. Professional packing saves a lot of your time and special care will be taken by the professional packers while moving fragile household items.
Whether you should go for professional packing or DIY packing largely depends upon the size of your house, number of goods to be moved, time you have, budget and also your comfort level with packing fragile household items.
Having an idea about the difference between professional and DIY packing can help you take an intelligent decision.
What Is DIY Packing?
DIY packing refers to taking care of the entire packing process on your own without getting a professional packing team for it. You may buy the required cartons and packing supplies, categorize your possessions, pack your valuables, and label all your things by yourself.
There is a reason why many people opt for this packing technique: it enables you to control how you organize your personal possessions. As you know which things should go together, there is a possibility that you have already thought about their place in your new house.
DIY packing works quite well for small moves or when you do not have numerous fragile belongings to take care of. This technique works great for people who have a couple of weeks to spend packing their belongings.
Nevertheless, DIY packing involves patience and careful planning. If you do not pay attention to that, the last couple of days before your move may prove to be extremely stressful.
What Is Professional Packing?
Professional packing entails employing a professionally trained packing crew to pack up your household items prior to moving. This team usually provides appropriate packing supplies, organizes the items, packages them in cartons, and marks them for transportation.
Professional packers are experts in handling different kinds of household items. This is because they know that glassware, electrical goods, furniture, kitchen appliances, paintings, and other household items may need different packing techniques.
Rather than dedicating several days or even weeks packing up your entire house, let the experts pack your household items physically, and meanwhile focus on other aspects of the move.
Professional packing is especially necessary for those who have big houses, are relocating long distances, are relocating urgently, or are relocating with numerous breakable household items.
Time and Convenience
Time is one of the most notable distinctions that set the two alternatives apart from each other.
The DIY option might take several days or even weeks to be completed, based on the size of your property. It involves sorting the items, purchasing the packing supplies, wrapping up the items, filling the cartons, labeling all the boxes, and organizing everything properly.
It might be especially problematic when you have a job and other things to do, so you may need to work late at night and devote your free time to packing.
Professional movers will be able to complete this job more quickly since it is their routine work. They will be able to pack different rooms simultaneously according to the well-organized procedure.
Professional packing might be the best choice for those who do not have much time for moving.
Cost of DIY Packing
The first major consideration when considering do-it-yourself packing is its cost efficiency. By packing the goods yourself, there will be no costs for hiring a packing service.
Nevertheless, packing the goods by oneself is not entirely cost-free. Some cartons, bubble-wrap, packing paper, tape, stretch film, labels, protective sheets, and other packing materials should be bought by the mover.
One should also remember about the cost of one’s own time. If it takes several days to pack, then this time is lost for working and doing other things.
Do-it-yourself packing is a reasonable option for controlling expenses on moving in the case of a minor relocation. In the case of a large relocation, however, the situation might be more complicated than just comparing the cost of materials and a packing quote.
Cost of Professional Packing
The cost of professional packing is higher since you will have to pay for both labor and packing materials.
The final cost could be determined by the size of the house, the amount of items to be packed, the type of packing materials needed, and the kind of packing service chosen.
Despite the higher cost, professional packing will help you save time and effort.
While choosing the quote, it is important not to concentrate solely on the price but also to see the services that are included.
It could include packing materials, labor, packing of delicate items, furniture protection, among others.
The clearer the quote, the easier it becomes to compare professional packing services.
Packing Fragile Items
One field in which professional packing is useful is that of fragile possessions. There are certain things like glassware, mirrors, crockery, ornaments, electronic devices, and delicate furniture, which require careful handling while being transported.
DIY packing requires one to know how each kind of object should be packed. The mere act of packing isn’t sufficient. The vacant space in the boxes must be padded, the boxes must be sturdy enough to contain the objects within them, and the weight must be balanced properly.
Professional packers deal with such issues on a regular basis. They are able to use proper packaging materials according to the kind of objects to be packed.
This isn’t going to prevent damage from happening; however, it will help in decreasing the chances of damage while being handled normally.
Control Over Your Belongings
The do-it-yourself packing option allows you to fully control the entire packing process. You make decisions concerning the contents of each carton and how the items will be packed inside.
Such an option is advantageous when you want to pack your personal belongings yourself. While packing, you can also get rid of the clutter and determine which items you actually need in the new place.
Professional packing means you will not be directly involved in the packing process. Nevertheless, you will be able to give certain instructions to the professionals who will do the job for you.
It makes sense to choose the most valuable and personal belongings and explain how you want them packed.
Organization and Labelling
Proper labeling can help you a lot once you reach your new destination.
DIY packing is something where you can design your own labeling system and write the name of the room, the box number and some details about the contents of the box.
Even if professional packers do have an organized system of labeling, it would be best if you made it clear that how you would like the boxes to be labeled especially for fragile or special items.
Having a good packing system ensures that you will not have to open ten different boxes for just one utensil or clothes.
When DIY Packing May Be a Good Choice
DIY packing could be a viable choice for individuals who have sufficient time to handle things themselves.
In case you are relocating from a small apartment with only a few possessions, packing all your things yourself might be an easy task. The same applies in case the relocation is going to take place several weeks later.
It could be quite handy for those who want to get rid of clutter. Because you will be handling your possessions on your own, you will be able to decide what to keep, sell, donate, or dispose of before placing them in boxes.
But make sure not to opt for DIY packing just because it seems cost-effective.
When Professional Packing Makes More Sense
Professional packing becomes increasingly desirable if one is relocating from an overcrowded home, moving on a tight schedule, or moving many delicate items.
If one has to work full-time, is busy with raising kids or looking after seniors in the family, taking several days to pack up things does not make sense.
Another situation where professional packing could come in handy is when someone is moving over long distances. The need for packing items properly and safely arises in this case.
Those who have to move urgently will also benefit from professional help because professionals can do much packing in little time.
Consider the Size of Your Home
Home size is another critical issue to consider.
While a one-bedroom apartment of small size will hold an easily manageable amount of possessions that can be packed yourself in several days, a spacious house with several bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a storeroom, appliances, books, furniture, fragile items, etc., will require more time.
When making your decision, calculate the number of cartons needed and the amount of time available to you. If it does not sit comfortably in your mind, professional packing may be an option.
Think About Your Fragile and Valuable Items
Consider separately the items which cause more worry for you.
If your house has any expensive electrical items, glass items, paintings, mirrors, delicate furniture, or any other breakable things, packing these by experts will surely give you some extra peace of mind.
There is always an option of mixing both packing methods too. For instance, you can do the packing yourself of those things which are not much delicate.
The Hybrid Approach: A Practical Middle Ground
It is not necessary to opt for either full-fledged DIY packing or full-fledged professional packing.
Combining both methods may suit many families as they can themselves pack their own household things like clothes, books, toys, and personal items, whereas the delicate and bulky items can be packed by professionals.
This strategy may help decrease the need for professional packing.
However, before considering such an option, talk about it with your moving company to know which items will be packed by them and which items will be managed by you.
Don’t Forget the Physical Effort
Packing is not only about packaging things and boxing them up. Packing requires bending, lifting, carrying, taping, moving furniture, and standing for extended periods of time.
Packing a big family home requires quite a bit of physical effort. If you are not comfortable lifting and transporting heavy boxes and furniture, then there’s no need to expose yourself to any danger.
Professional packers and movers are prepared physically for the task. This means that you will be able to manage the whole process of packing.
Ask About the Packing Materials
In case you have decided to use the services of professionals in moving, inquire about what packing material they will be using.
There are different types of items that will necessitate various methods of packaging. Tough cardboard boxes might be adequate for the packaging of books and other household items, but fragile items will need bubble wrap, packing paper, and more.
Find out if the price of this packing material is inclusive in the quote.
How to Choose Between Professional and DIY Packing
Think about four simple questions before you make up your mind.
The first question is how much time you have until your move. The second one is how many things you have to pack. The third one is how many fragile and hard-to-pack items you have. The fourth one is whether you are physically ready to deal with the process.
If you have enough time, a small family, and easy-to-pack things, DIY packing will suit you.
But if you have little time, a big family, a lot of fragile items, or a long-distance relocation, professional packing will be a good choice for you.
As you see, there isn’t one answer for all households. Your choice should be suitable for your budget, time, things, and preferences.
Final Thoughts
Both professional and DIY packing have their own importance in moving from one place to another. DIY packing helps in gaining control over the process and cutting down on costs, whereas professional packing helps in saving time, reducing the effort involved, and giving special attention to fragile items.
It is very crucial to have a clear evaluation of the situation at hand before taking a decision. Do not undervalue the time and effort that packing requires.
In case you want to pack simpler items by yourself, a combination of the two forms of packing can also prove beneficial.
Here at Sunrise Packers & Movers, professional packing helps in making the packing and transportation of household goods easier through the provision of such services. Regardless of the type of packing service that you may require, it would be a good idea to get things sorted out beforehand.
Packing the home well makes the other aspects of relocation easier.