A lot goes into relocating to a new home. In addition to finding your next dwelling, researching professional movers, updating your personal information, and selling your condo or house if you’re a homeowner, you have to wrap and box up your home’s contents. Packing alone can be daunting and tedious, which is why many people choose to hire a professional packing service for their Chicago move.
Most full-service movers offer professional packing service, so hiring a specially trained crew to tackle your pack is easy and convenient. But is it worth the extra cost? Since you’re in complete control of how much (or how little) your packers will do, the answer is usually yes.
What Does a Professional Packing Service Do…and How Long Does it Take?
The packing process looks a little different for everyone, and that’s because each customer and each home is unique. For most single-family houses, condos, and apartments, the professional packing service will schedule your pack for the day before your move. (Larger homes might require more than a one-day pack.)
Here’s a look at what your packers will do for you:
- Bring all the supplies needed, including packing paper, tape, cardboard boxes, and rental plastic moving totes if you’re planning an eco-friendly move
- Carefully and expertly wrap breakable items like drinkware, dinnerware, and delicate décor or knick-knacks
- Label each box they pack with the contents, room, and care notes like “FRAGILE” or “HEAVY”
- Assume responsibility and liability for the contents of each box that they pack
When the packing crew first arrives, you’ll lead them on a walkthrough of your home to show them which items and rooms you do—and do not—want packed. While some Chicago Area residents hire packers to handle their entire home, others just want professional assistance with a couple of rooms. For example, perhaps you’d like to pack up the items in your bedrooms and bathrooms by yourself, and you’ve hired a professional packing service to handle your kitchen, living room, and dining room.
The time your pack takes will depend on the size of your home, the number of items you have, and the level of packing service you’d like. On average, studio and one-bedroom apartments can usually be packed in two to four hours. Larger four-bedroom houses can take as much as eight hours for a professional crew to wrap, box, and label the home’s inventory.
Analyzing the Cost of a Professional Packing Service Versus a DIY Pack
There’s no universal formula for how much your unique pack will cost. Usually, a professional packing service will charge for materials (i.e., the boxes, rolls of tape, and bundles of packing paper they use), a set labor fee to pack each box, and the crew’s travel time between their facility and your home. In other words, packing is not billed at an hourly rate—your final cost is mostly based on how much your crew actually packs.
To get a better idea of your packing expenses, check out your moving company’s packing guide. Then, consider how much time and money you’ll spend if you handle the pack on your own. Here’s what you’ll need to do if you opt for a DIY pack:
- Source packing supplies and travel to pick them up
- Set up a packing station in your home with a flat surface, boxes, tape, and paper
- Empty each drawer and cabinet in every room
- Wrap and box each item, paying close attention to the boxes’ weight
- Ensure the heaviest items are at the bottom of each box
- Close and label each box
Keep in mind that even if you’re hiring professional movers for your Chicago move, you’ll be responsible for the contents of every box you’ve packed by yourself. If the contents of those boxes are damaged during your move, the movers cannot assume liability.
Advantages of Hiring Professional Packers for Your Chicago Move
Even if you equip yourself with tips to help you pack like a pro, a DIY pack will likely cost more time and money than hiring a professional packing service. If you’re like most Chicagoans, you’re probably not as quick and efficient as pros who’ve been trained in high-quality packing, so doing everything on your own will take far longer than if you bring in a professional crew.
There are even more benefits of hiring the pros if you partner with the same company to handle your pack and move. Your packing crew will provide detailed notes to the moving crew, and you might even get some of the same personnel for your pack and move. As an added bonus, your packers will see your home’s inventory firsthand the day before your move, and can manage your expectations of the move-day process and expenses.
We’re Chicago’s Favorite Professional Packing Service!
We’ve been Chicago’s favorite movers for years—but we’re also famous for our professional packing service. Every single one of our team members is highly trained in the best packing practices, so your precious belongings will get the care and protection they deserve.
Tell us about your upcoming Chicago move today, and our packing specialists will walk you through our services!