Let’s face it: packing up your home to prepare for an upcoming move probably isn’t how you want to spend your free time. Few people wake up in the morning excited to wrap each plate and cup in the kitchen or spread out the weight of the books in the living room among a bunch of boxes. But are the packing service costs in Chicago worth hiring a professional company?
For many people, the answer is yes. And there are professional packing and moving services that are happy to pack your home for you. Moving and packing costs in Chicago can get expensive, but there are ways to keep your costs low when you bring in a team of experts.
Tips to Manage Your Packing Service Costs in Chicago
Moving costs can add up quickly, but you can manage your packing costs in a few ways. For example, declutter your home before your move by donating your unwanted items or holding a yard sale. The fewer items you have to pack, the less your pack will cost.
You can also pack up some items yourself if you’re on a tight budget. First, grab every suitcase and duffel bag in your home and stuff them full of clothing and bed linens. Then, get through as many perishables like food and soap so you don’t have to take them with you. Finally, manage your expectations by knowing what factors affect packing service costs in Chicago.
Factors That Affect Your Packing Service Costs in Chicago
The most obvious factor that affects packing service costs in Chicago is how many items you need your professional packers to handle. In general, the larger the home, the more expensive it’ll be to pack. However, there are some other elements that go into your overall packing cost.
Local packing and moving services generally aren’t able to provide a formal estimate for their packing labor. That’s because your packing costs are dependent upon exactly what you want packed. While some people only want help packing their kitchen, others ask their packing team to box up their entire home. For a ballpark price on your unique needs, download a packing guide.
Hourly rates
Moving companies in Chicago generally charge an hourly rate for their moving services. However, packing service costs in Chicago are billed differently.
Instead of a base rate determined by the number of packers that you have, your local packing and moving company will likely charge a fee to pack each box. And if the packers bring the cardboard boxes and packing paper along with them, they’ll add the fee for the box itself. Put simply:
The cost for each box + The labor to pack the box = The total fee for that box
Professional packers will also charge a travel fee based on the mileage from their facility to your home. When you research local moving and packing companies, be sure to ask about the travel fee so you know exactly what packing service costs to expect on the final bill.
Material expenses
Although your packing material cost will be rolled into your overall packing fee, it’s helpful to know what expenses to expect. Cardboard boxes generally cost between $4 and $6, depending on whether they’re small, medium, or large. Your packing service will also charge a small fee for each roll of packing tape (around $3) and each ten-pound roll of packing paper (about $20) needed to protect and secure the materials inside each box.
One great way to save money on your pack is by renting reusable plastic moving boxes. This option isn’t only cheaper—it’s also a great way to reduce the moving waste that cardboard and packing tape create. Plus, it’s extremely convenient. Your rental bin company will deliver the reusable boxes to your home and pick them up from your new place later on.
Whether you choose to use cardboard or rent reusable moving bins, it’s helpful to know what prices to expect when you hire professional packers.
Understanding How Packing Service Costs in Chicago are Billed
If you’re looking for full packing and moving services, you can save money and stress by using the same company to handle both. The best moving companies in Chicago are one-stop shops for their clients and are happy to pack your home one day and move your belongings the next day.
Keep in mind that not all homes are created equal. A studio apartment takes two to three hours to pack on average, and a four-bedroom home can take up to seven hours. Since each dwelling is as unique as its resident, averages don’t mean much when it comes to your specific home. However, historical averages can give you a general idea.
Cost to pack a two-bedroom apartment or condo
In general, a standard two-bedroom apartment or condo usually takes between three and five hours to pack. This average accounts for the packing service handling the entire home, including:
- Packing your books and knick-knacks
- Carefully wrapping and boxing your breakables, including your kitchenware
- Boxing up your TV
- Wrapping and boxing your hanging artwork and mirrors
- Packing your hanging clothes inside wardrobe boxes
Keep in mind that some of the larger items and your furniture will likely be wrapped on your move day as opposed to your pack day. Based on historical averages, customers with a standard two-bedroom apartment or condo can expect to pay around $900 for their entire home’s pack.
Cost to pack a single-family home
Single-family homes are full of love, prized possessions, and a lot of nooks and crannies. In preparation for your move, all of these items need to be packed up—even the ones that might be hidden from your daily view. If you’re hiring a full packing service to prepare your entire home, you can expect your packing service costs in Chicago to be in the $1000 to $1500 ballpark.
The packing fee, of course, depends on how many bedrooms you have and how much inventory is inside each room. Professional packers can usually complete the full pack of a three-bedroom home in four to six hours and a four-bedroom home in five to seven hours.
Whatever the size of your home, it’s important to communicate with your local packing and moving service if you have any budgetary concerns. The best local movers and packers in Chicago will help you design a packing plan that fits your budget. That’s just one of the many reasons why you should hire a professional packing service!
Why You Should Hire a Professional Packing Service
Everyone wants a quick, safe, and cost-effective move. However, not everyone knows that careful packing is the single most important step in making that happen. So, should you hire a professional packing service? If you want to have a smooth and budget-friendly move, then yes: you’ll want to work with professionally trained packers.
How hiring professional packers saves you money
Hiring a professional packing service will save you more than stress—it’ll also save you money. If your boxes aren’t secured, and the materials inside them aren’t properly wrapped, there’s a chance that something could be lost or damaged. When that happens, repair or replacement costs can really add up.
Additionally, when a mover has to make extra trips to carry loose items that could’ve fit inside a box, they waste time. Moving companies charge by the hour, so time is money! In order to help you get the most bang for your buck, professional packers usually offer a variety of options, so you get exactly what you need while still controlling your packing service costs in Chicago:
- Full-service packing
- Self-service packing
- Unpacking service at your new home
Keep in mind that packing and moving services are here to help you. In most cases, they can take care of both your pack and your move so you don’t have to work with multiple companies.
Benefits of using combined packing and moving services
The best full-service moving companies in Chicago offer packing, moving, and storage services. When the same company packs and moves your home, you get the peace of mind that you’re in good hands. Your local mover can often schedule the same team members to handle your pack and move so that you can work with people you’ve already met.
Don’t let the stress of packing and moving get to you. Partner with the same company to handle both of these services!
Let Our Professional Packers Help Reduce Your Packing Service Costs in Chicago!
Packing and moving services should help their customers have a smooth and stress-free experience. And Move-tastic! does just that.
Contact us to learn more about the unique services we offer that’ll help you have a pleasant pack and a magnificent move!