Factors Affecting Packing and Unpacking Costs During a Move
Many moving companies offer packing and unpacking services to their clients at an extra charge. Here are some of the factors that determine how much this extra charge is.
Number of Items
The number of items you want to move is the primary factor in determining packing and unpacking costs. A five-bedroom house will cost more to pack and unpack than a two-bedroom house. Therefore, reducing the number of items included in the move can help you lower your packing costs. Get rid of the items for which you don't have use (you can donate, sell, or discard them).
Nature of Items
Some items are just difficult to pack; they require time and patience and, hence, cost more to pack. For example, packing heavy machinery may take more time than packing books; hence, the former might cost more to pack. Other things that might cost more to pack include fragile or delicate items such as fine china or expensive electronics.
Required Skills
There are things that require specialist packing skills and tools. Extremely expensive, fragile, and complicated items fall in this category. For example, packing a pool table is not easy because you have to disassemble it first. The pool table is also relatively fragile and can crack if you drop it. Lastly, the weight of pool tables also increases the risk of injury for those handling it. Thus, a pool table may cost a premium to pack.
Travel Fee
Many moving companies will include a travel fee if your items are located outside their usual base of operations. For example, if you want to pack your cabin in the woods, it might cost you more than you would use to pack your suburbs house, assuming your movers operate from the suburbs.
Packing Materials
You also need to decide whether you want the movers to provide the packing materials, or you plan to source them on your own. The packing materials will cost you extra since they are not usually included in the standard packing rates. The good news is that the movers will only charge you for the materials they use.
Local Labor Rates
Labor rates vary across the country. The local economy, unemployment rates, and even population density all contribute to unique labor rates. Your moving company is likely to charge you in line with local labor rates.
You don't have to use your moving company to pack and unpack your belongings. However, using the services of the moving company can help you secure your goods and save time with the packing. Consult your chosen full service moving company for precise charges on their packing and unpacking services.
