Is it worth paying movers to pack for me?

Paying movers to pack is often worth it for the kitchen and anything fragile, and for the whole house when you are short on time or moving out of state. Professional packers move quickly through the slow, breakable rooms, and federal rules say improper packing of boxes you pack yourself can limit what a mover owes for damage. Books, clothes and linens are cheap and quick to pack yourself, so for many households a partial pack is the best value.

When paying for packing makes sense

• You are short on time. A job, children or a quick closing can leave a few evenings for a whole house. A crew can often cover in a day what would take you many evenings.
• There is a lot of breakable stuff. Kitchens, china cabinets, glassware, lamps, art and collections are the slow part of packing, because every piece is wrapped by hand. Experienced packers do this faster and with fewer breaks.
• The move is long or interstate. A long truck ride, a warehouse stop or a transfer between trucks is harder on boxes than a ten-minute drive.
• You want the mover to stand behind breakage. This is the reason people overlook most. Under federal rules for interstate moves, improper packing of boxes you pack yourself is one of the things that can limit or reduce a mover's liability for loss or damage.^[1] Ask a local mover how it treats owner-packed boxes too.
• Lifting and bending is hard for you. Packing a house means hours of bending, lifting and carrying full boxes.

Federal rules list protective packing and unpacking of individual items at personal residences among the services a household goods mover may offer,^[1] so most full-service movers can quote it alongside the move.

When packing yourself makes sense

• You have weeks, not days. A room or two a week, starting with what you use least, is manageable for most people.
• Most of what you own is not fragile. Books, clothes, linens, toys and garage items are quick to pack and rarely break.
• The move is short and you are doing it yourself. If you are renting a truck for a move across town, paying a crew to pack may cost more than the move.
• Budget matters more than time. Packing is labour plus materials, and it is often a large part of a full-service bill; see what professional packers cost in Virginia.

The middle ground: a partial pack

A partial pack puts the crew on the kitchen, china, glassware, art, mirrors and lamps, while you pack the rest. It usually costs less than a full pack and puts the professionals on the boxes most likely to break. Ask every company you call to quote both a full pack and a partial pack, so you can see what the hard rooms cost on their own.

If you do pack your own dishes, see how to pack dishes for a move.

Who pays if something breaks

Who packed the box is only part of the question. The rest is what level of coverage you have and what you told the mover.

High-value items. Federal rules let a mover limit its liability for articles of extraordinary value, any item whose value exceeds $100 per pound, unless you list them on the shipping documents.^[1] Jewelry, silverware, china, furs, antiques and oriental rugs are among the examples.^[1] Give the mover that list in writing.

Coverage level. On an interstate move you choose between full value protection and released value. Under released value, the mover is liable for no more than 60 cents per pound, per article.^[1] For a box of wine glasses, that is very little.

Virginia claims. For moves inside Virginia, the claims rules apply to every household goods carrier, however short the move: household goods carriers moving goods less than thirty-one road miles are exempt from the household goods article of the Code, except its section on claims.^[2] Under that section, a carrier that receives a written claim for loss or damage must acknowledge it in writing within thirty calendar days,^[3] and must pay, decline or make a firm compromise settlement offer in writing within 120 days.^[3] No household goods carrier may set a shorter period than thirty calendar days for filing a loss and damage claim.^[3] On an interstate move, you have 9 months from delivery to file a claim.^[1] If something does break, see what to do if movers damage furniture in Virginia.

Be wary of broad promises. A household goods carrier may not advertise that "all loads are insured" unless it has filed tariffs with DMV assuming complete liability and filed evidence of insurance covering every shipment to its full value.^[4] Ask what the company actually pays per item.

The inventory. On an interstate move, the mover is required to list any damage or unusual wear to any items on the inventory.^[1] After that, both you and the mover sign each page, and you have the right to note any disagreement.^[1] Read it before you sign.

What packers will not take

Whoever packs, some things should not go in the boxes. Federal law forbids you to ship hazardous materials in your household goods boxes or luggage without informing your mover.^[1] The EPA notes that paints, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients,^[5] so set those aside before the crew arrives and use them up, give them away or take them to a collection day. To prevent fires, the EPA says to tape battery terminals or put lithium-ion batteries in separate plastic bags.^[6] Keep documents, medicine, cash and jewelry with you.

Stop and call a pro if

• The house is full, moving day is close and little is packed. Book a crew now rather than the night before.
• You have art, antiques, a large mirror, a marble top or a glass tabletop that needs a custom crate.
• A piano, safe or pool table is in the move; that is specialty moving, not packing.
• You find leaking containers, swollen batteries or chemicals you cannot identify while packing. Leave them for your locality's household hazardous waste program.

Hiring packers through Loclis

Before booking, check the company's DMV authority; see whether movers need a license in Virginia. Browse more junk removal and moving answers, see packing and unpacking services, or describe what needs packing and get quotes from local packers.