Packing it yourself

How often have you gotten a bill and found it a total surprise? Too high, overblown, unexpected and frustrating? This short article deals with some easy suggestions and plans that will help you control costs of one specific part of your move: the packing.
Most moves are split into two cost centers: the labor cost of moving your goods from old house to the new, and the labor and carton cost of having the movers pack your smaller items for you into boxes. A moving company will charge you for the cost of each carton they supply, and the labor cost of each carton that they also pack for you. These costs are broken down on the bill of lading, and on the estimate of services. (If one is performed.) I highly reccommend getting two or three estimates from moving companies. This will give you a base line cost for the packing (if they are to do it all), and also a price range between the moving companies (as no two will estimate exactly the same).
Look at the estimates you have gotten, and attempt to pare down some of the movers packing costs. (Carrier packing, as it is called is very expensive.) Notice that the most expensive cartons are dish barrels, mirror cartons, and wardrobes. Dish barrels and mirror cartons are expensive because of the high value items that are placed in them, and the labor expertise involved. Wardrobes (vertical small hanging closets) are expensive because of the space they take up in the van. These are my suggestions:
Get rid of things unneeded & unwanted. Pack all lesser value items. Buy cartons from movers. The first is the easiest: getting rid of any unwanted items will save you time, labor and packing cost. Roam the house before you begin packing and weed out! Second: let the movers pack the kitchen and dining room glass and china. Let them pack any glass tops, lamps, and large pictures. Let them pack any expensive dresses or suits. Finally, let them pack any high end electronic gear. The cost of packing these items far outweighs the frustration you will feel trying to do it, and if carrier packed, the mover is responsible for their condition at destination. You can pack any books, canned goods, plastics, toys, linen, clothes, plastics, cd's, papers, tools, bottles, etc. Anything less fragile or less valuable can be placed in a box by you. Just remember the box must be full to the top, and sealed and marked. Otherwise the mover may opt to "repack"it...at your cost! Lastly, purchase cartons from the mover (Often they will have used "stock" at a lesser cost. Ask about it.) In any event, moving cartons are made for specific jobs and sizes. Buying them (and asking which sizes are best to use )will keep your costs down while making your packing easier. Historically about twenty five percent of any packing job is dish barrels, mirror cartons and wardrobes. You can do the rest, and perhaps save 30- 40% of the packing costs without killing yourself or breaking anything. Plan and prepare early. On moving day, the movers will have no option but pack everything you have not dealt with, in order to get it safely to the new house. This will only add to your cost. Don't wait until the last minute!