Deciding Which Items to Pack Yourself or Leave to the Pros

Packing is one of the most crucial aspects to a move. A lazy, half-hearted pack job can result in a catastrophe; leaving you items scattered and broken across the floor or your moving trailer. Proper packing involves much more than simply throwing a bunch of items in a box and calling it a day; it’s an art. Since professional movers spend hours studying advanced packing methods, there are certain items that should only be handled by them. Because of this, we’ve compiled a short list to help you differentiate between what to pack yourself and what to leave to the pros.

What to Pack Yourself

Basically, anything lightweight, not fragile and easy to transport is good to move on your own. This includes:

Jewelry: Because it’s so valuable, jewelry isn’t covered by mover valuation protection. Instead, you need to take out a different policy to add protection. The extra cost isn’t worth it, so since jewelry is so small and lightweight, it makes more sense to pack it yourself.

Pictures: If you have a bunch of photos from before the digital era, you might want to pack them yourself. These items are irreplaceable, so it’s a good idea to keep them close during your transition.

Paperwork: Any tax documents, Social Security information and any other type of personal paperwork should be packed by you. In the off chance that it gets lost or left behind, you don’t want it falling into the wrong hands.

Cash, Checks or Bonds: You should be the only person handling your money. All of these items should either be deposited to your bank or packed by you.

Clothes: Clothing items are among the easiest to pack. They don’t damage easily and can be contorted to fit inside of a box. 

What to Let the Pros Pack

With any household move, there are going to be items that require specialized packing. These items should only be handled by professional movers and include the following:

Kitchen Appliances: If you’re planning on bringing your stove, refrigerator and dishwasher with you, let the experts handle crating and transportation. Not only are they highly trained in packing and moving appliances, they also know how to uninstall and install them.

Furniture: Without the proper wrapping or crating, your furniture is bound to suffer damages. To preserve the condition of your bed, couches, tables and armoires, let the pros securely package these items.

Artwork: Believe it or not, paintings and sculptures require a specialized packing. Don’t let your décor go to waste by improperly packaging it; leave it to the experienced movers.

Equipment: Items like riding lawn mowers, snowmobiles and chainsaws are unique and require comprehensive packaging. Preserve the quality of this equipment by letting professional movers safely crate it.