Investing in a new home is an exciting next chapter for you and your family, but there are a lot of things to think about.
There’s the financial side, where you’re working with your bank to find a reasonable mortgage rate. There are planning stages for the new home, including the renovations and cosmetic updates you might undertake. Lastly, you’re tasked with packing up all of your belongings so the next family can move in.
Many homeowners dread the process of gathering and boxing up all of their things, so they turn to movers and packing services. Packing and moving go together like bread and butter. With all the hassle of relocating from one place to another and potential costs associated with the move, it is easy to feel sandwiched between all the stress factors.
While paying for moving often seems like a no-brainer, many homeowners feel like paying for a professional packing service is a waste of money and think they can do it themselves. Surely, if you have a smaller apartment and subscribe to a minimalist lifestyle, you can probably pack and move with ease. That said, most households have a lot more items than people initially think, and it is easy to get overwhelmed once you start.
Think about all the things in your kitchen cabinets and how long it would take to sort and pack everything up — and that’s just one small space. Closets, attics, garages, or other storage spaces can exponentially increase the time needed to pack, creating more stress and taking you away from doing something else.
Frequently, homeowners don’t realize how many things they’ve acquired until it’s time to box them up and move. It can be an overwhelming process, especially if they’re also working or taking care of their family in between wrapping up dishes and picture frames.
This is why more and more people today hire movers and packers for their move. The additional cost is worth the saved time and headache.
Should You Hire a Professional Packer?
How do you decide if packing services are a good idea for your move? This will depend on three factors: how much stuff you have, how far you are moving, and how time-consuming your move is.
If you are going a relatively short distance and moving just one room, maybe you can get away with some boxes and do the job yourself. The bigger and further your move is, the more likely it is that you should get packing assistance.
Consider how paying for the service compares to doing it yourself. The main benefits of hiring a moving company like Metropolitan Movers that packs for you is that they have the training and knowledge for proper packing, the manpower needed to pack quickly and efficiently, and the right tools to make sure nothing gets damaged during the move.
Professional packers do it for a living and can often pack twice if not three times as fast as the homeowner. They often work in teams which speeds up the packing even more, and bring their own supplies, ensuring you don’t run out of anything halfway through the process.
If the time and cost to go out and get packing and moving supplies, organize, and box and label everything seems excessive, you should probably resort to getting a packing service to help you with some or all of your packing.
With the variety of services available today, you can easily find a packer to pack up your whole house, a portion of the stuff, or just the specialty items. You have a lot of flexibility when it comes to finding the right movers and packers for you. Many companies also offer unpacking services to help you settle into your home quickly and without a hassle.
Packing and Moving Prices [H2]
For most homeowners, the decision of whether to hire packers and movers in Toronto will depend on the cost of the service.
Is the Cost of Packing Included in the Moving Price? [H3]
Most moving companies won’t include the cost of packing in the move. Some companies offer the “all-in-one” service, but usually packing services is an add-on that is optional with your moving service. Be careful of companies that offer “free” packing, because the cost is usually just factored into the price of the move.
Packing costs are usually calculated based on the weight or time required to pack the dwelling. On average, additional packing services can add between $400 and $1,000 to the final cost of your move.
This, of course, depends on the above factors. It is essential that you receive an in-home estimate where you can talk with an assessor about all the things you want packed. Don’t forget to show them everything you want to be packed away, so there are no misunderstandings on the day of. Similarly, try to be present as much as you can when the workers are there so you can avoid any problems that may arise.
Packing Supply Costs [H3]
Whether you are packing yourself or using a trusted packing service, one essential need you’ll have is packing supplies. As we mentioned, most moving companies will provide the packing supplies needed, but this is often an additional cost to the service. Even if you choose to pack yourself, you can always purchase supplies from the moving company ahead of time.
See how much supplies add to the cost of hiring movers and packers:
| Best For | Supply Type | Size | Price |
| Office: Books, Files | Small 1.5 cube box | 16*13*13 | $3-6 |
| Kitchen: Glass, Plates, etc. | Small 2 cube box | 18*15*12 | $3-7 |
| Kitchen: Pots & Pans | Medium 3 cube box | 18*18*16 | $4-8 |
| Bedroom Items | Large 4 cube box | 18*18*21 | $5-8 |
| Bedroom Items/General | Extra-large 5 cube | 18*18*27 | $6-10 |
| Great for travelling the hung up contents of your closet. Shift from the box back to the closet in minutes and leave all the clothes on the hangers. | Wardrobe box (RENT) Wardrobe box (SALE) | 21*24*45 21*24*45 | $15-20 $25-30 |
| Mattress covers are great for getting your mattress from one home to another without any of the dirt. | Mattress Cover | One Size | $11-20 |
| Secure drawers or doors in your appliances. | Shrink Wrap | 12.6’*1,500ft | $25-50 |
| Blank paper that doesn’t leave any stains or residue. Perfect for packing fragile glass and china. | Wrapping Paper | 10 lb | $18-30 |
| Great for wrapping fragile items or lining cardboard boxes. | Bubble Wrap | 1 Meter | $.50-1 |
| Blankets can be used to cover large items to prevent damage or laid out on the floor to avoid. | Blankets (Sale) | 72*80 | $25-35 |
| Packing tape that can only be cut with scissors or a knife to make sure your boxes don’t break | Packing Tape | 1 Roll | $3-5 |
How To Pick A Trusted Home Packing And Moving Company
At first glance, there seem to be hundreds if not thousands of local movers and packers in Toronto. So how do you avoid picking the wrong one?
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners in Canada make is not taking the time to check out or do research on their prospective moving company. Here are some absolute must-haves for the companies you consider:
- Ensure the company meets the criteria under the Good Practice Guidelines for Canadian Movers. The guidelines are the closest thing to an official document in Canada that governs how packers and movers in Toronto should operate.
- Does the moving company belong to the Canadian Association of Movers? The association represents many top-rated moving companies, but keep in mind that membership in the CAM is not mandatory and doesn’t necessarily mean a company is good or bad.
- Is the company registered with the provincial Workers Compensation Board? This is almost a standard for any trades or labourers in Canada today. Being in good standing with the WCB means the company’s employees are covered and protected while working at your home. Many shady moving companies will not go the length to register their business with the WCB.
- Does the company offer Replacement Value Protection, and for how much? The RVP often adds to the cost of the move, but offers much higher reimbursement on your personal belongings if something goes wrong during the move. Even if you don’t opt-in for the Replacement Value Protection, it’s a good sign if a company offers this option.
- Are the company’s employees professionally trained? It takes training and experience to maximize efficiency, which is why you’re hiring movers or packers in the first place.
Long Distance Home Packers & Movers: What To Keep In Mind
Since long-distance moving often has an added aspect of volume to consider when loading your belongings into trucks or containers, it can be beneficial to seek out help. Toronto’s professional packers and movers have the added benefit of packing efficiently and making sure your stuff fits into a truck or container.
Packing & Moving Insurance: How Is Your Stuff Protected?
In our blogs, we always talk about the necessity to protect your belongings while on the move. Generally, in Canada, the moving and packers you hire are not responsible for damages to any items packed by the homeowner. That is why we always encourage our homeowners to purchase additional Replacement Value Protection (RVP).
When you hire professional movers and packers in Toronto to box your stuff, the additional replacement value protection is often included in the cost of the packers as now the company is responsible for the things you packed.
Packing for a big move can be a pain. That’s why depending on the amount of stuff you have, how much it weighs, and how far you’re moving, hiring a professional packing service can help alleviate some of the stress associated with the move. This can save you lots of time to figure out other aspects of your relocation with ease.
As with everything, remember to do your research before you get quotes from different companies before hiring movers and packers.