Packing and unpacking services

Many homeowners dread the experience of moving as the process of packing and unpacking can be tedious and stressful. Professional packing and unpacking services for people moving homes are becoming more popular and accessible.

Learn more about how you can hire expert packers and unpackers, the costs involved and if it's right for you.

What is a packing and unpacking service?

If you are moving homes, packing and unpacking your belongings can be a time-consuming and daunting task. Professional packers can help you pack your whole house, part of your house or certain items into boxes, ready for moving. They can also help you unpack and organise your belongings into your new home.

When should I use a packing and unpacking service?

If you are moving homes and would like to save time and effort with packing and unpacking, then consider hiring professional help. This type of service can also be great for people who:

How do I compare packing and unpacking services?

There are two main options if you are seeking a packing and unpacking service. The first is a specialised packing company such as The Finishing Touch and HireAPacker. The alternative is hiring someone from a gig marketplace website like Airtasker.

Once you find some companies or individuals you're interested in, you can compare using the following information:

Compare removalists

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Name	Product	Free quote?	Flat rate fee?	Insurance?	Interstate moving?	Areas serviced
Mooval		Yes		Yes	Yes	Across Melbourne and Sydney	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...
Muval		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart	Muval provides connections to removal companies for those wanting to move interstate or locally.	Go to site		loading Fetching your data...
Allied		Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Port Macquarie, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Wollongong, Wagga Wagga	Allied provides moving services around Australia and the world.			loading Fetching your data...
Mini Movers		Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Brisbane, Melbourne, Gold Coast	Offers local, direct door-to-door, short distance moving with hourly rates.			loading Fetching your data...
Dawson Moving and Storage		Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, New Castle, Townsville, Bunbury, Hobart, Launceston	Local furniture mover and interstate removalist.			loading Fetching your data...
Interstate Removals		Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth	Interstate Removals specialises in Australia-wide removals.			loading Fetching your data...
Two Men and a Truck		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra	Offers hassle-free moving.			loading Fetching your data...
Grace Movers		Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Sydney, Newcastle, Tamworth, Wollongong, Albury, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gold Coast, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Perth, Albany, Bunbury, Broome, Geraldton, Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Port Hedland, Alice Springs, Darwin, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Melbourne, Wodonga	Offers customized solutions for your moving needs.			loading Fetching your data...
Safe Removalist Australia		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Coffs Harbour	Professional removalists that make relocation easy.			loading Fetching your data...
WridgWays Removalists		Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Cairns, Rockhampton, Townsville, Weipa	WridgWays offers home and office relocation services.			loading Fetching your data...
Conroy Removals		Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Townsville, New Zealand	Offers decades of removal services experience.			loading Fetching your data...

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How much does a packing and unpacking service cost?

A packing company will offer different packages depending on the number of hours and staff you wish to hire. Prices generally start at $480 for four hours and two staff, which works out to be $60 per hour per person.

On the other hand, you can post a job with an hourly or fixed budget on Airtasker. According to Airtasker, the average cost of a packing and unpacking expert is $80- $170 per job. Depending on your budget and job requirements, you may find that this option is more affordable.

How should I prepare my home for removal?

You should help your packers before they start their session by giving clear instructions of what to pack versus what not to pack. To make things easier, you can throw or store away things that do not need to be packed professionally.

Do I need to be there when my belongings are being packed and unpacked?

No, you do not need to be present for the duration of the packing or unpacking. Ideally, you'll meet and greet your packers at the start of the session to give instructions and answer questions with regards to certain items. Keep your phone on you so that your packers can call or message you questions, which will help make the process more efficient.

When you return, you'll not only be pleasantly surprised to find your belongings unpacked, but also perfectly organised as well.

What does a packing and unpacking service include and not include?

Packing focuses on protecting your valuables and setting up a good system for unpacking. Unpacking requires strong home organisation skills to set up the new home. A packing and unpacking expert will need to have good attention to detail and understand how to use space creatively.

Included

• Packingyour belongings securely and labelling the boxes by the room and category of items. Packers will stack the boxes in each room once they are packed.
• Boxes will be flattened and ready for collection after belongings are unpacked

Not included

• Packing boxes and materials are generally not included in quotes. You will need to supply your own boxes or purchase them from the packing company.
• Packers are not removalists, so they won't be able to assist with moving boxes.

Pros and cons of a packing and unpacking service

Pros

• Save you time from having to pack and unpack, a process which may take weeks for some people.
• Reduced stress as professional packers are able to get the job done in an efficient and organised manner.
• Less breakages with correct wrapping and packing techniques.
• Professional packers are also home organisation experts who can help set up your new home in a day.

Cons

• Hiring packers may not be within your budget.
• You may want to use the opportunity of moving to throw away unwanted items and declutter your home.

Bottom line

You can hire packing and unpacking experts to pack, unpack and organise your belongings in your new home. Hiring professionals will hopefully reduce the stress of moving and set up your belongings in a more organised way.

Frequently asked questions

How much can be packed in a 4 hour session with 2 people?

According to Hire A Packer, professional packers can pack 4-5 boxes per hour, which equates to 30-40 boxes over 4 hours. With two packers on hand, this translates to packing a 4 bedroom house, including the kitchen.

When is the best time in your moving process to book a packing and unpacking service?

Packing companies recommend that you book in packers 1-2 days before the big moving day, and the day after the moving day for unpacking. The reason for avoiding the moving day is to allow time and space for packers and removalists to work efficiently without getting in each other's way, or having to wait around if there are delays.

What other services do packing companies offer?

Packing companies take care of everything related to your moving process, so might also be able to offer you removalist services. Other related services include home organisation and storage facilities for rent.