Packing Like a Pro

Should You Pack Yourself or Use a Professional Packing Service?

Packing is one of the biggest, often daunting tasks involved in moving house. Long before the removal van arrives, you’re faced with endless cupboards to clear, fragile kitchenware to wrap, and a lifetime of books to box. 

While many might consider doing everything themselves to be the obvious, potentially money-saving choice, opting for professional packing support can transform a move into a far more manageable, stress-free experience. 

Essentially, choosing between packing yourself and hiring a professional team comes down to a few key factors: your property size, your budget, and your confidence in tackling the job.

Here at East Devon Removals, we provide house removals, storage, and packing support across Sidmouth, Honiton, Seaton, Cranbrook, Exeter, and the wider area.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of a professional packing service versus a DIY approach.

The appeal of packing yourself

If you have enough time and a clear plan, packing your own home is a great way to stay hands-on with the process, giving you total control over how your belongings are organised and serving as a natural opportunity to declutter before moving day.

Many people start with non-essential items such as books, ornaments, spare kitchenware, seasonal decorations, archive paperwork and items stored in cupboards or spare rooms. Packing gradually can help you avoid a last-minute rush and give you time to decide what you want to keep, sell, donate, recycle or clear.

Self-packing can also help you feel more familiar with your belongings before you move. You know which boxes contain daily essentials, which items need to be unpacked first, and which things can stay boxed for a little longer. For smaller moves, local moves, or homes where everything is already well organised, doing it yourself can be a perfectly sensible option.

The main challenge is time. 

Packing nearly always takes longer than expected. A kitchen that looks straightforward can take hours to sort once glasses, plates, pans, small appliances, and food cupboards are properly organised. 

Books, meanwhile,  are simple to pack because of their generally uniform dimensions, but can become extremely heavy if boxes are overloaded. 

Garages, loft items, and sheds can also take people by surprise, especially when they have become home to years' worth of items that have not been reviewed for a while.

Where DIY packing can become a challenge

Packing is physical, repetitive and easy to underestimate. 

By the time moving week arrives, many people are also dealing with solicitors, agents, cleaning, address changes, utility readings, childcare, pet arrangements and the general emotional strain of leaving a home.

For families with young children, the difficulty is often a practical one. Daily life still has to continue while boxes are building up around the house. Parents may struggle to find uninterrupted time to pack properly, especially when toys, clothes, school items, and kitchen essentials are still in daily use.

DIY packing can also be risky when items are fragile, awkward, valuable or difficult to replace. Glassware, mirrors, artwork, lamps, electronics, antiques and delicate ornaments need proper protection. A few rushed boxes packed late at night can quickly lead to breakages.

What a professional packing service includes

A professional packing service means the removal team packs some or all of your belongings before the move. The exact arrangement depends on your needs. Some customers want the whole house packed. Others only need help with fragile items, the kitchen, larger or awkward items, or the rooms they know will take the longest.

East Devon Removals offer full packing support as part of a planned removal service. Our experienced, professional team can carefully pack the contents of your home, load the vans, transport everything and place items in the correct rooms at your new property. The aim is to keep the move organised from start to finish, with less pressure on you in the days leading up to moving day.

A expert team will also understand how to pack efficiently. They know how to protect fragile items, avoid overloading boxes, label clearly, and load everything in a sensible order. 

For larger homes, longer-distance relocations or moves with tight completion windows, that experience can make all the difference to how smoothly the day runs.

Professional packing can also help when access, parking or timing is likely to be tricky. Across East Devon, many towns and villages have narrow roads, older properties, limited parking and access restrictions. Having items packed properly and ready to load can reduce delays on the day.

The benefits of a full packing service

A full packing service is particularly useful when you want to reduce the workload before moving day. Instead of spending evenings and weekends surrounded by boxes, you can focus on the decisions only you can make, such as what to take, what to leave and what to keep close to hand.

Professional packing can also be extremely helpful when your moving date is confirmed at short notice. 

Property chains can shift quickly once exchange and completion dates are discussed, and not everyone has weeks to pack gradually. Bringing in a professional removal team clears a massive task from your to-do list just as the final logistical pressures begin to mount.

A full packing service also offers vital support when you are helping an elder relative move, navigating a bereavement, or managing a relocation for someone else. In these sensitive situations, having an experienced and respectful team on hand ensures the logistics are handled with care, leaving you free to support your family through the transition.

When partial packing can be the best option

You do not always need to choose between packing everything yourself and handing the whole job over. A partial packing service can be a useful middle ground.

Fragile-only packing is a popular choice for our clients. You might feel happy about boxing clothes, books, and everyday household items, but prefer the removal team to handle glassware, crockery, mirrors, pictures, lamps, or delicate ornaments. 

Partial packing is an excellent, practical compromise for busy households looking to manage costs while getting help with the most demanding rooms. It’s also a great solution if you’ve already started the process but realise you need professional backup as your moving date draws near. 

Another option is to combine packing with storage. You may want to pack and store non-essential items early, then leave the main household contents until closer to moving day. East Devon Removals provides secure storage options, including 20ft containers in Sidmouth and additional storage options through their wider facilities, which can be useful if you are decluttering, renovating, downsizing or waiting for dates to align.

What you still need to do yourself

Professional packing support removes a lot of pressure, but there are still a few things you should handle personally.

Important documents should be kept together and packed somewhere safe. Passports, insurance details, birth and marriage certificates, National Insurance information, house documents, and anything related to the move should remain easily accessible. 

Medication, chargers, basic toiletries, a change of clothes, snacks, children’s essentials and pet items should also be kept separate from the main move.

Valuables and sentimental items may be better kept with you; jewellery, personal keepsakes, financial documents and irreplaceable items should be discussed with the removals team before the day, so everyone is clear on what is being moved and what you are carrying yourself.

Loft items also need some forward planning. For insurance reasons, East Devon Removals is unable to access lofts. If belongings are stored there, they need to be brought down before the team’s arrival or passed down safely on the day so they can be loaded.

Labelling and room planning are also worth thinking through. Even when the team packs for you, it helps to know which items from which rooms are going into the new property. Clear room names and door signs can make unloading faster and more accurate.

How packing affects the cost of your move

While a professional packing service involves an upfront investment in time, materials, and labour, it often pays for itself by reducing stress and ensuring your belongings are protected to the highest standard. 

The final cost depends on the size of the property, the amount to be packed, the number of fragile items, access arrangements, the distance of the move, and the level of support you choose. 

The best way to understand the cost is to request a free quote and explain what you are considering. During the quoting process, East Devon Removals can discuss the size of your move, the packing options available, storage requirements, access details, and any items that may require particular care.

Ultimately, the right choice is the one that provides enough support to ensure you move safely, efficiently, and on schedule.

Packing tips if you decide to do it yourself

If you opt for the DIY route, start as early as you realistically can. It helps to begin with out-of-season items or things you rarely use, gradually working toward your everyday essentials as moving day approaches. Areas like the kitchen, garage, or spare rooms are often more time-consuming than they appear, so tackling these well in advance prevents a last-minute rush. 

Use strong boxes and avoid making them too heavy. Books, files and tools should go into smaller boxes where possible. Fragile items need careful wrapping, and empty spaces inside boxes should be filled to prevent their contents from shifting during transport.

Label each box clearly with the room it belongs to and a brief description of its contents. Labelling the top and at least one side of the box makes life easier when boxes are stacked. Keep essential items separate so they do not get lost in the main load.

Take time to declutter before packing. Moving unwanted items from one property to another adds time, effort and cost. If you know furniture, clothes, household items or paperwork are no longer needed, deal with them before the move where possible. East Devon Removals also provides house clearance services across East Devon, which may be useful if you have larger amounts to clear responsibly.

Should you pack yourself or use a packing service?

A professional packing service is usually worth considering if you are short on time, moving a larger home, dealing with fragile items, relocating an older family member, moving with young children, downsizing, or trying to keep a busy household running right up to moving day.

East Devon Removals can help you plan the right level of support for your move. With nearly 40 years of experience, a friendly local team and clear planning from the start, your move can be handled with care from the first box to the final unload.

If you are planning a move in East Devon, contact East Devon Removals to request a free, no-obligation quote. You can call 01404 42886 or email info@eastdevonremovals.co.uk to discuss your moving date, packing needs, access arrangements, and storage options.

Talk to us about your house move in East Devon