Should Your Mover Charge You for Packing Supplies?

1. Know If Your Mover Should Charge You For Packing Supplies
2. Reasons For Charging A Fee
3. How Moving Companies Calculate The Amount To Charge Clients
4. Cost Of Moving Supplies
5. How To Reduce The Cost Of Moving

Know If Your Mover Should Charge You for Packing Supplies

Getting boxes, packing paper, tape and other packing supplies on time is one of the most important parts of moving. While traditionally the client is expected to source for packing materials, today moving companies are providing everything you need to move. The difference between company A and B is that one can charge you for the supplies while the others offers the service for free.

So, should your designated mover charge you for packing supplies?

Reasons for charging a fee

• When people pay for something, they tend to value it more and hence won’t misuse it. This applies to packing supplies as well and people take really good care of the supplies they have paid for as compared to those they are given for free.
• It’s an extra service. Providing you with boxes, tapes and paper is not part of the moving contract so it is considered an extra service that you will have to pay for separately.
• The only way a company can afford to keep buying new packing supplies for its clients when the old ones wear out is if they charge for the service. Clients want new boxes that will keep their stuff safe so the supplies have to be changed often.

How moving companies calculate the amount to charge clients

There are two ways the moving company can charge you; per hour or per box. Depending on the company, they can decide to charge the extra service of packing as a whole and calculate per every hour they spend packing, loading, moving and unpacking your stuff. They could also opt to separate the two things and charge the extra service of packing separately and the supplies separately. This means you will have to pay for every item of packing supplies that you choose to use during the move.

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Cost of moving supplies

On average, a 16x12x12 box will cost you 4 dollars at most while a bigger one goes for $7. If you want specialized boxes like a TV box or wardrobe box, be ready to pay between $15 to $30 per box. All the packing materials needed to pack a two bedroom house can cost you between $100 and $150. This is everything from bubble wrap, packing peanuts, boxes, foam sheets, blankets and tapes. This price is subject to change from one company to the other because some will charge you more and others way less.

How to reduce the cost of moving

Even though the company is charging you for the packing supplies, there are ways you can save some good cash and make the move economical;

• Pack the stuff yourself so you only pay for the supplies and not the packing.
• Get a head start. Make sure everything is packed and only leave the loading to them.

Regardless of whether the company is charging you for the supplies or not; make sure that you have everything written on the contract so that you won’t be scammed by rogue movers.