Packing and Moving Company Seattle

What packing materials do you use to protect dishes, glasses, and other breakables?

There are two general approaches to packing dishes and other fragile items – using specialty boxes or packing in standard boxes. Specialty boxes are designed for specific uses and provide extra protection. Standard boxes are no frills boxes with 6 sides. Specialty boxes cost more, but they provide extra protection and features standard boxes don’t offer.

We recommend using specialty boxes for packing plates and bowls in what are called dish pack boxes. Dish pack boxes come with partitions and foam inserts for enhanced organization and protection. Dish pack boxes are sturdy and your best defense against breakage.

Standard boxes can be effective too, but only if you eliminate empty space that cause items to move and shift. When we pack dishes using standard boxes we intentionally fill empty space with packing paper and packing peanuts to avoid breakage and keep your dishes safe.

How much does it cost to pack and move?

The cost of packing for your move boils down to two variables – rate and time. The hourly rate is how much you pay for each hour of service. The hourly rate will fluctuate depending on the number of packers you hire and the company you work with. Generally speaking, you should plan to pay between $40 - $60 per hour per worker for professional packing services. Avoid companies offering cut-rate services for the best experience.
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How long it takes to pack your belongings depends on the property size, how long you’ve lived in the property, and how many people are doing the packing. Based on our experience, packing takes longer than most customers expects and can range from 2 hours for a studio apartment to a full day for a 4-bedroom home.

Do you insure the items you pack?

Any item moved inside of a PacWest vehicle is protected from loss or damage under our cargo insurance policy (terms apply). We are responsible for the safekeeping of our customers’ items when they are in our custody. We take this responsibility very seriously and care for your items as if there were our own.

If we do not transport an item in a PacWest vehicle and only pack and load it in a rental truck provided by the customer, that item is not considered to be in our custody and therefore is not covered by our insurance policy. For DIY movers who rent a moving truck, check your homeowners insurance policy for coverage.