Packing is the longest part of a move for most households, and the choice is rarely all or nothing. This guide compares the four options so you can match each room to the right one.
Full packing
With full packing the crew wraps, boxes and labels the household. Dishes, closets, books, small items and fragile pieces are packed by people who do it for a living. It suits a busy family, a tight schedule or a move where lifting is a problem. The full packing page has the details.
Ask the estimator to list the rooms and items covered. The estimate names the service, so nothing is a surprise on move day.
Partial packing
Partial packing is a split: the crew packs the hard rooms, typically the kitchen, the artwork and the fragile pieces, while you pack the rest. It saves your time where mistakes cost the most. See partial packing.
A common pattern is to pack clothing, books and decor yourself with the free boxes, then have the crew handle glass, dishes and electronics.
Box packing only and your own boxes
Box packing only means the crew packs your goods into boxes and does not wrap furniture or take on other tasks. Packing into customer boxes means you bought or collected boxes, and the crew packs the contents into them. Both are options if you want the packing done but already have supplies.
Boxes matter. Thin or reused cartons can collapse in a stack, so use sturdy boxes. The Sparks office sells supplies, and the free in-home estimate brings 10 free heavy-duty boxes. See boxes and supplies.
- Full: the crew packs the household.
- Partial: the crew packs selected rooms or items.
- Box packing only: the crew fills boxes with your goods.
- Customer boxes: the crew packs into boxes you provide.
How packing and protection connect
Who packs a box can affect a claim, because the paperwork records whether the mover or the owner packed it. Ask how the estimate and the inventory record packed items, and read the valuation coverage page. The federal rules in 49 CFR Part 375 require an inventory on interstate moves, and the FMCSA booklet explains your rights in plain language.
Choose by room
Walk the house and give each room a label: pack myself, crew packs, or leave to the end. Start with the kitchen, the dining room and the home office, since they hold the breakables and electronics. Use the packing calculator to size the supplies, and the room by room guide to plan the order. Then call 775-359-6683 and ask the estimator to price the mix.