How much should I expect to pay the movers?

What to expect when the movers come?

• My family and i are moving in a week. We are having movers come and pack our things for us and move them, since were in the military it was suggested we do it that way. I am very anxious because i want to pack things myself, but i heard the movers will unpack it and redo it. What can i expect when they come and what do i need to do to prepare for them? Can i pack anything by myself or request they dont pack certain things? Would they really pack up our trash too?! I would love to hear any advice and/or stories from your experiences. Thank you.

• Answer:

  Yes you can pack your own stuff, and I have never had movers repack it. However, what they will do is mark the box "PBO" which stands for packed by owner. Usually, any insurance coverage you have will not cover PBO boxes. So if you pack stuff, pack it carefully. Most movers are fine, but I'm sure that they don't worry as much about PBO boxes. Ask the moving company what their policy is on PBO boxes. Usually there are two groups, the packers and then the actual guys that will move the boxes. Call the moving company to find out specifically how they handle this. Pretty much, the packers work room to room. What this means is that they don't do much deciding about how organized stuff is. Therefore, if you want your shoes all packed together, I suggest you put them all in one place. And this applies to most other stuff. A little organizing before they arrive will make your life a lot easier later. Usually there is a team of people, so it helps if there is more than just you to keep an eye on things. So have a few family or friends around to help. If you have very fragile and expensive things, it helps to warn the packers of these things and to keep an eye on them while they are packing this stuff. Don't be a nuisance, but just make sure they take care the important stuff. In addition, moving companies keep track of your boxes and items by numbering each item. Make sure that each and every box and item (grills, ironing boards, etc) have a number stuck on it. When you unpack, make sure you check off all numbers from the list. Moves are always a pain, with or without movers. But movers make it a lot easier if you keep an eye on them and have things organized before they arrive. Best of luck in your move. If you are military, I'm sure you will get lots of experience and you'll be answering these questions soon.