Moving companies offer 20+ services ranging from essential to ridiculous. Full packing saves time but costs $2,000. Custom crating protects valuables but runs $500 per item. Unpacking service sounds convenient until you realize paying $35/hour to put your underwear in drawers. Here's the complete moving services breakdown—what's worth buying, what's overpriced, and what you should skip entirely.
Essential Services (Buy These)
Basic moving crew:
- Loading/unloading
- Transportation
- Basic equipment
- Cost: Included in hourly rate
- Value: Mandatory foundation
Protective materials:
- Moving blankets
- Shrink wrap
- Floor protection
- Cost: $50-100 or included
- Worth it: Prevents damage exceeding cost
Disassembly/reassembly:
- Bed frames
- Table legs
- Basic furniture
- Cost: $15-25 per piece
- Value: Saves time, prevents damage
These three services form moving essentials
High-Value Services
Professional packing (fragile items only):
- Kitchen dishes/glassware
- Artwork
- Electronics
- Cost: $35-45/hour per packer
- Value: Expertise prevents damage
Specialty item handling:
- Pianos
- Gun safes
- Hot tubs
- Cost: $150-500 per item
- Necessity: Required for safety/insurance
Wardrobe boxes:
- Hanging clothes transfer
- Wrinkle prevention
- Cost: $12-15 each
- Value: Time savings significant
Questionable Services
Full-house packing:
- Everything packed professionally
- Cost: $1,500-3,000
- Value: Convenient but expensive
- DIY savings: $1,000+
Unpacking service:
- Items removed from boxes
- Cost: $25-35/hour
- Reality: You reorganize anyway
- Skip unless: Physically unable
Cleaning service:
- Old/new home cleaning
- Cost: $200-500
- Alternatives: Hire cleaners directly (cheaper)
- Skip: Unless bundled discount significant
Overpriced Add-Ons
Moving supplies markup:
- Boxes: 300% markup typical
- Tape: 400% markup
- Bubble wrap: 500% markup
- Buy separately: Home Depot, U-Haul, Amazon
Insurance upgrades:
- Full value protection
- Cost: 1-2% of declared value
- Reality: High deductibles, claim difficulties
- Alternative: Homeowners policy review
Storage coordination:
- Mover arranges storage
- Cost: Markup on storage rates
- Better: Direct storage rental
Geographic Specific Services
LA-specific valuable services:
Parking permits:
- City permit applications
- Cost: $40-100
- Value: Prevents tickets/delays
Building coordination:
- Elevator reservations
- COI processing
- Cost: $50-100
- Value: Smooth building access
Traffic routing:
- Avoiding congestion
- Cost: Included with good companies
- Value: Prevents delays/overtime
Timing-Based Services
Express/guaranteed delivery:
- Specific delivery dates
- Cost: 25-50% premium
- Value: Schedule certainty
- Consider: Business/school deadlines
Weekend moving:
- Saturday/Sunday service
- Cost: 20-30% premium
- Value: Convenience
- Alternative: Friday/weekday savings
After-hours moving:
- Evening/night moves
- Cost: 25-40% premium
- Necessity: Building restrictions sometimes
Specialty Packing Services
Custom crating:
- Artwork/antiques
- Cost: $200-500 per item
- When needed: Irreplaceable items
- Skip for: Replaceable furniture
Electronics packing:
- Professional techniques
- Cost: $25-50 per item
- DIY option: Original boxes + care
Document handling:
- File organization
- Cost: $35-45/hour
- Better: Handle personally (confidentiality)
Assembly Services Breakdown
Worth professional assembly:
- Complex furniture (IKEA wardrobes)
- Exercise equipment
- Play sets
- Cost: $25-40/hour
- Value: Expertise prevents errors
DIY assembly:
- Simple furniture
- Bookshelves
- Basic tables
- Savings: $100-300
Moving Insurance Reality
Basic coverage (included):
- $0.60 per pound
- Essentially worthless
- Legal minimum only
Full value protection:
- Replacement cost coverage
- Cost: 1-2% of declared value
- Deductibles: $250-500 typical
- Claims: Often disputed
Homeowner's policy:
- May cover moving damage
- Review before purchasing extra
Service Bundling Strategies
Smart bundles:
- Basic move + disassembly + materials
- Packing (fragile items only) + wardrobe boxes
Avoid bundles:
- Full service everything
- Cleaning + storage + supplies
- "White glove" packages
Negotiate: Individual service pricing
DIY vs Professional Decision Tree
Pack yourself:
- Clothes, books, non-fragiles
- Savings: $1,000+
- Time required: 20-40 hours
Professional packing for:
- Kitchen dishes
- Artwork/antiques
- Complex electronics
- Cost: $300-800
- Value: Damage prevention
Questions to Ask
Service evaluation questions:
- "What's included in base rate?"
- "What are individual service costs?"
- "Can I skip services I don't need?"
- "What's the minimum service level?"
- "Are there package discounts?"
Avoid companies that:
- Force unnecessary services
- Won't itemize costs
- Use pressure tactics
Budget Optimization
Maximum value approach:
- Essential services only
- DIY what's reasonable
- Professional for fragile/complex
- Total savings: 30-50%
Time-saving approach:
- More professional services
- Less DIY involvement
- Premium: 25-40%
- Value: Convenience
Service Quality Indicators
Professional service includes:
- Clear explanations
- Itemized pricing
- No pressure tactics
- Flexible options
- Transparent policies
Red flags:
- Mandatory expensive services
- Package-only pricing
- High-pressure sales
- Vague descriptions
Make Smart Service Choices
Moving services range from essential to exploitative. Smart selection focuses on services preventing damage, saving significant time, or providing expertise you lack. Skip services that cost more than doing yourself or hiring specialists directly.
SOS Moving offers à la carte service selection. Choose what you need, skip what you don't. Our basic service includes transportation, protection, and basic assembly. Additional services priced transparently without mandatory bundles.
Evaluating moving services? Call 909-443-0004 for itemized service options and honest recommendations. We'll explain what each service provides, help prioritize based on your budget, and never pressure unnecessary add-ons. Smart service selection saves money while ensuring quality moves.
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