Packing and Moving Company NJ: What's Included | KIMS
Choosing a full-service packing and moving company means you hand off every physical part of the move — wrapping, boxing, loading, transporting, and unloading — to a professional crew, with nothing left for you to carry. For families in Burlington County who are already juggling work, school schedules, and the hundred other logistics of a move, that trade-off is often worth more than the extra line item on the invoice.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what a packing and moving company in NJ does, how to know whether full-service or partial packing fits your situation, and what to look for when comparing options.
On This Page
- What Is a Full-Service Packing and Moving Company?
- What Full-Service Packing Actually Includes
- Partial Packing vs. Full-Service: What’s the Difference?
- Is It Worth It to Hire Movers to Pack?
- What to Look for When Choosing Packing Services in NJ
- How Keep It Moving Services Handles Packing Jobs
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is a Full-Service Packing and Moving Company?
A full-service packing and moving company does exactly what the name says: they pack your belongings, load them onto a truck, transport everything to your new home, and unload on the other end. Some companies also offer unpacking and debris removal, so you never have to touch a single box.
The key distinction is the packing step. A basic moving company picks up boxes you’ve already packed and moves them. A packing and moving company handles the prep too — they arrive with all materials, wrap and box every item in your home, label each box by room and contents, and complete the job faster than most households can manage on their own.
In New Jersey, most packing and moving companies offer tiered service levels so you can choose how much of the work you outsource. Burlington NJ movers who offer full packing typically quote a combined rate for packing labor, materials, and the move itself — so you’re comparing one total number rather than piecing together separate costs.
2. What Full-Service Packing Actually Includes
When a packing crew arrives at your home, here’s the sequence:
Walk-through and assessment
Before a single box is packed, the crew leader walks the home with you. You point out anything needing special attention — fragile items, sentimental pieces, things to leave unpacked for the last night — and they work that into the plan. This is also the moment to flag items that aren’t coming (donations, things being disposed of, furniture staying behind).
Room-by-room packing
The crew moves through the home systematically. They typically start with rooms that are least disruptive to daily life — guest bedrooms, dining rooms, home offices — and finish with high-traffic areas like the kitchen and bathrooms so you can use them until the last possible moment. Every item gets wrapped before it’s boxed: dishes in packing paper, fragile items in bubble wrap, clothing in wardrobe boxes.
Specialty item handling
Large or fragile items — flat-screen TVs, artwork, mirrors, furniture with glass panels — get custom wrapping rather than being placed in a standard box. Furniture is disassembled where needed and wrapped in moving blankets and shrink wrap. This step is where professional packers earn their cost: improper wrapping of a large TV or a china cabinet is one of the most common causes of move-day damage, and it’s almost always preventable.
Labeling and inventory
Every box is labeled with the destination room and a summary of contents. For long-distance moves or larger households, a numbered inventory system ties each box to a master log so nothing gets lost in transit.
Loading, transport, and unloading
Once packing is complete, the crew loads the truck. Furniture goes in first, heaviest pieces against the walls; boxes are stacked to distribute weight and prevent shifting. Everything is secured with blankets and straps. At your new home, each piece is placed in the room matching its label. If you’ve booked packing and unpacking services, the crew will break everything down, arrange per your direction, and remove all packing materials before they leave.
3. Partial Packing vs. Full-Service: What’s the Difference?
Full-service packing means the crew handles everything from the first room to the last box. Partial packing — sometimes called fragile-only packing — means you pack most of the house yourself and the crew takes over specific categories, typically dishes, electronics, artwork, and anything fragile enough that DIY packing feels risky.
Partial packing makes sense when:
- You have the time and energy to handle non-fragile items yourself
- You want to reduce costs while still protecting high-value pieces
- You’re comfortable packing books, clothes, and everyday items but want professionals handling the china and the TV
Full-service makes more sense when:
- You’re working against a tight timeline — a professional crew can clear a 3-bedroom home in a day that would take most families a full week to pack themselves
- You have a large home, significant fragile inventory, or specialty furniture that genuinely requires professional handling
- You’re moving long-distance and want everything inventoried and properly secured before it travels hundreds of miles on a truck
For households that want to reduce waste, plastic bin rental integrates well with packing service — reusable bins replace cardboard boxes entirely and eliminate the post-move breakdown and disposal step. It also tends to protect contents better than single-use cardboard, especially for heavier items.
4. Is It Worth It to Hire Movers to Pack?
For most families moving a 3-bedroom or larger home: yes — and the math is closer than it looks.
Here’s what people consistently underestimate: packing a 3-bedroom home typically takes 20–30 hours of focused work done yourself. That’s usually spread across two or three weeks of evenings and weekends while still managing a full schedule. A professional packing crew of two or three people completes the same job in 6–8 hours on a single day.
The hidden cost of DIY packing is also real. Rushing through boxes at the end of a long weekend leads to improper wrapping, which leads to broken items. A single damaged TV, fractured set of dishes, or chipped antique can cost more to replace than the packing service would have. Professional packers know how to protect items correctly — it’s the difference between someone who wraps furniture every day and someone who has done it twice in their life.
One thing worth knowing: moving liability works differently depending on who packed the box. If you packed it yourself and something inside breaks, the mover’s liability is typically limited regardless of how carefully the box was handled in transport. If the packing company packed it, responsibility follows more directly. For high-value or fragile items, this alone is a reason to consider professional packing.
According to the American Trucking Associations’ Moving & Storage Conference, professional packing is the single most effective way to reduce damage claims during a move. That’s consistent with what we see on jobs across South Jersey — damage calls almost always involve something the homeowner packed, not items the crew prepared.
5. What to Look for When Choosing a Packing and Moving Company in NJ
Not all packing services are the same. Before you book:
- Do they bring all materials? A reputable company arrives with everything — boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, wardrobe boxes, tape. You shouldn’t need to source anything separately.
- Are they packing or just wrapping furniture? Some services only wrap furniture in blankets and leave you to box everything else. Ask specifically whether the quote includes boxing loose items room by room.
- What’s their process for specialty items? Ask how they’d handle a large mirror, a flat-screen TV, or a piece of antique furniture. The answer shows you their training level quickly.
- Is packing quoted separately from the move? Some companies bundle it; others quote packing labor and move labor as separate line items. Know which structure you’re comparing so estimates are apples to apples.
- Are they licensed and insured in NJ? Any mover doing business in New Jersey must hold a state Public Movers license (NJPM number). For interstate jobs, an active FMCSA USDOT number is also required. You can verify any NJ mover’s credentials and look up their USDOT record at the FMCSA’s Protect Your Move site before signing anything.
6. How Keep It Moving Services Handles Packing Jobs
At KIMS, packing is a system, not a checkbox. Every job starts with the same walk-through: we inventory what’s going, identify anything requiring special handling, and build a room-by-room sequence before a single box opens. We bring all materials, wrap and box every item, label everything clearly, and load the truck ourselves — so we’re accountable for the whole chain, not just the drive.
We offer full-service and partial packing options. If you’ve already handled the non-fragile rooms and just want us to take over dishes, electronics, and pieces you’re nervous about, that works too. We’ll also quote exactly what’s included so there’s no confusion on moving day about what we’re responsible for and what you’ve handled.
For households that want the cleanest possible transition, we can bundle move-in/move-out cleaning into the package — your old home gets left spotless, and your new one is ready before the furniture arrives. It’s not something most packing companies offer, but we’ve found it removes one of the most stressful logistics of the whole move.
For an accurate packing quote, the best starting point is always a walkthrough — the number of boxes, the volume of fragile items, and the complexity of any specialty pieces all affect the scope in ways a phone estimate can’t reliably predict. Get a free estimate and we’ll scope the packing alongside the move so you have one clear number before anything is signed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do moving companies pack for you?
Many do, but packing is usually an add-on rather than a standard service. When you book with a packing and moving company, you’re specifically hiring a crew to both pack your home and handle the move. Always confirm what’s included — some companies offer full packing, some do fragile-only, and some only wrap furniture without boxing loose items.
How much does it cost to have movers pack your house?
Packing costs vary by home size, the number of fragile items, and whether you’re booking full or partial packing. Compare that cost to the 20–30 hours a 3-bedroom home typically takes to pack yourself, plus the replacement value of anything that breaks from improper wrapping. Get a free estimate for an accurate number based on your specific home and what you want covered.
Is it worth paying movers to pack?
For most 3-bedroom or larger homes: yes, especially if you have fragile items, are moving long-distance, or are short on time. The time savings alone often justify the cost, and professional packing significantly reduces the risk of damage to items that would cost more to replace than the packing service itself.
Should I be home when movers pack my house?
Yes — or have a trusted person there. The initial walk-through is important for flagging fragile items, anything staying behind, and items with special handling needs. After that you don’t need to supervise every box, but being reachable to answer questions saves time and prevents anything from getting packed that shouldn’t be.
What should I not let movers pack?
Important documents (passports, birth certificates, medical records), medications, jewelry and valuables, cash, and anything irreplaceable for sentimental reasons should travel with you rather than go on the truck. Most moving companies publish a list of what they won’t transport — ask for it before the packing day so nothing surprises you.
How long does it take professional packers to pack a house?
A rough guide: a 1-bedroom takes 2–4 hours for a 2-person crew; a 3-bedroom takes 6–8 hours; a larger home or one with a heavy volume of fragile items may run a full day or extend into a second. A virtual or in-home walkthrough before moving day lets the crew give you a realistic time estimate rather than a guess.
Can I do partial packing myself and hire you for the fragile items?
Yes — partial and fragile-only packing options are available. If you’ve handled the non-fragile rooms yourself and just want a professional crew to take over dishes, electronics, and specialty pieces, that’s a workable arrangement. Just be specific about which items you want packed when you book so the quote reflects exactly what’s covered.
Can I use rental bins instead of cardboard boxes?
Yes — plastic bin rental integrates cleanly with a packing service. Bins are sturdier than cardboard, faster to fill and seal, and eliminate the post-move box-breakdown and disposal step entirely. For larger homes it can also be more cost-effective than buying dozens of single-use boxes you’ll just break down afterward.
Ready to see what a real packing estimate looks like for your home? Get a free estimate from Keep It Moving Services — in-person or virtual, anywhere across our New Jersey service area. We got you ✨
