Most damage in a move is decided at packing, not on the road. A carton that is under-filled collapses under the ones stacked on it; one that is over-filled splits. Plates stacked flat crack through the middle. None of that is about driving.
We pack whole homes, single rooms, or just the things that genuinely need it.
What we offer
- Full-home packing — everything, in the days before the move
- Partial packing — the kitchen, the fragile items, or whichever rooms you would rather not do
- Custom wood crating for high-value and awkward pieces
- Professional materials — packing paper, bubble wrap, padding, shrink wrap for furniture
- Unpacking at destination, including removal of the empty cartons
- Fragile and antique specialists
- Detailed inventory documentation
When packing yourself is the right call
Self-packing saves money and is perfectly sensible for most household goods — books, linens, clothing, kitchenware you use daily, anything robust. If you are packing well in advance and labelling properly, you will do a good job on these.
Where it reliably goes wrong:
- China and stemware. Plates must travel on their edges, not stacked flat, and every piece needs individual wrapping.
- Mirrors, glass tops and framed art. These need telescoping mirror cartons, not blankets.
- Electronics without original boxes. Double-walled cartons and generous padding.
- Marble, stone and slate. Travels on edge, crated.
- Antiques and anything irreplaceable.
There is also a liability dimension worth understanding. When we pack an item, our packing is part of the service we are responsible for. When a carton you packed yourself arrives with broken contents and no external damage to the box, establishing what happened is considerably harder. That is not a sales argument so much as a reason to let us handle the genuinely fragile things.
Custom crating
Some items should not travel in a carton at all. We build wooden crates to size for:
- Large mirrors, glass table tops and stone surfaces
- Original artwork, sculpture and framed pieces
- Chandeliers and light fittings
- Antique and high-value furniture
- Sensitive equipment and instruments
A crate is built around the specific piece, with internal padding and bracing so nothing moves inside it. It is the right answer whenever an item is both fragile and irreplaceable.
High-value items and valuation
This is where crating and paperwork meet, and it catches people out.
On interstate moves, Released Value Protection caps liability at 60 cents per pound per article — a standard that is meaningless for anything valuable. Full Value Protection, the federal default, covers replacement value.
Separately, movers may limit liability on items worth more than $100 per pound — jewellery, fine art, collections — unless you list them on the shipping documents before the move. Crating protects the object; declaring it protects your claim. You need both.
Photograph valuable items before they are packed.
Materials
We use proper moving cartons sized by purpose, because supermarket boxes are the most common cause of crushed contents — inconsistent in strength, often damp, and they do not stack squarely.
| Carton | Used for |
|---|---|
| Small | Books, tools, tinned goods — anything dense |
| Medium | Kitchenware, small appliances, toys |
| Large | Bedding, towels, cushions — light and bulky only |
| Dish pack | China and glassware, with cell dividers |
| Wardrobe | Hanging clothes, straight from the rail |
| Mirror carton | Framed art, mirrors, glass tops |
The rule underneath all of it: no carton over about 50 pounds, and the heavier the contents the smaller the box.
We also sell supplies if you would rather pack yourself — see moving supplies.
What cannot be packed
Hazardous materials cannot go on a moving truck under any circumstances, and this is discovered on the doorstep more often than it should be:
Petrol, diesel, kerosene, lighter fluid and charcoal; propane tanks including empty ones; paint, thinners and solvents; aerosols of any kind; pool chemicals, bleach and ammonia; fertiliser and weedkiller; fireworks, ammunition and matches; fire extinguishers; nail polish remover; car batteries.
Perishable and frozen food is also out, as are open containers. Houseplants are generally declined on long-distance moves, and California enforces agricultural inspection on plants entering the state.
Run these down or take them for disposal in the weeks beforehand.
Unpacking
We can unpack at the other end — items out, placed where you want them, and the empty cartons taken away. It is the service people most often skip and most often wish they had taken, because unpacking in a new house is slower than packing in a familiar one.
Call (916) 489-3322 to discuss full or partial packing.