What Should You Pack Yourself vs. Let Professional Movers Handle for an Out-of-State Move?

Moving out of state means more than a simple change of scenery, it’s a complex endeavor that often begins with the critical decision of what you should pack yourself and what you should leave to professional movers. Whether you’re relocating your apartment from a bustling downtown Chicago high-rise, or transitioning your family home near the Lake Michigan shoreline, making the right choices early in the process will help keep your interstate move organized, cost-efficient, and stress-free.

Personal Belongings and Valuables: Items for You to Pack

When preparing for a long-distance move, there are specific items you should always handle personally. These typically include:

• Important documents like passports, birth certificates, and legal papers

• Keepsakes such as family photo albums and irreplaceable mementos

• Jewelry and small, high-value items

• Medications and daily necessities

You know best how to pack and protect these personal items, and keeping them on your person or in a clearly designated bag throughout your move is always recommended. In particular, consider the unpredictable Midwest weather; sudden rain, snow, or temperature shifts can make storage areas and moving trucks risky for sensitive belongings.

Fragile Items, Antiques, and Fine Art: Best Left to the Pros

When it comes to packing fragile items, large mirrors, antique furniture, or fine art, the expertise and resources of professional movers become crucial. Out-of-state moves require items to handle longer travel times, bumpy roads, and more frequent loading and unloading all of which can increase the risk of damage.

Professional movers, like those specializing in white glove moving services, provide high-quality packing materials and employ proven packing techniques. For example, Roy’s Moving 1 uses climate-protective wraps and custom-built crates for valuable artwork and antique pieces. Their team understands the specific risks tied to the Chicago area’s freeze-thaw cycles and humidity, as well as the challenges of maneuvering large furniture through the city’s dense traffic and narrow hallways.

Electronics and Appliances: Consider Professional Help

While some small electronics, such as tablets, laptops, and phones, are easy to transport yourself, large electronics and appliances demand a different approach. Not only are they expensive, but improper handling can lead to costly or irreversible damage.

Professional movers handle the disassembly, secure packing, and safe loading and unloading of items such as:

• Smart TVs and home theater systems

• Kitchen appliances refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers

• Computer towers and monitors

Chicago’s weather and storage environments can also present additional challenges, making professional packing a safer bet for electronics that could be damaged by moisture or cold.

Bulky Furniture: When Professional Packing Makes a Difference

Large, heavy, or oddly-shaped furniture should almost always be left to moving experts. Bulky sofas, platform beds, pool tables, and oversized dressers can become logistical nightmares in apartment buildings, neighborhood sidewalks, or snowy loading zones during a Chicago winter. Professional movers not only protect the furniture but also prevent potential injury from improper lifting.

Roy’s Moving 1 offers furniture moving services that include full disassembly, custom padding, shrink-wrapping, and careful maneuvering increasing the likelihood that every piece arrives safely at your new destination.

What About Packing Supplies?

Even if you choose to box up some things on your own, it makes a difference where you source your supplies. Professional moving companies, like Roy’s Moving 1, supply high-quality packing materials from sturdy boxes to climate-resistant packing tape that are designed for long-distance hauls, far superior to reused grocery store boxes or old newspapers.

Get Expert Guidance for Your Chicago Out-of-State Move

Ready to start planning your move from or to Chicago, IL? Let the local professionals at Roy’s Moving 1 help you decide what to pack and what to leave in experienced hands. Contact us today at (312) 833-0738 or fill out our online form to get a personalized moving quote and expert advice for your out-of-state relocation.