If you’re planning a move in Chico, Roseville, Lincoln, or North Sacramento, you might be weighing a common question: do movers pack for you, or should you handle it yourself? At Murdock’s Moving & Storage, we offer both full-service packing and DIY-friendly options, so here’s what you need to know to make the right call for your move.
Do Movers Pack for You?
Yes — many professional moving companies, Murdock’s included, offer full-service packing. That means the crew brings the supplies, wraps your belongings, packs room by room, and labels everything clearly for easy unpacking on the other end.
Full-service packing tends to be the right fit for:
- Busy professionals or families short on time
- People with mobility challenges who can’t safely lift or pack for long stretches
- Moves running on a tight deadline
- Anyone who simply wants less stress on moving day
Should You Pack Yourself?
DIY packing has real advantages — it can save money, and it gives you more control over what goes where and how items are organized in each box. The tradeoff is time, planning, and having the right supplies on hand.
If you decide to pack yourself, a few practices make a big difference:
- Start early — at least two to three weeks before moving day
- Use sturdy, professional-grade boxes rather than thin retail boxes
- Label everything clearly by room and general contents
- Wrap fragile items properly in bubble wrap or packing paper, not just a spare towel
What’s Included in Full-Service Packing?
When you choose full-service packing with Murdock’s, here’s generally what’s covered: all packing supplies provided by the crew, professional wrapping of furniture and breakables, room-by-room packing and labeling, and optional unpacking services at your new home if you want help getting settled in as well as moved in.
Which Items Won’t Movers Pack?
There are a few categories most professional movers, including Murdock’s, won’t pack or transport for safety and liability reasons: hazardous materials like chemicals, gasoline, or propane tanks; perishable food items; and sentimental or irreplaceable valuables that you’d rather transport personally, like jewelry, important documents, or family heirlooms. We’ll walk through a list of restricted items with you ahead of time so there are no surprises on moving day.
Can I Mix Full Packing and DIY?
Absolutely, and it’s one of the more common approaches we see. Many households prefer to pack personal or sentimental items themselves — a linen closet, a home office, a kid’s bedroom — while letting the crew handle larger, bulkier, or more fragile items like a china cabinet, artwork, or a home gym. Partial packing services are built exactly for this kind of split approach, and there’s no reason to treat it as all-or-nothing.
Which Option Is Right for You?
Choose full-service packing if you want a genuinely hands-off move, or if you need extra care for fragile, bulky, or high-value items. Choose DIY packing if you’re working with a tighter budget, have the time available, or simply prefer to organize everything yourself, room by room, on your own schedule.
There’s no universally right answer — it depends on your timeline, your budget, and how much hands-on control you want over the process. If you’re not sure which makes sense for your specific move, that’s exactly the kind of question we’re happy to talk through.
Final Thoughts
Whether you pack every box yourself or hand the whole job to the crew, moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With Murdock’s Moving & Storage, you get experienced guidance, quality supplies when you need them, and a crew that treats your belongings with care — whichever approach you choose. If you have questions about packing options for an upcoming move in Chico, Lincoln, Roseville, or North Sacramento, reach out for a free quote and we’ll help you build a plan that fits.
