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Packing/Unpacking Service


Are you an organizer by nature?  One of those "everything has its place and everything in its place" types?  If so, have you thought about offering a packing/unpacking service for residential moves?  This is a service in high demand by busy professionals who can't afford to take time off work to move.

Here's how the business would work.  Plan to offer a 2 day full service.  On day 1 you pack up, on day 2 you coordinate the move and unpack.  The idea is that, on moving day, your client comes home from work at the end of the day to find everything unpacked, put away, plugged in and the house generally ready to live in (including made beds).  Of course, your client may not require a full service.  They may only want you to unpack and put away and attend to the packing and coordination of the move themselves.  So structure your pricing based on the level of service required.

At the outset, you should schedule an in-home obligation- free consultation with your potential client and discuss the services you offer.  Once you have ascertained the level of service required by the client clearly explain your fee structure.

As a rough guide, plan to charge an unpacking fee of $10-$15 per box.  For a 1-2 bedroom home, anticipate 30-50 boxes, for 3-4 bedrooms 50-100 boxes.  If you are also going to be packing the boxes, strike a dollar rate per box.  If you are also going to be coordinating the move (greeting the removalists, ensuring furniture and boxes are delivered to the correct rooms), your time for this service should also be worked into your package price. Alternatively, you may prefer to charge by the hour or strike a price for the whole job upfront.

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Useful resources:

SITE:

Busy Buddies, Inc. Moving Services
 

BOOK:

Relocation 101: Making the Most of Your Move
by Beverly D. Roman and Dalene R. Bickel (Editor)

Available online at Barnes & Noble.

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