Full-service moving: what does a moving company actually handle?
Full service starts with defining the scope
Full service does not automatically mean that you have no decisions left on moving day. It means agreeing in advance exactly which tasks the moving team will take over. That may include supplying boxes, packing household contents, hanging clothes in wardrobe cartons, dismantling furniture, protecting fragile items, loading, transport, unloading, unpacking and reassembly. One client only wants crockery and art packed; another wants almost the entire home handled. A good quote should therefore do more than say “full service”: it should list every included task. Items staying behind, waste, lamps, appliances and the contents of fitted cupboards also need an explicit agreement. That prevents discussion when the truck is already outside.
How professional packing works in practice
The day starts with a brief walk-through. You indicate what is moving, what is staying and which pieces need extra care. The team then works room by room. Boxes get a clear destination, crockery is protected individually and clothes can go straight onto rails in wardrobe cartons. Furniture is only wrapped after checking whether it fits through doors, stairs and lifts in one piece. Paintings, mirrors and art need their own materials; a moving blanket is not always enough. Keep documents, medication, keys, jewellery and first-night essentials with you. The value of a packing service is not just speed. A consistent system also lets the crew place boxes and furniture at the destination without repeatedly asking where everything belongs.
Unpacking is more than opening boxes
Agree in advance what “unpacking” means. Opening boxes and placing contents on a worktop is different from putting crockery away, hanging clothes and removing all packing materials immediately. The same applies to assembly: attaching a tabletop is usually straightforward, while realigning a large wardrobe takes more time. A practical order is to make the bed, seating area and kitchen usable first, followed by the remaining rooms. Prepare a simple floor plan and, if useful, put room names on doors. You then do not need to accompany every piece of furniture. Finish with a joint check: are the essentials in place, are agreed items assembled and has the packaging been collected?
Five agreements that belong in the quote
Check five points before accepting. One: which rooms and cupboards will be packed? Two: are boxes and specialist materials purchased, rented or supplied on loan? Three: which pieces of furniture are dismantled and reassembled? Four: is unpacking included, and to what level? Five: what happens to items that do not move? Also ask whether the quote is fixed-price or based on actual hours and which circumstances may create additional work. Photos of every room, attic, garage, garden and access route make the inventory more reliable. At Vermaat, we translate that information into a practical schedule and itemised quote. You are not buying a vague package, but a workable plan for your home.
About Vermaat Verhuizingen
Vermaat Verhuizingen relocates private clients and businesses across the Netherlands. Our articles are written from practical knowledge of the moving trade, from narrow Amsterdam staircases to international moves. More about us →
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