Packing is the part of a move most people put off the longest, and it's also the part that determines whether anything breaks in transit. EAM Moving, a dependable moving company in Manchester, NH, has packed homes across Manchester, Bedford, Nashua, and Concord since 2014, and the difference between a smooth pack and a stressful one usually comes down to when you start and how the work gets split.
Start With a Plan, Not a Free-for-All
Packing without a plan turns into packing everything at once, and that's exactly how boxes end up mixed between rooms and labeled “misc.” Working room by room and tackling the rooms you use least first keeps the final week before a move from turning into chaos. It also gives you a natural chance to sort through belongings instead of shoving everything into a box just to clear it out.
A plan also tells you what supplies to buy. A studio apartment and a four-bedroom house need very different amounts of tape and boxes, and guessing wrong usually means a late-night run to the hardware store. Map out your timeline, your home's size, and which rooms carry the most risk, and the packing pace stays manageable instead of getting crammed into one weekend. Our 8 week packing checklist breaks that timeline into a week by week plan with box counts by home size.
Full-Service Packing: Our Crew Handles It All
When packing an entire home is one task too many on top of everything else moving involves, EAM Moving's crew packs the whole house before move day. We bring our own boxes, tape, and wrapping material, and we work room by room using the method suited to what's actually in that space. Dishware gets wrapped differently than books, and electronics get a different kind of protection than clothing.
• Boxes labeled by room as they're packed, not after the fact
• Dish packs and wardrobe boxes for fragile and hanging items
• Custom crating for art, mirrors, and other awkward shapes
• Electronics packed with their cords and hardware kept together
• Debris removal once everything is unpacked at the new place
This option tends to work best for anyone juggling a job, kids, or a tight closing date, since packing a full home in the evenings after work rarely happens the way people plan. It also means the days before a move go toward other tasks instead of bubble wrap.
Not sure whether full-service makes sense for your move? Call 603-288-9627, and we'll walk through your home size and timeline.
Full-Service vs. Partial Packing
Not every move needs the whole house packed by a crew. Plenty of customers are comfortable handling clothes, books, and everyday items themselves, and just want help with the rooms that carry more risk, like a kitchen full of glassware or a home office full of cords and electronics. Here's how the two options compare:
| Full-Service Packing | Partial Packing | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Tight timelines, full-time jobs, kids underfoot | Homeowners comfortable packing basics themselves |
| What EAM Moving handles | Every room, top to bottom | Just the rooms you choose, like the kitchen or office |
| Materials used | EAM's boxes, tape, and wrap for the whole home | Dish packs, wardrobe boxes, and crating where needed |
| Your part | Point us to the rooms | Pack clothes, books, and everyday items on your own schedule |
Both options use the same materials and the same trained crew. The only real difference is how much of the house that crew touches.
Specialty and Oversized Items Need Their Own Plan
Some belongings need more than a box and bubble wrap. Pianos, gun safes, antiques, art, gym equipment, and large appliances all call for different handling than a dresser or bookshelf, both in the materials used and the equipment it takes to move them safely. Mentioning these upfront lets EAM Moving plan for the right crew size and tools before move day, and specialty items are part of what our crews handle.
Art and glass pieces usually need custom crating instead of a standard box, especially anything with an odd shape or a surface that scratches easily. These considerations get built into full-service and partial packing jobs alike, so a delicate piece is treated differently from a stack of paperbacks even when they're going into the same truck.
Room-by-Room Tips If You're Packing It Yourself
Start in the rooms you use least: a guest bedroom, basement, or garage. That gives you an easier warm-up before tackling daily-use spaces like the kitchen or bathroom. Pack heavier items like books into smaller boxes so they stay manageable to carry, and save the bigger boxes for lighter things like linens and pillows.
For anything fragile, wrap each piece on its own and fill the empty space in the box so nothing shifts during the drive. Label every box with the room it came from and a general description of what's inside, rather than just “kitchen.” That small habit saves real time when you're hunting for one specific item on the first night in a new home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book a packing crew before my move?
Two to three weeks works for most single-family homes, and longer over the summer when move dates fill up fast. EAM Moving can sometimes accommodate shorter notice for partial packing or a single room, but full-service jobs book out fastest between May and September.
Do I have to choose between packing everything myself or nothing at all?
No. Partial packing lets you handle everyday items like clothes and books on your own schedule while EAM Moving's crew packs just the kitchen, home office, or any other room you'd rather not risk. Most customers who use partial packing pick one or two rooms, not the whole house.
What happens to fragile items like art, mirrors, or glassware?
Custom crating is available for art, mirrors, and irregularly shaped pieces that a standard box can't protect. Everyday glassware and dishware go into dish packs built for that purpose, and each piece is wrapped individually before it's boxed, so nothing shifts or knocks against another item in transit.
Can I hire EAM Moving for packing only, without a full move?
Yes. Packing can be booked on its own or added to a local or long-distance move you've already scheduled. If you're combining both, they're handled as one coordinated job by the same crew rather than a separate appointment.
Request a free quote and EAM Moving will lay out exactly what full or partial packing would look like for your home. Request a free quote or call 603 288 9627.
Related Topics
Ready to plan your move?
Get a free, no-obligation quote from a real person — usually within the same business day.
Book Now