Ease Your Move by Hiring a Moving Organizer
When you move, you don’t want to take your stress with you—that’s how a professional organizer can help
Highlights
Moving organizers are professional organizers that specialize in moving.
They can help pack, unpack, and organize your new space.
A professional organizer costs $80 to $140 per hour.
Some professional organizers charge per project.
Let’s face it: Moving is stressful. Studies have shown that it’s even more stressful than divorce. Even if you have a support system to help you move your stuff in exchange for pizza, packing still takes hours, if not days. Something usually gets lost or broken during the move, and that’s before you even consider how long it will take to unpack.
To ease the stress of moving, consider hiring a professional moving organizer to help you through the process. Let’s take a look at how this type of moving professional makes your life easier before, during, and after the move.
What is a Moving Organizer?
A moving organizer is a type of professional organizer who specializes in moving. Make no mistake, they’re not your average mover who only takes boxes from point A to point B. Moving organizers facilitate the whole process from the very start (the packing, organizing, and decluttering stage) to the very end (the unpacking and reorganizing stage).
How Much Does Hiring a Moving Organizer Cost?
The price of hiring a moving organizer depends on the size of your home, the number of rooms to organize, and the amount of stuff you have to sort through. You can expect to pay anywhere from $80 to $140 per hour. The bigger the job, the higher the cost. Some companies charge by the hour, while others charge by the project. For example, you might pay a $350 flat rate to sort out your garage but more than $1,000 to downsize your whole house.
What Does the Moving Process Look Like with a Professional Organizer?
Most professional moving organizers start with a consultation that includes a project evaluation and a cost estimate. During the consultation, you’ll discuss the scope of the job, including how many rooms you need organized, exactly what role your organizer will play in your move, and how long it will take. If you agree to the terms, you’ll set dates for the project.
From there, your organizer will:
Go through your personal belongings and help you decide what to pack
Get rid of the items you decide to toss (through recycling, selling, donations, or the dump)
Pack up your home and facilitate moving the boxes
Unpack and organize your new home
How Can a Professional Organizer Help With My Move?
A moving organizer will take the lead during your move, leaving no box unpacked and no item behind. Here are some of the benefits of working with a moving organizer:
They’ll Reduce Your Moving Weight
It costs homeowners an average of $1,400 to hire movers, but that’s only if you’re moving within the same state. If you’re moving to a different state, it can cost as much as $10,000. If you’re moving to a different country, it can cost even more.
Many moving companies charge by weight, so the heavier the boxes, the higher the cost. A professional organizer can help you decide what to keep and what to toss, effectively reducing your moving weight. As Marie Kondo says, if it doesn’t bring you joy, ditch it.
They’ll Get Rid of Your Junk
Most people pare down their belongings when they move. While it may be an ideal time to get new furniture and upgrade your appliances, the old stuff has to go somewhere.
A professional organizer can help you sell the items that you don’t want, schedule donation pick-ups, and dispose of recyclables and large items like furniture.
They’ll Organize Your Boxes
There’s no worse feeling than searching through your moving boxes to find a beloved keepsake, only to discover that it shattered during the move. Moving organizers prevent these kinds of mishaps by doing the following:
Providing packing boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and other packing materials
Ensuring that fragile items are secure
Putting clothes in wardrobe boxes so they stay wrinkle-free
Providing you with an itemized list (or a spreadsheet) of the contents inside each box
Their job is to ensure that nothing gets broken or lost during the course of the move. In other words, stop worrying about your crystal wine glasses and start enjoying the wine.
They’ll Help You Unpack
Maybe you’re the kind of person who loves unpacking, but most people tend to put it off. Unfortunately, you’ll probably still need to handle your regular responsibilities on top of unpacking your belongings. Professional moving organizers will help you unpack so you don’t have to sit around eating takeout until you find time to unpack your dishware.
They’ll Organize Your Space
A new house is like a blank canvas, and a professional moving organizer can help make that canvas as organized as possible. They’ll help you organize your space in a way that actually improves your home. Random junk drawer? You don’t know her.
Cons of a Moving Organizer
The only real downside to working with a moving organizer is the expense. With an average cost of $80 to $140 per hour or a flat rate of $350 and up, a moving organizer may be out of reach if you're on a tight budget. You may be able to save money by thinking about which aspect of your move you need the most help with, whether it’s decluttering or packing, and then hiring someone to help you with that specific task only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving organizers don’t have to have special qualifications, but some might be certified in organizing techniques like the KonMari method. Using Angi is also a great place to look for customer testimonials.
Official contracts aren’t common in the professional organizing business, but you should ask your moving organizer for an email that outlines the scope of the project and its cost. This assurance step will help you set your expectations and ensure that your organizer is holding up their end of the deal.
You can use an online service to find the top-rated moving organizers in your area. Always keep online testimonials in mind, and feel free to ask your organizer for references of customers who have completed similar moves.