Some people obtain packing supplies with which to pack their household goods themselves in order to keep their moving costs down. A good source for free boxes is local grocery stores. These folks are called PBO's (packed by owner) by their movers. Because they are not trained to properly pack Seattle Movers their things, damages are more prevalent with their shipments and invariably they become disputable after the move. This is a major problem within the industry.

The parties moving borrow or rent a truck or trailer large enough to carry the load of household goods to be relocated and, if necessary, obtaining moving equipment such as dollies, furniture pads and cargo belts to protect the furniture and make things easier to move. It also involves finding or buying materials such as boxes, paper, tape and bubble wrap with which to pack boxable and/or fragile household goods for their protection and for compact carrying and stacking on moving day. Know-it-all service moving companies such as Movex, and Portable On Demand Storage advance another viable option: The character moving buys compass on singular or added trailers or shipping containers. These extravagant containers, often up to 53' feet in length, are driver by professionals to the fresh location. The renters of the trailer or truck often sell or lease accessories such as furniture blankets, tie down straps, packing material, dollies and ramps.