Moving to a new home can be a huge task, requiring a significant amount of time and effort. This can be particularly challenging and stressful when you think about your fragile and valuable items, not to mention your precious heirlooms that can’t be replaced. Whether you decide to do the packing on your own or you hire a pro, you’ll want to be sure to pack household items to avoid any potential damage during loading and unloading as well as during transit. Here are several tips to ensure that you have a hassle-free move, and all your important items arrive safely to their new home.
Write Up a Plan
When making a move, whether cross-country or down the street, it’s important to pack household items carefully to avoid damage during transportation, especially when it comes to fragile and more valuable items. Adequate packing materials like bubble wrap, packing tape, and sturdy boxes are necessary. Do not compromise on materials as they are your first line of defense to protect everything. While tempting, don’t go out and find used boxes to pack your items in or newspapers to provide protection.
To prevent damage during transport, it's best to pack your fragile household items by organizing them by type and in separate boxes. For art pieces, wrap them in bubble wrap and cardboard, and then label the box as fragile, on all sides. Use ample amount of bubble and foam packaging products to ensure maximum protection. It's recommendable to secure the bottom with a few extra tape strips to add more security during transits.
When you come up with a packing plan, remember that there are some sensitive items you might not want to box, which include extremely valuable items or items that are irreplaceable such as family heirlooms. Furthermore, remember that you shouldn’t pack flammable liquids, poison, corrosives or other hazardous materials. Household items such as nail polish remover, propane cylinders, paints and paint thinners, to name a few, normally shouldn’t be transported via a moving company.
Consider Your Method of Transportation
When moving fragile items, you need to consider your method of transportation. For example, if you take the professional mover route, make sure to let them know that you have fragile items and put them all together in one spot. It doesn’t hurt to mark the boxes with a marker. That way, the movers won’t accidentally mistreat your fragile items.
If you are opting for a DIY move, it is important to know how to load delicate items such as electronics, fine china, art pieces, and dishware. In case of a long-distance relocation, inspecting the boxes periodically to avoid any item shift is recommended. Furthermore, it is advised that fragile items be packed into the car's trunk by DIYers and all boxes be tightly and securely packed to prevent any potential shift.
Make Sure to Pack with Extra Care
To prevent breakage during transit due to their delicate nature, dishware and fine china require extra care when packing. Each piece should be wrapped in bubble wrap and placed in the box. To prevent movement within the box, fill any leftover space with additional bubble wrap or packing paper. Soft items such as blankets or clothing can be added if there is ample space to provide additional protection.
For large-screen TVs or electronic devices, reusing the original box is recommended. If not an option due to damage or excessive use, wrap the items carefully with bubble and foam packaging, and a moving blanket if available, for added protection during transportation.
When loading boxes with fragile items into your vehicle, make sure to not stack other boxes with valuable items on top. Instead, stack boxes with clothes or other non-delicate items. If you hire a moving company, then well-labelled boxes will ensure that boxes full of fragile items aren’t stacked.
Don’t Forget the Weight
It's important to consider the weight of each box when moving. It can be tempting to pack every box to the brim to save on packaging materials and minimize trips, but it's essential to ensure that you're able to lift them safely. There isn’t a set limit, but it's important to think about how much you can realistically lift. Overly heavy boxes could be challenging to handle, resulting in a higher possibility of an accident. Too much repetitive carrying of such boxes has the potential to cause back problems for those involved. Also, if you are doing the move on your own, make sure to think about other people’s restrictions who may help you. If you have boxes that are a bit heavier, make sure to mark them with a marker.
When packing fragile or valuable objects in a box, it is best to add lighter items like clothing or pillows if there is extra space available as a way to cushion the items. Also, by doing this, the box remains light, maximizing available packing space.
Buy the Right Boxes
Shipping fragile household items can be a challenging task as breakage during transit is a huge concern, especially if you don’t have the right boxes for the job. To ensure an uneventful move, it's vital to avoid cutting corners. Buying specialty boxes that offer ample cushioning and protection against impact can be an effective solution to prevent breakage.
Specialty boxes are available in an array of sizes and shapes to fit various items, from delicate stemware to fragile electronics. They are essential to assure safe delivery and protect your cherished possessions. Investing in specialty boxes can provide peace of mind since there are various boxes to choose from that accommodate different household items such as dish pack boxes, artwork/mirror boxes, picture frame boxes, and drawer letter-size bankers boxes. There are boxes made for all your needs, including tuck top mailers, dish pack boxes, artwork/mirror boxes and many more.
Extra Layer of Protection to Be Safe
Moving and packing can present a lot of challenges. However, if you buy and use corrugated pads, they can alleviate some of these issues, as they offer additional protection for your fragile items, are user-friendly, and come in various sizes that meet your needs. By using corrugated pads, you can give your expensive items a higher level of protection, while not stressing about every bump on the road.
Packing delicate household items for a move requires a lot of extra care. Professional movers can help simplify this process, but aren’t always a necessity. If you are handling the move yourself, create a plan and use the right materials. Always employ appropriate boxes and wrapping materials to safeguard your delicate items throughout the move. With the correct materials, methods, and mindful attention, you'll be able to guarantee your fragile items reach their destination unscathed.