subject: Keeping Your Belongings Safe During A Move [print this page] Moving homes can be a huge stressor to you, your family, and your pocketbook. Very often, individuals pay loads of money to a moving company that promises to take care of their belongings, only to find special items broken or lost once they have reached their new residence.
If you wish to protect all of the objects that are most important to you without having to spend a lot of money and time taking care of and worrying about them, there are a number of tips and tricks in which to do so. If you are relocating to a home that is close or within short driving distance, it is best to keep the most fragile and important items with you.
When packing away antiques, dishes, or delicate objects, make sure to pack them accordingly. If anything, you should go a little overboard in covering and protecting them, as opposed to skimping on packing material and risking them being broken.
Glass and dishes should always be wrapped in bubble wrap, with the air filled bubbles facing inward. This will ensure that any trauma or accident will not break them.
It would be safe for you to use at least two layers of the bubble wrap. You can even alternate between wrapping with layers of newspaper and plastic.
When you have them properly and securely covered, place these items gently in cardboard boxes or plastic carrying containers. Do not stuff multiple items into one box for fear of crushing them, but try to efficiently fill space in between to prevent them from moving around or jarring.
Make sure to close the box safely with packing tape and, using a permanent marker, write which objects are contained in it. This will keep the process more organized and make it easier for you to find items when you have reached your new residence.
Once everything is sufficiently packed away, load your vehicle with the items and drive slowly and carefully to your new home. This may be a little tedious and take more time than you intended moving would, but all of your most precious possessions will be safe and well taken care of.
If you are short on time and cannot perform this step prior to your move in, place the items in a storage unit for safe keeping. Most of these units are very reasonably priced and offer you a number of different options as far as time and price is concerned.
If you do choose to store your things in a unit, be sure to package them accordingly. Though they will be safely locked within a secured area, usually behind a steel door, you never know what types of creatures, insects, or weather conditions may reach your items.
Keep them safe by properly packaging them in bubble wrap. It is best to place the items in plastic, water resistant bins and containers, as opposed to cardboard boxes.
That way, if water or snow happens to find its way inside of the unit, everything will be protected and kept from ruining. It is best to research different storage units and, then, locate the one that is most reasonably priced and closest to your new residence.
You can do this through online research, word of mouth, or by calling and pricing different locations. If you want to have the upper hand in your moving experience, rent a moving van for your own personal use.
You will have to pack it and drive it yourself, but you will be able to watch your items carefully and load them in the truck in an organized and intelligent manner. You can even enlist the help of trustworthy friends and family members to help you load and pack your items.
If you do happen to hire a moving company, be sure to do extensive research online and through your peers beforehand. Ask others that have recently bought a home which company helped them, what the price was, and what they thought about their efficiency and service.
The more careful you are with your things, the less likely you are to experience damage to your possessions through inexperienced movers or silly relocation mistakes. Follow the aforementioned tips, and you are sure to have a stress free and successful relocation to your new home.
