Ensuring the Safety of Your Home Valuables When Moving

Making a long distance house move is never a simple task, especially when you’ve got valuables to protect during transit. Trust me, I know.  When we recently moved from New Jersey to Denver, one of my biggest fears was how we were going to get some of our most valuable and beloved pieces out there – and if we would even be able to fit everything into our new home.

The first thing you really need to figure out is whether you’ll be packing everything up yourself or if you will be hiring professional movers.  Sure, packing everything yourself could save you some money, but what happens if you don’t pack that old chandelier properly or the floor-to-ceiling antique mirror breaks in transit? You have no one but yourself to blame.

Moving art, collectibles, and antiques takes special care, but you can prepare your valuables yourself as long as you know what you’re doing.  That way, when you unpack your goods or check them out at the storage unit in Denver, a jumbled mess won’t disappoint you.  Here are some really great tips I wish I had known about before we made our move.

Get the right packing supplies

Even if you hire professional movers, you can save a little money by packing up your belongings yourself – even those items that need special attention.  As long as you have the right packing supplies, you should be fine. Use the same professional-grade materials that the movers would use, and if you’re not sure what to get, just ask them.  Your list should include the likes of double-and triple-walled cartons, packing tape, stretch wrap, cushioning wrap (foam), fine tissue, craft paper, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and carton labels.  Depending on the types of items you need to move, you may also need to purchase special boxes – for things like chandeliers, mirrors, lamps, and other pieces.

Take great care when packing

The basic principle of packing is to not over pack those boxes.  Apply this rule even more when it comes to packing your precious items as well.  Wrap your valuables in a layer of packing paper followed by bubble wrap to be safe, and don’t scrimp on the cushion foam either.  The pros use these items to not only prevent breakage but also scratches and other small damages.  You may find that certain items like sculptures, chandeliers, and other oddly shaped valuables will require their own box for the move.

Dealing with framed art and mirrors

In my house, we have a lot of framed art and mirrors, which at first glance may seem easy to move, but you really do need to be careful.  Each framed piece needs to be wrapped in packing paper, cushion wrap, and even a layer of bubble wrap.  Then, you’ve got to place it into a special picture box for the move.  These boxes will ensure that no damage comes to the piece during the relocation.  While there are many different boxes available, if you can’t find the right size, contact the movers, they’ll know what to do.  When it comes to mirrors, take even more consideration, as they are extremely fragile.

Don’t forget to label the boxes

One thing I almost forgot to do during our move was to label the boxes.  Had I not done that, unpacking would have been an even bigger challenge.  Labeling the boxes accurately can actually save a lot of trouble in the long run – this way, you’ll have an idea of the contents and which room it belongs in.  To make unpacking even easier, make an inventory list and use a number system.  Go ahead and write down the contents of each box on a spreadsheet and number the box so that frequently used items are easier to find faster.  And, don’t forget to mark your valuables as FRAGILE!