Keep Your Belonging Safe During a Move

Moving can be a costly undertaking. The cost of the move is one thing, but the damage or destruction of possessions is another. Destroyed possessions get VERY expensive! Therefore, whether you hire a professional company to help you relocate or plan a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) adventure, keep these handy tips in your pocket to protect your belongings.

Use the right-sized boxes. Small boxes are ideal for heavy, dense objects, such as books, and larger ones are preferable for lighter items, like pillows and comforters. A large, heavy box is more likely to split or crush items, so keep an eye on each box’s size-to-weight ratio. A good rule to implement is that the heavier the article, the smaller the box. TIP: To keep costs down, consider using Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Facebook Garage Sale Groups, which often offer boxes at great prices, sometimes even for free.  

Remember the tape and markers. Purchasing one or two tape guns ahead of time, along with a sufficient supply of rolls of packaging tape, will make for a smoother packing process. Multiple permanent markers should also be on the shopping list. Having these supplies ahead of time will significantly speed up the process.

Fill until it’s still. If a box is rattling around, you’re risking damage. Fill in the space with towels, padding, or other cushioning items to isolate the valuable contents from stop/start or shaking motions. One client shared with me that they never pack a box of only towels; instead, they set the towels aside to use as packing material.

Add padding to dishes. Place bubble wrap or packing paper between dishes and wrap bundles of four or more with extra padding. Be sure to pack dishes on their sides to mitigate the hazard of shattering from an accidental side impact! Filling the bottom and top with padding will provide an additional layer of insurance.

Don’t flatten out your flat screen. Spend the money on a special packing box for your flat-screen LCD or plasma TV. Having the original shipping box is best, but an aftermarket die-cut foam-supported kit will save you the hundreds (if not $1000+) in replacement costs. (Also: Don’t lay the TV flat or stack any boxes on top.) 

Tape in the reinforcements. Taping around the top and bottom edges will support the areas where damage can occur.

One box, one room. To facilitate easy unpacking, pack items from the same room in the same box. It is best not to mix or co-mingle your rooms. 

Keep tiny things with significant value to yourself. For example, keep your grandmother’s heirloom necklace, vital financial and legal documents, or special family photo collections with you. Keep irreplaceable items with you during the move. 

At BloomTree Realty, we love the excitement of our client’s move. Hopefully, these moving tips will help make the moving day enjoyable and result in fewer damaged items. Do you need an agent to help you find the perfect home for your valuables? Get in touch with BloomTree Realty today! 928-443-8800