Moving house provides a perfect opportunity for a new start for your family, with a possible different job and new school for the kids. All of this sounds exciting, right?
Well, there is a bit of a downside to it as well. Changing properties means you must prepare, pack and transport everything you own to your new home before you can turn a new page.
Choosing the correct way organise your valuables before moving is vital to keeping them safe and secure.
Take inventory of your valuables
Before you even consider moving and packing your belongings, you should take inventory of your items.
While preparing a checklist of everything you own, figure out which of your possessions holds great value and may attract people without the best intentions.
You may have complete faith in strangers, but all it takes is one oversight to change your mind. Even if there is no real threat, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Once you have a list of valuables, figure out where you want to store them during the moving process. On the day of the move, take photos as evidence of said possessions in case they are misplaced, broken, or stolen.
Wrap fragile items
Packing paper and bubble wrap are your best friends when moving. They provide a much-needed barrier between breakables and can be used for dishes, glassware, and porcelain.
If you have any fragile and valuable items, you should always look to wrap them tightly to ensure they are protected from damage.
You can also use the paper to fill in any empty spaces that remain in the box once it is full of items. Doing this will prevent the valuables inside from moving around during transportation and reduce their chance of breaking.
Label fragile boxes
Once you have finished wrapping, it is time to label your boxes. Remember, be discreet about it. There isn’t much sense in doing your best to protect your valuables only to place an “expensive items” sticker on top of the box.
In most cases, just adding a “fragile” sticker will be sufficient for anyone moving the box or package to know that the stuff inside can be easily damaged, and they will be extra careful with it.
If you want to know what is inside, you may consider using numbers to label your boxes, with only you having access to a cheat sheet on your phone or a piece of paper.
Consider not packing everything
Some valuables, such as important documents and papers, treasured heirlooms or extra money you have on hand, but do not require, can be stored in a safety deposit box.
For a certain fee, your local bank will be happy to protect all those delicate items until the time is right for you to move them into your new home.
You can also take some important items with your vehicle rather than sending them with a moving truck.
Some examples include:
- Jewellery;
- Smaller Electronics;
- Paintings and artwork;
- Photo albums;
- Computer equipment.
If you have space in your car and want to keep the item safe under any circumstances, you can take it with you rather than placing it along with the rest of your belongings.
Invest in quality packing materials
Investing in quality packing materials is another important factor in ensuring your valuables’ safety.
While you can choose to use discarded boxes from the grocery store or maybe get some alternatives from your local improvement store for your common items, you should not spare money on the expensive stuff.
Some boxes are specifically designed for valuable items. Such packages are ideal for moving and securing large flat-screen TVs, expensive china, or gym equipment. Spending more for the right box will cost you less than repairing or replacing a costly item.
Hire reliable house removals services
When choosing professional help, you may want to consider the following tips:
- Choose a local moving company. When opting for a house removals services to trust your business with, you will get personalised care and experience far above the average. They will also be familiar with demographic specifics to assist you with planning your move.
- Ensure they have insurance. While most moving companies nowadays offer insurance for your belongings, it is not true for all of them. When arranging your move, always confirm that they have insurance in case of accidents or missing items.
- Check online reviews. What people have to say matters. If you notice one or two bad reviews, it does not necessarily mean the company is bad. If the majority of the feedback is negative, check other companies.
- Schedule in advance. Providing as much notice as possible for your move will give you a better price and discounts and allow the business to ensure that everything is ready in a timely manner, without issues on the day.
- Price comparison. Last but not least, you want to compare prices. A move should not completely ruin the budget, so it is always best to browse around, set your sights on a few companies, and get separate quotes to choose the best one for you.
Depending on what you need, you may request additional help, such as moving items to a storage facility, assistance with packing, and even purchasing quality materials for your move.
Get moving insurance
If you have decided to move on your own, you should contact your home insurance agent to see what is covered in your policy and whether you can get extra coverage for more valuable items.
