Packing Your Valuables: Expert Tips for Safe and Secure Packing
When Packing Your Valuables, taking essential steps before and during the packing process is crucial to ensuring items like Grandma’s fine bone china or large paintings are not damaged. If you can’t afford professional movers, follow expert tips to keep your valuables safe during the move.
You can avoid the hassle of damaged items during unpacking by implementing proactive measures while packing, such as carefully wrapping fragile items and securely fastening valuable artwork. These steps may take additional effort, but they can save you time and money by preventing the need to replace or repair damaged possessions.
Here are some essential tips from the pros:
1. Create an Inventory when Packing Valuables
Although it may not be practical to document every single item you own, taking notes and photographs of your most valuable possessions can be beneficial in case of any unfortunate incidents. Filing a claim against your homeowner’s Insurance or the moving company’s Insurance can be easier if you take this step. By having documentation of your valuable items, you can provide evidence to support your claim.
Making a record of your meaningful possessions can be seamlessly incorporated into your pre-move organizing process.
2. Get Insurance when Packing Valuables
Before loading any of your belongings onto a moving truck, it is crucial to ensure they are appropriately insured. You can begin by checking whether your homeowner’s insurance policy covers moving expenses or inquiring about additional insurance options from your moving company. For items of significant value, obtaining specialized moving Insurance could be advantageous.
To gain further insight into your rights concerning damaged goods and your movers, the federal government provides a comprehensive overview of your options. This resource can serve as a valuable reference for learning about the various insurance coverage options available and ensuring that you are well informed about the potential risks associated with your move.
3. Big Stuff Needs Help
Moving items, such as pianos, chandeliers, and 500-pound gun safes, can be daunting due to their size and weight. Proper handling requires specialized dollies, wooden crates, and a team of experts trained to move them safely. Fortunately, some professionals specialize in moving such cumbersome items and offer specific services to ensure secure transportation.
While some moving companies may subcontract large specialty items, checking with your moving company to see what additional services they provide are crucial; alternatively, if you anticipate moving large items, choosing a moving company with experience handling such things can be wise. Researching and carefully selecting a reputable moving company can help ensure a successful move while minimizing the risk of damage to your valuable possessions.
4. Small Stuff Goes With You
Ensuring the safety of your valuables during a move involves more than just protecting more oversized items; it also requires attention to smaller items, such as jewelry and necessary paperwork.
In addition, taking proactive measures to protect both your large and small items can make a significant difference in the success of your move and the peace of mind you have during the process.
5. Invest in the Right Boxes
When packing your valuables, it is essential to have the appropriate tools, which usually means having the right boxes. Special flat-screen TV boxes, for example, are designed with padding to protect the screen during transport.
You can refer to this list to explore the different types of specialty boxes available for packing your valuables.
6. Dishes Side-by-Side
Packing dishes can be challenging, especially if you are new to moving and need help with how to proceed, in addition to selecting the right box size and adequate padding to protect your plates during transport.
One effective method for packing dishes is to wrap them in several layers of paper and place them in the box on their edge rather than laying them flat-side down.
7. Tape is Your Friend when Packing Valuables
One helpful technique is to use tape as a preventative measure. Placing a large X with masking or painter’s tape on any items with glass can minimize the risk of shattering. This technique is similar to what you may have seen in photographs of shop windows during hurricane preparations.
8. Box It Up Right
By taking these steps, you can ensure that your fragile items remain intact during the moving process. It’s essential to take extra care when packing them. One helpful technique is gently shaking the box as you load it to check for any loose or shifting contents. If you detect movement, adding additional padding to keep the items in place and prevent damage is essential.
It’s important to tape the box tops securely instead of just folding them over. Filling the receptacle is necessary to prevent the top from caving in.
To learn more about effective packing techniques, check out additional resources and tips for packing correctly.