Moving can be a stressful experience and a risk to your valuables. While careful planning, early packing, and hiring professional removalists can help lower stress levels, safeguarding your valuables requires a lot more thought.
Below are several steps you can take to ensure your precious belongings are in good shape and accounted for when you are moving.
Hire Carefully Vetted, Professional Removalists
Hiring professional and experienced removalists such as Move with Ben to help transport your belongings to your new place allows you to stay organized, lower stress, and keep track of everything happening around you without getting overwhelmed.
While most moving companies would have insurance covers, it does not hurt to ask before hiring them.
This way, you are assured that your belongings will be replaced should anything happen during the move.
Take Inventory of Your Belongings
Moving days are often chaotic with the chances of missing something or misplacing an item high.
To ensure you stay organized and able to track your belongings, you will want to take an inventory of your valuables before moving day. Then, tick off each item as they are loaded on the moving truck.
You may also want to take before pictures of your items, just in case you need to make a claim for the moving company to replace them.
Confirm What Your Insurance Covers
While you may want to make sure the removalists have insurance, you also want to confirm what your renter or homeowner insurance covers too.
Be sure to investigate other insurance options that are available to you if the premium you are currently on does not cover moving.
Pack Early
Ideally, you want to start packing your belongings a couple of weeks before the move. This way, you have ample time to sort through your items and pack only the ones you want to move and get rid of those you do not want or need.
Packing early ensures you remain calm, focused, and organized through the upheavals the moving process entails.
Also, you can avoid the last-minute rush and the panic that accompanies it.
Use Sturdy, Well-Labelled Boxes
You may be tempted to reuse boxes to save money. However, you may be running the risk of using boxes that are not sturdy enough to withstand the sloshing around as they are being transported.
Be sure to invest in new, sturdy cardboard boxes to store your valuables. You should also use bubble wrap and high-quality duct tape for reinforcement.
For important valuables, consider getting special boxes to store and safeguard them.
Finally, be sure to label each box so you can easily identify them. While it is not recommended to list the items inside the box for security reasons, you want to use unique identifiers to mark them.
Keep Irreplaceable Valuables on You
If you have priceless, sentimental, or expensive valuables, you may want to keep them on you or ask friends or family members to safeguard them for you.
Most people usually move these irreplaceable valuables themselves. Also, items like electronics, important documents, and family heirlooms are best transported in your car.
Pack Chinaware Side-by-Side
Chinaware is best packed side-by-side. This way, you ensure they are less likely to shatter. However, before packing them, be sure to wrap them in layers of paper or towels to minimize impact from sloshing around and prevent scratching or chipping off at the edge.
Use Duct Tape to Reinforce Glass
Moving glasses and mirrors can be tricky. However, you may want to consider running ‘X’ shaped duct tape across the mirror to reinforce it.
The duct tape helps it withstand the sloshing around as it is transported to the new place.
Wrap Up
Moving can be both exciting and stressful. However, by following the tips above, you can stay organized, keep track of all your belongings, safeguard valuables, and even get to enjoy the experience.
