Moving isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be miserably hard. If you know a few tricks to packing for your move, you’ll find that you can save space, time, and effort. On top of that, it is possible to move the entire contents of your home without damaging anything. It just takes a little care and thoughtfulness. Read on for tips on how to seamlessly move the contents of your home.
How to move breakables
You’d be surprised how many shipping boxes are tailor made for moving different objects. If you have crystal glass, for example, you can purchase a cheap cardboard box with padded dividers intended to keep each item safe.
One clever (and usually cheap) tactic for safely packing breakables is to visit a store where similar items are sold. Ask the store manager if he or she can spare any of the shipping boxes in which their merchandise arrived. More often than not, they’ll give you the boxes for free since they typically just dispose of them.
How to save space when moving
If your moving space is limited by the size of a moving van or other transport device, pack to economize space whenever possible. When boxing up kitchen items, “nest” as many objects as you can. This means taking things that fit tightly into other objects and stacking them against each other. Nesting is most easily done with items of similar shape, such as when you put several mixing bowls together.
When packing the contents of your closet, you’ll save quite a bit of space by rolling your clothing into tight bundles instead of folding them. This eliminates air pockets that will otherwise take up space.
It’s also a good idea to put smaller clothing items inside open spaces wherever you find them. For example, stuff your socks into shoes and roll t-shirts into the open space of hats.
How to move valuable items
If you have possessions of great value it’s of utmost importance before you move to make sure they’re covered in some form by an insurance policy. Once that’s taken care of, you have a few options for packing them away during your move.
The general rule with small valuables such as jewelry is to keep them with you while you move. Pack them into a purse or suitcase that will be with you at all times while you’re traveling. Do the same for important documents, like birth certificates or passports.
If you have larger items of value like a grand piano or expensive painting, it’s worth the investment to hire a professional mover to relocate the item. Make sure you find someone with experience moving valuable possessions and check to see that they come with good recommendations. In these cases it’s better to go with an established company that has a positive history with the Better Business Bureau than with a cheaper startup.
How to move books
When it comes to moving books, you’d think the process is pretty straightforward. Books are pretty sturdy, fit well in a box, and don’t need bubble wrap, right? Well yes, for the most part.
It depends on whether you’re really trying to maximize space when packing your books, or whether you have unique or specialty books that would be hard to replace in the event of damage.
Before you pack your books, be sure to get some small to mid-size boxes. A common mistake is to pack books in one large box that then becomes too heavy to easily move.
When moving books, it’s best to group them by size. Place them in the packing box upright, stacked tightly side by side.
If your box allows for a second row of packed books, place the spines of the second row of books against the spines of the first row of books. Never have pages facing pages and never pack your books with the spine facing upward as this may cause the books to warp.
Utilize your box to its maximum ability. When you’ve packed all the books that fit in a single box, use crushed paper to fill the remaining space. Cover the top of the packed books with clean paper, then tape shut.
The importance of an insurance policy
Before you relocate, take out an insurance policy that covers your possessions while in transit. You can likely secure one through your homeowner’s policy. If you’re using a professional moving company, you might also have access to an insurance policy through them.
Don’t forego the insurance coverage in an effort to save money. Most people don’t realize just how much value the sum total of their possessions represents, but it’s generally several thousand more than you might guess. If a calamity occurred and your possessions were lost, you’d wind up losing a lot more money than the basic price of an insurance policy.
