6 Tips For Keeping Your Belongings Safe During A Move

Moving can sometimes be one of the most overwhelming processes, especially if you’re doing it for the first time or are alone. You’re worried about whether all of your items will fit in the moving van. Will the other house properly accommodate everything you’re bringing? But most importantly, now that you’ve made all the effort, will your items be safe during a move?

Packing delicate items in bubble wrap, putting packing peanuts in your boxes, and so on are some ways to ensure you’re keeping everything safe. Read through this blog to find out other innovative ways to have your belongings reach the other house in one piece.

Make a priority list

Maybe you’re moving to a smaller house or apartment, or there are items you simply don’t need at the moment. Whatever the case, making a list of items you want to take to your new house can be crucial. What you don’t need doesn’t necessarily have to go through the same moving process and be at the risk of breaking or damage when you can find an alternate storage option.

One of the most innovative storage solutions available in almost all states is storage units. Not sure where to keep your stuff when you move, or it isn’t a priority for your new home? Rent a storage unit for its safekeeping until you figure out what to do with such stuff. You can find plenty of options on the internet. For example, If you are in central Nebraska, look up’ storage units Grand Island ‘to find some convenient solutions. Not only are you keeping your new house free of clutter, but ensuring the safety of items that may be special to you but occupy too much space.

Choose your mover carefully

When hiring a moving company, don’t make the mistake of ignoring the reviews. After all, they will be the guardians of your precious possessions for quite a few hours. Keep safety as the top priority when looking for a moving company. Do they provide boxes or bubble wrap? Do they have safe moving solutions? Any reputable and trustworthy company will have its licenses and reviews from previous customers listed on its website.

Keep in mind that any professional and reliable company will have a unique license number issued by the US Department of Transportation. You can also verify a moving company’s complaint history through this link. Get quotes from a few other moving companies before you settle for one, and ensure they give you these estimates based on a house inspection or an in-house in-person inspection.

Consider plastic moving boxes

Cardboard boxes for moving might be a thing of the past as plastic boxes seem to be a safer option for moving. Generally, plastic boxes are more durable, sustainable, and easily stackable than cardboard boxes. What if a heavier cardboard box collapses onto another if it’s on top? Plastic boxes give you the safety of not collapsing on themselves.

Plus, they will save you money, time, and your belongings. For heavier items like books, use smaller boxes and fill every part of the box so there is little movement inside. If plastic boxes are too expensive for you, you have the option to rent them out and return them to the moving company. The only other thing you’ll have to do is look for a moving company that uses plastic boxes.

Get insurance and declaration form

If you want safety for your expensive items to be iron-clad, consider getting insurance for them. It is possible through renters or homeowners’ policies for valuable pieces of art and heirlooms. You can ask movers this while you’re scouting for one that fits your requirement. If they have insurance policies to protect against harm or theft, you have your answer.

You can fill out declaration forms for your expensive items and submit them to your movers. That way, they will know which items are more valuable and need extra care during the move.

Use padding for your items

One surefire way to have your items protected, especially if they are breakable, is with padding. This is especially important if your box isn’t completely filled up. There is a likelihood of your fragile items breaking if there is enough space in the box for them to move. For example, you can bubble wrap your belongings and then use foam peanuts to fill any empty spaces in the box. Do this for breakable items, like plates, bowls, and other dishes.

But, if you’re looking for an economical and more sustainable way to add padding to your items, you can do so using T-shirts and other clothing items. While this may make packing slightly haphazard, not only do you save money on packing supplies and be less wasteful, but you also get to pack more efficiently with less space being used altogether.

Take inventory in advance

If your packing does become slightly haphazard, taking inventory of your items in advance will be of great help to you. If you don’t take account of your valuables, you might lose them during the move, and they can get damaged if you don’t know where they are exactly.

Make a list of valuables you’re taking ahead of time and take photos as proof of ownership. This way, if something is lost, stolen, or broken, you can claim it through insurance policies if you have the pictures. You can do this online in an Excel sheet too. Make a simple spreadsheet with columns with the object’s name, its value, box number, how it is getting moved, and its condition upon arrival with pictures. If you think you can’t do this yourself, there are inventory apps to help you sort out your valuables. You can go the extra mile by creating QR codes for each box so you know what is inside which box with a simple scan through your phone.

Conclusion

Even though moving can be challenging, proper planning and following these tips will help you keep your belongings safe. Be sure to communicate everything to your movers so they can also prepare ahead of time and take extra care with your valuables.