How Can I Ensure That My Valuables are Safe When I Move?

Packing your belongings in preparation for a move is no small feat. Packing is an art, and it takes strategy. Knowledge is power, so read on for tips that just may help you avoid showing up to your new home with a bunch of broken items in boxes.
Tim Connon

Tim Connon

CEO & Life Insurance Agent of .

Wrap Them Tightly with Bubble Wrap and Foam Padding

Most items break during a move because they are jumping around in the boxes as the vehicle is being driven. This means if you wrap your items in bubble wrap with foam padding in the box and have a cushion blanket wrapped around them they will not vibrate around. This will stop your items from breaking inside the boxes.

Get a Storage Unit, Snap Pictures of your Stuff, Purchase Insurance

A storage unit might be a smart choice if you have to move over a large distance or need to keep your stuff [stored] for an extended amount of time. Most even give access to your stuff 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Make sure the storage unit you select has security measures like locked doors, coded entrance, functioning video cameras, and other safeguards that keep it dry and clean.

Take photographs of your belongings before you begin packing. In addition to being helpful in keeping track of your possessions, this will be helpful in the event that any of them are destroyed during the transfer. Take pictures of any harm that happens to your belongings as well.

Having insurance throughout your relocation increases your peace of mind. If something were to happen to your possessions, you would be protected by insurance. Discuss strategies for safeguarding valuables during a relocation with your insurance provider or movers. The difference in how stress-free or stressful your relocation is might be entirely determined by that additional coverage.

Brian Jones

Brian Jones

Co-founder & Contributing Editor of .
Loretta Kilday

Loretta Kilday

Spokesperson at .

Invest in Packing Materials, Label Fragile Items, and Hire a Company

One should invest in high-quality packing materials. Fragile items should be packed using sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and packing paper. Wrap each item separately, and place heavier things at the bottoms of boxes with lighter ones on top to help balance weight properly.

Labeling is key. Mark the boxes with the destination room instead of what is contained therein so that people won’t be drawn to valuables. Mark boxes with fragile items as “FRAGILE.”

Hiring a respectful company that deals with fragile items and provides insurance policies as additional security during transport is preferable for moving your valuables. While moving, keep small irreplaceable items such as jewelry and important documents with you; you can inquire about special custom crating services for larger valuable items.

Also, consider keeping any valuable belongings in a secure key deposit box or with reliable friends and family until you’ve settled in your new home. Lastly, conceal your move, especially on social media, to avoid theft. This can greatly improve the safety of your valuables during a relocation, making you less stressed while dealing with an already stressful situation.

This is a crowdsourced article. Contributors’ statements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this website, other people, businesses, or other contributors.