If you have any experience of moving from one home to another, then you’ll understand how easy it is for your precious belongings to get misplaced or damaged during transportation.
From fragile ornaments to valuable antiques – it’s not always as straight-forward as you might think to keep track of your possessions and relocate them safely.
So, here’s a guide to help you securely transport your valuables during a house move.
Professional Moving Companies
Moving house can be a challenging and exhausting task. Ideally, if you decide you can’t manage on your own, it’s probably best to hire a team of professional movers to help give you peace of mind when you’re making your move.
If you haven’t got enough time to pack up all your belongings neatly, professional moving companies can also be a quick fix. However, professional moving services come at a price, and they can be costly. If you are tackling a move on your own, it’s important to handle all of your valuable items with extreme care.
If you’re not careful, the chances of damage to your high-value articles increases substantially, which may end up costing you dearly if you have to replace them! It’s imperative you protect your possessions, and essential items while the chaos of a move unfolds.
Create an Inventory
To keep your valuables safe during a house move, the first step is to create an inventory. Make a list of your valuables and decide exactly what high-value articles you will pack.
Some essential smaller valuable items, like passports and jewellery you may decide to keep on you. These can be transported in a secure bag/handbag you don’t let it out of your sight!
Inventory all the valuable items that you own. A detailed list like will not only help you do an item ‘headcount’ as you unpack, but it will also prove to be helpful in the unfortunate event that some precious items do get damaged or go missing in transit.
Additionally, you could also take photographs of your expensive/sentimental belongings as proof of their current condition. Keep these photos safe in the hope that you won’t need to make an insurance claim after the move.
Also, remember to keep any type of documents that accompany your valuables such as receipts/bills/warranties/certificates of authenticity etc. During a hectic move, it’s easy to lose track of things. You can create an inventory in the form of an online spreadsheet, or even via an online app.
Moving Insurance
You should definitely consider purchasing insurance for valuable household items, especially when it comes to moving house. Anything can happen when your valuables are on the road, therefore the right type of moving coverage will give you peace of mind that your cherished items will be safe no matter what.
It’s a prudent idea before a move to contact your insurance company and ask them if your current home insurance policy covers the relocation of valuables from one house to another.
Take the time to investigate what cover is available, so you are fully protected if something goes wrong. Also, discuss this issue with your moving company – if you’re employing one – as they will be able to advise to whether it’s necessary to buy extra insurance cover.
If you choose to transport in your own vehicle some smaller high-valued items like expensive watches, collectors’ items, rare books, or some smaller art pieces, etc. remember you’ll have to rely exclusively on your superior packing skills!
Get proper Packing Supplies
How you pack your valuables will determine whether they remain in one piece during your move. Obviously, the quality and the right amount of packing materials will contribute greatly to the success of your packing operation.
It’s best to use original packaging or brand-new boxes for your most valuable items. Make sure your cardboard boxes are strong, dry, and have no visible signs of pre-existing damage. Double tape the bottoms of all cardboard boxes you intend to use for valuable articles.
Purchase a good amount of soft white packing paper as an initial protective layer. Bubble wrap will be your new best friend when you’re packing delicate valuables – its capacity for protection often proves to be unrivalled. Place a few sheets of bubble wrap at the bottom of each packing box to keep valued possessions safe – the bubble wrap will absorb shocks during transportation.
With regards to framed art, if possible, use special picture boxes that will fit framed paintings and photos of any size. If your framed artwork pieces are protected by glass, make a huge X along the glass surface with masking tape to keep glass shards in place in case of an accident.
Consider Self-Storage
It may be that there is a time frame between which you leave your old house and wait for the keys to your new home. During this time, a self-storage facility like GTW Storage is a great option to ensure your belongings are kept safe and secure.
For special, sentimental belongings that you won’t need immediately, like family heirlooms or much-loved antiques, you may also consider a self-storage unit as a safe place to keep them until you’ve completely settled into your new home. Using self-storage means your items will stay safe and be ready for you when the time comes.