During a move, it is easy to damage fragile items, items that have not been secured, or appliances. But problems can also arise if you move furniture that has not been disassembled. Replacing furniture or repairing it can be expensive, so think about how you will protect your furniture during transportation.
For starters, consider professional packing services. Professional movers https://realestatemovers.ca/residential-moving-services/ have the experience and equipment to pack your furniture securely. In case you do the moving yourself, follow next advices:
1. Try to disassemble large furniture – desks, tables and beds. Remove its legs and other detachable parts, and make sure that you keep all the screws and bolts in a labeled bag. Tape this bag to the corresponding furniture piece so you don’t lose it, or place it in a separate box.
2. Protect the furniture from scratches by wrapping it. Use furniture blankets, moving pads, or bubble wrap to cover your furniture, paying more attention to the furniture edges. Secure the wrapping with packing tape, ensuring it doesn’t stick directly to the furniture’s surface, as this can cause damage to finishes or fabric.
3. Protect your sofas and other upholstered furniture from dirt and moisture. To do that, find specially designed plastic covers or resort to wrapping the furniture in a plastic stretch wrap. Remember that wrapping too tightly can trap the moisture inside, leading to mildew.
4. Pay attention to fragile items. Mirrors should be wrapped in a packing paper or bubble wrap and then packed in cardboard boxes designed for fragile items. Glass shelves and glass table tops are to be removed and then wrapped in bubble wrap, each item individually. Mark the boxes as “fragile” and ensure they are placed upright during the move.
5. Do not overpack the boxes. Heavy boxes are more prone to being dropped or mishandled, and it’s difficult to move them around. Follow the easy rule: small box for heavy items, large box for something bulky, like pillows and blankets.
6. Use furniture sliders and lifting straps – sliders help to keep the floor without scratches, and lifting straps help distribute the weight more evenly, so carrying heavy pieces becomes safer and easier.
During the move the boxes can shift inside the loading truck, damaging the contained items. To prevent them, load your truck carefully:
- Load heavy items first
- Secure them with ropes or tie-downs inside the truck
- Lighter items and fragile boxes go on top
- Place the boxes tightly so that there is no empty space where items can shift.
