Moving home can be a stressful time, and doubly so when you realize just how many things you would hate to see damaged or stolen during the move.
That’s why it’s important to take special care of your valuables, and luckily, there are plenty of ways to go about it. Whether it’s by simply taking out insurance or going into a detailed inventory, here are our top tips for keeping your valuables safe while moving home.
Find a Moving Company you Trust
The easiest way that you can keep your valuables safe when moving home is to hire a moving company that you can trust to do a great job.
There are websites, like Muval, where you can browse the different moving companies, read reviews, and make an informed choice.
Not all moving companies are the same.
Some might offer insurance, others might be specialists when it comes to keeping kids entertained, and others might be experts at moving antique furniture. Whatever you need, you’ll want to make sure that you find a moving company that you can trust.
Take Inventory
A good step to take before you move home is to create an inventory of all your valuable items.
It will help you keep track of everything that you own, which is a good thing because moving homes is chaotic at the best of times.
The good news is it’s easy to create an inventory spreadsheet.
During this task, it’s also important to mark some items that you should be keeping with you during the move, instead of packing them away in a box. It’s also a good idea to take photos of all your items when you’re creating an inventory.
That way if anything is damaged in the move, you’ll have proof to show your insurance company. This brings us to the next point.
Get Insurance
With mover’s insurance, your possessions will be covered in case of damage, misplacement, or theft. There are some moving companies that offer moving insurance as part of their package, while others might only cover certain items like furniture.
It also pays to check with your home insurance whether items are covered between moves and to see if you can extend your protection to cover your valuables.
Store your Valuables with Friends or Relatives
If you’re not looking forward to keeping track of your valuables on moving day, you can do away with the stress altogether and ask a friend or relative to take care of them.
However, it pays to check how they will store the items, as you don’t want them to be damaged in the care of someone you know.
Take Care of Packing
If you are taking your valuables in the moving truck, you’ll need to pay special attention to how you pack. Of course, you’ll need to use lots of bubble wrap, kitchen towels, and other paddings to keep special plates safe.
There are also boxes that you can buy which are specially made to take care of valuable items, like TVs, computers, and antiques.
When storing dishes, make sure to stack them sideways instead of from the bottom up.
This way, if the box gets bumped during the move, it’s less likely to break. Also, make sure to mark boxes with “Fragile” stickers, and arrows letting movers know which way the box should stand up.
Use a Safety Deposit Box
For those extra special valuables, like precious jewelry, heirlooms, and other things, it might be worth your while storing them in a safety deposit box.
That way, you’ll be less stressed knowing that they’re safe under lock and key, and there’s no chance that they’ll be damaged in the moving truck or misplaced in the general chaos that is moving home.
Skip the Social Media Updates
It’s also a good idea to stay off your social media channels while you’re moving. If you publish the possessions you’re moving, and where you’re moving to, you never know who can see it – even if you are just sharing with friends.
You might end up attracting thieves who might pinch your valuables. Wait until the housewarming party to show off your new home.
