Most people can tell which of their items are going to be difficult to handle during a move. Heavy appliances, furniture, and glass must be treated with special care to be moved safely and successfully—that much is obvious.
However, there are a host of other items hiding in your home that the average homeowner might underestimate. As a result, these items get overlooked until moving day, leading to rushed packing, which then leads to damage while in transit or storage.
To help you better prepare for moving household items, we've listed some of the most difficult and tricky things to pack or move in your home. These things break easily, but packing and transporting them the right way can prevent them from being damaged.
Artwork
Artwork is both often fragile and (in many cases) strangely shaped. Intricate frames and fragile sculptures can be easily punctured or scraped by the corners of boxes or furniture when moving. Canvas art, which has a fairly uniform shape and size, can fool people into thinking that packing or moving it will be a simple task.
Art pieces must be wrapped carefully in bubble wrap and placed far away from any items that could potentially puncture them. Be sure to never use newspaper on artwork, as the ink can be transferred from the paper and stain its surface—especially when exposed to the high temperatures of a moving truck. You’ll also want to make sure that no moisture enters the packaging around your art pieces. Humidity, rain, and water leaks can introduce moisture and permanently damage paintings, photographs, and prints.
You can safely pack a sculpture by finding a box that is larger than the piece. First, wrap the upper half of the sculpture with bubble wrap at least twice, then wrap the bottom of the sculpture. Make sure every inch is protected. Place the statue in the box in an upright position, and fill in the empty space with packing paper, shredded paper, or packing peanuts to provide an extra buffer around the sculpture during your move.
Aquariums
Aquariums of all sizes can be tricky to move. You cannot leave fish inside an aquarium because they will either get hurt or jump out when the water sloshes around in transit, requiring you to take them out and place them in separate containers.
Furthermore, you will need to maintain the same bacteria colony in your aquarium to improve your fishes’ chances of survival, meaning you will need to drain your tank, keep the water, and transport the same water to your new home.
Plants
Just like fish and other pets, plants are living organisms that are sensitive to the tumultuous changes that come with a move. Do not transport temperature-sensitive plants in a moving truck with the rest of your belongings, as this can damage them. Be sure to take any plants in fragile ceramic pots and transplant them to sturdier pots; that will make it more likely that they'll survive the move. Put plants in your car with you and drive it to your new home.
Note: If you’re moving to another state or country, you should check to see whether there are any restrictions on the plants you want to bring with you. Some areas do not allow specific types of plants, so you may need to rehome them.
Televisions
Though they have become thinner and lighter over the years, televisions can still be heavy and cumbersome to move. Unfortunately, many televisions’ compact modern designs leave their delicate electronic internals even less protected.
Here's how to protect your (probably very expensive) TV:
Wrap your TV in a thick padded blanket to protect its screen and use bubble wrap on its corners for added impact protection. Likewise, be sure to place it far away from any items which could potentially cause puncture damage. When packing it in the truck, try to place it between two soft, stable surfaces. If possible, use blankets on the items it will be next to.
If you’re moving a flatscreen TV, be sure to keep it upright during the entire moving process. This will help avoid screen damage from bumps and vibrations while it is in transit. You can also purchase a special moving kit for flatscreen TVs, just make sure it’s the correct size for your TV.
Pianos
While the difficulty of moving a piano may be obvious, many homeowners tend to underestimate just how difficult they really are to move. Depending on their type, pianos can weigh more than 1,000 lbs. and have several awkward angles which can make them nearly impossible to move without the proper equipment.
For this one, we recommend you hire a team of professionals. Professional movers have the knowledge and skills to move your instrument with as little risk as possible.
After you move a piano, you will need to have it tuned. You should wait about three weeks after your piano has reached its permanent location in your new home to have it tuned, as the strings will need to settle according to the humidity and temperature in its new environment.
Simplify Your Move with Affordable Quality Moving & Storage
At Affordable Quality Moving and Storage, our highly trained and friendly Santa Clarita moving professionals have the skills and experience to safely move even the most fragile, cumbersome, and heaviest items to your new destination. Our experts work fast, pack safely, and are insured to maximize your peace of mind. Want to get your move over with as soon as possible? Call AQMS today!
Dial (661) 622-2636 or contact us online today to request a free moving estimate!
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