How to Move Home Safely: 14 Things You Must Know

Risk assessments and health & safety are terms we hear almost daily at work, to the point where we almost pay scant attention to the latest set of rules and regulations.

But bear with me. This affects your family and your property. Your home move. Your life’s possessions.

What is a Risk Assessment?

It is the process of evaluating the probability of something adverse happening when involved in a certain activity to prevent failure, loss, damage, or injury.

This may sound complicated but when crossing the road, you look left to right, looking for hazards, and adjust your course accordingly so that you avoid any accidents.

That’s a risk assessment.

Now sit back and think about your home move.

You are about to move EVERY item you own in the world, from the safety of your current home, into the back of a van.

Throw into the mix high emotions, stress, and a sense of urgency, and there is definitely potential for an accident.

Does it get any riskier, or with a bigger potential for loss? I think not.

There are a multitude of risks that your family, goods, and property may face during a home move.

• Your family being scammed by an unscrupulous removal company
• Physical injury when lifting
• Numerous tripping hazards
• Dangerous stacking
• Incorrect packaging resulting in injury and breakages
• Damage to property
• Damage to household goods
• Not being adequately insured
• Relaxing our vigilance regarding fire hazards and security

So in as easy and as simple a way as possible, let’s look at 14 things to consider when moving home from a safety point of view.

Unlike a normal risk assessment, there will be no level of risk attached to each of these headings, at the end of the day they all have the potential to be costly or heartbreaking.

Top 14 Risks to Avoid When Moving Home

#1 Becoming a Victim of a Removal Company Scam

What can we do about it?

• Does your removal company only have a mobile phone number? Do they not do an in-home survey? Is the company address a PO Box number? Alarm bells should now be ringing.
• Ensure that you thoroughly research any removal company you intend to hire.
• Check out reviews, ask your removal company lots of questions, and compare different removal firms.
• If hiring a removal firm for the first time be sure you know what to expect so that there are no nasty surprises come moving day.

You may also like to read these articles which go into this subject in far greater depth:

How to Pick a Good Removal Company: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide. Choosing a good removal company is essential for a stress-free home move but with so many to choose from what do you do? In this guide, we take you step-by-step through the process of choosing the right removal company for your home move.

What to Know When Hiring a Removal Company for the First Time. If you have never hired a removal company before this guide tells you all you need to know.

#2 Physical Injury Due to Poor Lifting Techniques

What can we do about it?

• If you are in any doubt whatsoever about your physical ability to lift or move heavy objects, leave it to the professionals.
• For what it will cost to hire a professional packing and removal service, is it worth the risk of injuring yourself to save a few pounds?
• But if you are moving home on a budget, then learn how to lift boxes correctly to avoid injury.
• Moving heavy and large furniture requires specific techniques to avoid injury to yourself and any damage to your property.

You may also like to read: How to Move Heavy Furniture. In this guide, we explain not only safe lifting techniques but also how to use furniture moving equipment like sliders and dollies. You will also find out how to measure your heavy and large pieces of furniture to ensure that they fit in your new home.

#3 Injury due to Tripping Hazards

What can we do about it?

• Ensure all entry and exit routes that will be used on moving day are kept clear of ice, snow, wet leaves, slippery floor surfaces, and anything else that could cause a tripping hazard.
• During the packing process try to clear away rubbish as you go.
• If you can have a room set aside to keep the packed boxes in, that will help keep hallways and landings clear.

#4 Dangerously Stacked Boxes

What can we do about it?

• Use quality cardboard boxes or plastic totes as these stack better
• Cardboard boxes of at least 3 ply are preferable as they have the rigidity to stack properly.
• Lidded plastic totes will stack easily and safely, and have a molded lip that prevents the box from sliding once stacked.
• When packing, put heavier items in the box first with the lightest things at the top. Use the same principle when stacking boxes.
• Use small boxes to pack heavier items and large boxes for your lighter things.
• Stack boxes of similar sizes together.
• Use load restraint straps or nets in the removal van to prevent stacks from moving during transit.
• If space allows, rather than creating a wall of boxes, slope the boxes towards the van doors. For example, stack one row 5 high, then 4 high, then 3 high, 2 high, 1 high. This will prevent a wall of boxes toppling over.
• Alternatively, use well-stacked furniture as a retainer to prevent a wall of boxes falling over.

You may also like to read: Self-Drive Hire Vans. All You Need to Know When Moving Home. If you are moving home yourself and have hired a self-drive van then this is essential reading. From working out what size van you need, to loading, to safe driving, this guide has it all.

#5 Poor Packing Resulting in Injury

What can we do about it?

• Injury as a result of poorly packaged glass or bladed items can be prevented by careful packing techniques.
• Make sure glass is well protected by wrapping in layers of paper.
• Blades should be encased in thick material or cardboard to form a sheath.
• Turn blades inwards towards each other before securely wrapping.
• Pad the packing carton well to form a cushion to absorb any external impacts or vibrations.
• Ensure the fragile contents in boxes cannot move about by padding any empty spaces.
• A final layer of padding before clothing the lids of the box will stop crush damage to fragile items.
• Clearly mark the packing boxes as containing glass or blades.

You may also like to read: How to Pack for a Home Move. Packing is such an important and potentially expensive part of moving home that we have deicated an entire section of our home moving library to this very subject. From how to pack antiques to glasses, garden tools to standard lamps, this guide tells you all you need to know.

#6 Damage to Property

What can we do about it?

• Put down carpet protectors to prevent damage to carpeted surfaces.
• Wrap old towels or blankets along banisters and door frames.
• Measure the item to be moved and the route you want to move the item to ensure that it will fit through safely.
• Hiring professional movers will prevent damage to walls and doors for example, as they have the skills to maneuver furniture through tight spaces.
• And if they do damage any property it is down to them to repair it.

You may also like to read: How to Protect Walls, Floors, Stairs, Doors and Ceilings When Moving Home. It is easy to cause damage to teh home you are moving out of or into when trying to shift large and heavy items and boxes. In this guide, we show you how to protect your home to prevent any expensive damage being caused.

#7 Damage to Goods

What can we do about it?

• Hiring a professional packing service is the ideal solution.

However, if you are packing your moving boxes yourself:

• Ensure you use quality packing materials
• Use the appropriate strength of box for the weight of the items inside. Heavy items require a minimum of 3 ply boxes.
• Use the best quality packing tape you can find. You will use less, it will adhere to the boxes well and will not peel off at the first sign of sun or rain.
• Pad the bottom of the boxes before placing items inside.
• Use padding to ensure the items cannot move about inside the boxes.
• Always add a final layer of padding before sealing the carton.
• Put a cushion of protection between items so they cannot scrape against each other.
• Stack plates on their edges not flat, and place protection between each plate.
• For particularly valuable or antique items, custom-made crates may be the safest option. Speak to your removal company for advice.
• Pay particular attention to frame edges and corners by adding extra protection to these vulnerable areas.

You may also to read: Are Home Packing Services Worth the Money? Packing for a home move is probably one of the worst home moving tasks and get it wrong and any damage caused can cost some serious money, as well as being heartbreaking if you break sentimental items. Most people would say that a professional packing service is the best money they spent moving home. Here we find out why.

#8 Being Underinsured

What can we do about it?

• Have antique, rare, or high-value goods independently valued so that you do not under insure them. They may require specialist insurance.
• Ensure that the cover of insurance offered by the removal company adequately covers the value of the items you are moving.
• If using your own insurance policy it should cover specifically goods in transit.
• Have seamless insurance in place between your old and new home.
• Remember if buying a property, that your home insurance policy should run from the date of exchange, not completion.
• Consider additional insurance cover for delays and the unexpected on moving day. Move cancellation and late key waiver are insurance options worth considering.
• If doing a self-move, bear in mind that most insurance companies will not insure goods you have packed yourself.
• Equally, most removal company insurance will not cover your goods if they have not packed them.
• Take plenty of photos of valuable items before, during and after packing which will assist in any claim you have to make.
• Be sure you know the claim procedure and adhere to it strictly should you need to make a claim.
• Get everything in writing and keep copies.

You may also like to read: Moving Insurance, Do I Need It? In this guide, we explain the various insurance policies available to home movers, the average costs, and why it makes good sense to insure every aspect of your home move.

#9 Children and Pets Causing a Hazard

What can we do about it?

• Arrange for the children to be looked after at a friend’s or relatives’. It will be less stressful and dangerous for them.
• Put your pets in kennels for the duration of your home move, as it will be stressful for them too.
• Alternatively, arrange for a safe room where your pets can be shut away safely.
• Keep the door locked so that the door cannot be accidently opened and your pets escape.
• Place a sign on the door so that everyone knows that the pets are inside.
• Regularly check your pets to ensure that they have water and are not stressed.

You may also like to read: Dido The Dragon Moves Home. Moving home can be an unsettling and upsetting time for young children so we have written a book all about moving home for them. It explains the home moving process and the changes that are happening in a fun way with the help of Dido the dragon and his family.

#10 Personal Comfort and Safety

What can we do about it?

• Wear shoes that are comfortable, sturdy, and have ideally non-slip soles.
• Do not wear open-toed footwear.
• Clothing should be comfortable, will allow freedom of movement, but not too loose fitting as they may get snagged on door handles etc. as you make frequent trips in and out of your home.
• Wear good quality gloves that will prevent cuts from cardboard and will give you better grip when carrying things.

You may also like to read: What to Wear on Moving Day: Clothes, Shoes, and Protective Gear. In this guide, we offer suggestions for what to wear on moving day that will keep you comfortable and safe.

#11 Ignoring Fire Safety

What can we do about it?

• Remain vigilant as you move home.
• Have gas appliances professionally disconnected.
• Pay attention that as furniture is moved, electrical cables are not damaged.
• Use the opportunity of unplugging items to check there are no frayed cables or damaged plugs.
• Keep exits that you would use as a fire escape clear of moving boxes.
• Do not pack fire extinguishers and fire blankets until moving day.
• Create a fire escape plan for your new home and make sure everyone knows it.
• Have a supply of new batteries to replace the ones in the smoke detectors in your new home.
• Hire a professional to reconnect any gas appliances.

You may also like to read: Fire Safety In Your New Home. With so much going on and so many things needing doing urgently in your new home that it is easy to overlook the hazards that your new home may present to you and your family. But fire does not care if you are busy or not. So in this guide we suggest that essential things that you need to do to ensure your safety in your new home.

#12 Not Paying Attention to Home Security

What can we do about it?

• Keep moving boxes out of sight from windows.
• Draw the curtains of the room that your boxes are in.
• Do not reveal any alarm codes to the people moving into your home until moving day.
• Be careful about revealing details of your home move on social media.
• Replace all external locks in your new home and outbuildings. You never know who has the old keys.
• Have a supply of batteries to change in the alarm system at your new home.
• Buy a supply of lightbulbs for your new home, for both internal and external lights.
• Change the code of the alarm in your new home immediately.
• Carry out a security check of your new home.
• Ensure you complete your change of address checklist before moving day to prevent identity theft.
• Keep your existing home insurance in place until midnight of moving day, so that you have seamless cover.

You may also like to read: Security Tips for Home Movers. When moving into a new home, and especially an unfamilair town or city, you are vunerable to all sorts of threats. In this guide we suggest essential security measures yoou should take immediaietly to protect yourself and your loved ones.

#13 Theft from Moving Boxes

What can we do about it?

• Do not label moving boxes with the actual contents if it is of high value or is easily re-saleable, for example, video games. Use a code or other description which makes sense to you.
• Securely seal every moving box.
• Randomly check boxes that they have not been tampered with when they are unloaded.
• Number every single box so that you can easily see if one is missing.
• Do not leave moving boxes or furniture unattended when the van doors are open.
• Transport high-value items and important paperwork with you, not in the removal van.
• Making a packing inventory, with photographs, twhich will help you identify if any boxes are missing or in the event that you need to make an insurance claim.
• On moving day be aware of people coming and going into your home, make sure you know that they are part of the removal team.

You may also like to read: How to Avoid Moving Scams. The risk of theft is just one of the things that you need to be wary of on moving day. In this guide, we look at what other risks you may face and what you can do about it to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a scam.

# 14 Cuts and First Aid

What can we do about it?

• Have a prepared first aid kit that you keep in your moving day essentials box.
• Essential first aid items will be plasters, antiseptic cream, and wet wipes.
• Wear strong gloves that will prevent paper cuts from cardboard boxes.
• Wear sturdy, enclosed shoes which will protect your toes should something fall on them.
• Take your time. Stress coupled with rushing about will certainly lead to an accident.
• Keep out from under the feet of the removal team, but be available should they have any questions.
• Children and pets should be kept safely out of harm’s way.
• Always have your mobile phone fully charged
• Pre-programme the local doctors, hospital, and vets numbers in your new area into your phone.

You may also like to read: Must Know Simple First Aid Skills: Because Moving Home Can Be Dangerous. Everybody should know the basics of first aid, it is an essential life skill. In this guide, we look at the most common injuries caused in the home and how to treat them.

Thankfully, all the risks identified above, are just that risks.

But by being prepared, and having a plan to deal with each of these risks, you will avoid them, or at least be in a better position to manage them.

Good luck with your home move and stay safe.