It’s interesting how the word valuable means different things to different people. It’s often tricky to label something as valuable simply because the real worth of an item is not necessarily linked to its higher price.
For example, a brand new smartphone is much more expensive and valuable than a cheap dumbphone unless there are additional factors and extraordinary circumstances to make things even more interesting. Sentimental value is definitely something to watch out when defining a specific item as invaluable, valuable or valueless.
Sure, the ordinary phone from the example above may be cheap but if it is a gift from a very special person, then the attached sentimental value turns the object into something you will cherish for years and try to hold on to for as long as you can.
If you happen to be facing a house move soon, then it’s only natural that you will be a bit worried about how to move your valuables safely. Losing an object that means the world to you can be truly heartbreaking.
Therefore, we have compiled a number of valuable tips for moving your valuables so that nothing bad, unexpected or plain mysterious happens to them during transit.
Why and how to inventory your valuables
Before you figure out what to do with your valuable items, it’s a good idea to know exactly what type and how many valuables you own so that you can best prepare their safe packing and transportation. What you should do without delay when getting ready to move out is to make a list of all the valuable items found in your home. In fact, that valuables inventory list can be easily integrated in and compiled together with your master house inventory that you are expected to complete before moving out anyway.
What beautiful jewellery pieces is your beautiful jewellery box hiding?
In any case, the specialized inventory list with all your possessions of high monetary or sentimental value will prove to be extremely useful should such an object go missing or gets damaged while it has been entrusted in the hands of professional removals. Such unfortunate events do happen from time to time, so you must be fully prepared to open a dispute with your removal company or make an insurance claim with your insurance company, both of which are only possible with a well-documented home inventory.
While preparing the household inventory that lists your valuable items, make sure the checklist contains one column for the current condition of all the objects of great value you own, as well as one column for their estimated values. Furthermore, it is strongly advisable that you take that inventorying opportunity and photograph your most prized items as a visual proof of their existence and condition. Hopefully, you won’t need those digital or printed photos as evidence but keep them in a safe place just in case you are forced to look for your rights as a shipper of household items.
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And now that you know why it is so important to inventory your valuables before moving out, let’s take a look at the most common valuable items found in a home so that you won’t accidentally miss to document any of them:
Important documents
Your most important personal documents have not business in other people’s hand anyway, so it’s your duty to move them yourself. The good news is that they won’t take too much space and can fit comfortably in a special folder or a sturdy briefcase. Besides the documentation directly related to your upcoming move, your essential personal documents may include but are not limited to: ID cards and passports, driving licenses, school and medical records, birth certificates, marriage certificates, insurance policies, property deeds, car registrations, bank issued statements, etc.
Many jewellery pieces are rather expensive, usually small and extremely delicate, and this is exactly why you should make sure that 1) you pack them with extra care, and 2) you keep them with you. No matter how reputable a removal company you have managed to secure for your move, don’t even think about letting your removals transport your jewellery pieces for you.
Nowadays, every home contains a large number of expensive electronic equipment – TVs, desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, digital cameras, stereos, and so on. But even if your electronic gadgets are not infused with any sentimental value, chances are they are too pricey, sensitive, and fragile, so the last thing you would want is to see any of your hi-tech pieces damaged during the house move. Do consider relocating your electronic equipment on your own and read on to learn how to best protect your valuable electronics when moving.
Some antique furniture pieces are just too valuable to be packed and moved without the required attention and proper cares they deserve.
You really need to be extra careful when handling, packing and transporting valuable antique furniture or any other pieces on your own. The same is true for expensive art pieces that need to reach your home in pristine condition at all costs. Depending on the estimated value of these valuables, your best bet for a trouble-free move is to hire a removal firm that has a considerable experience in relocating antiques and art works.
Family heirlooms
With irreplaceable family heirlooms you must be extremely cautious because nothing can possibly replace them or compensate for them if the worst should happen. How do you place a price tag on the gold-plated pocket watch that your grand grandfather wore? Under no circumstances should you part with any of your family heirlooms – their transportation is your sole responsibility.
How to protect your valuables when moving house
The act of protecting valuables when moving is actually a series of precautionary measures to guarantee their safety through the various stages of a house move. There are 3 distinct pre-pack safety measures that have been proven to work and which you would be wise to take advantage of in order to protect your own valuables when moving house.
Purchase adequate insurance
This step is important as it will enable you to file an insurance claim with your insurer or initiate a dispute with your removal company in case a valuable item of yours gets damaged or lost during the relocation. First of all, check to see whether your current home insurance policy covers your valuable items in the event of a house move. If not, then it’s always a good idea to buy additional coverage, especially for your more valuable possessions, through your selected removal company or directly from a dedicated insurance company.
Keep smaller and lighter valuables with you
While it’s important to understand that valuable items are not meant to be entrusted to strangers while moving from one house to another, it’s not always possible to move on your own larger valuable antique furniture pieces, or valuables paintings, or just about any heavy and/or bulky items of greater value. In such cases, the need for reputable movers is dire. Nevertheless, smaller and lighter expensive and delicate belongings of yours /jewellery, documents, electronic gadgets, family heirlooms, collector’s items, and even life-saving medication/ must always travel with you.
Obtain proper packing materials
There is little doubt that the most essential step to guaranteeing your peace of mind as far as the safety of your valuable possessions is concerned is the proper packing procedure. And yet, before you implement the best packing tips for moving valuables safely, you should know what type of packing supplies you will ultimately need.
Appropriate packing supplies are crucial for keeping your valuables safe when moving to another home.
Appropriate containers. Original packaging provides the best protection for the valuable item as it was especially designed to protect it during transport. So if you keep the containers that your valuables initially came in, then you should have little to worry about. Otherwise, you will need to find appropriately sized containers or protective cases, easily purchasable from a local removal firm. At times, you may be forced to go the distance and order special boxes or have custom wooden crates made exclusively for the priceless possessions you are trying desperately to protect during the relocation /especially true to priceless pieces of art/. In such cases, your removal company should be able to offer you adequate packing and moving solutions.
Packing paper. One of the best tips for moving your valuables? Don’t skimp on packing supplies – after all, it’s your most prized possessions that will be at risk during the relocation. You’re going to need soft packing paper in great quantities as it is your first layer of protection against accidental damage. Also, packing paper can serve loyally as a filling and padding material in order to fill the empty spaces inside the moving boxes and thus prevent harmful shifts of your valued possessions. Thus said, don’t use newsprint for protecting valuables when moving due to the higher possibility of having to deal with nasty looking ink marks and stains.
Bubble wrap. The air-filled pockets of air are definitely your second and strongest line of defense when packing valuables for moving. Bubble wrap doesn’t come free of charge, of course, but it’s surely a worthy investment when it comes to protecting what must be protected as all costs. Purchase sufficient rolls of bubble wrap either from your selected removal company or from your local office supply shop.
Armed with the right type and amount of packing materials, now it’s time to get down to the 2 most essential stages of your mission to keep your most valuable possessions safe and sound: packing and moving your valuables in the safest way possible.
Observe the following tips for packing valuables when moving house that end with solid advice on how to move your valuables safely:
Valuables packing tip 1: Whenever possible, use the original packages that your valuables came in. If you don’t keep them, find strong and clean moving containers that will fit them tight with as little room for possible movement as possible.
Valuables packing tip 2: Always place one or two protective sheets of clean packing paper on the bottoms of the moving boxes you intend to use for your prized possessions. Also, secure with high quality tape those same bottoms from the outside just to make sure the containers will handle the weight of their contents.
Valuables packing tip 3: When packing valuables, use soft packing paper as the first protective layer and bubble wrap as your second one. Secure the wrapped up bundle in place with tape.
Valuables packing tip 4: Pack valuable books separately from your other book collection and wrap each pricey or dear copy with at least two sheets of packing paper. Finally, slip each prized book into a plastic protective case /A4 plastic sleeves will work just fine/ and tape them shut to protect them against the harmful effects of moisture and dust.
Valuables packing tip 5: Jewellery pieces will be best protected in their respective jewellery boxes. Alternatively, you can get creative and use drinking straws, empty toilet paper rolls, or rubber bands to protect your necklaces and bracelets; cardboard (index) cards, pill organizers, or sealable plastic bags for your earrings; and egg cartons, hard sunglasses cases, or again pill organizers to pack and transport your rings.
Get ready for double the packing and moving challenge whenever your valuables happen to be extremely fragile as well.
Valuables packing tip 6: Use a sturdy briefcase or a strong folder to protect and move your most important personal documents and moving related documentation.
Valuables packing tip 7: Packing up highly fragile and sensitive electronic equipment is not a joke. Obviously, the more extra efforts you put into packing your electronics, the fewer problems you will encounter when you begin the tricky unpacking process in your new home. Learn more about how to pack and move your TV and your computer like a pro.
Valuables packing tip 8: How to move valuable furniture? It’s a rather risky business to try and move your valuable antique furniture without using the professional services of experienced furniture movers. One wrong step (literally or figuratively!) from you or your inexperienced friends could ruin a priceless antique furniture piece forever. What’s more, your insufficient experience in handling bulky and heavy items might lead to costly property damage, or even worse – bad personal injuries.
Valuables packing tip 9: When packing valuables for moving, it’s very important that you take the time to label your moving boxes correctly. Marking your valuables-filled boxes with special handling instructions /FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE, CAUTION: BREAKABLES INSIDE/ can go a long way in protecting your valuable items when moving house.
Valuables moving tip 10: Don’t forget to use the right type of equipment when moving valuables out of your house. Furniture blankets and utility dollies can really help you preserve your prized possessions intact during the most chaotic period of any household move – the notorious Moving day.
Valuables moving tip 11: If you have decided to rent a moving vehicle instead of having professionals handle the transportation of your prized household goods, then you should know that loading a moving truck properly will play a major role in keeping your valuables safe.
Valuables moving tip 12: And finally, think twice before rushing to pack and move your valuables on your own. Before you reach the best house moving decision under the circumstances, see what experienced professionals offer and study their relocation offers carefully. It’s probable that you will be pleasantly surprised by the affordability of some of the received estimates. After all, some of your valuable possessions are surely priceless to you, so why risk it?
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It’s interesting how the word valuable means different things to different people. It’s often tricky to label something as valuable simply because the real worth of an item is not necessarily linked to its higher price.
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