One of the biggest challenges associated with moving is getting all your cumbersome and heavy furniture out of the home and back into the new place. Furniture certainly has a practical place in our lives, to be sure, but often it can have a sentimental appeal as well. Protecting your furniture for the move is critical, not just for the pieces themselves, but the surrounding walls and floors as well.
Keeping damage to a minimum – not to mention the damage to your neck and back – can be achieved by hiring professional movers skilled in moving large pieces of furniture seamlessly. Here are some tips on prepping your furniture for moving in and around San Diego.
Take an Inventory
Take an in-depth look at all your furniture and make note of any existing dings, marks, or scratches. This way, you’ll know what was there already and what may have happened during the move – especially important when it involves antiques or sentimental furniture. Take photos of the furniture and any damage to add to your records in case you have to file a claim with your insurance.
You may wonder: what exactly qualifies as fragile furniture? For something to be fragile, it must be made out of delicate material. Tables, bed frames and bookshelves are usually made with laminated particleboard that may look like real wood but doesn’t have the heavy weight to it. Cheaply made furniture such as this may be best off left behind so you can buy quality items in the new place.
Focus your attention on the heavy, authentic pieces that also have an age component, such as antiques, glass inserts, mirrors, and decorative elements.
Another thing that classifies something as fragile is the amount of TLC it requires, such as pianos or china cabinets. In the end, you also can’t discount the sentimental value that fragile furniture holds for you.
Hire a Professional Mover For Antiques
If you can’t put it in your purse or ride with in on your lap in your vehicle, you’ll have to hire a professional to transport your precious, valuable and antique belongings. You may assume you can box and move your own valuables, but remember that movers do this each and every day. They bring the right equipment and supplies to ensure your antiques are transported with ease and no damage. They also have the manpower to move delicate and heavy items so they don’t get dropped. It’s not just the item you have to worry about damaging; it’s the surrounding walls and floors too.
Disassemble Furniture When Possible
Large and complex furniture should be disassembled before transporting it. You can often take the legs off tables and couches, for example, so they can fit through tight spaces like doorways, hallways and stairwells. Keep nuts, bolts, and accessories in labeled baggies, taped to the furniture so nothing gets lost.
You’ll especially want to take bed frames apart, remove cushions, and take off pointy accent pieces that could scratch your walls.
Gather Supplies
You will need certain supplies to pack your furniture safely and effectively, such as:
- Heavy-duty furniture blankets to keep your items from getting scuffed.
- Bubble wrap can be used to wrap legs or fragile pieces of furniture.
- Cardboard helps protect mirrors or glass parts of your furniture.
- Shrink wrap/pallet wrap to protect all parts of your furniture, such as legs, and keep everything tight and together.
- Packing tape will secure all of your boxes. Don’t apply it directly to the furniture surface so the finish remains intact.
- Take out all contents and remove drawers to make dressers easier to transport. Don’t forget to number those drawers so you remember which position they were in.
- Remove all knobs, feet, hardware and ornaments, taking photos so you know how to re-assemble it all.
- Wrap protruding elements with extra padding, then wrap them all in a moving blanket.
- Place stretch wrap around furniture that features delicate handles or doors.
Pack Glass Items Separately
- Take off all glass or mirrors from your vanities and tables.
- Tape an X with tape across the glass or mirror, then wrap the item in question in packing paper and bubble wrap. Place in a heavy-duty cardboard box, like those made for flat screen TVs.
- Place all loose screws in a labeled baggie.
- Label the entire thing as FRAGILE.
Create a Plan
Even with professional movers behind you, you need to prep for moving day. Label all appropriate furniture FRAGILE and mark each with the destination room. Clear a path from the furniture to the hallways and doors so the movers won’t trip over obstacles. It’s a good idea to put down mats if it’s raining to avoid people tracking in mud and water.
Make sure your movers know exactly what they need to handle with care, and their destinations. Ensure all furniture is packed, labeled and ready to go when they show up for easy grab-and-go.
Prep Your Piano Beforehand
Whether you are moving an upright or grand piano, you will need lots and lots of moving blankets to protect the instrument, advises Moving.com, as well as rolls of packing tape to secure those blankets.
Make sure your movers will be bringing a dolly that is appropriate for your piano’s weight. If you have a grand piano, skid boards will also be needed.
Moving with furniture or instruments doesn’t have to induce stress. Lessen your hassle by packing and securing all furniture beforehand, or let your movers do it all.
Contact Best Fit Movers
If the thought of packing, prepping and dismantling your furniture in anticipation of a move fills you with dread, contact us for a free price quote or call us at 858-429-0097. We provide comprehensive packing services for your peace of mind.
