General Tips
Prior to being carried or dollied out of your residence, most household goods should be blanket wrapped or boxed in order to prevent damage while they are being transported.
Any goods that can be packed in boxes should be thoroughly bubble wrapped or paper wrapped in a way that will prevent them from clanking or rolling around loose inside the box.
If bubble wrap is unavailable, wrap items in newspaper and use bunched up paper all around the box and in between each item for further protection.
Bunched up paper is the BEST cushioning for boxed goods. It can be even better than bubble wrap, because the bubbles can break within the bubble wrap along the edges of your belongings and it loses its cushioning property.
As the box is being filled, protect your belongings inside the box with additional bubble wrap or bunched up paper on the bottom, on the sides and on the top.
Then close and seal the box with masking tape. Don`t just slide the four flaps on the top or bottom. Sealing the box properly will ensure that the box will stay closed and help to avoid damage.
Use at least 3 strips of tape to seal each end of the box. Run the tape from the middle of the side of the box up and over or down and under it and down / up the other side finishing by overlapping the top and bottom tape ends in the middle of the side of the box so that they won`t come loose. Run your hand over all of the tape to make sure that it is sticking tightly to the box and sealing it well.
If you are renting a truck, moving pads can be rented from the truck rental facility. Anything that cannot be padded for protection like bicycles, long floor lamps, rolled up big rugs,should be very carefully carried and loaded somewhere in the truck where they will not be damaged.
The key consideration when relocating your home, after the mover`s safety of course, is to do the move with no damage to your belongings or furnishings.
