Hello, my name is Jacob Langston. My father passed away two years ago, and I inherited his entire estate. Dad was a great guy, but he sure did have a lot of stuff. He lived in a large home, and I honestly don’t think he changed a thing since my mother died twelve years before him. I couldn't afford to keep the house, so selling it was one of the first things I had to take care of. I was at a loss for what to do with all the belongings inside. I had to start moving things out in order to get the house ready to sell. Once it sold, I had to move the rest out. I hired a moving and storage company to help with this daunting task, and am I glad I did. Stay tuned as I share this adventure with you!
When moving, it's important to ensure that your items not only make it to their new home -- but also that they make it there without suffering damage. Here's a look at four items that are often broken or damaged during moving, and how to protect them.
Electronics
Electronics like televisions and computers have so many breakable components, from glass screens to fragile plastic encasement. If you have the original boxes from electronics, putting them back in the original boxes, complete with the Styrofoam packing or packing peanuts, is your best option. If you do not have the original boxes, wrap your electronics in a thick layer of bubble wrap, wrap tape around the bubble wrap, and pack them into boxes that fit as tightly as possible.
Dishes
To keep your plates, bowls, and glasses from being chipped or cracked, wrap each one separately in tissue paper. Use several sheets of paper to ensure the items are well padded. Then, stack them in a box, placing the heaviest items on the bottom. Opt for more small boxes rather than few larger boxes, so your moving helpers can set the boxes down more gently.
Lamp Shades
Since these don't tend to look fragile, most people don't use enough caution when packing them, and they end up being bent or smashed. Pack a lamp shade by placing it in its own separate box that fits snugly, but not so tightly that it causes the shade to pinch in on itself. Pour packing peanuts into the center of the shade. This will keep it from folding inwards. Place crumpled up tissue paper around the outside of the lampshade. Don't use newspaper -- the ink may end up on the shade if exposed to humidity.
Framed Pictures
Usually, it is the picture that really means something, not so much the frame. However, if the glass or frame cracks during moving, it may damage the picture inside. To prevent such tragedies, remove the pictures from your frames and place them neatly in a stiff folder. Pack the frames separately in a box. Wrap each one in bubble wrap, secure it with tape, and stack them in small boxes.
Make sure you label boxes that contain any of these items with the word "fragile." Additionally, consider placing your "fragile" boxes in a separate corner of the room prior to moving, so that when your moving helpers from places like A-1 America's Best Moving arrive, you can instruct them to handle those specific boxes carefully.
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