Five Ways to Avoid Damage to Your Goods During a Cross-Country Move

Moving across the country can be quite exciting, but it can also be quite chaotic as well. Making sure that your items are adequately packed falls behind many other concerns such as making sure that everything is packed and that it will be delivered on time. However, taking the time to pack correctly and research tips for safe moving will make the process that much easier by ensuring that your items are delivered damage-free.

1. Use Quality Storage Options

Shoving your most precious belongings away in a box you found outside a gas station is not going to do you any favors in ensuring that everything arrives at your new home in excellent condition. You have to imagine the boxes that you are placing your belongings in as storage containers, as these boxes will likely not be opened for days. If you could not fathom putting your items in a cheap box for long-term storage, then you should not be doing so for moving purposes either.

2. Pack Your Mattress Away

Leaving your mattress out to the elements can damage the frame, scratch the material, or cause it to be bent out of shape. To ensure that it arrives in perfect shape—and unsullied by various movers’ hands—make sure to pack it away in a mattress box or bag.

3. Don’t Pack Food or Liquids

This may seem obvious but packing food or liquid with your belongings is a huge mistake. Many people forget to separate these items off in the chaos of moving but leaving them with your belongings can result in liquids spilling over valuable items, causing irreparable damage. With food, it can attract critters and vermin to your items and result in a serious loss.

4. Tape Up Your Padding

Many people know how important it is to pad sensitive and delicate items. While it is important to pad the items—and select the right padding—it is also important to make sure that you tape the padding. You do not want to take the time to pad a breakable item only to have the padding shift in the move, resulting in the item’s shattering. Most professionals opt for either clear moving tape or professional-grade plastic wrap.

5. Pack Upright

This is a small change in how you pack, but it can make a big difference. Pack your books, CDs, and DVDs as if you were placing them on a shelf—upright. This relieves strain on the bottom of the box as well as on the cases and binding of the items, ensuring that they’ll reach their final destination intact. You can also pack china plates this way as well, padding each plate with bubble wrap to prevent damage. At the bottom of the box, lay down a layer of crumpled newspaper to cushion the items.