Careful packing is crucial to a smooth and successful move. In particular, you\u2019ll need to understand how to pack valuables for moving so your most expensive and prized possessions arrive at your new home intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s an art to packing fragile items, and in many cases, Chicagoans bring in the skilled help of a professional packing team<\/a>. However, if you\u2019re planning a DIY move or just handling some of the packing on your own, here\u2019s what you should know about moving valuable items safely, including jewelry, antiques, and electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning how to pack valuables for moving involves a few steps. First, make a list of all the items you consider fragile and valuable. The list might include handmade pottery, the jewelry you inherited from your family, or the enormous TV you recently bought to watch Bears games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, consider the best packing materials for each item. Your local moving company likely has moving supplies like boxes and packing paper available for rent or purchase. Although you can find free moving boxes throughout Chicagoland, they won\u2019t protect your fragile items as well as brand-new boxes or rentable sturdy plastic moving bins<\/a> will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third, get packing! Wrap each fragile item in packing paper or soft items you have lying around, like towels or shirts. Fill any voids in the box with more packing paper or soft material to prevent the pieces from jiggling around the box during transport, and be sure to label each box \u201cFRAGILE\u201d on the top and all sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow these tips and you\u2019ll be on your way to learning how to pack valuables for moving!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because each home is unique, you might have some items that don\u2019t fall under the jewelry, antiques, or electronics categories. In these cases, you can contact your local moving company<\/a> for advice, high-quality moving supplies, or even referrals for specialty movers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if you want to give it the old college try, get to know the best practices for moving valuable items safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you\u2019ve partnered with a local mover to handle most of your pack and move, you\u2019ll most likely have to pack and transport your expensive jewelry by yourself. Not all movers will handle high-value items that are estimated at more than $100 per pound, and in many cases, extremely personal and sentimental items like jewelry are best kept with you than packed onto a moving truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some tips to pack jewelry for moving:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For particularly valuable jewelry, you might need to contact your renter\u2019s or homeowner\u2019s insurance company for additional coverage. Your local mover will provide you with your choice of carrier liability or declared valuation coverage<\/a>, but since items of extraordinary value aren\u2019t usually protected under these options, your safest bet is to obtain your own insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Antiques come in all shapes, sizes, and ages\u2014but to be officially considered \u201cantique\u201d, an item must be at least a century old. Since these pieces tend to fall under the high-value category of being estimated at over $100 per pound, you might want to consider additional insurance or transporting your antiques on your own, just like your jewelry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the best movers in Chicago know that it\u2019s not always that simple. Some antiques are too large or heavy for you to safely transport. If the company handling your pack and move doesn\u2019t offer antique moving service, ask them for a referral for a specialty moving company. Several businesses across our metropolitan area focus solely on moving antique items. They might build a custom crate or provide other materials specifically chosen for your antique items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re planning a DIY move, you\u2019ll need to take the utmost care when packing antiques for relocation. Get started by following this checklist:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, close the box, label it \u201cFRAGILE\u201d on the top and all sides, and write \u201cTHIS SIDE UP\u201d next to some large arrows. Make it obvious that this is a fragile and valuable item to avoid confusion on your moving day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of us have a wide assortment of gizmos and gadgets in our homes. TVs, stereo systems, computers, video game consoles, and other electronics need to be carefully packed to prevent damage to the physical item as well as the delicate inner workings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some best practices for protecting electronics during a move:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also need to make sure your electronics won\u2019t be exposed to extreme temperatures for too long during the move. Here in Chicago, our weather can range from subzero winter days to triple-digit temperatures in the summer, and both of these extremes can damage electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To minimize your electronics\u2019 exposure to heat or cold, make sure these valuables are some of the last items packed onto your moving truck. If your items are going into overnight storage at your moving company\u2019s facility<\/a>, check the weather and determine if the best method for protecting your electronics during the move is to keep them with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Packing fragile items like jewelry, antiques, and electronics before your move can be a little nerve-wracking. Most people aren\u2019t specially trained packers and movers, and you don\u2019t want to leave your most prized possessions vulnerable to damage. For many Chicagoland residents, the best way to pack valuables is to leave it to the professionals\u2014that is, the Move-tastic! team.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTips for Packing Fragile Items<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best Practices for Moving Valuable Items Safely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Pack Jewelry for Moving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Packing Antiques for Relocation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Protecting Electronics During a Move<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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We Know How to Pack Valuables for Moving\u2014and We Can\u2019t Wait to Help You Have a Smooth, Damage-Free Move!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n