How To Pack Valuables When Moving House

Protect valuables when moving: list items, ensure insurance, use quality packing materials, and consider hiring professional movers.

Moving house can be very expensive. There are so many costs that you have to factor in. This might include a deposit for renting or a house deposit and mortgage if you are buying. Then you might have fees to pay on top, hiring professionals, and even buying packaging!

Sometimes the last thing you want to do is hire a removal company as it seems like an added expense but sometimes it truly is not worth cutting corners. This expense is sometimes necessary, dependent on what you actually need to move from A to B. Moving it yourself or hiring an uninsured white van man could actually end up being more costly for you, should damage be caused to your belongings.

Protecting your belongings is so important. There are many things that can go wrong on a moving day, no matter how prepared you are. This means you need to ensure your valuables are insured and they will need to be transported in a safe way. Hiring a removal company means you will be utilising professionals who carry the right insurance and transport and know exactly how to move your items, including anything valuable, in a safe and efficient way.

Here are some things to consider when moving valuables from one property to another.

Make A List

It's a good idea to make a list of everything you want to take to your new home with you before you start packing. Then, make a specific list of your valuables. The word valuables has a wide meaning – it could be antiques, heirlooms, jewellery, or even electronics and irreplaceable documents. Think about what valuables you have in your home that will need special care when moving from A to B. Pack them away safely in an essentials box, labelling them correctly so you know exactly where they are at all times. You might even want to take photos of them before the move in case you need to make an insurance claim.

Insurance For Your Valuables

If you are hiring a professional removal company, they will usually carry insurance that covers all of your possessions. They usually hold both goods in transit insurance and public liability insurance – this covers them for both injury and damage. However, there is the possibility that you will need to take out an additional policy depending on the value of your current items.

If they are already insured, contact your provider and let them know about the move. There is a chance the insurance might not cover you for the move and will restart at the other end. However, there is a chance you may be covered, so it is important to check. The removal company will also be able to let you know whether their level of coverage is sufficient. Remember that if you are transporting the items yourself and haven’t let the insurance company know, your claim could be invalidated if something happens.

Packing Your Items

Valuable items, especially fragile ones, will need to be properly protected and padded when you are packing them. Pack one room at a time, and use small boxes for fragile items. Lighter items can be placed in standard packing boxes but do make sure you use quality packing materials. Heavy items should go in reinforced moving boxes, valuable clothes can be best protected with wardrobe boxes. The removal company you choose may even offer a bespoke packing service.

Ensure any cardboard boxes you use are a decent size and sturdy with no rips. For light items, you may be able to pick up some free ones from local shops to save money, but check their condition first before putting them to use, large boxes are best. You will want to use a padding material such as bubble wrap to pad your items. Any framed pieces such as photos or artwork should be cushioned well.

If you still have the original packaging for your electronics, this should be sufficient – as long as it still has the cardboard or styrofoam pieces to keep it in place. You should also pad antiques properly and even use sheets or tarps to wrap them up in.

Hiring A Removal Company

The best way to keep your valuables safe is to hire a removal company. They will be fully insured and have plenty of experience and will be able to get your possessions to your destination safely.

When choosing a company, make sure that you check their reviews. Look for reviews mentioning valuables – if there are any – as you will be able to see how well that move went. Once you have a few companies in mind, speak to them, let them know what items need to be transported (including value) and obtain quotes from them. You will also need to check their insurance coverage at this point. Remember, nationwide companies may charge more due to having more overheads, and a local company may be more affordable with equal quality of service as the national brands.

Finally, ensure you book the company well in advance. Remover Company schedules fill up quickly so if you want to move on a specific day, you need to get in there quickly.