Tips For Keeping Valuable Stuff Safe During A Move

Shifting to a new place away from or in Houston? As popular as this city is in Texas, the population has been shrinking as people move out of the suburbs in the greater Houston area or to other metropolitan cities in Texas. More than 300,000 people left Houston last year, and if you’re considering the same, you need to pay special attention to the relocation process. Whether you hire a moving company or do it yourself, it is important to account for even the smallest things.

Of all the things you need to take care of, packing and storing valuable items in a way they do not get damaged during the relocation is of utmost priority. Whether it is something small like glasses and mugs or items more valuable like your wine collection, you will require special consideration to transport them properly.

Here are a few items to keep these valuable items safe during a move to or from Houston:

1. Label all the boxes effectively

Moving is not always a seamless process. There are several issues which can include damages and theft too at times. If you are skeptical about the place where you are moving and have a hunch that some of your valuable items may go unattended for some time, you’ll need to secure them. One method to this is by labeling them properly.

While it is important to add a fragile tag to boxes that contain items vulnerable to breakage, it is also essential to label the box with respect to the room where its contents belong.

2. Store the things you don’t want to move yet

Renting self-storage is an extremely viable option if you want to figure out a safer way to move certain items that might be temperature sensitive. For example, if you’re relocating during summer, high temperatures of 90 F and above can be bad for a prized collection of wines. There are several options for various items. For instance, you can easily locate a reliable Houston wine storage unit to hold onto your precious collection for some time. Similarly, furniture, excess items, or out-of-season clothing can also be kept in a storage unit till you figure out how to transport them.

Storing items is beneficial because it gives you the peace of mind that your valuable possessions are secure and safe until a time when you can decide what to do with them. You may not have space in your current home or want to return to collect these things later. In either case, storage units can offer a strong solution to your problem.

3. Transport some valuables personally

Depending on the type and amount of valuable you have, it is a good idea to transport some of the items with you. You will need to be careful if these items are allowed in case you are traveling by plane. Also, if you are going across a land border, you will have to be careful about customs clearance. Important documents, jewelry, cash, medicines, and other assets should always be on your person.

While transporting these items, investing in specialized storage for them is also a good idea. Safe storage boxes that are fire and waterproof can help a lot since you would want to be prepared for any untoward incident. Paperwork should be carried in folders that can resist water damage because even a coffee spill can ruin these documents and put you in a lot of trouble.

4. Account for all your items in advance

During a relocation, it is a common occurrence that you fail to keep track of items, and it might take some time to unpack and locate everything once you get to your new location. This could be a concern, particularly when it pertains to valuables. A simple solution to this issue is to consider all items you are moving through a relocation company.

Make a list of your valuables in advance (you might want to have some appraised before the move), and take thorough pictures of each item to document ownership. You’ll need these photos for insurance if something is stolen, lost, or damaged. Create a simple Excel sheet with sections for the item’s name, assigned box numbers as well, how and when it’s being transferred, its state upon arrival, and other information.

5. Explore insurance options

There are certain accidents and situations you can’t predict or even guard against. A moving truck getting into a collision on the highway or a storm is not something you can control. What you can do is explore insurance options to ensure that your valuable items can be recuperated monetarily if something unexpected happens.

Obviously, certain things can’t be replaced by money, such as items with emotional value, but appropriate insurance coverage is a great solution for all else. Various companies out there offer moving insurance at attractive rates. Make sure that you evaluate a few options before finalizing one.

6. Pack carefully

Sometimes, simply packing well can keep your valuable items safe and sound during moving. Buying the necessary and appropriate packing materials is important when preparing for a move. This includes boxes, bubble wraps, old newspapers, and other paper balls you can use to protect fragile items in case they move vigorously during the relocation.

Packing materials like bubble wrap, foam, and packing peanuts offer a soft cushion for sensitive items to land on. Bottles, ceramic kitchen utensils, glasses, vases, and a host of other items fall into the category that can break easily. It is important to pack these items carefully so that you don’t end up with a box full of shattered debris at the end of the trip.

7. Use technology to your advantage

Thanks to modern technology, keeping valuables safe is no longer a major issue. Using sophisticated tools like AirTags or other tracking devices for boxes can help you track where each item is at any given time. You can also use modern padlocks on the moving truck that you are using so that whether it is stopped or moving, no one can tamper with it, no matter how hard they try.

Conclusion

People amass a lot of valuable things over time. For every family and individual, there are different things that they consider valuable. Either way, when relocating, safely transporting these items can be a concern. Therefore, careful preparations and considerations are required to ensure these items remain intact and safe from threats like theft during the moving process.