There’s so much time and effort required in planning a move that very few people stop and think about how to do it safely. Not only do you need to protect your items, but you need to ensure you and your professional movers don’t get hurt either.
With heavy and fragile items all around you, you’ll need to know how to both safely pack your belongings for a move, and how to transport them in a way that avoids damage and injuries too.
Prepare Carefully
A rule every person moving home needs to know is that you can never have enough packing supplies. Make sure you’re prepared for a move by gathering plenty of suitable packing materials. You can always sell them on after, or keep them ready for the next time you move home.
For a start you’ll need enough boxes to store all your personal belongings in. Depending on your preference, you may wish to have cardboard or plastic boxes. Either way, make sure you can seal them up and label them properly once they’re filled.
Gather lots of bubble wrap or newspapers for protecting fragile items, and have packing tape, scissors, and blankets at hand.
Don’t Exceed the Weight Limit
Although there’s no official limit on how heavy a box should be, you and your movers need to be able to lift it easily, without injuring yourself. Many movers suggest a weight limit of no more than 30 lbs per box, as this will enable one person to be able to transport it without straining too much.
If you’re unsure what weight limit your movers put on the boxes they lift, don’t be afraid to ask. If you know in advance, you can organize your belongings to fit safely inside your boxes.
Beware of Fragile Items
h2There’s always a risk of fragile items breaking during a move, but you can stop this happening by packing them appropriately. Make sure every glass or china item is wrapped individually with bubble wrap or newspapers, and pack them neatly inside boxes. Don’t try and overfill a space as you’ll risk damaging your belongings even before you’ve started the move.
Fill any empty spaces inside your boxes with extra packing products, as this will stop loose items moving around inside and breaking. Finally, label every box that contains fragile items so your professional movers know to be careful with it.
Feeling Unsteady? Reinforce It
If you’re using cardboard boxes for packing you may notice the box starting to sag at the bottom. You risk breaking your belongings and hurting yourself if the bottom of the box were to fall through, so make sure you reinforce this as much as you can with tape or extra cardboard layers.
If in doubt, remove some weight from the box so there’s not so much pressure on the base.
Leave Heavy Items to the Professionals
There’s a reason you employ professional movers to transport your belongings for you, so don’t try and move heavy and large objects yourself. Movers have been trained how to lift correctly and work as a team to transport awkward items, so don’t risk hurting yourself by trying to move things you shouldn’t.
Lift in the Correct Position
If you’re helping out with the move by lifting boxes, make sure you do so in the correct position. Lift with your legs, not your back, and squat down with your back straight when you lift an object. Keep items close to your chest to minimize strain on your arms, and always move with your feet and not your hips.
If you need professional movers to help you transport your items safely, contact a reliable company to arrange a date. You’ll thank yourself for putting safety first in this situation.
Sources:
Packing Tips, BBC.co.uk
How to Pack Up Your House Like a Pro, Telegraph.co.uk