Moving And Storage Tips To Protect Your Belongings During Transitions

If you’ve ever moved before, you understand how demanding the process can be. The amount of planning required alone can feel overwhelming, and even if you have thought of everything, you can rest assured that there will be something that slips through the cracks.

Successfully navigating a relocation requires a clear plan and the support of an experienced moving and storage company that understands the pressures involved. At the same time, getting started early with packing and decluttering is essential.

Let’s walk through the key steps to help you approach the process with clarity and confidence.

1) Decluttering & Creating An Inventory List

Over time, it’s common for people to accumulate items that no longer serve a purpose. While sentimentality is something to be cherished, many items are kept out of habit rather than necessity or enjoyment. To begin the process of decluttering, it helps to apply a simple “usefulness or enjoyment” guideline. If an item hasn’t been used, needed, or genuinely enjoyed within the past 18 months, it may be time to let it go. Once you’ve made that decision , commit to it and remove those items to create a more organized and functional space.

Leverage Technology

Once you’ve decided what will stay and what will go, you’re ready to start that inventory list. Consider using an online platform or iPhone App to guide you through the process. There are so many moving and relocation apps that can assist you, so pick one and get going as soon as you can. Don’t worry about the details, just get started, and you’ll see that you slowly slip into a natural rhythm.

Think About Insurance

Take the time to get photos of all of your high-value items so that you have proof of the condition that they were in before the move. This will come in handy for when the insurance inevitably asks for proof that they were indeed damaged during the move.

Group Items By The Protection They Require

This step is so helpful, as you will understand what packaging materials will be required for each situation. This process will help you to accurately estimate the cost of materials and insurance.

2) Partner With a Professional Moving Company

If you’re moving across state, it makes sense to partner with a reliable long-distance moving company. These companies understand the process and every detail associated with moving home or moving items into storage. Their experience from working in the industry will be invaluable. They will also be able to assist with doing the entire move for you or, if you prefer, advise you on how to pack yourself.

3) Best-Practice Packing Techniques

Remember that your items will most likely be stacked one on top of the other. If you took any corners with how you packed the boxes, then your belongings could be at risk, as items do tend to move around in transit. There are a few techniques that you can apply that will go a long way in protecting your belongings.

Make Sure To Use The Correct Boxes

Used boxes are seldom a good idea, they usually have weakened corners and cannot maintain their structural integrity when stacked. This means that fragile items in particular are not safe, whether they are being carried in human hands or in transit on the back of an 18-wheeler. The other thing about used boxes is that roaches can creep in and make the move with you!

You will want to find some good, new, sturdy corrugated cardboard boxes, as these are ideal for packing your belongings in. Remember that heavy items should go in smaller boxes, and soft and lighter items should go into larger boxes. If there is too much strain on large boxes carrying heavy loads, such as a lot of books, this can create pressure on the box joints and end up splitting and dropping your belongings on the sidewalk.

Always Pad Empty Spaces

With so many different items that fill our homes, it’s almost impossible that your box will fill up perfectly symmetrically. There are bound to be some spaces that you will need to fill with packing paper or bubble wrap. Remember that items that move around in boxes can break, so the tighter you pack them, the better. You can use newsprint paper to cushion glassware, while bubble wrap may be more useful for things such as large mirrors and electronics.

4) Disassemble Furniture Items

It’s prudent to disassemble whatever furniture items you can, which will make them easier to transport to and from your home to the truck and from the truck to your storage unit or new home. Be careful to not apply the adhesive side of moving tape to the surface of your furniture, as it will damage the finish. Remove drawers from cabinets and dressers to make them lighter to carry and avoid the drawers falling out when lifting them on and off the truck.

Important Considerations For Keeping Items In Storage

Some moving companies, such as ourselves here at Allegiance Van Lines, offer a full suite of services for families and professionals moving house or placing items into storage. In a location such as South Florida, there are a few important points to take note of if you are going to keep items in long-term storage.

Climate Controlled Storage

This is an absolute must for South Florida. The climate in South Florida is fantastic beach weather, but it can be a real killer for keeping items in storage. The extreme heat and high levels of humidity will wreak havoc on your possessions if they are not in a climate-controlled unit. Air conditioning is able to regulate the temperature, but also to crucially protect your valuables against mold by dehumidifying the air.

Pack Boxes Onto Wooden Pallets

It’s wise to consider keeping your boxes and containers within your storage unit off the concrete floor. If you happen to be storing your belongings in South Florida, there’s always the chance of localized flooding since parts of South Florida are in a High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). Condensation can also affect the boxes and items that are in contact with the concrete floor over the long term.

Leave Room To Maneuver

This is a small detail that is often overlooked, but can be very helpful. Try to organize the space in the unit where all items can be reached without too much hassle. If you can, leave aisles down the center of the unit. This will be very helpful to your future self, and they will thank you. Also, use common sense and keep heavier items at the bottom and lighter, less bulky items on top.

Choosing The Right Moving And Storage Partner

Always make sure that you get a moving company that will come and physically view your situation before giving you an estimate. This will ensure that you don’t get any hidden surprises when moving day arrives.

You can also check the credentials of a company by checking out some online reviews and asking around your various communities for some good references. A reputable moving company should have a United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) number.

Allegiance Van Lines, LLC – Your One-Stop Moving And Storage Company

At Allegiance Van Lines, our mission is “to provide high-quality services for our valued clients”. WE take this very seriously, and it is this commitment to excellence that sets us apart as the premier provider for long-distance moving and storage solutions in South Florida.

To book your appointment for a moving estimate, call us at (561) 210-5120.