Packing Fragile Items for Moving and Storage

Moving to a different location means that you need to uproot yourself from one place to another. It is not an easy task even if you are moving only one part of the house (your room, for example, if you are a college student or sharing an apartment with friends or other people) or the entire house. You draw up a list to get things moving from sorting out your items, throwing or giving away what you do not need and planning on whether to put these for storage for a while or deliver the items right at your new doorstep. We would rely on our movers to help us pack, load and deliver for storage, but there are a few things that we need to do on our own, and one of these is to handle our fragile items.

What should you do when you have fragile items at home and would like to move or store these somewhere?

1. Put fragile items in categories

There is no better way to start handling your fragile items but knowing what these are and sorting them according to how you would like these to be handled. You may put them in a spectrum of super fragile to the not-so-super fragile items. With this, you would be able to know what kind of packing materials that you should have and how to pack these, too. Putting these into categories would also mean easier for you to pack and label these for better handling.

2. Premium services offered by storage and movers

Some storage and movers businesses would offer premium services that would include handling fragile items by providing packing materials, packing and loading/unloading these to your new location or at the storage area. Some fragile items require some airflow and temperature controlled room, thus, you may want to check these out with your service provider. If you do not have a lot of these items, you may secure a mobile storage pod and have it stored at a common area where they keep fragile items. Most households don’t have a lot of fragile items and they would usually seek storage providers that may take economies of scale, i.e. have a common area for all fragile items. This option may be easier on your pocket, too.

3. Recycling old clothing items

If you have the not-so-fragile items but are still considered as fragile, you may look at the option of handling these yourself. However, you may be running out of bubble wraps that you have purchased at a local store. Thus, one way to do it is to use old thick clothing items like cardigans, shirts or even towels to use as a wrap and provide support in boxes. But if you do this, make sure that you label the boxes accordingly in case you would think that the box would just contain old clothing and may mishandle the box entirely.

4. Old newspapers, anyone?

Just like old clothing, you can use old newspapers to provide support on the sides and bottoms of boxes. You can crumple these like round balls to stick to corners of boxes for support and even in empty spaces between fragile items. Crumpled old newspapers would also not add up too much weight on your boxes for easy handling.

5. Packing lightly

One cardinal rule of packing fragile items is to pack the boxes lightly so that it is easier for you to carry. If you stack a lot of these in one box, you might end up with a heavy load and may not be able to handle it properly. It is not only applicable to fragile items but boxes that contain valuable items that you intend to handle yourself. Movers are used to carrying and shuttling boxes back and forth, but for a novice like you, you might want to take it easy on your hands and back. 

How To Transport Potted Plants Safely

Moving can be easy if everything is planned. It is good to have a checklist of the activities that need to be accomplished and require some time to be done. However, we are prone to oversight and might forget some items and one of these are potted plants.

If you have a green thumb, you will have the tendency to have many potted plants in the kitchen, living room and even in your balcony. Some may be big while some will be of small sizes, usually applicable to herbs that you can find in the kitchen. So, what do you do with these? You can’t just put them in storage boxes and leave them inside a storage unit. There are some plants that are sensitive to the amount of water and sunlight that they would just wilt and die too soon. Thus, how do move, store and transport potted plants?

1. Prepare a checklist of the number and kinds of potted plants that you have

You can list and identify your potted plants and arrange them in your list from most sensitive or delicate to the non-delicate ones. Once you are done, you can pack these the last among your items, and prioritize the non-sensitive first then followed by the non-delicate potted plants. Usually herbs would come as the last as these are small and flimsy.

2. Seek a storage specialist that supply storage boxes with holes and handles for easy moving

Some movers would have storage boxes that have holes in order to provide some flow of air. These boxes are usually easier to life with side handles. Storage boxes with holes are perfect for your potted plants.

3. Save the old boxes

If you can’t find any movers that could supply storage boxes with holes, you might want to use the old boxes you can salvage from your storage room. If these are too thick to bore some holes all over, then don’t close the top to allow some flow of air.

4. Old newspapers to secure the plants and refrain them from moving

Gather as many as old newspapers to help secure the potted plants and refrain these from moving while being transported. Old newspapers will also provide protection for your other items in case the soil are thrown all over during the move.

5. For big potted plants, allocate some space in the truck

You might want to alert your movers that you have big potted plants that they can allocate some space in their truck. You neither can stack items on top of plants nor put them on top of storage boxes.

6. Label your boxes that contain potted plants

Even if you can see your plants through the holes, it is still best to label these and list these down on your notebook for easy tracking and which box goes to which part of the house. This habit actually goes to all boxes that you are going to transport, not just only the boxes that contain your potted plants.

Prepping Your Belongings for Storage

When you are moving your belongings into storage near Sydney, whether it’s to keep them safely out of the way until your new home is ready or whilst some major renovations are underway, then it’s easiest to treat the process the same way that you would deal with moving house. Make a start by listing all of the items you are intending to move, begin with the smaller items that can be packed into boxes and work your way up to the larger ones that include furniture or appliances if applicable.

Start with the things that aren’t needed on a daily basis and make sure they are packed neatly into the boxes as tight as possible to avoid them moving around and possible damage. Put the heavier stuff in the bottom of the box and lighter stuff on top to avoid them getting squashed. Try to use boxes that are all the same size as this will make loading the portable storage unit so much easier than trying to fit irregular shaped boxes together.

Label each box with which room it belongs in and even a short list of the items inside if you feel that is necessary. Try to avoid the 'miscellaneous' tag as this is sure to confuse you later on. Make sure any linen and clothing is sealed inside the box to avoid them becoming damp or mouldy, or from taking on the smell of the storage unit. You can also buy special wardrobe closets that make packing clothes so much simpler; you just transfer your clothes, still on their hangers, to the wardrobe boxes and seal them up.

Larger items need to be stacked at the bottom of the unit, preferably on pallets to avoid contact with the floor as this can also cause mould due to no air flow. Do not pack any large or heavy objects up high as they could fall over at some point during the storage and cause injury or may damage lighter and smaller items stacked underneath.

Make sure you do not store any perishable items as these can attract rodents and other unwelcome creatures that you really don’t want sniffing around your possessions. Also it’s a good idea to take a storage insurance when putting belongings that are highly valuable, such as jewellery, into self storage as, although they are very safe, it would be devastating if for some reason they did get lost. While as long you have a good insurance, at least the value is covered.

Anything fragile that can get broken easily, such as mirrors and china ornaments should be carefully wrapped in lots of newspaper or bubble wrap before being stored. There is nothing worse than paying for all that storage time only to find lots of broken items when it comes to unpacking, simply because you didn’t take the care and time to pack everything properly in the first place.

Be aware that storage facilities have certain rules and regulations in place as to what items can’t be stored. For instance you won’t be allowed to store chemicals or flammable items in your portable storage units as they could cause a fire, and it goes without saying that anything illegal won’t be allowed either.

Protecting Fragile Household Items During a Move

Moving belongings to a new house can be a mammoth task and can be quite stressful for the home-owner, and there is enough going on when moving without the added factor of worrying about things getting broken.
While some household items can be packed without much chance of damage, others need to be packed very carefully if they are to arrive in the same state as they left.

Anything fragile, such as glassware and china, are the most likely items to be damaged in a move. Provide fragile items with plenty of protection by wrapping each piece separately and placing them carefully in a hard box, this can be cardboard as long as it’s tough and good quality, or invest in durable plastic boxes with handles, making sure there is no room for the items to move around. Stuff the empty space around the items with extra padding, newspaper or old magazines are fine and do the job just as well, but if you have bubble wrap then even better.

Padding in-between each item will stop them from banging against each other which could lead to breakages or cracks, plates for example should be packed separately and placed on top of each other at the bottom of the box as they are flat and heavy.

Art pieces can be easily damaged in a move because they are often delicate, large, or irregularly shaped.

These kinds of valuable things should always be kept separate from regular household items; you might even want to take them to the new house yourself by car. For smaller items wrap them well in bubble wrap or similar padding and pack them in sturdy boxes, if they are quite large then a moving blanket might make more sense as it acts as a very effective padding material. Consider hiring an art transport company to do the job if you are really anxious, or at the very least insure expensive artwork before the move.

Always check boxes containing fragile items are labelled accordingly, so that others helping with the move treat them with the care they need. You could even colour code the boxes, a bright colour for the fragile items would make these boxes stand out and remind the movers that there are breakables inside.

Large or oddly shaped furniture can be awkward to move. Ask others to help lift heavy objects to avoid damage to the furniture or physical injury to yourself. If you really do have a lot of things and are daunted by the thought of moving then why not hire the services of a professional moving company and make life easier?

Another good method of saving yourself some trouble is to make the move in little steps, start by moving the larger items to the new property and put other things into self-storage for safekeeping until you’re ready to collect it. This can make a move much more manageable as there is less to deal with on moving day, and as most good storage services will come and pick your things up you don’t even have to worry about getting to the facility for storage in Sydney!

Putting Leather Into Storage

While most of the furniture items that you place into a storage unit will be fine without too much preparation, leather items need a little more care and attention. Leather jackets and boots, and sofas and chairs, can cost a lot of money to buy so it pays to ensure you take the best possible care of them if you don’t want them ruined or being damaged. Made to last a lifetime, leather is worth the extra care and attention needed to preserve its beauty, and the older and more worn it is the better it looks.

• Start by cleaning your leather items with a non-abrasive cleaner.
• Use a good leather moisturiser so that your leather item can avoid becoming cracked or dry during storage, especially if you have not done this in a while.
• Wrap your items up even if they are small, because if they have too much exposure they can become dry or dirty.
• Make sure your leather items can still 'breathe' - avoid any airtight containers or wrapping them too tightly.
• Hang clothes and jackets as this will stop crease lines from folding, and use strong plastic or wooden hangars, then cover with a cloth garment bag
• Leather boots or shoes are fine in cardboard boxes or cloth bags as they are still protected but have air to breathe too.

It is best to get your large leather furniture cleaned by a professional before storage as this will ensure it is in tip top condition when it goes into the unit, and should remain this way until it comes out again. It should also be completely dry as any moisture could lead to damp.

When you place leather furniture or small leather items in storage first lay out a large sheet of plastic on the floor as this prevents moisture from forming which leads to mould and can be very harmful for all your possessions. Then make sure the items are not sitting directly on the ground to prevent damp or mildew; wooden pallets are fine for this purpose and easy to get hold of.

While nearly all storage units are dark (and suitable for leather), make sure there is no direct sunlight or too much heat on your leather items. Differences in temperature can cause cracks in leather so you need to store your things in a unit that is kept indoors where the temperature is controlled within the facility. Then drape or cover your leather sofa or chair with fabric to stop dust from settling. Don’t then put all your heavy boxes on top of the sofa or chair as this will press down on the fabric and cause indentations which will ultimately mark it.

If you have any doubts about how to store items properly you can always ask the storage facility as they have experience in everything to do with storing household items, furniture, books, clothes and more. They should give you good advice on how to prevent mould and damp and tips on how to pack your possessions properly.

Reducing the Size of your Move

The cost of transporting your belongings interstate or overseas to a new location can actually cost quite a lot of money. Once you arrive at the new house you might also be waiting for some time until the household goods arrive, especially if they are coming overseas by ship, which can takes months sometimes. Due to this, it is often better to settle in to your new surroundings just with the bare essentials and put other household items into self storage for the present.

If you are going to store your furniture for a period of time, you should think about taking advantage of the services provided by the many furniture rental companies that now exist. Rental furniture is useful for medium term moves, such as a short contract overseas, or if you are trying to sell a property and want to ‘dress it’ so it looks good when potential buyers come to have a look.

Homeowners going abroad for work can store their own belongings in a self storage facility in their own town, hire furniture overseas, and then take their old furniture out of storage once they return home. This is often much cheaper than shipping furniture over large distances and avoids any risk in the process.

Furniture rental services provide practically everything needed for a comfortable lifestyle, from sofas and armchairs to home entertainment systems, rugs, and even kitchen equipment. Quality will be high and they’ll have various styles to choose from to suit your taste, after all if you are living somewhere for up to a year it would be a much nicer experience to have an attractive sofa to sit on!

Meanwhile the storage facility at home will be taking good care of your personal possessions and furniture so you needn’t worry about them. Get some quotes from a number of storage facilities as prices can vary quite a lot, and check out what services they actually provide too, in terms of the sizes of the units available and if they have a promotion available for instance. You can save a lot of money just by taking the time to research and compare different facilities.

Storage facilities in Sydney are also very useful for those who have the itch to travel to foreign destinations in the later years of their life, perhaps when the kids have gone to college or they have retired. Generally older people already have a house full of possessions and furniture and don’t want to have to sell everything they’ve collected over the years, as they will be away just for a year or two the easy option is to put it into storage where it’s safe and looked after by professionals.

Removing Anxiety from Your Office Move

Going through an office relocation can be a stressful experience, so you will want to prepare as much as possible in order to make the move run smoothly. Creating a clear plan as to how the moving day, or few days, will work on a practical level, and researching as much as possible about what needs attending to before the move is the best way to decrease stress and save valuable working hours.

You should try:

• Researching and inquiring about storage and removal companies if your budget will allow it. This will make your life a lot easier as they will take care of all the details and organization involved.
• Make a list of office equipment that will be required at the new premises and start sorting through what doesn't need to go with you and whether it is to be sold, given away or thrown out.
• Put some items (especially furniture) in short term self storage if you have to leave the old premises before the new ones are ready.
• Give yourself and staff members plenty of time to prepare and carry out the move. If you rush then it can be harder to make a smooth transition to a new office.
• Make sure all the equipment and furniture will fit in your new office by making a floor plan and measuring all of your current and any new furniture you intend to buy.
• Ensure all the technical aspects are organized beforehand so they can be up and running from day 1. This includes printers and photocopiers as well as internet connection and telephone lines.
• Moving is similar to a new start, it means improvements can be made and upgrades instigated. Use this opportunity to get a better and faster internet provider if need be, or the latest PC models for the office.
• If you really don’t want any time wasted during the working week then consider moving over a weekend when most offices are closed and official business often gets put on hold.

Delegate a section of the office to each member of staff including responsibility for their own working space and desk. With the whole office delegated to someone the work load is shared and it should be much easier to pack up and move. If this doesn’t appeal to you then put together a moving committee, hand over their normal daily tasks to someone else, and give them responsibility for the move. They would have to be good organisers and very efficient individuals - have a preliminary meeting beforehand to run through the issues that need to be addressed and then a few progress reports before the moving day to check everyone is on track.

Moving Your Bedroom Items

When you are thinking of moving houses, you try to plan your way through from the time you knew about it and when you have secured the new place to move to. Then you try plan accordingly by tackling the bigger items first – you find some self storage facility near your new place to store your items, you book this new place giving an estimate of when you start and for how you would require the self storage facility. After which, you now stand in front of your major rooms to be cleaned, sorted and the items to be packed away. You seem not to be able to put a finger to which one you would like to start with, but decided you have really have to do it. The first stop is your ‘bedroom’.

The bedroom, apart from your kitchen, can be one of the trickiest rooms in your home to sort through, clean up and pack when you are moving house. You see in every corner of the room items that you have grown familiar with and not have the heart to throw these away, memorabilia that you are hoping to pass on to your children or the younger generation in your family, and some items that you just forgot to sort and clear out, but then you foresee that you have some use for these. But this is just a single room. What if you are part of a family with at least 4 members?

If you are in a family this means multiple rooms with clothing, personal belongings, toys and furniture. And you just can’t seem to know where to start. Take a deep breath and just close your eyes to calm yourself. Once you have done so, pick a box and label it ‘used in the past 6 months’, ‘not used at all’, and ‘will foresee using in the next month’. You sort your things in the way whether you have used these or not in the past 6 months. Chances are, those that you have used in the past 6 months, you will still use it but those that you have not touched in the past 6 months, you won’t even bother picking these up in the next month. Now, the tricky part is ‘foresee to use in the next month’. This will involve a bit of thinking and foresight, but once you got the hang of it (and still have lesser items in this box), then you are on the right track of clearing up your bedroom with unnecessary items. By clearing up, you will be able to save a lot of space in the self storage facility or in the usage of mobile storage later on.

In a gist, it is always an important step to first sort through clothing and personal items in each bedroom and decide what you can take with you, what can be given or thrown away and what can be placed in storage.

Once you are done with the items not stored in the clothing cabinets, then you can start sorting through the clothes in the same manner. You just have to make sure these are place and packed in marked boxes so they can be placed in the right room in your new home. Mark the boxes and number them accordingly, while you note these down on a notebook. This is just to keep track of the number of moving boxes you have when you move form the house to the storage facility near Sydney and to the new home.

It is also important to keep clothing boxes nice and sealed so they don't get dirty during the move. Ask the movers to keep them away from heaving boxes so that these won’t get crumpled during the move and while in self storage. Also put shoes in separate containers - you don't want your clothing to smell like feet!

Next clear out the linen and other bedding and pack any personal items in the room away so you are only left with the furniture. Make sure that the boxes containing the linen, which are going to get heavy, will not be placed on top of fragile items. You need to note or color code the boxes if these contain fragile items or not. It will help the movers and make it easier for them to organize among themselves, as well. Once done, your pieces of furniture can be wrapped properly by bubble wrap. Then, you can dismantle your bed so it is easier to move and start taking out any other pieces of furniture which should now be empty. Ensure that you label the bed parts and keep them together in one place. You do not want to arrive at the new home and not able to find the bed parts easily. It is hard to sleep on the floor for one night!

Moving the contents of the bedroom can be tricky, similar to the kitchen. But once you get the hang of it, it will be a breeze and you can repeat the same steps easily in any part of the room. It will just be easy as 1-2-3!