Moving anywhere for any reason is a huge, stressful job. Unfortunately, there are circumstances, such as when you are forced to make a move due to a job change or other reasons that can make things worse. If there is a mitigating factor, however, it’s the fact that in a process that is often riddled with chance, there are many things that you can closely oversee to getting what you own where you want to go, and in good condition. Primary among these is moving furniture.
Let’s face it. Your furniture is probably the largest single investment that you make in filling your home. And some of these pieces can be very expensive, not to mention delicate and, therefore, easy to damage. There is probably no mover who doesn’t have some horror stories to tell about time a mover dropped their child’s swing set on the top of a dining room table, which left scratches and gouges on the surface. The good news in this is that with a little care and some forethought, you can prevent these mishaps or, at least, minimize the chances that they will happen to you and your furniture. Here are just a few tips:
Make a note. The best way to prevent damage from happening on your way to wherever you are going is to make notes on the condition of all your furniture. This might sound tedious, but it will save you considerable trouble as well as prevent unpleasant surprises when you finally unpack at your new home. If there are no scratches in the top of your dining table, make a note of it. If all of the legs to your child’s trundle bed are present and accounted for, make a note of it. When your furniture arrived and any of these conditions are different, you have someplace to start asking questions.
Share observations. As movers pack your possessions, keep them informed that you have made notes of damage–or lack thereof–in your furniture. Nothing is worse, at least from a mover’s perspective than a comparison of notes made about the condition of furniture and both the mover and his client agreed that when a piece of furniture left a point of origin such as Salt Lake City, Utah, it was in good order, only to find that it was damaged when it arrived.
Pack well. As much as possible, try to keep an eye on how your furniture is protected as it leaves your home. If you don’t think that something is adequately protected, say so, and don’t let it leave until it is covered like you think it should be. Try not to be picky and overbearing when you do this, but remember that these are your possessions and you have every tight to know that they will arrived at your destination in good order.
If movers have one claim in common, it’s the fact that they will treat your furniture as if it was their own. Make them keep their word by keeping track of what they do. You will be a much happier mover as a result.