Moving to a new home is always an exciting experience because you get an opportunity to explore new places and opportunities. However, it also brings a lot of stress to move your belongings. One of the biggest worries you have is protecting your furniture throughout the process.
Tables, chairs, beds, sofas and other pieces are not just big and heavy but also expensive and often hold special value. You will never want to damage it during the move. In this post, we will explore some effective strategies to protect the furniture.
Choose the Right Vehicle for the Move
It is among the most effective strategies to protect your furniture. You need a van that is large enough to carry big items without squeezing or stacking them poorly. A 3.5 Ton Luton van is often a great choice for moving a 2 or 3-room house. It has plenty of space to carry all your belongings. You can go for a 7.5-ton van if you have a lot of big furniture pieces.
Moreover, the shape of the van allows for easier loading and safer stacking of items. When furniture has enough space around it, the chances of damage are reduced. So, hiring the right-sized van can help protect your furniture before the move even begins.
Disassemble Pieces
If your furniture can be disassembled, it’s smart to do that. Beds, wardrobes, and large tables often come in pieces. Moving them in assembled shape can make them more prone to scratches and serious damage. When you take these apart, you can wrap each piece efficiently and carry them more easily. Make sure you keep all the screws and small parts in a labelled bag to avoid losing anything.
This will make both moving and setting things up again easier and safer. You can damage the furniture when disassembling or assembling it. Therefore, it’s recommended to hire professionals to handle this job. Some moving companies also offer this service. You can inquire about it before making the final call.
Load Furniture on Top
When loading your moving van, try to keep furniture items for last. As a result, they stay on top of the boxes and don’t get crushed or scratched by other heavy items. Once you reach the new place, take them out first.
Doing this reduces the time heavy items are kept on top and makes it easier to carry them inside. This little trick can help keep your furniture in better condition during both loading and unloading.
Use Blankets and Wraps
Covering your furniture helps protect it from scratches, dust, and small bumps. You don’t have to buy special materials for this purpose. Old blankets, towels, or bed sheets can be used to cover sofas, tables, or chairs.
For fragile items, such as mirrors or glass parts, you can use bubble wrap to give extra protection. Wrapping also stops parts from moving too much inside the van. This reduces the risk of damage to the furniture, even on uneven tracks.
Pay Attention to Weather Changes
The weather can change quickly in some areas. Rain or snow during a move can damage furniture, especially wooden items. Therefore, you should always check the weather forecast before moving day. If rain is expected, make sure you have plastic sheets or waterproof covers ready to protect your belongings.
Moreover, you should try to park the van as close to your house as possible. Apart from that, you should move things quickly but carefully. Even a few drops of water can leave marks or damage the furniture, so you need to be very careful about this.
Use Moving Straps and Sliders
Lifting furniture by hand can be hard and dangerous. It can also cause things to slip or hit door frames, which may break or scratch your furniture. You can buy or rent moving straps that help carry heavy items without putting too much pressure on your arms or back. Furniture sliders can also be placed under the legs to slide big items across the floor easily.
You can also opt for a 7.5 Ton Luton box van with tail lift. You can also go for a bigger one, especially if you have lots of heavy furniture. The hydraulic mechanism of the tail lift makes loading and unloading safer. It also reduces the chance of dropping or damaging large pieces. These tools help protect your furniture and even you or your movers from injury during the move.
Use Tape
Sometimes furniture has parts that can break or open during moving. For example, glass doors, drawers, or small shelves are fragile and more prone to damage. You can use painter’s tape or strong plastic wrap to hold these in place.
Moving furniture is no longer a big challenge. All you have to do is follow the aforementioned tips and strategies.
