Toasting to your new home seems like the perfect way to end a long day of moving. That is until you open the box to find your champagne glasses in pieces.

Moving fragile items can be tricky. Not only do you want to keep treasured heirlooms and valuable pieces intact, but you also want to hold on to the memories that come with them.

To make sure you get everything to your new place in one piece, let’s look at five tips to help you move fragile items the right way.

1. Gather the Right Supplies

Set yourself up for packing success by having the right supplies ahead of time. Fragile items need things such as bubble wrap, packing paper, sturdy packing tape, pliable cardboard, and scissors.

Blankets and pillows make for excellent supplemental packing protection. Plus, you’ll need to pack them anyway, so they’ll be pulling double duty.

And make sure your boxes are sturdy. If you are using repurposed boxes, keep in mind that cardboard tends to weaken over time, which can spell disaster for heavier fragile items.

2. Wrap Everything Individually

Placing all your dishes in one box and calling it good won’t ensure they make it to your new home in one piece. Individual protection is key for fragile items.

Wrap each item in bubble wrap or quality packing paper. For flat items such as plates or picture frames, put a layer of protection between each one. Crumpled packing paper should fill hollow objects, such as wine glasses.

For extra protection, wrap items in pliable cardboard and secure with tape.

3. Leave No Wiggle Room

You don’t want your fragile items to knock into each other when moving. Even when dishes are wrapped, chips and breakage can occur.

With every box you pack, don’t leave any wiggle room inside. Fill empty spaces with crumpled packing paper, blankets, or pillows. It also helps to use specialty storage or moving boxes for a custom fit.

Placing padding both below and above fragile items also gives some cushion while keeping things snug and secure.

4. Don’t Overload

Packing as much into a box as you can seems like a space and time saver. Though, it’s a different story when moving fragile items.

Resist the temptation to overload a box. Try to pack heavier fragile items into a smaller box by itself. Lighter things can go in a bigger box. That’s why having a variety of box sizes to choose from is an excellent idea for any move.

5. Mark Boxes Clearly

When it comes to moving fragile items, you can’t communicate fragile contents enough. Label it “loud” for everyone to see!

Mark each fragile box clearly. If you need to, use bright-colored markers and write it large on every surface.

It’s also a good idea to keep fragile boxes away from the other items. That way they won’t get confused with the “regular” boxes and get handled roughly by accident.

Keep Your Move in One Piece When Moving Fragile Items

Blending old memories with new ones is what moving is all about. By using these fragile item moving tips, you can successfully bring all those delicate heirloom pieces into the new home you love.

Want to know how we can make your next move easier? Contact us with your questions! We’ll even give you a free estimate.

14% of the US population moves every single year. 

Moving is quite a feat on its own. However, how many people do it with kids in tow too? It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the process of moving with kids can be more stressful than without.

In this article, we’ll look at ways in which you can cut down the stress and ensure moving is as enjoyable as possible for both you and your kids.

Let’s look at a few ideas:

1. Make a Detailed Plan

Developing a detailed plan is necessary to make sure you’re on schedule to relocate. With kids, you need to schedule more time to get everything ready!

Whether it’s pen stains on the wall or dirty footprints above a bunk bed, you’re bound to find inconvenient marks that your children have left on your home. 

Factor these into your moving process. Also, ask yourself questions such as:  

• How many months do I need to get everything done?
• How am I going to sell the items I don’t want?
• Who can help me with the move?

It’s never too early to start asking for help, buying boxes, and getting your kids used to the idea of moving.

Discuss the moving plan with your family.  An open discussion will help your kids adjust to the upcoming changes.

2. Involve the Kids with Packing

Allow your children to be part of the moving process so that they feel empowered. Helping with the packing process may help them come around to the idea of moving.

Give them specific tasks that you can help control. You might need to do some of the real packing when they aren’t around, however.

Consider leaving your kids rooms until the end of the process so that you can donate things they don’t use without them noticing or getting upset.

3. Ask for Help from Friends and Family

Everyone knows that moving is hard and requires time. So, ask your friends and family for help. 

While you’re packing and clearing out the house, have your kids go over to their friend’s houses or their grandparent’s. 

This way, they’re occupied, out of your hair, and you can focus on what needs to get done. 

You may also want to consider asking friends and family to help you pack. The moving date will creep up on you, have people ready to help towards this date!

4. Keep a Bag of Toys

To ensure your kids are happy and adjust well to the many changes around them, keep a bag of their favorite toys with them and available. 

They can help pack this bag up and put it in the car next to them. This way, they won’t be feeling lost and overwhelmed when they can’t sleep with Mr. Penguin.

Better yet, you won’t need to be stressing about where Mr. Penguin is when you arrive in your new house!

5. Say Goodbye to the House

Yes, tears will be shed, but saying goodbye to your home can help bring your entire family a sense of closure. You should also say goodbye to neighbors (and their pets!) to help your kids move on.

Go around each room and talk about the happy memories you had in that room. Show your children that moving is a big deal for you too, but it’s the right thing to do. 

Discuss why you are moving with them to help them to understand. 

Moving with Kids Requires Patience 

Moving with kids is not an easy task. But it’s necessary. If your children get upset during the process, the best thing you can do is be understanding. 

Factor in time so that if it all becomes too much for your kids, you can take a break from the packing and go out to do something “fun.” 

Alternatively, you could hire professionals who will move the process along much faster than you can yourself. Contact us today if you need help moving with kids.

Moving is no doubt one of the most stressful life events. 

It doesn’t have to be, however. If you plan accordingly and get things in order with plenty of time to spare, moving can be a relatively pain-free experience.

If you’re preparing to move, there are several steps you should take to make the process go as smoothly as possible. By following these steps, you’ll make the whole experience much smoother.

Here’s a quick look at how to get ready for your next big move.

Create a Moving Plan

The first thing you should do is get organized with a moving plan. 

Your plan should include a moving checklist complete with a timeline. Everyone’s timeline will be unique based on their move-in date. 

Stay organized with a designated moving binder in which you can keep your moving related paperwork, including contracts, receipts, notes, and to-do lists. By visually organizing your move, you will keep track of things as they happen. 

Decide the Logistics

It might be overwhelming to contemplate moving all of your belongings from one house to another, particularly if you are moving to another state.

You have a few options to manage a move, including moving things yourself with the help of family and friends, shipping your items, or hiring professional movers. Each of these alternatives falls at a different price point, so no matter your budget, there’s an ideal option for you. 

Start researching moving companies and request estimates. If you plan to move during the summer, contact companies at least three months before the move since summer tends to be the busiest time of the year for moving.

Set Up a Budget

Legal fees, real estate agent fees, mortgage fees; the list of things you’ll need to pay for during your move can seem endless.

Make sure your costs don’t spiral out of control by establishing a realistic moving budget at the outset. If you stick to your budget, then you won’t have the additional stress of suddenly having to find more money in the middle of your move.

Declutter

Before you begin packing, declutter. Don’t waste time and money moving things that you no longer need. Reduce your stress and lighten your workload.

Go through each room, closet, and storage space and determine if there are things you can eliminate. Sell or donate items you no longer need or are no longer useful to you.

Take measurements of your new house and phase out any furniture that won’t fit or you know you won’t use.

Preparing for a Lakeland or Tampa Area Move

If you’re in the process of preparing to move out, then we can help.

We have decades of experience in professional household moves. We’ll pair you with a residential relocation professional who will listen to your needs and offer a free written estimate. We’re ready to help you make your move.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

Congratulations on selling your home!

Soon, you’ll join the 40 million people each year who can proudly say they’ve moved and made a new start.

As exciting as the process is, moving can also be stressful, especially if you have little ones or pets.

Tack on the possibility of home repairs, repainting, and moving expenses and you’ve got a lot on your plate!

Not to worry, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Here are five tips for moving into a new house.

1. Moving and Packing

Packing is, by far, the most time-consuming process when it comes to moving.

It can take weeks to get your entire home packed if you’re juggling work and other responsibilities. Give yourself six weeks to pack up.

So before you move, make sure you’ve planned out your packing schedule — even if you’re hiring a company to help out.

Stay organized and come up with a checklist to help you keep track of what still needs packing.

It might be an extra step right now, but it’s part of the process that will help keep you on track.

2. Home Repairs and Upgrades

Finding a new home is exciting. Finding a new home that needs a healthy dose of repairs, on the other hand, is quite a bit more stressful.

As you budget for your move, don’t forget to account for any home repairs, cleaning, or upgrades you’re considering.

3. School Systems, Shopping, and Entertainment

It’s always a good idea to get to know the new area before making the move.

Scoping out fun things to do, or your kids’ new schools, can make the idea of moving to a whole new area a bit less daunting.

If you’re moving long distance and can’t make it out to the new neighborhood before the move –thanks to the Internet, you can still do some research.

Hop on Google Maps and take a virtual tour of your new neighborhood. It’s like you’re already there!

4. Emotional Adjustments

Even if you’re excited about your upcoming move, it’s normal to feel melancholy about leaving your old home. Just remember that those early memories aren’t going anywhere.

Moves can be especially tough on young children. Studies show that moving as a child can have an impact that lasts into adulthood.

Be extra patient with your children.

Distract them by making a game out of packing or talking about all of the fun and exciting things that await them at their new home.

Give them time to say goodbye, too. Plan a special day where they and their friends get to hang out one last time before the move.

5. Change of Address

Finally, spend a few minutes double-checking your change of address forms.

Forward your mail, update your insurance, and contact your bank to let them know about the move.

Practical Tips for Moving into a New House

There’s a lot to think about when moving into a new home. We hope these tips have helped make the process a little bit easier.

If you’re curious to learn more tips for moving into a new house or want some help planning an upcoming move, get in touch! We’d be happy to give you with a free estimate so you can avoid any surprises.