How to Avoid Scratches, Dents & Divorce When Moving Furniture

How to Avoid Scratches, Dents & Divorce When Moving Furniture

Moving is one of the main stressors in life, but there are moving tips and tricks that will make it a bit easier. These tips and tricks will not only help you avoid scratches and dents in your floors, walls, and furniture, but in your relationships, too.

Everyone Needs to Be on the Same Page
Moving is about things and expectations. Everyone moving into the new space will have a vision of what the new digs should be; this means the purpose of each room and where all of the stuff will go. But rarely will participants be in sync. Because we think moving is easy, there are scarcely ever pre-moving discussions about the function of each room.

Room functions seem pretty obvious, but they are not. A kitchen is often not just where the cooking happens. Today’s kitchens have become entertainment venues, catch-alls, where bills get paid, and where the homework gets done. Is there a place for everything related to these uses? Probably not.

Take a little time to discuss room function and space planning. It will make packing and directing movers on the day of the move much easier.
 
Packing to Avoid Breakage, Dings, and Scratches 
Putting as much as you can into every box is not as efficient or effective as you think.  Boxes are not cheap, but packing correctly for a move with plenty of boxes will save you money in the end because there will be less breakage of valuable items, both financially valuable and sentimentally so.

Each box needs lots of padding on the top, bottom, and sides. If you are packing china, make sure that nothing is touching each other. This is the same for any other glass items. Also, pack plates on their sides instead of in a stack, as that makes them the strongest.

Put heavy items in smaller boxes, and lighter items that won’t break in bigger boxes. Make sure to line boxes containing liquids with a plastic garbage bag.

Tips About Moving Stuff Around
DO NOT DRAG BOXES. Someone is bound to say that a cardboard box is not going to scratch your floor, but it will. Never drag anything on a hardwood floor. Everything must be picked up and placed.

Furniture needs a felt round on the bottom of each leg if it is going to slide around on a wood floor. There are also sliders that will make moving much easier. But never move without a dolly and some good old-fashioned muscle. There is always going to be heavy stuff, like that handmade table that is a family heirloom. Delicate strength is needed to move it without damage.

However, when moving furniture, sometimes it is going to take more finesse than strength. Chairs and couches can mean lifting, twisting, and turning. Make sure to pad doors with mover pads, and cover vulnerable floors with cardboard boxes or ram board. The investment will protect walls and flooring. And when dealing with stairs, sometimes ceilings.

A Chance to Minimize
Research shows that we have steadily increased both the amount of possessions we own and the size of our homes. Did you know that before the 1960s there was no such thing as a storage facility, but the business has exploded since the 1990s. We all own too much stuff.

Moving is a great opportunity to downsize the amount of stuff you own. Wouldn’t it be nice to fill the new space with just items you love, or absolutely need for a specific purpose?

Clutter drains us and it also causes as much strain on relationships as moving does. New homes are chances for a new start. As you are packing, it is easy to pack additional boxes marked “DONATION” and “SELL.” Take them off to your favorite charity or the local consignment shop before the first moving truck arrives.

Make a Written Plan
Before moving day, know where everything is going to go in the new space — furniture and boxes. Draw a floor plan for furnishings. If you can, do it to scale to make sure that furniture fits. The less you move furniture and heavy items the less likely you will have scratched wood floors, broken tile, stained carpet, and slashed vinyl.

When you pack, label each box according to the room it will go into in the new location. If you are using a moving company, then movers can read the label and easily get things into the correct rooms. Same if you are using friend power.

Use multiple labels. One will note the room, one will describe what is in the box, and then add another if items are fragile, or should not be crushed. 

Celebrate Your Move
When it is all done, celebrate. You deserve it! All your planning and organizing has paid off, decreasing the chance of damage, both personal and to floors, furniture, and walls.