The moving process generates a lot of stress. One of the biggest stress creators is worrying about how to protect your home and belongings during the move. How can you reduce the odds of property theft? How can you protect the floors and walls at your new home? Keep reading for six things you can do to protect what’s yours.
1. Label by Room and Colors
Labeling your boxes by room and color helps keep things organized. Plus, it provides a handy visual reference for when the boxes get unloaded into your new house. This system also helps avoid casual theft. It’s easy to spot and take valuables if a box is labeled electronics, jewelry, or gaming system.
2. Carry Valuables with You
Some items are so important that should never leave your possession. Pack birth certificates, social security cards, passports and important jewelry in something you plan to keep with you. Depending on how many documents you must transport, you can probably get away with a file folder box that goes with you. You can also get a locking briefcase or even a small safe if you want extra security.
3. Floor Coverings
Moving in is hard on any floor. Carpet gets dirty, and it’s hard to roll a dolly over. Hardwood gets scratched. Tiles chip or crack. In the case of carpet and hardwood, plastic floor coverings go a long way toward avoiding stains and scratches. Cloth does a better job on tile, so consider putting down some old sheets.
4. Wall Coverings
Walls can take a beating during a move-in, especially when people get tired or hurried. Hanging old sheets up on walls where space is tight can prevent casual scratches in the paint. Blunting the sharp edges of furniture with foam or towels helps prevent scratches and holes.
5. New Locks
You can never be entirely certain who might have copies of the keys for your new front and back doors. It’s advisable to get new locks for all exterior doors. If you replace all the locks with the same brand, you can rekey the locks so the same key works on all the doors.
6. Tracking Devices
If you’re especially worried or want to make your move feel like a spy movie, consider planting a couple of trackers in your boxes. Most work off of Bluetooth, GPS or Cell-ID and feed location data to an app on your phone or tablet. At the least, you’ll know if your boxes arrived where they were supposed to arrive.
Protecting your belongings and home during a move can prove a challenge, but it’s a manageable challenge. The right box labeling strategy will reduce the odds of casual theft, and tracking devices can tell you where your belongings ended up. Transporting important documents yourself ensures they’ll get to where you need them. Judicious use of floor coverings, wall coverings, and padded furniture corners will protect your floors and walls.