The last couple of years have been hectic, especially in the world of moving and relocating. Millions of people are leaving in search of greener pastures. What does this all mean? If you get a job offer in another place, you will have to move from your present home to another one. This involves packing all your belongings, loading them into a truck, and transporting them to another location, sometimes with just a moment’s notice. Out of all the objects that need moving, furniture items are perhaps the most difficult and tedious to relocate. The following are ways you can prepare and move furniture with ease.
Different Categories
Furniture can be divided into two basic types: heavy and light furniture. Examples of heavy furniture are:
- Beds
- Dining tables
- Futons
- Couches and sofas
- Dressers
Examples of light furniture are:
- Work desks and bedside tables
- Chairs
- Ottomans and poufs
- Footstools and small ladders
- Strollers
To Keep or not to Keep
Before thinking about how to move each piece of furniture, the first question that needs to be answered is, which furniture items are you planning on taking with you? Ask yourself what you need and what is worth the hassle of moving to a new home. Once you decide what to keep, you can donate the rest. Some non-profit groups will even come to your place and take away furniture free of cost.
Moving Large Furniture
Moving large furniture can be tricky, requiring some planning before execution. The best-case scenario would be if you can disassemble the furniture. If taking it apart is an option, then make sure smaller items such as nuts, bolts, or screws are packed in bags and attached to the furniture to prevent loss. You should wrap each piece of furniture to prevent any damage while moving. It may even be a good idea to take pictures of individual parts to help keep track of things.
If the furniture cannot disassemble, then the main thing to keep in mind is to wrap it for protection. Items like couch cushions and dressing drawers can be wrapped and carried separately. When loading time comes, heavy furniture that cannot disassemble should be loaded first. As far as wrapping material is concerned, the most popular items are:
- Bubble wrap
- Cloth
- Plastic stretch wrap
- Sealing and packing tape
- Cardboard
Light Furniture Transportation
The good news regarding light furniture is that it is easier to move. In some cases, you may not need to disassemble them. However, if you need to take them apart, keeping track of small items like wheels, screws, etc., will be the main thing to keep in mind. As with large furniture disassembly, you should put all relevant items in a bag and tape them with the furniture, so they don’t get separated. If assembly instructions are available, then don’t forget to include them.
Honorable Mentions
One of the most important things you need to do before moving furniture is to take measurements. Make sure your new home and the transportation method have the space to accommodate everything you take. Taking measurements will also give you an idea of the size of the vehicle you use to transport. It is always better to err on the side of caution before taking furniture to another location. After all, nobody wants to move a bed or large table cross-country only to find that it will not fit through a door or hallway. This is also a good time to consider getting handy moving accessories such as dolly’s, skid mats, gliders, lifting straps, and wheels. You will need these to move heavy items. Using moving accessories will not only make things a lot easier but safer as well.
When loading the vehicle, it is important to separate the large items from the small ones to prevent damage. If you need to combine them, never put smaller objects below the heavier ones since they could get damaged or destroyed. You should place long items such as headboards, tabletops, and dressing mirrors upright and vertically on the truck.
