For many of us, moving furniture from one location to another can be a bit of a nerve-wracking experience. We invest a lot of money in our sofas, pianos, and antique tables, and we don’t want the removal process to wreck them.
Fortunately, there are a number of strategies you can use to protect your furniture when you move. Here’s what to do:
Hire a removal company that specialises in safe furniture transport
In the past, removal companies would throw all your possessions in the back of a truck and then hope for the best. They rarely took precautions.
These days, though, things are changing. More services are now offering so-called safe furniture removal. Removalists receive training on how to safely carry, stow and unload valuable items of furniture from trucks, without causing damage.
Check your removal company’s website. Ideally, it should highlight their ability to perform safe furniture removals (including things like grand pianos). It should also detail how operatives transport items without causing damage (such as using special harnesses to keep them in place or using foam padding).
Store valuable furniture separately
Furniture often gets damaged during a move because it is packed alongside other items in the truck which rub up against it. Tables, chairs, sofas and other items can wind up scratched or ripped when they reach their destination.
For this reason, many people use storage units in Leeds. They transport valuable furniture to these facilities before removalists arrive. They then hold them there until they are ready to deliver them to their new accommodation.
Storage is safe and secure. Operators provide perimeter fencing, CCTV and, in some cases, on-site patrols to ensure people’s property is safe. Owners are then free to collect their items when it suits them. They are allowed to pay for as much storage as they need, for as long as they need it.
Disassemble before transport
Lastly, you may want to consider disassembling your furniture before transporting it. This allows for safer handling (because removalists can easily pick it up), and better packing. It’s easier, for instance, to bubblewrap a table leg than it is to wrap an entire table.
After you disassemble furniture, take a photograph of each item. Keep a record of what it looks like visually so you can claim insurance in the event of damage.
If possible, remove any protruding elements on your furniture — such as table legs and stands as these are likely to get caught in doorways. Also, remove any glass elements from your tablets and cabinets if possible, as they are easily cracked or shattered during transport.
Most furniture items are held together by screws. Collect these parts and keep them in labelled plastic zip bags so you can easily reassemble them when you arrive at your destination.
