Moving is a task that from the surface appears daunting and overwhelming but with just a few simple tips you can preserve your valuables and keep them in good shape throughout the moving process.

First off, compile all your heavy items and make separate boxes for them. Put heavy items such as books and files in one box. Put in light and soft items in small boxes. Place blankets, comforters and pillows in bigger boxes. Make sure you don’t use large boxes for packing heavy items because this is a common complaint of professional moving companies. This increases the chances of heavy items breaking by swishing around in the box.

When you’re loading the truck place heavier boxes towards the front of the truck. This ensures balance. Place all the light boxes on top of the heavy boxes. Make sure no heavy box is placed upon a light box because while the truck is in transit, the box will slip off and break.

For loosely packed boxes, use towels or clothing to fill in the gaps. Many times, despite getting perfect sized cheap moving boxes, you are left with some spaces to fill up. You can easily manage this by using any soft, foldable fabric. This also adds protection to the item. Movers do not move boxes that feel unbalanced and loosely packed.

For each room, try making separate boxes. This will help you save time and keep you organized. In your new home you can simply deliver the boxes to their destination room and unpack and organize things there. This will make everything a lot easier.

To keep track of your inventory, label each box in a number sequence. Also, add to the labels the room it is supposed to reach in the new house. Add a description of contents. Labeling boxes is a very useful tip because not only does it allow you to ensure you have all the boxes, it also lets you know what contents are inside them. This also makes it easier for the movers to move boxes around.

Make sure you tape your boxes properly, especially along the top and bottom seams. You can also use wraps around the boxes if there are carrying fragile items. This will also remind the mover to move with care.

In order to move expensive and delicate art items, you’ll need special crating. You can inquire your movers about this. There are also custom built cardboards that fit right to the size with frame protecting features as well. This ensures the corners of your painting or mirror’s frame are well covered and protected from offloading impact. Also, never wrap oil paintings in regular paper, use bubble wrap instead. For glass frames, draw an X using masking tape. This will hold it together in case it shatters.

Use packing paper around each dish as you pack it up, follow this with wrap bundles. You can repeat the steps as many times as you like to ensure your dishes are thoroughly packed and protected from unforeseen damage. When you place dishes in the box, pack them on their sides instead of laying them flat. Before this use a lot bubble sheets, soft foam etc as padding at the bottom and top of the dishes. Pack cups and bowls inside each other with paper and bubble wrap in between each of them. Pack them in dish barrel boxes.

Movers ship TVs like they handle any other piece of furniture. You must ensure plasma TVs are packed with special wooden crates. They can be ruined if you lay them flat. If you’re packing using normal frame protected or cheap moving boxes, double pack your boxes and use heavy padding and packing paper.