How to Keep Your Possessions Safe During a Move to a New Home

Moving is a time-consuming, physically exhausting and emotionally draining experience. You have to uproot your entire life, and some how move all of your possessions from one part of the world to another. Usually you have to find a moving company and start a new job in the process. The kids have to start at a new school and find a new set of friends. It's not going to be fun by any means, but by taking a few wise steps, you can protect yourself and your stuff.

When dealing with a moving company, get a binding estimate in advance that specifies the cost of the movie. This will prevent the moving company from doing any sort of bait-and-switch on the pricing. Make sure that the mover that you select is a member of the American Moving and Storage Association's Certified Mover Program. This means that they will have jumped through all of the necessary hoops to prove that they're a quality mover and will handle your possessions with care.

In order to protect all of your possessions, buy replacement value insurance on them in the event that something breaks when the move occurs. Before you go with a moving company, make absolutely sure there's a clear understanding as to what would happen in the event that something breaks in the move, especially when you've packed it yourself.

After the mover drops off the furniture at your new home, don't sign any sort of release until you've carefully examined your furniture piece by piece. You don't want to certify that your furniture is in good condition only to find out there's a problem you didn't realize.

If you have crystal, china, or any other valuable items which are delicate, the best way to move them is to pack them yourself, wrap them up real nice, use bubble wrap and Styrofoam peanuts. That will help protect them against any impacts that might happen. Move these in your own car, that way you know exactly what's happening to them.

If you decide to move yourself (and risk your back in the process), be careful about what you get for moving materials. You'll usually save money by renting a truck from a rental company and then buying your own boxes and other packaging materials form another vendor. Generally truck rentals are cheaper in the middle of the month and during the middle of the week, so if you move on one of those dates you can often save some money.