How To Prepare Fragile Items For Shipment

Moving can often be stressful and bring about nightmares to even the strongest of minds. Whether you are moving your entire house or just a fragile item, relying on just any mover or shipper will not do. Granted the goal is to get from point A to point B. But, you should never sacrifice any aspect of safety to ensure your items make it safely to their destination.

Therefore, be selective about who you hire to ship your item's. Make sure that the company you choose specializes in furniture or fragile items. Also, go online and check the reviews and see if they have a dependable history of providing the customers with excellent service and shipping capabilities. One thing to consider when choosing a shipping company is making sure that they are federally licensed by the United States Departmentof Transportation. If they are not, they are more than likely subpar and will not take care of your items correctly.

Once you have done your due diligence and have found a moving company, now is the time to shift your focus on preparing items for shipment. You want to make sure that you take the appropriate steps to package your items correctly. In fact, here are some tips on how you can make sure that your fragile item/items gets safely to its destination.

Tip #1: Contact Your Shipping Company Prior To Shipping Your Item

Often times fragile items require special shipping arrangements to keep them from getting damaged. So, contact your shipping company and ask them for advice on how to properly pack your fragile items to ensure their safety.

Tip #2: Choose The Correct Cardboard Box or Shipping Container

This step is vital to making sure your product is not damaged during shipment. There are dozens of varieties of cardboard boxes and shipping containers you can choose from. Make sure that whatever you decide on is sturdy and strong enough to keep your items safe. If you are unsure whether or not your cardboard box or shipping container is strong enough, double box it. This will provide extra safety during shipment. Also, make sure the box is slightly larger than the size of the item you plan to ship so you can include padding and cushioning for your item.

Tip #3: Padding Is A Must

This tip is pretty much nonnegotiable. During shipments your package will be subject to rough roads. So, in order to keep your items from bouncing around make sure that you use sufficient padding inside of the container to keep them secure. Wrapping your items in bubble wrap, old newspapers, or towels you can help fill the gaps in your cardboard boxes and provide ample cushioning to keep your items safe.

Tip #4: Use Labels

By labeling your box or container you can let the movers know that the item they are handling is fragile. Otherwise, they either may not be aware or will forget which boxes need to be handled more carefully than others.

Tip #5: Seal Your Parcels Properly

In order to prevent damage, you need to make sure that your parcels are sealed properly to prevent damage. Invest in quality shipping tape and make sure you use a liberal amount to ensure the seal is tight and that items don't fall out during shipment. Also, don't forget to add tape to the corners and seams of your package to prevent the box from falling apart.

Before you hand your package off to the movers, make sure that you inspect it thoroughly. Go ahead and slightly shake the box and listen for anything that may be moving around, or sounds like it's clanging together. If it does, open your box and repackage it. Also, invest in insurance. Just in case there is an accident or something was to happen to your shipment, you can file a claim and be compensated.

By taking the proper precautions and learning how to properly package your items, you can further ensure their safety on their journey. And help make sure they reach their destination in one piece.