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.
