Moving is a process that uproots your life from one location and takes it to another location. There are a few things more stressful than moving. When you move, you need to pack most or all of your property. This is not an easy task as each type of item you own will require a special mode of packing to ensure adequate protection.
We live in an age of technology and for this reason; a lot of people have a lot of electronic devices to pack when moving. Televisions, laptops, computers, tablets, video game systems, and stereo equipment are all electronic devices. These devices cost a lot of money and you need to make sure that they are protected all through your packing and moving process.
Here are a few tips to help you when packing your electronics in preparation for a move.
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Sort Your Electronics
By nature, electronics are delicate things to move. It is therefore important for you to move with only essentials. It might be a better financial decision for you to sell some devices and buy them when you get to your new location. Go through your electronic devices and determine the ones you really need to move with. You will even find that there are a lot of devices that you do not need at all. Sell them or donate them. Try as much as possible to reduce the number of electronics you have to move with.
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Make Use of the Product manual
It’s best for you to follow the manufacturers’ advice for packing electronics. The manufacturer of an electronic device knows the most about what it takes to protect the product. So, ensure to go through the owner’s manual. If you cannot find the product manual that came with the device, you can check the website of the company. The website will definitely have useful information about the device you need to move.
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Use the original product boxes and materials for packing
If you saved the original boxes your devices came in, it will be best for you to use it to pack the device. These boxes are made and used by the manufactures to keep devices before purchase. They are usually custom made boxes and are very effective in packing and repacking these devices. You might not find packing materials that fit as well as the original product boxes. There are other materials that are put in product boxes to protect the devices in the box. If you have these things, they will be very useful for you when you want to move.
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Get important packing materials
If you do not have the original packing materials available, you will need to get some essential moving supplies to pack them. You will start with these essentials: sturdy cartons, newsprint for wrapping things up, tape, scissors, and felt-tip markers to the number and label each box.
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Disassemble Your Devices
You will need to disassemble your electronic devices before packing them for a move. Take out the batteries in all your electronic devices – appliances and their remotes. Batteries can overheat and get damaged during the move if left in the device. This might have an adverse effect on your device. So, remove batteries to protect the device and the battery. Eject CDs from your device and tape the device shut. If you have a printer, eject the cartridges and wrap your printer appropriately for a move.
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Have a Code for Packing Cords
When you have disassembled your electronic devices, you will need to deal with the connecting cords. Many electronics such as computers, television, stereos, and other devices have a lot of connecting cords. You will need to develop a code for sorting out the cord so you do not mix them up. The easiest code will be to use a color code. Use colored stickers to mark each cord and the same color sticker where the cord connects to the device. This will save you the stress of trying to figure out which cord goes where when you are unpacking and reassembling your electronics.
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Control the Storage Temperature
Many electronic devices are sensitive to temperature. Devices like computers and television sometimes need to be stored in temperature-controlled units. You can find this information on the product manual or contact the manufacturer or your storage facility. It is advisable to use the recommended storage temperature when moving to avoid the possibility of damage to your electronic device.
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Wrap Your Electronics Devices
It’s important to wrap your devices. You can wrap your devices using moving supplies such as bubble wraps, moving papers, and even old towels. This helps to protect the devices and minimize the possibility of damage that can be caused by moving electronic devices. If you do not wrap the devices, you can use bubble wrap or moving paper to cushion the boxes before placing the device in the box and then use the same thing to fill the top of the box before sealing the box. Where the device is one that has a screen, do not use paper to wrap it. Use a bubble wrap as this is more effective for the protection of glass. Each device will need unique care when wrapping. Ensure to protect them properly.
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Use Quality Packing Tape
When you have placed the items in moving boxes, seal the boxes and label them appropriately. Seal the boxes completely with quality packing tape to secure the boxes properly.
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Label Appropriately
It is also important that you label the boxes containing your electronics as fragile. In addition to that, use a marker to indicate what item is inside the box. This will also help the movers to be careful when handling boxes that contain electronics.
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Make a Record
You will need a general inventory list. However, it is important to make a list of the electronics you are moving with. You will also need a record to show how you disassembled the electronic device. This will be useful for your unpacking when you need to assemble the devices.
