Packing up your house can be a long and arduous task, but when your home is sold, it’s necessary to get everything out—and we’re talking everything! That means every item in the garage, basement and attic—some of which you may not have touched since you initially moved in.
You hopefully did some good research to find a reputable moving company that should keep your items safe, but there are always stories about people who lose things during a move, or when unpacking, find things broken.
That’s why sometimes it makes more sense to move certain items yourself. Here are some things you should consider not putting on the moving truck:
Personal Documents
Do you have a file with birth certificates, immunization records, financial papers and other important documents from throughout your life? Most of this is a pain to get new copies of, so you’re probably better off putting all the files in a box and keeping it with you as you make your move.
Old Photos
Unlike today, where your photos are most likely on thumb drives, in the cloud or simply still on your phone and can easily be printed, many people still have old photos in photo albums from the days of negatives and film. These are priceless and unless you’ve taken the time to have everything digitized, you’ll want to make sure they arrive at your new home without incident. Again, putting them in a box and taking with you makes a lot of sense.
Collectibles
Maybe you have a collection of baseball cards, stamps, comic books or coins. Unless it’s a massive collection—in which case you probably have insurance on them anyway—some people choose to transport these items to a new home themselves. You might not want to risk a mover handling the collection improperly and discovering your collection goes down in value. And yes, a mover would be responsible for any damage, but the sentimental value will be lost.
Jewelry
Historically, jewelry “disappearances” are the most common items lost in moves, so you might not want to risk putting your antique earrings or special bracelet you got as an anniversary present on the moving truck. Load up your jewelry in a jewelry box and pack it safely in your car or carry-on to travel to your new destination.
Grand Piano
Now, you certainly won’t be moving this yourself, but if you have a grand piano, you’re most likely better off hiring a company that specializes in moving these, rather than just allowing your moving company to do it. This takes an experienced hand to do properly.
