Moving with Home Electronics

When moving with electronics, whether it is a local or an interstate move, organizing the transition of your electronics seems to be one of the most troublesome tasks. While clothing is easy to pack and move, electronics are easy to damage during transportation. High tech gadgets are quite sensitive to their environment.

Moving with Home Electronics – Checklist

Get enough moving boxes and packing materials. The best scenario is to find the original boxes of your electronics, but if you can’t find them, buy special boxes (for each electronic device). Some moving service providers provide even packing materials rental – this is a cost-effective solution. Use larger, double-walled boxes.

Start packing your electronic devices at least a couple of days before the moving day. Don’t leave the packing for the last minute. If you are packing your home electronics on the moving day, there is a great chance to mess up as you’ll be in a hurry to finish the packing timely.

Dismantle and pack your items one by one. See, if you dismantle a couple of your items, there is a great chance to mishandle the cables and the screws of the different electronics when packing.

Find the manufacturer’s manual before you start dismantling your electronics. Read the manufacturer guide carefully and follow the instructions meticulously. If you don’t keep the manual simply look for it on Internet. Look through manufacturer website and see if you can download the item manual.

If any device that has a toner or ink cartridge, remove the toner or the ink cartridge and put it in a sealable plastic bag. Place the bag in the same box with the device that it was removed from. Remove all discs from your CD and DVD player/s before packing to avoid scratches to your disks and damage to the laser in your player. Put your discs in plastic cases and then in a box. If the device has a remote control, make sure it goes in the same box with the electronic device.

Before unplugging and dismantling your devices, make a photo of each device. This will help you when you connect your devices again in the new location. Before disconnecting any wires or cables, mark the wire or the cable and the corresponding port with the same labels. For example, use numbers – identical numbers stands for corresponding cable and port.

Use bubble wrapping to secure each electronic device. After wrapping your electronics, put them in larger, double or triple-walled box. Fill the empty place in the box with peanuts or at least with some packing paper. This will protect your electronics in case of a collision.

Label all of your boxes with electronics. Do not forget the “fragile”. Also, note “this side up”. When movers come on the moving day, they’ll pay extra attention on these boxes. Electronics must be handled carefully.

Moving Electronics – Movers

If you are moving with many electronics, mind that electronic devices are sensitive to their environment, and hence they must be transported in climate-controlled vans or if needed – stored in climate-controlled storage unit. Temperature shouldn’t fall below 15 degrees F or increase above 120 degrees F. The humidity in the van/storage unit shouldn’t fall below 10% or exceed 90%.

When contacting movers, ask if the moving truck/storage unit will be climate-controlled. Work with a professional moving company.

One that maintains a clean record in the FMCSA database (no safety violations) and have good reputation. Check some review websites and find the highest rated moving companies.

Last but not least – think about insurance. Do not go for the basic value protection (free of charge) that offers coverage for $0.60 per pound per item. Ask movers for the Full Value Protection.

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