We all have different hobbies. And over time, hobbies have a tendency to evolve into passions. One of the most popular, if not the most popular hobby, is certainly collecting different items. People collect a lot of different things. From stamps, coins, and figures, to beach rocks and concert tickets. And to each person, their collection is priceless. Some of them are purely sentimental, whole others can actually have a very big monetary value. So, it comes as no surprise that they get very nervous when the time comes to prepare collectibles for moving. Before you hand your precious items to your residential movers, they need to be safely packed. If you spend a lot of time and money on building a collection, you want to make sure that it arrives at the new location exactly as it left the old one.
With this text, we aim to help you with your task of preparing your precious collectibles for the move. From packing materials to ways of handling specific items, we’ll try to give you a closer look at the packing process needed to safely prepare everything for the big move. It may seem like a difficult task, but if you stay organized and follow these tips, everything will be just fine.
You can’t prepare collectibles for moving without quality materials
If you’re planning a move soon, you’ve probably already figured out that you’ll face a few challenges along the way. However, if you are dealing with fragile collectibles, the challenges seem a bit more serious. However, if you pack everything the right way, your items will not be harmed. Here is what you need to consider when it comes to the materials.
Good boxes make a world of difference
You might think that a box is just a box and that they are all the same. If that’s the case, you couldn’t be more wrong. A good box is made out of corrugated cardboard, instead of the regular type. Boxes made out of corrugated cardboard offer more support and can handle more weight. In addition, moving boxes Ontario last much longer compared to the regular, cheaply made boxes. Another important thing to consider is the state of the box. We both know how valuable your collection is, so you don’t want to use any old box you find laying around. What you want, are strong, brand new boxes that haven’t been used before. Used boxes aren’t as strong as new ones, and they can carry dust or other particles that can damage or contaminate your collectibles.
Quality packing tape is just as important
Once you get good boxes, you need to have packing tape of equal quality. Your choice of tape depends on what you need it for, and mainly, there is shipping tape and storage tape. Storage tape uses an acrylic type of glue and can withstand higher temperatures. This makes it a good choice for long term storage. If all you’re doing is moving boxes from point a or point b, then shipping tape is your choice. Even then, we advise you to get shipping tape with a “heavy-duty” label, since it is much stronger than regular shipping or packing tape.
Prepare your collectibles for moving with good isolation material
So, now you have sourced good boxes and tape, but it doesn’t end there. You can’t just throw all of your collectibles into a box and tape it shut. Instead, you want to use materials made to protect items from bumps, bounces, and vibrations. These materials include bubble wrap, packing paper, saran wrap, and packing peanuts. These will protect the contents of the box both from the elements and damage, by fully covering them and cushioning blows and movement in transit. When packing your collectible items, your main goal is to do it in such a way that there is no room for movement in the box. Don’t be shy to use plenty of packing peanuts and if needed, fill any empty spaces with newspapers or towels. When you pick up a box, there shouldn’t be any movement inside.
Packing different kinds of collectibles
When people talk about collections, they usually think of items in their original boxes, small figurines, or money. Here, we’ll give you a few tips on packing these items.
Preparing boxed collectibles for moving
Everyone knows that collectibles that are still in their original boxes retain a higher value. Oddly enough, the value depends more on the condition of the box than the item itself. Given this fact, your goal is to pack your items in a way that doesn’t damage the containers. We recommend using acid-free packing paper to individually wrap each box. Secure the paper with a bit of packing tape to prevent it from unwrapping. After this, cover the box with bubble wrap, and pay special attention to corners and edges of the box. Take your moving box and prepare it by pouring packing peanuts in it so they fully cover the bottom. Carefully place your items in the box, and add more packing peanuts on top of everything. Don’t forget to label your boxes as fragile. Close the box and secure it with generous amounts of tape.
Packing currency and paper collectibles
In most cases, paper collectibles such as photos, concert tickets, or money, are kept in some sort of book or album. Paper is very prone to damage from moisture and even the oils on our skin. For maximum protection, place a sheet of acid-free paper in between the pages. For individual pieces of paper, mylar sleeves are good protection from moisture. To pack posters, neatly roll them up and place them into special poster tubes. However, when it comes to moving your most valuable items across Ontario, we advise an extra step of safety. Even though you should prepare monetary collectibles for moving regardless, we’d advise against leaving them on the moving truck. Coin and money collections have a high value, so it’s best to take them with you in the car. In addition, we’d recommend getting the whole collection ensured, just in case.