“I’m moving to California, but my budget is basically nothing,” Arial said. “I have to really be strategic about this whole thing. Rather than paying for a moving truck, I’m packing and shipping my furniture – I only have a few pieces, a bed and a nightstand and two chairs. What do I need to know?”
Packing and shipping furniture can be a cheaper way to move. It’s also a smart way to gift furniture to distant friends and relatives. In some instances, packing and shipping furniture can be part of your business. There are two categories of furniture to consider, antique and contemporary. These tips are relevant to packing and shipping contemporary furniture:
Palletize Furniture travels best on pallets; these are the narrow wooden platforms that can be moved using a forklift or pallet jack. You’ll want a strong pallet. If you can’t find one on your own, talk to your Boston shipping store: they should be able to point you in the right direction. Arrange your furniture on the pallet and secure it with stretch wrap. Stretch wrap is like plastic wrap on steroids: it’s strong and durable, and will protect your furniture while it’s being transported. It won’t, however, secure your furniture to the pallet: you’ll need to use strapping to keep items still.
Empty drawers The items in drawers can increase the weight of the furniture by hundreds of pounds. This can make shipping the item much more expensive. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that your furniture will maintain its structural integrity when it’s shipped with a load inside of it. Shifting items during transport can break drawer bottoms and backs. Ship drawer contents separately for best results.
Make sure you’re insured Your Boston shipping store will be able to advise you on the insurance options available to you when you ship your furniture. Bear in mind that if your furniture is damaged while it’s in transit, the only funds available to replace it will be the ones you paid for in the form of insurance. Declare values appropriately: it may cost you a little more up front, but in the event you need to use it, you’ll be glad you have enough money to secure replacement furniture.