You may not realise how easy it is to accidentally damage your old home while moving out. If you’re not careful, you may end up paying the new owners for the property damage you cause. If the home you’re moving out of is rented, then it will need to be left in good condition for you to get your deposit back.
Give the move your full attention. Leave your work to a Toronto SEO expert so you’re less likely to cause damage because you’re distracted. If you’re not sure which precautions to take, then here are some tips on how to avoid property damage when moving out.
Protect the Walls and Doorways
The walls and doorframes are going to get dinged and scratched if you don’t protect them properly. Use corner protectors on doorframes and corners to avoid denting them. Hang drop cloths and moving blankets from the walls to prevent any paint from getting chipped. If you wrap your furniture and appliances in moving blankets too, you’ll stand a greater chance at protecting your walls and belongings from damage. You should also make sure that any of the doors you need to pass through are propped open with a doorstop to prevent them from swinging shut on you as you’re carrying things out.
Create Clear Pathways
Plan the routes from different rooms in the house and to the moving van. Clear the paths of boxes and bags, and make sure any children or pets are kept away from those areas. Remove any rugs or mats on the floor as someone could trip over them. To make sure people stay on the pathways, clearly mark them with tape or by laying down cardboard.
Protect the Floor
Vinyl flooring, hardwood, and tiles are often casualties when moving. Use non-slip floor runners on the paths you’ve marked so people won’t get injured or drop anything. Floor runners are multipurpose as they also keep your floor clean.
Sliding furniture across the floor may seem like the easiest way to move it, but you’ll scratch and scuff the floor or snag the carpet. Even if you’re using sliders or casters, be cautious as you may still mark the floor. Alternatively, use moving straps to lift and set things down gently. Ask a few extra friends to help you. If an object is large enough to obstruct your view while carrying it, you may drop it, so having some friends to guide you will prevent disasters. You can also use a dolly to move things in and out of the house.
Measure First
Make sure your furniture will fit through doorways, around corners, and down the stairs by measuring those areas and measuring your furniture. This is the best way to determine whether something will fit. Guesswork won’t help you as you’re more likely to scratch the paint when things get stuck in tight spaces.
Disassemble Larger Pieces of Furniture
If possible, it’s always best to disassemble large pieces of furniture before you move them. Trying to move things like beds and wardrobes without disassembling them first will lead to injuries or damage to your old home. A large object can prevent you from seeing the doorframe you’re about to smash into. If, in the past, you bought furniture that you had to assemble yourself, then get the instruction booklet out and disassemble it before you attempt to move it. If something can’t be disassembled, then secure the moving parts, such as wardrobe doors and drawers, to prevent accidents.
Get Help from Your Moving Company
You should have informed your moving company of what needed to be moved before they arrive on moving day. Long distance moving companies will often have their own moving equipment and will be familiar with taking extra precautions when it comes to moving, so they’ll be more careful about protecting your home as well as your belongings.
This advice isn’t just useful for moving out; it can be used to protect your new home from property damage as well. You could even use this advice when moving to a new office. It always pays off to learn more about the moving process to make it easier on yourself.
Image Credits: Blue Bird
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