These tips from our living room packing guild will help you to pack any larger room in the house. Furniture, books, lamps and electronics are items that are usually placed in living rooms. The guide will help you to pack each of these items appropriately.
NB: Pictures and mirrors can be wrapped and packed in special cartons. Fragile and valuable items require special crating that should be done by the mover. Contact your personal adviser from one of Matrix Relocations offices in Sofia, Athens, Belgrade, Pristina, Skopje and Zagreb.
Stereo Equipment
Secure compact and digital video disc players laser with the transport screws on the bottom or back of the unit.
Turntables have a plastic lock which should be used to hold the tone arm. Secure the platter by tightening the appropriate screws. Check your owner’s manual for instructions.
Speakers
Speakers should be packed in cushioned dish packs.
Large or heavy speakers can be placed on the truck as they are. There are no special rules to be followed before the move.
TV
Large TV sets must be crated before the move if you have not kept the original carton. Your personal moving adviser will give you further instructions for packing big screen or plasma televisions.
Request discontinuation of cable television service. Return convertor box or other equipment hired from your local cable operator. Request cable service at your new destination.
Satellite Dish
The satellite dish is a sensitive equipment and may require electrician or technician to disconnect and disassemble it. Some satellite dishes need crating in order to be transported. Consult your personal moving adviser.
CDs, DVDs
Stand compact discs and DVDs in carton, on edge, never flat, on a layer of crushed paper. Support at both ends with several pieces of cardboard cut to fit. Put another layer of crushed paper on top. Label the carton, “FRAGILE.”
Books
Sort books by size and pack similar books together in small cartons.
Pack them flat or with the spine touching the bottom.
If you have expensively bound volumes or really old books, wrap them individually before packing.
Photos
Pack photographs, slides and negatives in separate carton. (Take special precautions when moving to places with very hot or humid climates.)
Framed photos should be packed with padding and cushioning, and placed on edge in a carton. Label cartons “FRAGILE”.
Carry irreplaceable items with you if possible.
Artificial Flowers
Pack artificial flowers in a separate carton. Wrap them carefully in plastic wrap, tissue paper or paper towels. Try to fasten the base of the floral piece to the bottom of the carton. Label the carton “FRAGILE” and “THIS SIDE UP.”
Lamp Bases
Remove the light bulb and lamp harp. Wrap every component except the shade separately in newsprint. Place them together in a carton. Use crushed paper for cushioning.
Lamp Shades
Do not wrap lamp shades in newspaper because the ink might soil the shade. Wrap carefully each shade in several sheets of tissue paper or a large lightweight towel. Use carton that is few inches bigger than the largest shade and line it with clean paper. Place a layer of crushed paper at the bottom. You can put smaller shade inside the larger one. Use cushioning between the shades. Silk shades should be packed separately one in a carton to avoid stretching the silk. Label the cartons “FRAGILE” and “TOP LOAD ONLY.”
Leaded Glass Shades
We recommend you to ask your moving professional to crate large leaded or other glass lamp shades.
Consult with your moving company professional packing and crating for items like glass table tops, marble slabs, large mirrors, paintings, statues and large vases
Rugs
We recommend you to have your rugs professionally cleaned before your move – you’ll get them back from the cleaners wrapped, rolled and ready for shipping.
TV/Stereo Stand/Cabinet
Glass doors if any should be removed and packed in a mirror carton.
Furniture
Protect table corners with cardboard.
Packing couch pillows in large boxes.
Large, upholstered item swill be shrink wrapped by your van operator.
Your personal moving adviser will consult you about any leather items.
Piano
Grand piano or baby grand piano should be prepared for a move by a qualified service provider. Studio piano does not require preparation in advance. It should be pad-wrapped to avoid any damage on surface. Your piano should be tuned at your new home.
Pool Table
A pool table should be prepared for a move by a qualified service provider. Contact the store where the pool table was purchased and ask for assistance.
Make arrangements at your new place to have the pool table uncrated, reassembled and leveled.