Moving electronics from one house to another can be daunting.
It’s vital to cushion your electronics against movement and potential collisions to prevent damage internally or externally.
It’s easy to lose track of where cords go once they’re removed from their original devices.
They’re fragile, they’re expensive, and in the case of computers, they house our most important data.
You may want to spring for some bubble wrap, especially if you don’t have the original packaging.
Prevent this by putting each cord inside a plastic baggie, along with any other small parts, labeling the bag with the corresponding device, and securely taping it to the side of the box.
Advance Relocation System
Moving electronics from one house to another can be daunting. They’re fragile, they’re expensive, and in the case of computers, they house our most important data. Follow these 10 tips to get this important cargo safely from point A to point B.
1. Read the manual this time.
Maybe you didn’t need manuals to set up your electronics and you put them in a drawer somewhere. But now is the time to track them down and look closely at the manufacturers’ warnings and advice. For more detailed information, go to the manufacturer’s website or contact customer support.
2. Back it up!
Don’t take any risk of losing precious photos, documents, and media files. You can use an external hard drive, a flash drive, or a free cloud service like Dropbox or Google Drive depending on your storage needs.
3. Take pictures.
Are you disassembling something complicated like a home theater system? Don’t count on remembering where all those wires go once you get to your new house. Take a picture of the back of your more puzzling electronics.
4. Where does the yellow one go?
For the ultimate quick-assembly hack, put a piece of color-coded tape on each cord and another piece where each cord plugs into your device.
5. Originals only.
Hopefully you kept the original boxes and packing materials for your electronic devices. These will provide the best fit and cushioning to prevent them from shifting inside, particularly if they came with custom-molded styrofoam. If not, find boxes that fit the shape of your devices as closely as possible. For instance, for a television, find a narrow box that is roughly the same width and height to minimize movement during transport. Make up any difference with extra cushioning.
6. Don’t skimp on packing materials.
It’s vital to cushion your electronics against movement and potential collisions to prevent damage internally or externally. You may want to spring for some bubble wrap, especially if you don’t have the original packaging. You can also use towels and blankets to fill in gaps in the boxes and absorb shock from any sudden jolts in the moving truck.
7. Avoid getting your wires crossed.
It’s easy to lose track of where cords go once they’re removed from their original devices. Prevent this by putting each cord inside a plastic baggie, along with any other small parts, labeling the bag with the corresponding device, and securely taping it to the side of the box.
8. Seal them up tight.
Make sure your boxes are securely taped to prevent excessive dust or dirt from getting inside them and potentially ruining your devices.
9. Limit exposure to extreme temperatures.
It’s rarely a good idea to keep electronics in a hot or freezing car or truck for extended periods of time. Check your owner’s manual for more details. If you’re putting them in storage, make sure it’s climate controlled.
10. When in doubt, call a professional.
Some devices, like satellite dishes, need to be removed by your service provider to prevent damage. Don’t risk a hefty fine for breaking somebody else’s equipment, or risk hurting yourself – make a phone call to your satellite company.
Want more tips about moving electronics, or have a question about how to safely pack and move a specific device? Our professionals have the answers, so all you have to do is ask us!