When Its Fragile Take Extra Care

We all have a habit of thinking to ourselves "it'll never happen to me". I know because that was my attitude when I first started to drive my Dad's car on the streets, not just in our own neighborhood. Sure as snow is white, I had an accident (minor, no broken limbs) and my Dad gave me that "I told you so" look.

It really isn't an interesting story. I was looking for an empty parking space and neglected to keep an eye on cars that were reversing out of taken parking spaces. I was very sure of myself up until then but afterward I took a lot more care.

Anyway, the point is that you can never rule out the chance of something going wrong, and when you're moving house or office, that fact is all the more important to consider. That's why, when preparing your possessions for the move, you really do need to take the utmost care and pack them properly.

Strangely, some of the most fragile items are amongst the most poorly packed. Perhaps there is a little confusion over how best to wrap and protect them. I'm talking about things like glass fruit bowls, your Waterford Crystal glasses and pitchers, your China tea set and things like that. So, here's a brief guide to how best to prepare your fragile items for the move.

1. Bowls, glasses and cups often fall victim to their designs. Basically, they have all got hollows that can crack if they are not supported properly. It doesn't take much, just stuff the centres with paper or line it with cardboard (though this is trickier) or with styrofoam pieces cut to fit.

2. Second, wrap each item in a set separately; don't stick three or four glasses together.

3. Third, take care when stacking them in boxes; don't put any unnecessary weight on the top, and make sure there is plenty of packing between the items.

4. For bigger items, like mirrors, get generous with bubble-wrap. Put it all around the mirror and make sure that the corners of the mirror frame (or the furthest points if its round or oval) are properly cushioned too. You can do this with cardboard pieces or styrofoam taped securely.

5. For heirlooms or antiques, the same principals of bubble-wrap generosity and frame/edge protection stand. You may wish to consider transporting your heirloom yourself though, especially if it is of extreme value to you.

We hate to see disasters strike but sometimes they happen. At Sage, we know from our vast experience that the only thing you can do is be prepared, as much as possible at least. So, don't take risks! Spend the extra time providing extra protection to your fragile items. It'll worth it, believe me!