Moving long distance comes with many challenges and considerations when deciding what possessions to take along. Careful planning is important to ensure items arrive safely while minimizing effort and expense transporting things that may be impractical, hazardous or easily replaced. This guide examines different categories of belongings and key factors when evaluating what not to move long distance within the UK.
Brief overview of the challenges and considerations involved in moving long distance. Importance of careful planning when deciding what items to take.
Fragile and Valuable Items
Delicate Glassware and China
Transporting delicate glassware and fine china over long distances risks breakage during transit. Vibrations from the moving truck can cause cracks or chips. Sudden impacts from improper handling may damage intricate items. Consider selling or storing fragile glassware and china locally rather than subjecting these possessions to the risks of a long-distance move.
Fine Art and Collectibles
Artwork, antiques and other collectibles are vulnerable during a long move. Subtle vibrations over hundreds of miles of transport can ruin the integrity of paintings and framed prints. Temperature changes between storage facilities and trucks can degrade cherished items. Employ specialized art moving services or make arrangements to sell larger pieces locally rather than risk damage.
Jewelry and Important Documents
While jewelry and important documents take little space, their immense personal and financial value warrants secure measures when moving long distances. Theft is a real concern entrusting your most valuable portable possessions with strangers for an extended multi-day transport. Consider discreet alternatives such as carrying these items yourself or using insured delivery services rather than including them with other household belongings in the moving truck.
Bulky and Heavy Furniture
Oversized Furniture
Moving extra large furniture like pianos, pool tables and enormous dressers across the UK can be challenging. Doorways and staircases in older buildings especially may preclude some massive household pieces from fitting through entrances. Disassembly is complicated, requiring professional expertise along with significant time and labor costs. Consider measuring dimensions carefully beforehand and evaluating whether oversized possessions are worth the investment to move vs. selling and replacing.
Heavy Appliances
Major appliances like refrigerators, stoves and laundry equipment can weigh hundreds of kilograms. Safely lifting and maneuvering heavy appliances requires specialty moving equipment and trained professionals. Otherwise serious muscle strains or catastrophic drops resulting in major damage may occur. Compare the costs of professional help versus replacing older appliances upon relocating before deciding what to move.
Old or Fragile Furniture
Antique furnishings and delicate furniture may hold special nostalgic value but are impractical for long distance relocations. Vibration during transport can loosen joints and cause damage over time. Even with padding and tie downs, the repeated loading and unloading onto trucks risks nicks, scratches and scuff marks on cherished pieces. Donate or sell these sentimental items locally then replace with newer, sturdy furniture better suited for a move.
Perishable and Hazardous Items
Food and Perishables
A long distance move realistically takes multiple transit days during which refrigerated food items or other perishables left in trucks or storage will spoil. Consider consuming, donating or selling any existing fresh foodstuffs before moving. Upon arriving at your destination, promptly shopping locally for essential provisions is safest. Take this opportunity to discard items past expiration dates cluttering your fridge or pantry as well.
Hazardous Materials
Legal restrictions govern transporting explosives, corrosive chemicals, flammable solvents and other hazardous materials over public roadways and through neighborhoods. Avoid liability and conflicts by safely disposing of or handling dangerous household substances locally before relocating. Do not attempt to move prohibited hazardous cargo interstate on your own. Contact licensed waste management professionals if needing to transport dangerous goods long distance.
Plants
Houseplants often hold special sentimental value but are risky and impractical to move over long distances. The darkness inside moving trucks can stress plants for days. Lack of water and temperature changes harm delicate vegetation. Local climate difference may cause transplant shock in relocated greenery. If determined to keep favorite plants, consider gifting them to local family, friends or community gardens rather than subjecting them to a difficult move.
Items with Limited Value or Easily Replaceable
Low-Value Furniture and Decor
For bulky furnishings and home decor which can be easily replaced for under the cost of moving them, donating or selling items locally before relocating makes practical financial sense. Transporting and handling budget-friendly goods like mass market bookcases, coffee tables or generic artwork often costs more than repurchasing upon arriving. Avoid wasted effort and minimize costs by thoughtfully identifying older basic household furnishings you won’t miss.
Outdated Electronics
With rapid technological advancements, older electronics rapidly become obsolete. Heavy, bulky computers and television sets you no longer use are not worth the hassle and potential damage to transport. Locate reputable local electronics recycling facilities to properly dispose of unwanted devices while also minimizing environmental impact. Upon relocating you can purchase new equipment better suited for modern needs.
Worn-out Clothing and Personal Items
It’s tempting to keep old tattered t-shirts, shoes long past their prime or other well-worn clothing out of nostalgia or visions of creative reuse potential. But honestly evaluate whether shabby personal belongings are worth the hassles of interstate relocation. Donate useable items to charity and discard the remaining piles cluttering your drawers and closets before moving. Keep only essential wardrobe pieces and what brings you joy. Let go of impractical attachments so you can fully embrace your new local lifestyle upon arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move fragile items with proper packing?
With meticulous materials and packing methods you can improve chances of delicate items surviving a long distance move. However vibrations and handling risks remain for fragile objects. Weigh the monetary and emotional value versus potential for loss when deciding what delicates to relocate.
What if I need to move heavy furniture?
Enlist professional movers with specialty equipment to handle loading, securing and unloading massive furnishings if determined items are worth transporting. Prepare for higher costs securing appropriate services. Other options include disassembly or selling beloved pieces to fund buying new equivalents locally later.
Are there any restrictions on moving hazardous materials?
Yes, stringent legal regulations prohibit civilians transporting hazardous substances like explosives, toxic chemicals or radioactive waste on public roadways. Failure to comply risks major fines and penalties. Always use licensed waste management crews for legally moving dangerous goods like industrial cleaning solvents or pesticides too.
How do I dispose of items I choose not to move?
Consult local municipal waste authorities about proper disposal methods and permitted categories for household goods near you. Some communities offer curbside bulk item pickup or waste transfer stations allowing residents to conveniently unload unwanted belongings responsibly.
Can I transport plants long distance?
While you can move plants with care using certain precautions, the darkness, temperature fluctuations, vibration and handling make relocating vegetation quite difficult. Often the stress and transplant shock over hundreds of miles kills delicate plants. If determined, research specialized moving services with climate-controlled trucks and equipment to transport prized botanicals.
What’s the best way to replace items I choose not to move?
Catalog the furnishings and household goods unable to relocate then assess options procuring new equivalents upon arriving at your destination. Shopping online allows price and selection comparisons so you can conveniently order quality replacement essentials to arrive shortly after your move-in date. You may discover local stores featuring improved versions too once situated in your new community.
Learn which items are best left behind or disposed of with the expertise of Safe House Clearance Ipswich, ensuring your long-distance move is as efficient as possible.
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