Handling your valuables during a move is often the most stressful part of the entire relocation process. The thought of a precious family heirloom getting damaged or an important document going missing can be overwhelming. While moving homes or offices is an exciting new chapter, ensuring the safety of your most prized possessions requires a specific, careful plan.
At Shiftraa, we’ve managed thousands of local, domestic, and international moves, and we understand that “value” means more than just a price tag. It’s about sentimental heirlooms, critical documents, and irreplaceable collections. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to protect your valuables, providing you with actionable steps for a secure and worry-free transition.
What Exactly Qualifies as a ‘Valuable’?
Before you can protect your valuables, you need to identify them. The term extends far beyond fine jewelry and cash. A valuable is any item that would be difficult, expensive, or impossible to replace. We recommend creating a list by breaking them down into categories.
- Financial & Legal Documents: These are often the most critical items.
- Passports, visas, and birth certificates
- Social Security cards and driver’s licenses
- Property deeds, titles, and wills
- Stock certificates and bonds
- Bank records and tax documents
- Insurance policies
- Jewelry, Antiques & Collectibles: Items with high monetary or sentimental worth.
- Engagement rings, watches, necklaces
- Fine art and sculptures
- Antique furniture
- Coin, stamp, or wine collections
- Designer handbags and apparel
- Sentimental Items: Irreplaceable items that hold personal memories.
- Family heirlooms passed down through generations
- Photo albums and home videos
- Personal letters and journals
- Children’s artwork
- Electronics & Digital Data: High-value tech and the information it holds.
- Laptops, tablets, and computers
- External hard drives and USBs with important data
- High-end camera equipment
- Sensitive corporate data for an office move
Alt text: A person creating an inventory of their valuables during a move, including jewelry and important documents.
The Golden Rule: Create a Detailed Valuables Inventory
This is the single most important step in securing your valuables during a move. An inventory is your master list and your ultimate proof of possession. It’s indispensable for insurance purposes and gives you a clear checklist for packing and unpacking.
How to Create a Foolproof Valuables Inventory
- List Everything: Go room by room and document every valuable item. Use a spreadsheet or a dedicated notebook. For each item, note its name, a brief description, and where you plan to pack or store it.
- Take Photos and Videos: A picture is worth a thousand words. Take clear, well-lit photos of each item, especially of any existing marks or damage. A short video documenting a collection can also be powerful evidence.
- Appraise and Estimate Value: For high-worth items like art or antiques, it’s wise to get a professional appraisal. For others, find recent receipts or do online research to estimate their replacement value. Note this on your inventory sheet.
- Make Digital and Physical Copies: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Save a digital copy of your inventory (list and photos) to a secure cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox. Keep one physical copy with you in your personal moving day bag and another with a trusted friend or family member.
The Big Decision: How Will You Move Your Valuables?
Once you have your inventory, you need a strategy. Not all valuables should be treated the same way. You have four primary options for handling your precious items.
1: The Personal Carry Method (Keep Them With You) 🎒
This is the most secure method for small, irreplaceable, or highly sensitive items. If an item’s loss would be catastrophic, it should not leave your sight.
- Best For: Jewelry, passports, wills, cash, essential medications, laptops, and hard drives with sensitive data.
- How to Do It: Designate a specific bag, backpack, or small suitcase as your “valuables bag.” This bag travels with you in your car or on the plane—it never goes into the moving truck. For added security, consider a small, portable lockbox that you can keep in your vehicle.
2: Use a Professional Moving Service Like Shiftraa 📦
For larger or more delicate valuables like antique furniture, grand pianos, or large pieces of art, professional handling is non-negotiable.
- Best For: Large heirlooms, fine art, sculptures, antique mirrors, and high-end electronics.
- Why It’s Worth It: Reputable movers like Shiftraa have the expertise, specialized equipment, and custom packing materials to handle these items correctly. We offer services like:
- Custom Crating: Building wooden crates tailored to the exact dimensions of your artwork or sculpture.
- Specialized Packing: Using acid-free paper, padding, and techniques to prevent damage.
- Professional Handling: Trained crews who know how to maneuver heavy, awkward, and delicate items.
- Declared Value Protection: Enhanced insurance options to cover your items.
If you have valuable items that are too large to carry, get a transparent quote from Shiftraa’s moving experts to ensure they are handled with the care they deserve.
3: Ship via Insured Carrier 🚚
For certain mid-size items, using a bonded, insured shipping service like FedEx or UPS with declared value coverage can be a viable option.
- Best For: Some collectibles, smaller electronics, or valuable books.
- Pros vs. Cons: While it can be efficient, it may not offer the same level of personalized handling as a dedicated mover. Always compare the cost and insurance coverage against what your professional movers can offer. Ensure you get a tracking number and require a signature upon delivery.
4: Utilize Secure, Climate-Controlled Storage 🏢
If you’re downsizing, have a gap between your move-out and move-in dates, or simply want to store valuables off-site, a secure storage unit is an excellent solution.
- Best For: Wine collections, fine art, antique furniture, important documents.
- What to Look For: Don’t just choose any storage unit. You need one with:
- Climate Control: Protects against damage from humidity and temperature fluctuations.
- 24/7 Security: Look for video surveillance, gated access, and on-site management.
- Insurance: Ensure the facility offers adequate insurance coverage.
Shiftraa provides secure warehousing solutions perfect for safeguarding your valuables for both short and long-term needs.
The Art of Packing Valuables: A Step-by-Step Guide
How you pack your valuables during a move is just as important as how you transport them. Never toss them into a random box.
A Critical Pro-Tip 🤫
Never label boxes with explicit terms like “Valuables,” “Jewelry,” or “Expensive.” This can make your boxes a target for theft. Instead, use a code system. For example, label the box “Guest Room Decor” or “Project X,” and note what that code means on the private copy of your inventory list.
Packing Important Documents & Digital Media
- Go Fireproof & Waterproof: Invest in a fireproof and waterproof document bag or small safe. This protects your most critical papers from the worst-case scenarios.
- Back It Up, Then Back It Up Again: Before packing any computers or hard drives, back up all data to a secure cloud service. Then, create a second backup on a separate external hard drive that you keep in your personal carry-on bag.
Packing jewellery and Small Collectibles
- Use Original Packaging: If you still have the original boxes for watches or fine jewelry, use them. They were designed for protection.
- Get Creative: Use pill organizers for small earrings and rings to keep them separated and safe. Thread necklaces through straws to prevent them from tangling into an impossible knot.
- Wrap Individually: Wrap each piece in soft cloth, packing paper, or a small bubble wrap pouch before placing it in a jewelry box or container.
A smart packing hack showing how to handle necklaces and other valuables during a move.
Packing Artwork, Antiques, and Large Heirlooms
This is where professional help is strongly advised. The risk of damage from improper handling is too high. A professional packer from Shiftraa will:
- Use custom-built crates for paintings and sculptures.
- Protect glass-fronted frames with special tape and padding.
- Use blankets and specialized padding to protect wood finishes on antiques.
- Ensure items are properly secured inside the moving truck to prevent shifting.
Don’t risk your most cherished items. Learn more about our expert packing and moving services.
Insurance and Protection: Your Financial Safety Net
Peace of mind comes from knowing you’re protected. Relying on basic liability coverage is one of the biggest mistakes people make when moving valuables.
Understand Your Mover’s Liability Coverage
By law, moving companies must offer two types of liability options. It’s crucial you understand the difference:
- Released Value Protection: This is the no-cost basic coverage, but it is extremely limited. It typically covers only 60 cents per pound per item. For a 10-pound antique lamp valued at $1,000, you would only receive $6.00 if it were destroyed. This is not sufficient for valuables.
- Full Value Protection: This is more comprehensive coverage. Under this plan, the mover is liable for the replacement value of the lost or damaged item. Be sure to ask your Shiftraa moving coordinator about the specifics of this plan and how to declare items of “extraordinary value.”
Review Your Homeowner’s or Renter’s Insurance
Contact your insurance agent to see what your current policy covers. Some policies include “goods in transit” protection, but there are often limits. Ask specifically about coverage during a professional move and what documentation you would need to file a claim. For more information on policy types, you can consult resources like the Insurance Information Institute.
Consider a Separate Moving Insurance Policy
For extremely high-value collections (like fine art or wine), it may be wise to purchase a separate policy from a third-party insurance provider that specializes in moving and logistics insurance.
On Moving Day: A Final Checklist for Your Valuables ✅
The day has arrived! Stay organized and vigilant with this simple checklist.
- [ ] Keep Your Personal Valuables Box With You. Do not let it out of your sight or leave it unattended in a vehicle.
- [ ] Do a Final Sweep. Before you leave your old home for the last time, walk through every room, open every drawer, and check any old hiding spots one last time.
- [ ] Communicate with the Crew. Point out any specially-marked boxes or professionally-packed items (like crated art) to the moving crew foreman so they know to give them extra care.
- [ ] Secure Valuables First at the New Home. When you arrive, take your personal valuables box and place it in a secure, locked room (like a master bedroom closet) before you start overseeing the unloading of the truck.
- [ ] Check Off Your Inventory. As you unpack, check items off your inventory list. Do this as soon as possible, as there is often a limited window to report any damage or loss for an insurance claim.
Special Considerations for International Moves ✈️
Moving valuables across borders adds another layer of complexity. As international moving experts, Shiftraa knows that planning is essential.
- Customs and Declarations: Every item must be declared on a customs form. High-value goods may be subject to duties and taxes. Be completely transparent to avoid delays or fines.
- Restricted Items: Some countries restrict the import of certain items, like ivory, specific artworks, or animal products. Research the regulations of your destination country well in advance.
- Documentation is Paramount: Your inventory list, appraisals, and proof of ownership are even more critical for an international move.
Move Your Valuables With Confidence
Moving your most treasured possessions doesn’t have to be a source of anxiety. By following a clear and logical plan—Inventory, Strategize, Pack, Insure, and Secure—you can ensure your valuables during a move are protected every step of the way. The key is to be proactive and to trust experts for the items that are too important to risk.
