Moving Interstate: How to Safeguard Luxury Items in Transit

Moving houses with expensive luxury items to worry about is already stressful enough. Moving houses with expensive luxury items interstate is just plain head-ache inducing. 

With large distances to transport your treasured belongings over, damage risk becomes an issue - especially for the ones that aren’t so cheap to replace. 

That’s why we’ve put together a guide to successfully safeguarding your luxury items across state borders so that your most precious possessions stay intact and tears are minimised.

The first and most important thing you can do to protect your expensive assets is to find a reputable moving company that you can trust. Before booking, read reviews to vet your removalists. Muval’s specialised interstate removalists are experts in moving items across state lines, and the website allows you to compare different companies in your area to find the most reliable service at the best price.

Before you pack, create a detailed inventory of every luxury item that needs to be transported and provide documentation. Within the documentation, include photographs, descriptions and estimated values of items. This process is crucial in case of damage caused on the move for insurance purposes and if dealing with professional removalists.

The care with which you pack your items can make or break them (for real). Get your hands on specialised packing materials that are designed for fragile or valuable items. Use sturdy moving boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper and packing peanuts to protect your items on their journey across state borders.

Wrap every valuable item individually with bubble wrap or other protective materials to prevent scratches and dents. Use padding/cushioning to fill empty spaces in boxes, as this prevents damaging shifting throughout transit. Label luxury boxes as fragile so that movers are aware and handle these with additional care.

For temperature-sensitive items like fine art, musical instruments or wine review weather forecasts leading up to moving day. If you’re in an especially hot or unpredictable climate, think about climate-controlled truck or cargo options to keep these types of items safe from temperature extremes.

We can’t recommend this enough. Purchase insurance coverage to protect expensive items during transit. When you are transporting such valuable items over long distances, going without insurance just isn’t a risk worth taking. If you have extremely expensive items that exceed the standard coverage thresholds in your moving inventory, it’s also worth considering additional insurance or valuation services.

Stay informed about the status and location of your shipments throughout the moving process. Use tracking tools and communication channels provided by the moving company. If they can’t provide you with live updates on your cargo’s whereabouts, find a new one. Follow up with the moving company as soon as possible if there are any delays or issues with your shipments.

Coordinate delivery dates and times with the moving company to ensure someone is available to receive the shipments at your new home - get ahead of this early to avoid delays or a last-minute scramble to organise everything. 

Supervise the unloading and unpacking process so that movers are carefully handling your luxury items. Inspect each item upon arrival for any signs of damage or discrepancies before the movers leave - it's much easier to discuss next steps as far as compensation or insurance advice in person.

If anything goes wrong, document any damage to luxury items immediately upon delivery.

• Take photographs and notes detailing the extent of the damage

• Contact insurers with this information and file a claim 

• Report any issues to the moving company and file a claim for reimbursement if necessary

Moving luxury items interstate can be a nerve-wracking experience, but with the right precautions, you can help ensure your prized possessions arrive at your new home safe and sound. 

Remember to pack them carefully, choose a trustworthy moving company, and keep an eye on their journey. Ultimately, you can’t control every factor surrounding the safety of your precious items.

But by taking these steps, you can safeguard your valuables as best as you can and enjoy a smoother transition to your new destination. Happy moving!