The TV is often one of the last items people pack because it’s a source of entertainment amid the tedious packing and stress of moving. Because of this, packing the TV becomes a rush job. Instead, if you plan just a little, you can avoid common mistakes and prevent damage to your TV.

PREPARATION

Start by taking a picture of the back of your TV and any home theater components. This will help you identify which cables go where when you’re setting it up in the new location. Print this photo and pack it with the TV, so it’s handy when you need it. You can also store a backup on your phone or tablet. Just don’t rely on that solely, in case your device gets misplaced during the move.

Label the various cables with colored electrical tape or painter’s tape, which can be removed easily. You can put different colored pieces of tape above each input used on the TV. Then wrap a piece of matching tape on the cable that should be connected there. Or, you can write “power,” “to Blu-ray player” or other helpful labels on the tape and secure it to the cables.

While it might seem helpful to pack the cables in the box with the TV, they could shift around and cause damage. It’s best to use a separate box for cables, remotes and the stand that can be unscrewed from the TV. Label this box of accessories with the room where the TV will be located, so it’s easy to find when you’re ready to set up the TV.

If your TV is mounted, refer to your manual and remove it from the mount. Recruit someone to help, especially if it’s a large screen.

Clean your TV with a soft, dry cloth before packing it. Shifting dust particles can scratch the screen or clog the inner electronics. Refer to your TV’s manual for more detailed cleaning instructions.

Contact your cable or satellite provider a few weeks before your move to have service cancelled at the current location and initiated at your new home. Then you can access your favorite programming when you’re ready for a break from unpacking. If you’re moving to a location not serviced by your existing provider, you need to select a new company and purchase any necessary equipment. If you own a smart TV, you also need Internet service to access the wide variety of additional content.

Maybe moving to a new home means it’s time to upgrade to a new TV. Recycle your old TV before you move, and purchase a new one just for your new location, saving you the trouble of moving it.

PACKING

Flat-panel TVs continue to become lighter and thinner. But don’t let that fool you. They contain a full face of glass. Combine that with the thin design, and you have an extremely fragile device. Plus, if the TV is 50″ or larger, the sheer size can make it difficult for one person to maneuver. So it’s especially important to carefully pack your TV, whether large or small, using the following guidelines. These easy, but often overlooked, steps can help ensure the TV is operational and free of scratches and cracks at the end of your move.

1. Pack your TV in an appropriate box– If you have the TV’s original box with protective covering and foam, you can reuse all of that. If not, you can purchase a heavy-duty box designed for flat-panel TVs from a moving company, hardware store or online moving supply retailer. They are sold based on the size of your TV screen, measured diagonally. The box shouldn’t be too much bigger than the TV itself, leaving enough room for packing material, but not so much room that the TV can rock back and forth once it’s packed inside. Use a double-wall corrugated box since anything else could be punctured easily or damaged in transport. Use packing tape to seal the base of the box, then line the bottom with Styrofoam peanuts or bubble to cushion the TV.
2. Cover the TV– If you have the original dust cover that came with your TV, slide it over your TV. Or wrap the TV with a soft blanket without buttons or zippers that may scratch the screen, providing maximum coverage without adding so much bulk that the TV won’t fit into your box. Secure the blanket with rope, moving-grade shrink wrap or packing tape, making sure it doesn’t touch the TV directly. Or wrap the TV with clean bubble wrap and seal the ends with tape.
3. Keep the TV upright– Once the TV is wrapped, slide it into the box vertically. If you have a large-screen TV, have someone help you. Always keep a flat-panel TV in the upright position during moving or storage to avoid pressure on the lightweight glass, which could cause permanent damage. Plasma TVs suffer the most damage when laid flat since they contain two layers of glass that can be very heavy and fragile, a dangerous combination.
4. Label and secure the box– Add more packing material along the sides and on top of the TV so it’s firmly padded, and unable to tip or shift. Seal the box with plenty of packing tape, and use a permanent marker to write “fragile” in multiple places on the box. Finally, indicate “this end up” so it is carried and stored properly.

Packing a Small or Very Large TV

When moving a small TV (about 27″ or less) for a kitchen or bedroom, you could skip the box — although a box is still your best protection, especially for keeping it upright. If it’s raining the day you move, wrap the TV in an extra blanket that can be removed once it’s in the vehicle to ensure the TV won’t retain moisture.

If you have an especially large TV or are concerned about properly packing the TV yourself, you can pay your moving company to do it or hire a professional packing service. If you use a moving company to transport your items, purchasing moving insurance could also give you peace of mind if your TV is very expensive.

TRANSPORTING AND STORING

If you are packing your own moving truck, place the TV upright between wide, sturdy, flat items, like mattresses or the backs of sofas, bookshelves or dressers (avoiding drawer pulls). If something shifts during transport, you don’t want it to dent or pierce the TV box. Do not set the TV on top of anything where it is at risk of falling. Also, do not set anything heavy on top of the TV box. If you have professional movers, let them know which box(es) contain a TV so they can protect it properly in the truck.

Follow these directions if you need to store your TV for a while before moving. Store it upright between flat, sturdy items in a climate-controlled location to prevent damage. Humidity can create moisture on the sensitive electronic components while extreme cold can cause some parts to warp or crack.

Are you within the return period?

This one’s a no-brainer. If you’re still within the return period (which is often extended beyond normal guidelines during the holiday season), keep your box.

Some retailers, such as Best Buy in the US, do accept returns sans boxes (which eventually appear as “Open Box” items on the sales floor), but you can ensure the smoothest and easiest return process by including the box the product came with.

Can you resell the product when you upgrade?

I don’t know about you, but there’s something about an included box that makes a used product that much more enticing.

Selling a used item with the original box can help instill a little confidence in the buyer that you’re capable of taking care of your equipment. If you plan to sell your phone, computer or even camera through an online marketplace sometime in the future, consider keeping the original packaging. It will likely boost your cred and make your product more attractive than gadgets housed in lackluster bubble wrap.

Do you plan to move soon?

Some products — especially oddly shaped items — are much easier to move with their original box and styrofoam support. TVs, for example, can be a hassle to wrap and transport, as can monitors, larger printers, gaming consoles and small appliances. The styrofoam (and the included box) will help keep the product secure, easy to move and a breeze to unbox when you’re ready to settle it into its new home.

Are you a hoarder?

Do you have a pile of product boxes from years past? Do they sit there, collecting dust, bearing no purpose at all? If you answered “yes” to even one of these questions, you may be hoarding. In some rare cases, you may decide to keep a product box for storing a device you’ll one day retire, but keep around (often seen with iPhones). But in most cases, product boxes have no use and should be broken down and recycled.

If you still have a box for a product you no longer use and you don’t plan on selling it, it may be time to get rid of both.

Moving Insurance – It Pays to Be Protected

It does not matter if you have hired one of the best moving companies, there are just some things that should always be moved by you. This also applies to packing! If you are allowing someone to come in and pack for you, some things are just better not handled by anyone except for you.

Paintings

Whether you have personal oil paintings or an expensive canvas, these really should not be handled by a mover. Quite honestly, they really don’t even need to be in a moving van. If you are simply moving across town, make a separate trip in your car. Otherwise, these are better off being shipped by air, especially if you are moving during an extremely hot or cold time.

 CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs

If your movers are packing for you, these can be very tempting and easy items to steal. Even though you have insurance, you are better off to just not create the temptation. When you pack this yourself, you can mix them in with clothes, towels, etc., and mark the box as the less desirable item.

Now, if you are making a long distance move in the winter or summer, you should aim to move these items yourself. Keep in mind that the back of a moving truck can become an oven in the summer, reaching temperatures well above 120 degrees. Keeping these items at a regulated temperature is ideal.

Jewelry

Obviously, costume jewelry is fine to allow your movers to handle, but expensive jewels should be moved by you. Why even risk anything coming up missing or damaged? It is unlikely that you have so much jewelry that it can be easily squeeze in your suitcase or a box that you are taking in your car.

Heirlooms

Sometimes, the most important items in your life are those with no real monetary value. Heirlooms are things that can be replaced, so they should always be handled by you. Whether it’s your grandfather’s old broken pocket watch or the barrette your grandmother wore on her wedding day, make a point to move it yourself. No amount of money from an insurance company can replace these items, so don’t risk them being lost, stolen or damaged.

 Important Documents

All of your important documents need to be handled by you. This includes mortgage papers, insurance information, marriage and birth certificates, passports and school, medical and vet records. If you have all these items in a safe or lockbox, then you can just move that in your vehicle. Otherwise, box these documents up or put them in your suitcase.

Collections and Antiques

Again, even with additional insurance, if you can avoid having movers take care of your antiques and collections, you are better off. Now, obviously, if you have a large train or doll collection, this may not be practical to pack in your vehicle, but coins, stamps, etc., are small enough that you can handle them. The same applies to antiques. If your entire home is full of antiques, there is really no way of getting around the movers moving these items. However, if you simply have a fragile mirror, jewelry box or oil lamp, you can likely make room in your vehicle.
Keep in mind that even the best moving companies have claims filed against them from time-to-time. Plus, sometimes, accidents do happen on the road, which may not even be your driver’s fault.

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