Before packing any heavy furniture, including your desk, check it for damage. If you are using a professional moving service, take pictures of any chips or scratches so you can identify if any further damage has occurred during the move.
Clear out the desk, packing small items in boxes. Wrap fragile items individually in newspaper, tissue paper or bubble wrap. Pack the heaviest items at the bottom, then medium weight items, and lighter or fragile items at the top. Don't forget to label the box with a permanent marker.
If the desk has a keyboard tray, remove it. Pack the keyboard tray and accessories with the rest of the desk items.
Wrap the desk completely in moving blankets, securing the blankets with tape. Make sure that the tape does not touch the finish of the furniture, where it could leave a residue tights or even peel off the paint.
Now that you have everything packed, it's time to move the desk. Start by mapping out your route through the house or apartment, measuring to make sure the desk can fit through tight spots. You'll need two people to move a desk safely. Together, lift one short end of the desk to place it on the cart or slides. If you are using skids, repeat this step for the other side. One person should pull while the other pushes the desk into the house.
If you use a full-service moving company, the movers must pack the office and load it into the van for you.
Moving a secretary's office
An office of secretary is a tall desk, often with drawers or shelves at the top, hidden by doors. The writing area usually has a hinged lid. To pack your secretary, start by removing all items from the desk, including those in the drawers. Pack them in a box that you label, indicating the contents.
You will need at least two people, if not more, to move a secretary's desk. As you lift it with your legs, carefully load the desk onto a moving cart or slides. One person should keep a support hand on top of the desk to keep it from tipping over. Be careful not to let gravity take over when lifting the desk.
To move a secretary's desk up or down a staircase, two people can "walk" along the staircase, stopping at each step. Moving gloves or forearm lifting straps can make the task easier.
Moving a safe
Moving a safe can be fairly straightforward, but you'll need to be very careful about the items in it.
If you are moving yourself, you can move the safe and its contents together in the moving truck. Otherwise, you'll want to remove the items and place them in an envelope or small box to be stored in the glove compartment or trunk of your car. If these items are important enough to be placed in a safe, you don't want them to end up in the hands of strangers, even if it's a moving company of trust.
Make copies of important documents, such as the deed to your new home, birth certificates, marriage certificates, legal documents and tax documents for the past ten years. Some documents, such as marriage and birth certificates, must be originals with an embossed seal. Get copies before you move and pack each copy separately to avoid losing both sets.
Moving a safe is similar to moving any other heavy furniture. Wrap the safe in moving blankets to avoid damage not only to the safe, but also to the walls and other parts of the moving truck.
Moving a folder
Before moving a filing cabinet, reduce the paperwork in it by following the U.S. government's guidelines for managing household documents.
Separate important papers that need to travel with you, such as birth and marriage certificates, legal documents and recent tax returns. Then pack any documents that will remain in your new home's filing cabinet in a box or storage container, including:
- equipment manuals, service contracts, warranties
- receipts for expensive or tax deductible items
- home renovation files
- the car's maintenance reports
- insurance policies
- investment certificates
- bank statements less than one year old
When your filing cabinet is empty, remove the drawers or lock them so they don't slide out. Protect your filing cabinet with moving blankets.
Moving a library
Before moving a bookcase, remove everything from the shelves. This is the time to evaluate which items you want to keep and which you would prefer to sell, donate or abandon.
Pack books upside down in a moving box, which will allow you to fit more books in one box. Be sure to reinforce the bottom of the box with tape or use plastic storage bins instead. Since books weigh a lot for their size, be careful not to overload the boxes. Pack one layer of books, then fill the rest of the box with lighter items from the shelf or your home office. Take a picture of the contents of the box and tape it to the outside of the box so you know what's inside when you arrive at your new home.
Remove the shelves from your bookcase, if possible, to reduce the weight of the furniture. Pack the shelves in boxes, along with a bag of accompanying materials. Wrap the shelves with plain newspaper, bubble wrap or tissue. Then seal the box and label it.
