You've finally found the house: hardwood floors, freshly painted walls, maybe a kitchen you've dreamed about for years. The last thing you want is for moving day to leave scratches, dents and chipped corners behind.
Most moving damage is preventable. It usually comes down to rushed packing, poor protection of high-traffic areas, and furniture carried in ways it was never meant to be carried. Here's how to protect your belongings and your new home.
Protect the house before the first box comes in
Many people focus on their furniture and forget that the house itself takes the biggest beating on moving day.
Floors. Lay down floor runners or heavy-duty protective film along the main path from the front door to each room. On hardwood, avoid plain cardboard on its own: it slides and can trap grit that scratches the finish. Use proper runners or tape cardboard securely at the edges.
Door frames and corners. Corner guards and door-jamb protectors cost very little and prevent the most common type of damage: dented trim from couches and dressers swinging through doorways.
Banisters and railings. Wrap them with moving blankets and tape. Railings are often grabbed for balance while carrying heavy items, and finishes scratch easily.
Walls in tight stairwells. If your staircase turns, consider hanging moving blankets or cardboard sheets on the walls at the turn. That's where furniture most often brushes paint.
Prepare furniture properly
Disassemble what you can. Bed frames, dining tables and modular sofas are much safer to move in pieces. Remove legs from tables and couches when possible. Keep hardware in labelled zip-top bags taped to the matching piece.
Wrap, don't just cover. Moving blankets should be secured with stretch wrap or straps so they don't slip off mid-carry. Leather and finished wood should never have plastic wrap directly against them for long periods, since trapped moisture can damage the surface. Blanket first, then wrap.
Empty drawers. It's tempting to move dressers full, but the extra weight strains the joints and drawer slides. Remove contents, then secure drawers with stretch wrap (not tape, which can pull off finish).
Protect glass and mirrors. Tape an "X" across mirrors and glass panels to help hold pieces together if they crack. Pack them in mirror boxes or between thick padding, and always transport them standing on edge, never flat.
Fragile décor needs its own system
Art, ceramics, lamps and collectibles are where people lose the most sentimental value.
- Use small boxes for heavy fragile items like vases and dishes. Large boxes encourage overpacking.
- Fill every gap. Items that can shift will break. Use crumpled packing paper, towels or linens to fill empty space.
- Pack plates vertically, like records, rather than stacking them flat. They're far stronger on edge.
- Remove lampshades and bulbs and pack them separately.
- Label clearly. "FRAGILE – THIS SIDE UP" on multiple sides, plus the destination room.
For framed art, corner protectors plus a layer of foam or bubble wrap and a snug picture box is the safest combination.
Heavy and specialty items: know your limits
Some pieces simply aren't worth the risk of a DIY carry:
- Pianos
- Gun safes and heavy cabinets
- Hot tubs
- Large aquariums
- Antiques with fragile joints or veneers
- Oversized sectionals that need to be hoisted or angled through tight spaces
These items need proper equipment (piano boards, stair-climbing dollies, straps) and people who move them regularly. A single slip can damage the item, the stairs and the person carrying it. Experienced residential movers in Ottawa and other cities typically include furniture blankets and wrapping as part of the job, and have the tools to handle specialty pieces safely.
Plan furniture placement in advance
A surprising amount of damage happens inside the new home, when furniture gets moved around two or three times because nobody decided where it goes.
Before moving day:
- Measure your key rooms and doorways.
- Sketch a simple floor plan showing where large pieces go.
- Tape a copy of the plan to the wall in each room.
- Label each piece of furniture with its destination room.
Placing furniture once, in the right spot, protects your floors and saves time.
Check insurance before you move
Even with careful packing, accidents happen. Before you move:
- Ask your mover what basic coverage is included and whether full-value protection is available.
- Check whether your home insurance covers belongings in transit.
- Photograph valuable furniture and décor before packing so you have a record of their condition.
Final walkthrough
Once everything is in, walk through each room before the crew leaves or your helpers go home. Check floors, walls and door frames, and inspect larger furniture pieces. It's much easier to sort out any issues on the spot than days later.
The bottom line
A beautiful home deserves a careful move. Protect the floors and frames first, wrap furniture properly, give fragile décor its own system, and leave the truly heavy or delicate items to people with the right equipment. Do that, and your new home will look just as good after moving day as it did when you first fell in love with it.