Shrinkwrap: Ask for it!
The moving industry is pretty traditional and slow to change. Until we change how we live, the process of moving personal items from one living space to another will remain the same. (I'm sure an ancestral tribal group on the Serengeti had to decide what stuff to take from the old cave to the new!)
Occasionally technology stumbles into our industry, though. The newest innovation is shrinkwrap (or stretchwrap). First used in the new furniture business, it has been appearing on our jobs for about four years now.
A clear plastic wrap that comes wound on a cardboard tube (of varying lengths and widths), its toughness and ability to stretch tightly around an object make it very valuable. We use it on all sofas, chairs, ottomans, upholstered seats, cushions, etc.
Easy to apply, resistant to punctures and tears, it has become a must on most moves. Previously, all furniture was padded in cloth pads. On a light colored fabric piece, even the slightest soil mark on a pad would transfer onto the furniture. Padding large sofas and chairs was a learned skill, and difficult to do properly...it took experience and repetition. Hence, most furniture claims (and the most expensive claims) resulted from damage to furniture with fabric.
Even a crew of lesser experience will perform better, and with less claim occurrence, with shrinkwrap. If someone is moving you, demand that stretch/ shrinkwrap be supplied and used on your overstuffed furniture. If you are moving yourself, pick up a roll (most moving companies stock it) and use it yourself.
Editors note: I have received many emails from my peers (movers) about industry related issues. This column primarily addresses questions and problems for the consumer - those in the process of a move. If neccessary, I will start an independent page for industry professionals. Let me know. MGM
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