How to Pack your Collectibles for a Move

Collections can become more than a hobby for some people, they will spend almost their whole lives tracking down the rarest coins, dolls, action figures, you name it. They build epic collections and become connoisseurs on the history and creation of the items. When it comes time to move, getting your collection to your new place might be harder than you thought. To get everything there in one piece, you must take the necessary precautions. Most collections are hard to replace and can be heartbreaking to lose.

Whether you have a number of collectable toys or just have sentimental dolls your children had as little ones, packing these items is important to avoid any damage during your move. Here are some tips you can use.

1. Make sure to wrap each box individually in acid-free packing paper. You need acid-free paper to stop any damage to the items. You don’t want colors to bleed onto the boxes, or the paper to strip color from the boxes. Acid-free paper will keep your items safe
2. Make sure not to put tape on the actual box, it can rip the boxes or take off print and color
3. Next, wrap each box in bubble wrap
4. Cushion the box you’re using for transportation with crushed paper or packing peanuts
5. Place the wrapped boxes in carefully, and fill gaps between items with crushed paper or peanuts
6. Cushion the top of the box with crushed paper or packing peanuts.
7. Alert movers to handle the package carefully by writing Fragile on the different sides of the box.

Items that are made of ceramic or glass are going to be some of the most fragile items you'll have.

1. Wrap each piece in bubble wrap or several sheets of packing paper
2. It’s important again not to get any tape on the actual items since tape can pull off paint or cause damage
3. Make sure to cushion the bottom of the box with paper or peanuts, along with filling in the gaps between items
4. Keep items upright. Delicate items travel better in a standing position because they don’t crush as easily.
5. Seal the top of the box with cushioning from packing peanuts or crushed paper
6. Make sure to mark the box fragile

Save some of your stronger boxes or splurge on some "heavy duty" boxes for these items. It'll save you a lot of heartache using the proper tools to protect your stuff!

These are some oddity items, but if you have any movie posters, collectable stamps, or highly important documents to take with you, packing these items properly to avoid damage is vital.

1. Paper goods should travel in an album, frame, or poster tube. They should never be packed without a protective covering.
2. Once wrapped, you can cover albums and frames in packing paper or bubble wrap
3. Posters can be loaded into poster tubes and packed right into boxes

When it comes to packing a coin collection or currency, security should be a top priority. Here are some ways you can keep that vital collection safe

1. The best advice is to keep these items of such high value with you while you travel, but if you can’t there are some other options
2. If you are going to move them with the rest of your belongings, load the currency into an album to keep it all together
3. Wrap albums in paper or bubble wrap
4. When loading boxes, pay attention to the weight of the boxes. You don’t want to make them too heavy that the boxes break or the movers struggle to carry them.
5. Hire an another armored transport to move your collection safely if it is big enough. There are companies that specialize in this sort of highly valuable collections.

Before planning to move these items with your other belongings, check your insurance policy to see if your belongings are protected while in transit. Some coin Collections can be worth more than $50,000, make sure your investment is protected. If it isn’t it might be a good idea to come up with a safer plan.

If you find that you can’t bring your collection with you and you have to get rid of it, selling and donating your items might be easier than you thought.

1. Sell your collection’s items individually to make the highest profit. If you sell your collection as a whole you will lose money for your more expensive items.
2. Sell items at a local trade show. There are many shows that are extremely specific to a certain type of collectable as well which means you can likely sell it faster to someone who really wants what you specifically have.
3. Amazon, eBay, Etsy, or other online stores are a great place to sell your collectibles to people all over the world
4. Donate to a museum specializing in your collection. Be aware they will only take what matches their galleries.
5. Donate to a charity or a group who will sell your items and then donate the money to charity.

Once you get to your new home, you’ll have a blast finding the perfect spot to put your collection back on display!