Electronics are the most expensive and most fragile things in most homes — and one of the top categories for damage during a move. A laptop rattling around in a half-filled box, a TV laid flat in the truck, a tangled pile of cables with no labels — these are all completely avoidable with a bit of preparation. Here’s how our movers recommend handling your electronics on moving day.
Back Up Everything First
Before you unplug a single device, back up your computer, laptop, and any other devices that store important data. Use an external hard drive, a USB stick, or cloud storage — ideally all three for anything you absolutely cannot afford to lose. Moving day is chaotic and accidents happen. Having a fresh backup before anything gets packed gives you complete peace of mind.
Photograph Every Setup Before You Unplug
This is the step almost everyone skips and almost everyone regrets. Before you pull a single cable, take photos of the back of your TV, your computer setup, your sound system, and any other complex wiring. Multiple angles, close up. These photos are your reassembly guide at the new place and will save you a significant amount of frustration.
Label Every Cable
Use small colored stickers — assign one color per device. Put a sticker on each end of every cable and a matching sticker next to the port it connects to on the device. Then wrap each cable with a twist tie, place it in a labeled ziplock bag, and tape the bag to the corresponding device or box. When you’re setting up at the new place, everything will be exactly where it needs to be.
Unplug Everything at Least 24 Hours Before
Electronics generate heat during normal use and need time to cool down before being packed and moved. Unplugging at least 24 hours in advance also reduces the risk of static electricity buildup, which can damage sensitive components. Remove batteries from remotes and accessories — batteries left in devices during a move can corrode and cause permanent damage.
Use the Original Boxes
If you still have the original manufacturer boxes for your TV, computer, gaming console, or other devices — use them. They were designed specifically for those products and include custom-fit foam inserts that no generic box can replicate. If you don’t have the original boxes, use sturdy moving boxes that are large enough to allow at least two inches of padding on every side.
Never use newspaper to wrap screens — the ink transfers and can scratch. Use packing paper or microfiber cloths instead.
Pack Computers With Extra Care
For desktop computers, remove any cards from the motherboard if you’re comfortable doing so — they can dislodge during transport. Tighten all internal screws. Remove all dongles, USB devices, and external drives before packing. For printers, remove ink and toner cartridges and pack them separately in sealed plastic bags to prevent leaking onto other belongings.
Keep Electronics Out of the Truck if Possible
Moving trucks are not climate controlled. In summer they get extremely hot, in winter they get very cold — both are bad for electronics. If you have high-value items like a laptop, camera equipment, or gaming console, transport them in the air-conditioned cab of your own vehicle rather than in the back of the truck. If they do go in the truck, pack them last so they come off first and aren’t sitting in temperature extremes for long.
Wait 24 Hours Before Plugging In
Once you arrive at your new place, resist the urge to plug everything in immediately — especially if the electronics were exposed to cold or heat during the move. Give devices at least a few hours to reach room temperature before powering them on. Turning on a device before it has acclimatized can cause condensation inside the components and lead to serious damage.
Brothers Moving has been helping families and businesses relocate since 2008. We serve Metro Vancouver including Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Delta, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Langley, Abbotsford, White Rock and Horseshoe Bay. We also move clients across Vancouver Island including Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay, Campbell River and Parksville, and throughout BC including Kelowna, Kamloops, Penticton, Chilliwack and Prince George.
Ready to move? Call us at 604-720-0931 or get a free quote online today.