There are umpteen possessions to pack when preparing to move house. But while most are easy enough to take care of and don’t cause you much worry, there are some that are as precious to you – just as much so as your kids, your wife, your right leg. Moving a record collection you have spent decades putting together is a perfect example.

Most residential moving companies offer packing services and can easily take care of your vinyl LPs. But let’s face it, collectors are highly possessive and even more protective, so would only insist on handling things personally.

My brother, Dave, is the music addict in my family. He’s only 29 but still has managed to gather together a collection of 164 albums with everyone from Michael Jackson to Daft Punk represented, including a healthy sprinkling of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen (absolutely no Justin Bieber!).

My own collection of 37 CDs (no Bieber either) pales in comparison, and given that he’s moved apartments almost as often as we have, I thought I’d ask him the best way to pack a record collection.

So, here’s Dave’s brief residential moving guide – at least as far as packing records is concerned.

1. Choose The Right Box – When choosing the box in which to pack your record collection, there are a few issues to consider.
   • Is the box large enough to house them? Basically, your albums (ideally, in their sleeves) should be able to fit within the dimensions with box comfortably. This means accommodating the packing around the records, so the width, height and length should be a couple of inches greater.
     For the most part, any box with dimensions of 12 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches or more, should do fine. A box of 1.5 cubic feet (18 x 18 x 18), often used for books is fine with sufficient packing material for support, but a wine used wine boxes fit 12″ LP’s perfectly.
   • Is it strong enough to deal with the combined weight of the records in them? Used cardboard boxes are a great idea, but it is essential that the base is securely sealed and the corners are not scuffed or torn, or otherwise weakened A stack of records is deceptively heavy, so a poor quality box may not be up to the task.
   • Will the moving company split it up? You might raise your eyebrow as this consideration, but the dimensions and weight of every item to be loaded on the moving truck is important. A box of 1.5 cubic feet should be fine, but if your collection is very big, one or two of the boxes used my have to be switched to a second truck..
2. Stack Records Vertically – This is pretty obvious to any record collector. But it’s more to do with in-transit preservation than an obsessive meticulousness. Heat is a worry when dealing with vinyl, and while stacking horizontally will see records impress on each other, vertical stacking avoids such situations and even lets air circulate a little, keeping temperatures down.
3. Remove Records From Their Jackets – You’d think this would be a bad move, but in fact, there is method in such madness. When records are tightly packed together the jackets are pressed hard against the records inside. This can sometimes result in circular impressions in the jacket which will not come out, and can lessen the value of the collection. Removing the record from the jackets avoids this problem, with the inner sleeves still protecting the record from dust and scratches. Of course, it only works if the records are packed vertically.
4. Wrap Securely – The best material to use when packing your record collection is bubble wrap. If the biggest concern is how the vibrations affect the vinyl while in transit, then the generous buffer that the bubbles of air provide is the perfect solution – and remember, because it’s plastic, it’s better to protect against moisture.A neat trick is to cross two lengths of bubble wrap that are the same width and height as the records, but about 4 times as long. Stack your records (say 20) in the centre and then pull the bubble wrap upwards, securing them at the end. Then fit them into the box. Alternatively, pack the interior of the box with plenty of packing paper, place the records into the box. Slip packing papers down the box sides and ends and top, before sealing the box with tape.
5. Consider The Weight – It’s tempting to think you can put as many records as possible into each box, but bear in mind the amount of weight that would mean. It’s a bit like packing books – carry 4 or 5 books at a time, and it’s fine; make it 15 books and that’s a different story.

For more hints and tips, always feel free to call one of our team at Viktoria Professional Movers at 902-332-3535 or Toll Free at 1-877-399-1315. But for more research on the subject, check out these sites offering some brief guides and pearls of wisdom.

• How to Pack Vinyl Records for Shipping on WikiHow.com
• Pack Your New & Used Vinyl Records Safely With These Tips From Academy Records on NearSay.com
• How to Store Your Record Collections in 8 Steps on TheVinylFactory.com

Incidentally, my wife has a collection of her own. Her advice? Download every track onto an iPod and keep it in your pocket. Problem solved.