There are plenty of general tips for moving your house in various scenarios and situations on this blog, and multiple others throughout the internet, although one area of the house that is rarely touched on is your garage. Moving the items in your garage can create some unique problems that you wouldn’t necessarily experience in other areas, mainly because most of the items in this area will be sharp, heavy duty or shaped differently than other items in the house. Here are a few helpful tips to ensure that all of the items in your garage/tool shed/storage area can be moved safely and effectively:

• You tools should always be tightly secured: Tools can be quite dangerous to move when not done correctly as they are often sharp or heavy, the most important thing to ensure is that they are enclosed, preferably in a tool box. This will make sure that they are not poking through holes or slicing through other important items, it’s also always a good idea to make sure the box is securely wrapped (preferably with thick, durable tape) around it’s drawers and openings.

• For gas powered tools and lawnmowers – electric or gas powered tools pose a whole new threat as they can leak on furniture or other valuable items, not to mention they can turn on at the press of a button. It’s important to always empty your gas-powered tools entirely and take any batteries out of power tools. Sharp blades and edges should always be taped up and detached if possible. Larger power tools like table saws should always be packed in their own box for ease of transport.

• Tape them up! – This one is a given, but make sure any liquid canisters or paint cans are taped up numerous times to prevent from spillage, also place them in their own clearly marked boxes to effectively separate them from other valuables you might be moving.

• Organization is key – Many experts say that moving your garage can be the most challenging area of the house, so it’s important to make sure that all of the items are separated categorized, the sheer variety of things that can be in a home’s garage or tool shed can be daunting.   Extremely small items, like nuts and bolts, can be just as important as big ones, so it is integral that you pack them in their own bags or containers and, once again, wrap them effectively.

Something about moving your garage can be almost more intimidating than moving your entire house, garages are often unorganized as it is, and in many cases, only one or two members of the family know what’s happening down there. The important thing to do is to remain calm and organized, take a tally of everything you need to pack and set aside more than enough time to get it done. By following these helpful guidelines, being prepared, and even doing further research, you’re on your way to getting your garage/tool shed/storage area moved in no time.