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If you’re an avid lover of physical media, you’ve no doubt dreaded the inevitable day when you and your collection would have to hit the road together. It’s likely that you’ve spent a large portion of your time carefully curating and cataloging your Blu-Rays and DVDs for clarity and presentation. To make sure that your cinematic inventory arrives at your new destination just the way it left the old one, you’ll want to follow this straightforward guide to packing and transporting your flicks. 

Gather Your Packing Supplies

Like many other things in life, preparation is key to safely securing your Blu-Rays and DVDs for your move. Short of consulting the best long distance movers in Philadelphia, you’re going to want to plan accordingly to make sure your travel goes smoothly. Having the correct supplies on hand during the process can help prevent damage during transit, especially during long distance moves. Before packing up your own private movie theater make sure you have these essentials:

• Small or Medium Moving Boxes: Focus on boxes that won’t be too cumbersome to carry to even space out the contents and prevent the threat of drops and damage.
• Packing Paper, Bubble Wrap and Packing Tape: These will ensure that your cases and discs will have the requisite padding and security needed for the trip.
• Permanent Marker: Marking individual boxes can help you avoid potential loss and mishandling.

Preparing Your DVDs and Blu-Rays

For movie aficionados, this step will seem less like work and more like a labor of love. This portion goes beyond just tossing your collection into any old box haphazardly. As aforementioned, proper preparation is key to making sure they arrive at your new place safe and sound. Think about valuable or fragile DVDs which you can individually wrap in packing paper. These can include box sets, special editions and anything signed or otherwise special. Setting these aside can help you devote special care or attention to certain DVDs and Blu-Rays you can’t live without. 

Sorting and Organizing

As collectors of physical media are probably all too privy to, organization can make all the difference. If you’re the proud owner of a particularly large assortment of movies, breaking down the vast majority of them into categorical subsets can significantly improve the packing process. Knowing where certain sections of your collection are can aid in the configuration of the boxes as you load them into your vehicle or van. For example, you’re going to definitely want your smallest genre box at the top to reduce weight and protect the other DVDs. Additionally, it has even greater benefits when you eventually reach your new home, as the prior organization within the boxes can help you restore your collection to its former glory in no time. 

Packing Methods

How you position and pack each DVD can either prevent damage or lead to heartbreak later on. Proper consideration given to this process prevents movement during transport and helps to alleviate pressure on the cases. Below are a few specific packing methods to utilize in order to safeguard your DVDs during the relocation process:

• Pack Your Cases Spine Up: Always pack your DVDs, Blu-rays and video games with their spines facing the top of the box. This helps to maximize box space and grants each case with more individual stability. It also makes for easier stacking and provides weight distribution advantages over other stacking methods. 
• Using Packing Paper and Bubble Wrap: Empty space is an enemy to your DVDs. Stop the shifting of cases by adding crumpled packing paper or bubble wrap. These added materials will make your boxes more snug, secure, and prepared to withstand movement during transit. 
• Choosing the Correct Box Size: Choosing the correct box proportions is just as critical as how you plan to pack it. It’s recommended that you use a small or medium sized box as this contributes to a tighter, more stable fit for your DVDs. Additionally, a smaller box won’t be subject to bowing in the center from the weight of your collection and will be more economical to carry.

Considerations for Long Distance Moves

Longer trips can introduce new complications into the fray for our physical media. Long distance moving requires comprehensive preventative actions that extend beyond simple box-filling strategies. Knowing how different environments can affect these discs is half the battle. If you’re traveling in the Summer or from/to an excessively warm climate such as Florida or the deep South, be sure to regulate the temperature if you’re able since heat can easily harm the structure of your DVDs through delamination. If you’re unable to procure proper temperature conditions for your DVDs from the elements, it may be wise to consider long distance movers in Florida.

Now that you’re aware of the ins and outs of shielding your collection from the potential risks that come with a relocation, you can be sure that your DVDs will arrive in one piece. If you have any further questions about the moving process or want to consult with the professionals in the relocation business, please don’t hesitate to contact us at your convenience. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.