By Gina Cappiello www.123Movers.com

MP3 players, flat-screen televisions, surround sound speakers, and video game systems are pretty tough, but can get destroyed easily if they are not packed safely for a move. Follow these simple guidelines below to protect your prized (and pricy!) gadgets during your next move:

Packing
The best way to pack your pieces is back into their original boxes with their own pieces of packing foam. This guarantees that the item will safely fit into the box while being protected. If you no longer have the original box or packing foam, get creative. Cushioned packing blankets and durable tape are perfect tools to use to wrap large fragile items like flat-screen TVs and computer monitors up tight. If you do not feel that your items are protected enough by blankets, place them into a box filled with packing peanuts for extra protection.

Moving
If you can afford the extra expense, hire a separate moving company that specializes in moving fragile items. Be sure to choose the company you feel the most comfortable with and that has the most experience with moving high tech items. Do not choose a mover solely based on their estimate. You may be getting the best price on a mover, but you may end up with damaged goods because of it. If hiring a separate company is out of the question, do it yourself! Pack your items into the car in size order (big to small) and use extra blankets or pillows in between empty spaces to reduce wiggle room. If you are using a car that does not have collapsible backseats, don’t worry. Bigger items can be put onto the backseat and strapped in accordingly while smaller items can be placed on the floor or front seat of your car.

Unpacking
It is very important to be patient and work slowly when unpacking everything from your vehicle. Just like packing, unpacking gadgets can be extremely tedious. Before moving your sensitive items into your new home, make sure there are designated spots for them to be placed. Keep all of your items wrapped up until everything is moved into your home. To avoid accidents during the rest of your move, keep your electronics in an area of the house where there is the least amount of moving traffic. If setting up places for your gadgets is impossible to do during your move, keep your fragile items packed (and locked) away until everything else is safely moved in.

Moving is a high-stress activity. Don’t let your high-tech items get damaged during it. Follow the tips provided to guarantee a problem-free move for you and your electronics.