Most of what gets damaged in a move isn't the everyday stuff — it's the handful of items that are heavy, fragile, or both. Marble tables, glass shelving, mirrors, antiques. A little extra prep on those specific pieces goes a long way toward moving day going smoothly instead of ending with a claim.
Wrap Every Fragile Item Individually
It's tempting to group similar items together in a box and call it done, but fragile pieces need their own layer of protection before they ever touch a box or a blanket. Wrap each item individually — dishes, glassware, frames, decor — with packing paper or bubble wrap, and fill any empty space in the box so nothing can shift in transit. Movement is what causes breaks, not just impact.
Marble, Glass, and Stone Need Extra Care
Stone and glass furniture — marble tabletops, glass shelving, stone accent pieces — are some of the most common items to sustain damage in a move, and often the most expensive to repair or replace. These pieces should be fully wrapped, corner-protected, and never leaned or stood on edge during transport. If a tabletop can be separated from its base, separating it for the move reduces the risk significantly compared to moving it assembled.
If you own something in this category, it's worth telling your moving company ahead of time rather than mentioning it on move day. A heads-up gives the crew a chance to bring the right materials and handle that specific piece with the extra attention it needs.
Label Boxes Clearly and Specifically
"Fragile" alone isn't always enough. Label boxes with what's inside and which side should face up — it helps your crew handle each box appropriately and makes it obvious at a glance which boxes need to be set down carefully versus stacked with the rest.
Talk to Your Movers Before They Start
A quick walkthrough before the truck gets loaded makes a real difference. Point out anything fragile, high-value, or sentimental so the crew knows what to prioritize. This is also the right time to ask about your valuation coverage options for anything you're especially concerned about — knowing your coverage before the move, not after, means no surprises if something does go wrong.
Pack Fragile Items Last, Load Them Strategically
On the truck, fragile items generally do best loaded last and unloaded first — they end up in a more stable, accessible spot rather than buried under heavier furniture. A good crew will naturally sequence the load this way, but it's a fair thing to ask about if you're not sure how your movers plan to load the truck.
A little extra prep on the pieces that matter most is the cheapest insurance policy there is. If you're planning a move and have fragile or high-value items you want handled right, we're not just Better, we're Butter — let us know ahead of time and we'll make sure the crew comes prepared.
Packing the small stuff yourself? See How to Safely Move Fragile and Valuable Items for the best packing materials, specialty boxes and how to pack electronics and jewelry.
