Moving collection to new home

[Tricolore66]

I’m going to be moving in a couple of months and trying to figure out the safest way to move my collectibles, most importantly watch collection and handguns. How do you guys manage the security of your personal items like this with movers coming and going in your existing and new home? Collection is around two dozen watches, which with boxes, etc. is a fair amount stuff to move, and exposure. I was thinking of calling my bank and seeing if they have larger safe deposit boxes that I can rent for a month or two while things settle down, but I’ve never had one and no idea of how big a space you can get. Also thinking about having the safe installed in the new place before I do anything else, which probably makes the most sense. I have friends who would absolutely store my stuff if I asked, but I don’t want to put anyone in that position, and wouldn’t want to take that responsibility if someone asked me to do it. I’m probably overthinking it, but I figure a lot of you have run into this situation and looking to avoid any potential issues I may not have considered. I’ve lived alone for 23 years in the same home, and moving is probably my least-favorite thing in the world to do!

[Kt92]

Banks with safe deposit boxes often have ones that are larger sized (like small gym lockers), at least in my experience. Doesn’t hurt to ask but I’m interested in seeing if anyone else has other ideas also!

[kritameth]

Safe Deposit Box Insurance Company < Might also be worth checking out if going that route unless all are already insured.

[Schmed]

Let a buddy keep the guns until after the move. Watches in a SD box is a great idea. Commonly done. They can be fairly big. Like 12" wide x 10" tall x 20" deep or something like that. Just store the watches in there, not the watch boxes.

[ltmgeller]

I move them myself when I move.

[Oystersteel92]

Originally Posted by ltmgeller

I move them myself when I move.

This, and assuming a garage in the current residence and a garage in the new one, I'd pack everything in my trunk and take care of it after the movers are done.

Might be a little trickier if it's an out-of-state move but I'm old fashioned and stay in hotels. An Airbnb with a garage might be just the ticket.

Or, you could do multiple Insta stories about "moving day" for all your followers and how sweet your gun and Rolex collection is.

Choices.

[rockmastermike]

Originally Posted by ltmgeller

I move them myself when I move.

[Tricolore66]

I definitely plan on moving them myself, but over the course of a couple of days of movers being at both houses I'm going to need to keep them somewhere else for awhile.

I'm leaning towards installing the safe, alarm and video security in the new place before we even start moving. It's all going in anyway, and I'd rather get all the valuables locked up before it starts. I'd also like cameras before the movers start in.

Originally Posted by ltmgeller

I move them myself when I move.

[Cassian739]

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

I definitely plan on moving them myself, but over the course of a couple of days of movers being at both houses I'm going to need to keep them somewhere else for awhile.

One thought is to keep your personal items in a locked closet, that the movers never enter, and have no idea what's inside.

As for the new house, a secure safe that's bolted down, video, alarm, sounds like the right idea. Putting valuables in before you move is up to you.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

I'm leaning towards installing the safe, alarm and video security in the new place before we even start moving. It's all going in anyway, and I'd rather get all the valuables locked up before it starts. I'd also like cameras before the movers start in.

Problem solved.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by ltmgeller

I move them myself when I move.

Well thought that would be common sense same for another valuable item.

[Carguy87]

One thing I can tell you to NOT do…don’t put anything you care about in the least in a U-Haul truck unless you can go straight from your old place to the new digs without stopping except for fuel. I helped a buddy move a few years ago and we had all his stuff loaded in the U-Haul, car hauler on the back towing his car (he didn’t like to drive unless he had to so I agreed to drive and tow the car). We had a really high quality lock on the back.

We stopped, not even overnight really to get some sleep for 4-5 hours at a motel while we waited for his new apartment leasing office to open so we could get his keys. Professional thieves stole the whole U-Haul and all from the parking lot in under a minute.

Apparently there are only like 12 different keys to all the uhauls in the country to make it easier for their mechanics to work on them if they get towed in without the key, so these professionals have made shaved key sets and just go up to the door and start trying keys til they find the right one. The Officer that took our report worked on the local department’s stolen vehicle task force and said it happens every day pretty much (greater LA area).

A hard lesson to learn for sure!

[Kevin of Larchmont]

On moving day I packed watches and unmentionables in my truck and moved them myself. I had the movers pack the safe last in/first out and I had them wrap the safe in blankets so it looked like a refrigerator and wouldn’t be easily identifiable to the new neighbors upon unloading. I was able to secure the safe while they continued unloading and fill the safe after the movers left the premises. Had the alarm company come first thing the next morning to do their part. Locked and loaded to coin a phrase.

Sounds straightforward in a paragraph but I hate moving day and will never do it again.

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by Kevin of Larchmont

On moving day I packed watches and unmentionables in my truck and moved them myself. I had the movers pack the safe last in/first out and I had them wrap the safe in blankets so it looked like a refrigerator and wouldn’t be easily identifiable to the new neighbors upon unloading. I was able to secure the safe while they continued unloading and fill the safe after the movers left the premises. Had the alarm company come first thing the next morning to do their part. Locked and loaded to coin a phrase.

Sounds straightforward in a paragraph but I hate moving day and will never do it again.

LOL

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by WilsdorfNDavis

LOL

That’s what secure means.

[SilverStar]

For the watches, the easiest solution is to leave them with a reliable close friend unless their house is frequently robbed. Just don’t let everyone know you’re doing that. To make it easier for your friend, put them all in an empty box. The box can be anything from shoes to cereal, tampons, and even cake mix(you get the gist). If you’re feeling creative, watch a few drug smuggling movies for some other ideas. Stuffed animals seem to work well for a lot of things. Stay away from cabbage patch dolls, I hear they are still very collectable.

[ArtNouveau]

I moved out of state almost four years ago. I carried my watches with me, their boxes, etc packed in one of the numerous generic boxes marked living room, bedroom, garage. I had to get out of my old house a week early so everything was in storage until my movers picked it up there, they didn’t know what was in them.
My watches and my bicycles were my most valuable “stealable” things and they were with me the whole time.
I left a small safe in my old house, I doubt if it lived through the flipper remodel that followed. Purchased a new one this past year, I’m a firm believer that they are a deterrent but alarm and insurance help too.

[Ravager135]

I recently built my own home (father is an architect). I went through a very large move a few months ago and many smaller moves many years ago when I was active duty in the Navy. I always hand carried all my valuables and important documents in bankers boxes with me. They stayed in my old home until the very last minute and came with me when I locked the door the final time and handed over keys.

I was stressed having audio equipment shipped to the house while I still had contractors there, but that was only after we could lock the place up in the evening. I packed and moved 30 boxes of LPs because I didn’t trust anyone else not to damage them. In the military you always hand carry your medical records. I always treated valuables the same.

[Hkspwrsche]

They ride with me.same as many said. I have stored guns and collectibles for friends in the same situation

[1William]

Make sure it is all insured and that the policy covers moves. Hand carry watches and other valuables.

[NAUI1982]

I recently did a cross country move.

I own a nice safe and keep my guns and watches in the safe. Was not an issue with moving company and I’m insured. I was completely comfortable with moving company doing what they needed to do while my valuable were safely in my safe. ;-)

However, I did remove my watches from the safe and carried them with me through the airport and to my new place on moving day. I was wondering what the TSA guy was thinking as my carry on went through the scanner…They said nothing. I had 35 watches in my carry on. Watches and cards.

The watch boxes went into regular packing and I labeled it Kitchen. Sent my safe on the moving truck loaded with my guns.

Everything arrived safely and no issues at all.

A good safe is a must have IMHO. Whether you choose to insure is a personal call, but a good safe, bolted down, is a nice way to sleep soundly at night.