3 Tips for Moving Your Home Office Efficiently

July 1, 2018

Smiling man in a dress shirt and tie standing beside stacked cardboard boxes, holding one under his arm

More and more people spend at least some of their working time working from home. Even if you don't own a home-based business, surveys have found that more than 40% of American workers spend at least some of their time working remotely, often from home, meaning that many workers today have home offices that must be moved when they decide to relocate.

Moving a home office can be tricky. You need to ensure that your equipment, documents, and furniture are moved safely, and you probably want to minimize the effect that the move has on your productivity. Take a look at some tips that can help you move your home office as efficiently as possible.

Declutter Your Documents

A move is a good time to sort through your paper documents and figure out what you can keep and what you can get rid of. Take the opportunity to scan and digitize files so that you can lighten your load by moving with less paperwork. It's much easier to move a hard drive than it is to move a file cabinet full of documents.

Be sure that you back up your digitized documents, either on an external hard drive or in the cloud. You don't want to take the risk of something happening to your equipment and losing important documents in the process.

When you digitize your documents, you also need to figure out what to do with the hard copies. You don't want to toss paperwork that contains sensitive information that belongs to you, your clients, or your business. Financial information and personal identifying information can be stolen by identity thieves if it's put into the trash without alteration.

In the office, you might put these types of documents into a shredder, or even use a shredding service. But what if you don't have a shredder at home? There are some simple ways that you can destroy documents with sensitive information even without a shredder.

Soaking your documents in water can reduce the paper to a pulpy mess that's impossible to read. If you have a fireplace or fire pit, use them as kindling. You can also put the documents into a wood chipper if you happen to have one.

Protect Your Office Equipment

A lot of your office equipment is delicate. Computers, printers, fax machines, and other electronics require special care when packing.

It's best to use the original box for the equipment if possible. But if you didn't save the boxes that your office equipment came in, make sure to choose a sturdy replacement box that isn't too much bigger than the piece of equipment that it's going to hold. Leave some room for cushioning, but you don't want your computer or printer bouncing around inside the box.

You may want to tape down the lid of your printer or laptop so that it can't accidentally open while inside the box. Wrap your electronics securely in a protective covering material, like bubble wrap, before placing them inside the box. Then fill any empty spaces inside the box with paper or packing peanuts to minimize movement.

You may want to pack the power cords and any other cords or cables in the same box as the piece of equipment they go with. If you decide to pack them separately, label each cord so that you know which piece of equipment it belongs to.

For a piece of equipment that has several different plugs and cords, like a desktop computer, use your smartphone to take a picture of the plug placement before you start unplugging the device. That way, you can refer to it when you set the equipment back up in your new home.

Design Your Home Office Floor Plan Ahead of Time

The sooner you get your equipment and furniture in place, the faster you can get back to work once the move is complete. It's worth it to spend some time planning the layout of your home office in your new home before you make the move.

If you'll have access to the new home before the move, you should measure the space beforehand, making sure that your existing furniture and equipment will fit. Use painters tape to mark the locations where items like a desk, a server, or speakers will go when you move in.

If you won't have access to the new home ahead of time, you can still do some planning. There are software tools that allow you to digitally recreate the floor plan and generate a layout for your office furniture and equipment. This will give you a clear picture of where each item should go when the time for the move comes.

Not only is planning the layout ahead of time more efficient, it can also be fun. If your current home office is awkward or cramped, this can give you a chance to correct those issues in your new home before you begin moving things in.

Taking steps to make your move smoother can help you get off to a good start in your new home office. Experienced movers can ensure that the items you need for work are packed safely and brought to the right place when they arrive at your new home.

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How to Pack and Wrap Specialty Items: A Guide from Your Local Moving Company

September 18, 2026

Some belongings just can't be tossed in a box with a handful of newspaper and called "packed." Grand pianos, fine art, antique furniture, wine collections, aquariums, and other specialty items need a different level of care — the kind that comes from decades of hands-on experience, not a YouTube tutorial the night before your move. At Redondo Van & Storage , we've been the trusted local moving company for Redondo Beach and the South Bay since 1919. Over more than a century in business, our team has packed, wrapped, and safely transported just about everything a home or business can own. Below, we're sharing our best tips for protecting specialty items — along with a reminder that when it's time to move, our residential moving company is only a phone call away. Why Specialty Items Need Special Attention Standard moving boxes and bubble wrap are great for dishes and books, but they fall short when it comes to items that are: Fragile or delicate — glassware, china, mirrors, and artwork Oddly shaped — chandeliers, lamps, sculptures, and musical instruments Heavy and awkward — pianos, safes, pool tables, and marble tabletops Sentimental or irreplaceable — family heirlooms, antiques, and collectibles High-value — jewelry, fine art, and electronics A single scratch, dent, or crack can turn an exciting move into a heartbreaking one. That's why our team treats every specialty item like it's the only one that matters — because to you, it is. Tips for Packing Specialty Items the Right Way 1. Use the Right Materials Cardboard and old towels won't cut it for your grandmother's china cabinet. Specialty items call for specialty supplies: foam padding, corner protectors, custom crates, moving blankets, and acid-free packing paper for artwork and photographs. These materials cushion against shock and prevent scratches, moisture damage, and shifting during transport. 2. Disassemble When Possible Large or complex items — think bed frames, dining tables, or electronics with detachable cords — travel much more safely when broken down into smaller pieces. Keep hardware bagged and labeled so reassembly at your new home is quick and painless. 3. Wrap in Layers Fragile and valuable items benefit from a layered approach: a soft inner layer (packing paper or foam) to prevent surface scratches, followed by a cushioning layer (bubble wrap or blankets) to absorb shock, and finally a sturdy outer layer (a well-built box or crate) to protect against pressure and impact. 4. Label Everything Clearly "Fragile" isn't enough on its own. Note which side is up, whether an item is climate-sensitive, and which room it belongs in at your new home. Clear labeling helps movers handle each piece appropriately from the truck to your front door. 5. Consider Custom Crating for High-Value Pieces Some items — fine art, marble statues, antique mirrors, and musical instruments — deserve custom-built wooden crates designed to their exact dimensions. This is where an experienced residential moving company makes all the difference. Our team can build and fit crates specifically for your most valuable belongings before moving day even begins. 6. Don't Forget Climate and Timing Certain specialty items, like wine collections, electronics, and wood furniture, are sensitive to temperature and humidity. If your move involves a stop in storage , make sure the facility can accommodate any special climate needs before your items arrive. Leave It to the Professionals Packing specialty items is one of those tasks that looks simple until you're staring down a 500-pound safe or a chandelier with more crystal pieces than you can count. Our full-service packing team has spent generations perfecting the art of wrapping, crating, loading, and unloading items of every shape, size, and value. Whether you're a homeowner in Redondo Beach or searching for a trusted moving company Rolling Hills Estates CA families rely on, our movers Rolling Hills Estates CA and throughout the South Bay bring the same white-glove care to every job — from a single antique dresser to a full estate. Why Choose Redondo Van & Storage Over 100 years of experience serving the Redondo Beach and South Bay community Voted South Bay's Best Moving Company six years running Recognized by USA Today as one of America's Best Moving Companies Full-service packing, wrapping, crating, and storage solutions Locally owned and operated — we treat your belongings like our own As a trusted local moving company and residential moving services provider, we know that specialty items deserve specialty care. Don't risk damaging your most valuable belongings with a rushed packing job — let our experienced team handle it from start to finish. Ready to move? Call Redondo Van & Storage today at (310) 376-7919 or request a free quote online for expert packing, wrapping, and moving services in Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills Estates, and throughout the South Bay.