If you are moving house, you should take precautions to prevent your chairs, tables, sofas and other furniture items from being damaged, so that you don't have to repair or replace them at the end of this process. Here are two ways to do this.

Use professional furniture removalists

Moving house is an expensive process. Given this, you might find yourself feeling tempted to hire a van and transport your belongings yourself, in order to avoid incurring the expenses associated with using a removals company. This is a perfectly reasonable option for those who do not own a lot of fragile or bulky items.

However, if you need to transport large, valuable pieces of furniture, it is not advisable to opt for a DIY house move, as this could spell disaster for both you and your furniture. Trying to lift heavyweight objects (such as a sofa, a wardrobe or a piano) when you lack the proper training, equipment and physical strength, could not only cause you to accidentally drop and damage a piece of furniture but could also leave you with a serious back or neck injury.

A team of professional furniture removalists, on the other hand, will have all of the skills and experience needed to handle your furniture correctly and thus prevent it from being damaged or destroyed. Furthermore, they will have access to the heavy-duty equipment needed to safely transport bulkier items. The use of things like ramps, wheeled dollies and hoisting straps will lessen the chances of your furniture from sustaining scratches, breakages and splinters when being transported to the new property.

It's also worth noting that the insurance policies that most removalist companies have means that, even in the unlikely event of your goods being damaged by them, you can make a claim and receive compensation.

Invest in protective packaging

One of the most effective ways to ensure that your furniture gets to your new home in pristine condition is to use the right packing materials. As such, it's important not to skimp on these supplies.

For example, if you own a piece of wooden furniture which could easily be scratched, don't simply toss a thin bed throw over it and hope for the best, as this type of household material won't be robust enough to provide adequate protection.

Instead, opt for a heavy-duty removal blanket; these type of blankets are usually made from thick, cross-stitched wool that won't tear or fall apart during the hustle and bustle of the house moving process. When used alongside extra-strong bubble wrap, these will prevent scuff marks, scratches and other types of damage.

Additionally, consider purchasing some foam corner protectors for the edges of your tables, chairs and wardrobes, as these are the areas that will be most likely to be knocked into or scraped against a wall when being moved out of your current home and into your new one.