A lot of people get so wrapped up in protecting their furniture during a move that they make the costly mistake of forgetting to safeguard the very floor beneath their feet. Whether you own your home or rent, you certainly want to avoid any last-minute repairs or lost security deposits. Moreover, any damage to the floors in your new home is a great way to sour your post-move mood.

Professional movers have the proper equipment, experience, and protective materials needed to leave no trace of the move behind. If you’re opting for a ‘do it yourself’ move, on the other hand, the task of protecting your floors falls entirely on you.

If that’s the case, you need to be proactive in order to avoid any costly property damage. Here are six tried and true tips for keeping your floors scratch, chip, and dent-free during your next move.

Cover your floors

It’s especially hard to damage your floors if you don’t actually make any direct contact with them. While you certainly don’t need to cover every square inch, you should definitely focus your attention on high-traffic areas such as hallways, entryways, and stairwells.

For wood, laminate, and tile floors, you can use area rugs or purchase a roll of self-adhesive floor runners. Just make sure they’re properly secured to avoid slipping. For carpet, it’s best to lay down some clear plastic carpet masking. It’s relatively affordable, durable, and comes in large rolls.

Cost saving alternative: Instead of floor runners, use cardboard on your hard surfaces (just don’t forget to secure it down with painter’s tape). In lieu of carpet masking, you can use old blankets, towels, sheets, or drop cloths.

Use furniture sliders

You should never, under any circumstances, drag heavy furniture or appliances across the floor. One of the most effective ways to protect your floors is to pick up a pack or two of furniture sliders. You can find them at most hardware and department stores, and they come in many different shapes, sizes, and styles.

Place them under the legs or bottoms of your couches, beds, and other large items, and watch the friction disappear as they slide effortlessly (and damage free) across your floors.

Cost saving alternative: If your moving budget is especially tight, you’ll have to get a little creative. Use extra blankets or simply cut out small pieces of thick cardboard or scrap fabric to place beneath each furniture leg.

Beware of inclement weather

Unfortunately, we don’t always have the luxury of moving on a warm, sunny day. While most tracked in rain, snow, and dirt can ultimately be cleaned up after the move is over, small rocks and other debris can sometimes end up leaving lasting marks.

Avoid this by laying down an outside doormat as well as a large, interior floormat as a second line of defense. This way the moving crew can clean the majority of the mess off their shoes before coming any further inside. If the weather is really bad, you may even want to invest in a pack of disposable shoe covers (a.k.a. booties). They’re fairly inexpensive and can be easily slipped on upon entering the home.

Cost saving alternative: If you don’t have the money for mats or shoe covers, perhaps you can split your moving crew into indoor and outdoor teams. A simple hand-off at the entryway will serve to keep nature where it belongs—outside!

Choose the right equipment

Using the right type of moving equipment will make a whole world of difference when it comes to protecting your floors. Two-wheeled hand trucks and four-wheeled furniture dollies are lifesavers when it comes to moving heavy appliances and other items.

Just make sure that you choose ones with rubber wheels. Hard plastic and metal wheels will likely only add scratches to your floors, not prevent them.

Cost saving alternative: If you don’t already own moving equipment, you certainly don’t need to buy new. You can borrow from a friend, family member, or neighbor. Otherwise, most moving companies and rental stores will rent them to you for an affordable price.

Measure your furniture

One of the most common reasons people drop heavy or oversized furniture during a move is because they don’t easily fit through a particular space. Be sure to measure your larger pieces of furniture well before you move, and then measure any doorways, stairwells, and tight corners that will be in the path, at both your old and new home.

If something doesn’t fit, it’s much easier to figure out an alternate path or solution when you’re not currently carrying it.

Cost saving alternative: If a piece of furniture simply won’t fit through an area as is, there are usually legs, doors, or handles that can be easily removed and replaced later. A set of simple tools is a much cheaper alternative to floor (or wall) repairs.

Hire professionals you can trust

Arguably the best way to protect your floors during a move is to leave it in the hands of trustworthy professionals. They have the proper equipment, experience, and protective materials necessary to keep your floors looking great long after they’ve left.

Unfortunately, not all moving companies have your property’s well-being in mind, so you’re going to have to do your research. Here’s what our clients had to say about their experience with AAA Movers.

Cost saving alternative: With the increased potential for incurring costly, last-minute repairs, oftentimes the ‘do it yourself’ method ends up being the far more expensive option. Why take that risk? Contact AAA Movers for the safest, most satisfying move of your life that won’t break your budget in the process.