When you’re moving to a new home it can be scary to think about how you’re going to safely move all of your valuables. Antiques can be very fragile and need to be moved carefully. If you don’t know what you’re doing it can be very easy to damage them. To make sure your antiques stay safe during your move, use this guide to help you pack and move your antiques.
Make an inventory
Before you start packing all your valuables away it’s a good idea to make an inventory of everything. Cataloging everything will allow you to have a better idea of what needs to be packed up. This will also give you the opportunity to take photos of all your antiques so you have proof of the condition they were in before transport.
This is also a good time to get a professional appraisal of your antiques so you can find out exactly how much they are worth. This will help you when you are organising insurance and in case anything is damaged or broken during transit.
Get insurance
It’s always a good idea to get insurance when you’re moving, not matter how far you’re going. If anything happens to your antiques during transit and you don’t have insurance, you won’t be covered.
Even if you’re travelling just down the road, accidents can still happen and sometimes unforeseen circumstances can cause damage to your goods.
If you’re moving company doesn’t offer insurance coverage then there are a range of other providers you can choose from. Make sure you get an accurate quote before you make a decision, and ensure you know exactly what you are paying for.
Use the right packing materials
Getting the correct packing materials is crucial when it comes packing antiques. They are generally very valuable and fragile so it is important to take care of them. You need to get strong, protective materials that will be able to keep your antiques safe during transit.
This includes packing materials such as bubble wrap, sturdy packing boxes, packaging tape, and ‘fragile’ or ‘handle with care’ tape. If you’re not sure what to get, it’s a good idea to talk to your removalists as they will be able to assist you.
Packing your antiques
The main thing you need to do when packing your antiques is to pad and protect them. If they are fragile or breakable, use cushioned material such as bubble wrap or even scrunched up newspaper. You can use blankets or other soft materials to fill up the space in between so there’s no room in the box for your antiques to move around.
For items such as mirrors or paintings it’s a good idea to purchase special boxes that can be ordered online or purchased from your removalists. Make sure your label all of your boxes and ensure you notify your removalists which boxes are carrying fragile antiques so they know to be extra careful.
