Antiques are much more fragile and delicate than contemporary items and this is why we have decided to present to you a tutorial which will permit you to safely and properly prepare your antiques for your upcoming relocation.
1: Make an inventory
Since antiques are valuable items it is of immense importance that you draft an inventory, so that you can quickly determine whether something is missing or not. This will also help you track down what is where during the unpacking process.
2: Sort your antiques
You can group your antiques either in dependence of their type (furniture, artwork, memorabilia, clothes, coins and jewellery) or by size (small to large). This will facilitate immensely the packing process and more important will allow you to keep similar items together which will minimise the possibility for items to get lost. Last but not least, it will help you determine whether some of your antiques will need to be dismantled prior of your removal.
3: Purchase the correct packing supplies
As we mentioned above, antiques are fragile and delicate objects, and shouldn’t be packed with traditional shielding products. Instead, you should buy specialised protective supplies such as:
- Wooden crates
- Furniture blankets
- Hardtop containers
- Wardrobe cartons
- Cushioned padding
- Bubble wrap
You can purchase these items from the man and van company which you have hired to carry out your relocation.
4: Have professionals conduct the packing
Unless you have experience in packing breakable items, you should delegate the job to professional and well-equipped packers. This way you will have the peace of mind that your antiques will be properly shielded during the loading, unloading and transportation stage of your move. Don’t be hesitant about using reliable packing services in London because it won’t augment significantly the overall cost of your removal but on the other hand it will certainly ensure the safety of your belongings.
5: Insure your antiques
Even the best planned relocations can go wrong and this is why you should absolutely insure your antiques. Have them appraised by professional evaluators and then purchase a policy that will provide adequate coverage in the case of an unwanted event. Bear in mind that you can insure your antique with the moving company which you have hired.
6: Haul them via specialised transport
The biggest mistake that you can do when moving antiques is to transport large pieces with your personal automobile as they can get damages during the loading, unloading and hauling process. Notify the movers that you will be taking delicate items with you, so that they can come with the appropriate vans and trucks, and ensure their safety by strapping them in place with special positional belts.
7: Take small items with you
Smaller antiques on the other hand, you should keep at all times with you. This will eliminate the possibility for them getting lost. However, you should handle them with utter care and diligence.
As you can see while it may be hard it isn’t impossible to pack, load and transport antiques without damaging them.