Packing and Moving Antiques and Collectables
The packing and moving of antiques and collectables takes more planning and care than your regular, everyday items due to many factors. This can include sentimental value, actual value, the age of the piece or its fragile nature. Below are some handy tips to take into consideration before and during your move, in regards to your antiques and collectables.
Get An Appraisal and Document Your Items
Prior to your move, get an appraisal done and check on your insurance cover for packing and moving of your antiques and collectables or arrange your own comprehensive cover that covers moving. This piece of mind will also cover you if the worst happens and said items become lost or damaged on their way to their destination. If you need to organise this extra cover, contact Carts Australia Removals Insurance .
Take lots of photographs, from multiple angles, paying close attention to details. Close-up photos of any current damage/wear is also a good idea. Damaged and worn areas are generally weaker and more susceptible to further damage when being moved.
Double check all items for any loose parts (eg. wobbly legs, loose framework), especially wooden furniture. These can be a hazard when moving as it weakens the integrity of the piece and makes it more prone to damage and breaks when being moved.
Packing Tips
- Collectables should always be stored or repackaged into their original boxes where possible.
- Do not use tape directly on items, especially wooden or porous antiques or collectables, as it can cause damage to the finish of the piece that can be costly to repair.
- Use more packaging than you normally would. Aim for 3 layers – one of acid-free paper, one of bubble wrap (or similar) and then a moving blanket/padding or appropriate box.
- Use acid-free packing paper when wrapping antique or collectable items instead of newspaper. The acids in non-acid-free paper, like our skin, can cause yellowing and deterioration and newspaper will leave black marks on everything.
- Try to use the best quality packing materials that you can possibly afford. The better the packing materials, the safer and more protected your precious cargo will be.
- Mark all packaged antique and collectables as fragile so that the mover knows to take extra care. It may seem like common sense, but it is better to be safe than sorry where high-value items are concerned.
- Wrap delicate items, silverware, china and glassware separately in paper, then in bubble wrap, if needed.
- Porcelain dolls and figurines – wrap these in uncoloured tissue paper, then in bubble wrap.
- If needing to pack multiple smaller items into a larger box. Foam packing peanuts and crumpled paper are great to fill in the spaces. Make sure you tightly pack any spaces so that there is no movement in the box.
Moving Tips
- Protect corners on furniture, artwork, picture frames etc. You can buy ready-made corner protectors (made of either styrofoam or cardboard) or you can make sure your have furniture pads to wrap the items up securely. Corners are the areas most prone to damage when pieces are being moved.
- Be careful when moving any antique furniture, watch for loose legs and glass. Do no place anything on top of anything that has loose legs.
- Remove any glass panels if you are able and wrap these separately.
- Use furniture pads and straps to cover and secure the furniture in the truck. Do not use ratchet straps as over tightening will break your furniture.
Contact Us to Help you Move
Townsville itself has quite a lot of collectors and lovers of antique items and furniture. We often get jobs where we are packing and moving antiques and collectables. Whether there is a beautiful handmade silky oak dresser, a singer sewing machine or a gorgeous china or drinks cabinet from the 50’s. In the vintage cabinets we usually see a lot of vintage crystal or china or collections of bottles, figurines and the like. We take great care with any items but especially these ones. Sentimental value can never replace monetary value.
If you would like a quote please contact us.
