So, you’re getting ready for relocation. Wondering how you’ll move that antique table that has been in your family for more than a century? Now, this might be a lousy assumption, but still… If you’ve got any antique furniture that needs to be moved, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll show you everything you need to know about moving antique furniture. Stick around for some helpful info concerning the outcome of your relocation!
Take a deep breath
We’ll try to be quick here. First and foremost, you want to be mentally prepared for the ordeal. Relocation itself is a pretty stressful process, not to mention moving delicate items such as antique furniture. You need to accept that it won’t be an easy process. At the same time, you don’t need to panic because you can do things to make the whole antique relocation ordeal easier. Knowing what lies ahead is the key to mental stability in situations like these. So, what’s there to be done? See the text below.
Before you begin
Before you start packing and everything else, there’s a couple of things to consider.
Create an inventory of items you’re moving
As you probably already know, the key to success is in good organization. Whether you’re hiring pros to handle the relocation or going the good old DIY way, you’ll need to create an inventory of all the items you’re planning to move. Make sure you also take notes on the condition of particular pieces. That way, you’ll know if an item was damaged during transport or if it was like that before you hit the road.
Hiring professional movers?
One thing you’ll need to decide before you do anything else is whether or not you’re going to hire professional movers. Handling antique items is a part of their job. Also, they have all the necessary supplies available for packing and moving delicate furniture. If you’ve decided you need a helping hand in the form of a moving company, you should contact them and obtain a quote. Still, if you want to go DIY – there are many things you can do to ensure a safe relocation of your belongings.
Clean your antiques
We’ll be quick. Make sure your antiques are totally clean before you start packing. Also, pay attention to what substances you’re using to clean them.
Obtain packing supplies
Here’s what you’ll need:
- cardboard boxes (specialty boxes also)
- packing tape
- air-filled bubble wrap
- blankets and microfiber cloth
- corner protectors for mirrors (if we consider them furniture here)
Most of these you can find pretty cheap online. You can even find cardboard boxes for free. Just talk to your local shopkeeper. Although that advice can come in handy when packing regular items. Your antiques probably deserve some special attention. In other words: you’ll have to find boxes that fit the dimensions of the items in question.
It’s time you start packing
Now that you’ve got everything ready and prepared, it’s time for the most important part of this whole ordeal: packing!
Dismantle if possible
If you have the possibility, disassemble your antique items into parts. It will be much easier and safer to transport such pieces of furniture. Now, if something’s too old to be taken apart – leave it be.
Wrap each item in moving blankets
You must secure a non-plastic layer between your items and the plastic you’ll probably wrap around them later. Plastic can easily trap moisture and damage your wooden antiques. You should use moving blankets or furniture pads for this.
Bubble wrap to the rescue
Now that you’ve safely wrapped the items into a non-plastic cover, it’s time for the air-filled bubble wrap to come into the picture. Carefully wrap each item in the mentioned material. Secure the bubble wrap using packing tape.
Boxes?
Yes, now you pack your items into cardboard boxes. At least those that can be packed in boxes. Don’t leave too much space for things to move inside the boxes during transport.
Additional storage tip
Before we get to the final part of the article, here’s an additional tip. Since we’re talking about everything you need to know about moving antique furniture, this one deserves mention. Let’s say you’ve realized not all antique furniture goes to your new home. Of course, you don’t want to throw it away. That old sofa didn’t deserve it. Nothing to worry about. There’s a way you can keep it safe. Find a climate-controlled storage unit!
The transport of your antiques
If you’ve hired a moving company (without paying for packing services), it’s essential movers know which items are to be handled with special care. Make sure that they know this by labeling them differently from the rest (one of the most common moving mistakes is wrong labeling). On the other hand, if you’re going DIY – it might best you somehow isolate your antiques in the truck, so they have less chance of moving or falling over. Also, use dollies to transport your things to and from the vehicle.
A couple of words for the end
So that’s pretty much it – everything you need to know about moving antique furniture. We’ve waited for the end of this article to give a recommendation. If you’re handling antiques that have a sentimental or practical (read: financial) value, you should let professionals take care of the packing and transporting of your valued belongings. There’s too much to risk going DIY. Professionals aren’t professionals for no reason! They know which items deserve special attention. Still, if you’re choosing the other way – we wish you nothing but luck! With the tips we gave you above, you’ll be good to go on your own!