How to Ship Grandma’s Antique Furniture
Shipping Grandma’s antique furniture can be one of the easiest things to do! The first thing you need to recognize is that it is an important, sentimental piece that requires experience and quality care with lots of attention to detail. And that is easy!
Photo Credit | Deposit Photos | @elenathewise
A very important part of shipping antique furniture is finding a reputable shipping company to move it. The first thing you should do is research and formulate a list of moving companies; specifically companies that specialize in shipping and moving antiques. Once you have made a list of potential moving companies, check mover review websites, the Better Business Bureau and contact the moving company to request references.
Have Grandma’s antique appraised for shipping insurance. For a high end antique, you should purchase moving insurance. In order to do this, the insurance company will need to appraise the items you are shipping. An unforeseen accident may happen; which is why moving insurance is necessary to take care of any damages that may occur during transit.
Take photos. As mentioned in a previous blog,”Why You Should Take Photos When Moving,” taking before and after photos of items prior to shipping is a necessity; especially with antiques. There are likely to be scratches and marks that were created over the many years they have been used, so be sure to take photos from all angles to avoid mistaking old marks with new.
Empty out all of the cabinets and drawers. This will make it easier on the movers as well and prevent any damage to items that may have been stored.
Do not place tape directly on the furniture to secure parts. Tape may damage the delicate surface of Grandma’s antique and leave marks that cannot be removed. Using blankets and rubber bungees is a great alternative. (If you hire a mover, they are experienced and will wrap Grandma’s antique, but if you rather do it yourself, make sure wrap the antique properly to avoid damage).
Inform the movers of delicate areas. If you are aware of specific areas of the furniture that are more prone to damage; such as a door that tends to open up easily, or a shelf that is loose, be sure to inform your movers so that they can make sure to secure it appropriately to avoid any lost or broken pieces.
Lastly, consider the climate change. If you are moving from a dry climate to a humid climate, it is imperative to research ways to protect Grandma’s antique so that the delicate wood is not damaged. Humid climates tend to make wood expand, but once it dries can cause cracking if it is not shipped in a climate controlled truck. Click here for more detail on how to protect antique wood furniture from humidity.
Don’t want to be bothered with trying to get Grandma’s antique appraised, purchase insurance and researching ways to protect her furniture from changes in climate? Moves for Seniors will handle it for you from start to finish. We will provide you with a free quote to help Grandma’s antique arrive at its final destination in excellent condition. For all other questions, give us a call 800-227-0515.