Of course companies who handle furniture removals are going to treat your possessions with the utmost of care. This is, after all, the service that you're paying for. And yet when you have valuable antiques in your home, you will want even more care when it comes to moving them to your new home. Part of this is choosing the best furniture removals company for the job, but you'll also need to do some preparation work yourself.
1. Adequate Insurance
Whether the value of the items is in their sentimental value or their cash value (or both), you will need to ensure that they are adequately protected during the moving process. Your own home and contents policy is unlikely to be in effect when your possessions are removed from the home in question and are en route to your new home. Ask the moving company about their insurance policy. While it might be difficult to replace antiques that are damaged during the move (however unlikely this might be), you should ensure that the policy will cover the cash value of the items in question, or any repair work that can be undertaken in the unlikely event of damage. If the antiques have been professionally appraised and have been deemed to have a significant cash value, you might wish to explore the possibility of taking out additional insurance of your own accord.
2. Plotting the Route
Anything that you can do to make the move as straightforward as possible will help to ensure to safety of your antiques. In the case of antique furniture that cannot be disassembled, take careful measurements of the dimensions of each piece. You should then take measurements of each exit point from the room where it's held. The most obvious exit might not necessarily be the best to avoid bumping and/or scraping the item (even once protective materials have been placed over it). Taking these measurements allow you to plot the safest route from room to delivery van for each item. If possible, go to your new home ahead of time to determine the safest way to deliver each item to its intended space.
3. Physical Protection
Many moving companies will provide you with the necessary materials to pack up your items, but additional, more specialised materials can be necessary with your antiques. Smaller delicate items might need some type of preliminary wrapping, either tissue paper or a soft fabric. They might then need bubble wrap, which should be held in place with twine. These smaller items can then be boxed (and marked as fragile). Furniture requires a slightly different approach. A fabric drop sheet to cover the entire item will protect both upholstery and any wooden or metal fixtures. Bubble wrap secured over this initial sheet will cushion the item and can give traction when lifting it. It can be difficult to hold larger sheets of bubble wrap in place with twine, but exercise extreme caution when using tape. Ensure that the tape doesn't come into contact with the item itself, as the residue can cause damage to delicate surfaces. Don't forget that a plastic tarpaulin will also be needed if the day is wet.
Sure, moving antiques can be a bit more effort than moving a less-precious piece of furniture. But you will be glad that you and your chosen removalists put in the extra effort when your beloved antiques are safe and sound in their new surroundings.
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