How To Package Your Antiques And Have Them Delivered - A Handy Guide

Preparation

With fragile goods of this nature it is important to describe your antiques to your chosen transport provider or man with a van courier. Always let the transporter provider know what the dimensions and weight of the items is. If there are any provisos when it comes to the handling and transportation of your antiques, let it be know to the courier beforehand. Write fragile on the side of all your boxes as well as your contact information on the off chance that complications arise. It could also prove beneficial to photograph your antiquities from all angles to prove whether any damages occurred during transit. Write an inventory of all your antiques if know you are going have more than one moved at a time; you can then tick them off the list upon arrival (after checking for damages of course).

Ask your antique couriers as many questions as possible. Have they couriered antiques in the past? Do they have the needed insurance cover? Is the equipment they use best suited for the transport of antiques, including loading and unloading? These are the types of questions you should ask before committing yourself to a transport provider. Check past reviews of any courier service to make sure they have not got a history of damaging goods.

The antique courier can be a worthwhile investment if you value peace of mind and cannot risk damaging your items by transporting them yourself.

Packaging

Newspaper and bubble wrap will be your best friend when it comes to packaging your antiquities. Certain types of antiques such as glass and porcelain will always need to be wrapped, even double-wrapped, to prevent cracks and breakages. Scrunch up the newspaper as much as possible and place it inside your glass or porcelain items. Any items that are highly valued, hold a lot of sentimental value or are delicate should be packaged with bubble wrap and foam sheets. Blankets are also essential when moving your antiques. As a general rule, the larger the item, the thicker the blankets need to be. If the surface of your antiques is particularly prone to scracthes, use a softer material.

Try not to group multiple items within the same box and certainly do not put mismatched items in the same packaging. Heavy items and fragile antiques do not make great bedfellows for example. All space inside boxes should be used with newspaper or packaging filler like styro-foam “popcorn.”

If the item is light or small, it makes sense that it transported on top of heavier goods. It is important to check where the the courier places your antiques in their vehicle and if you are worried just tell them and they should try to help you as much as possible.

By: Isabel Frank

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Isabel Frank is an writer who crafts quality content for websites in various sectors. She specialises in articles on furniture, relocating and related services. Antiques are notoriously precious so ensure you have a trusty service, especially if sending large items or sending heavy items.