Top Tips To Transport Your Antiques Safely

When dealing with antiques the last thing you want is a blemished or damaged item. No one likes to see their antiques damaged in any way as it often decreases the value and as any antiquer knows, repair can be costly. Whether you’re taking your antiques to a roadshow, selling them on or moving house, simply follow this guide to put your mind at rest whilst your (hopefully) valuable antiques are safely transported.

How to prepare

With fragile goods of this nature it is important to describe your antiques to your chosen transport provider or man with a van courier. Tell your courier how you are going to package your antiques and how heavy or large they maybe. 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 moved antiques in the past? Do they have adequate insurance? 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. Glass and porcelain especially should always be wrapped and double wrapped to prevent cracks or shattering. Newspaper can be used by scrunching it up and packing it firmly inside any hollow glass or porcelain antiques. 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. Use softer material when working with scratchable surfaces.

Try not to group multiple items within the same box and certainly do not put mismatched items in the same packaging. You don’t want something heavy placed alongside something fragile 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. Make sure you see where your courier puts your item and if you feel unsure let it be known to them and they will almost certainly try to accommodate you as best they can.

By: Antonino Bruzzsa

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Antonino Bruzzsa is a freelance writer creating quality content for websites in various niches. His work includes articles about how to find good man and van and courier services for antique items you want to buy on eBay or indeed anywhere