When moving home, one of the most important things you have in mind is making sure your belongings can arrive at your new home without damage, especially those antiques and other precious irreplaceable items that you own. Antique Furniture pieces come in different designs and styles. They’re not only beautiful but also full of memories. They are also among the hardest items to move.

To do so, you need to be prepared and plan ahead of time so that you know what exactly to do on a moving day. Take a closer look at the useful tips we gathered so you can safely move your antique Furniture.

Before you move

1.Create an inventory of your antiques

If you’re planning to hire removalists as you’re moving a lot of precious antiques, it is recommended to create a detailed inventory list of all your valuable items including their current condition. By doing so, it will be easier for you to check if your valuable belongings arrived safe and assess whether any damage was done in transit.

2. Get an appraisal

You will have to obtain an antique furniture appraisal as an assessment of the value of your precious items. This way, if the values exceed what your moving company’s insurance covers, you can purchase additional insurance to make sure that all your valuables are fully covered. Most moving companies would advise getting additional insurance for expensive and valuable items.

3. Purchase an insurance

Are your antiques insured for the move? You need to purchase additional insurance particularly if you own many antique furniture. There are possible mishaps that may happen during the move and it is disappointing when something of unique value arrives damaged. As they say - better safe than sorry. Though you can’t get a replacement of the items, at least you can be well compensated.

4. Consider hiring a removalist

If it is within your budget, consider hiring professional men that move like furniture removalists or two men and a truck service to help you move your antique furniture because it can give you peace of mind knowing that your antique furniture will be safe. Removalists know how to properly move delicate items due to their various experiences. And they also have the equipment needed to ensure they can move it safely.

Choosing the right men that move to transport your antiques can be confusing. It is important to do your research and check the reviews from previous customers. Using a platform like Upmove can help speed up the process of looking for removalists in Australia. Once you submit your listing, they will reach out to a network of trusted moving companies, local and interstate removalists who will compete for your moving job.

Asking for references from friends and family who previously hired a removalist is also a good thing to do.

Packing

To make your belongings less susceptible to damage, it is necessary to pack all items correctly, especially your antique furniture. Here’s how to properly do it

1. Disassemble your items

For an easier and quicker move, try disassembling your furniture. But don’t forget to take a closer look at each item because some are not suited to disassemble and maybe others are too old to be taken apart.

2. Wrap your items

Use moving blankets, furniture pads or some sturdy foam to wrap your items instead of using plastic wraps. Plastic wraps may trap moisture and harm the items.

3. Secure doors and drawers

Make sure that the doors and drawers of your furniture are properly closed before attempting to move it. To properly secure it, use twine, instead of tape to avoid leaving marks to your furniture.

Moving your antique

Now that you have properly packed your antiques, the next thing to do is make sure they are properly shifted and transported to your destination safely.

If you are doing a DIY move, it can be tempting to drag your antique furniture to make moving easy. Dragging it can cause damage not only to your antique furniture but also to the floor. You should lift it, instead. If it’s too heavy, don’t attempt in doing the lifting alone, ask for help for other family members, friends or neighbours. Also, try to separate your antique items from your regular items so it’s less susceptible from falling over and damaged by other items.

If hiring a removalist, make sure to let them know which of the items you packed are antique so they will be able to identify which of them needs extra and delicate care. But no matter how trusted they may be, always remember to check all your items once it all arrives at your destination to see if any damage was made during the transit. Packing and moving your antique furniture can be a bit of a nail-biting process. Knowing what to do when moving them will help you preserve the charm of your antiques and get them to your new home safe and sound.3.