How to properly pack antiques for shipping

Packing sensitive items is a tricky process, especially packing antiques. If you don’t do it the right way, there are many things that could potentially go wrong. Some of the pieces can get damaged and lose their value. The most sensitive parts of antiques are their bases and handles if there are some. However, the most difficult thing about packing antiques is their shape. Usually, not all of the pieces are the same shape or even the same size. This is why you should carefully pack antiques for shipping, no matter the distance of their transportation.

Prepare to pack antiques for shipping

Moving fragile items like glassware, antiques, items made out of crystal and others can be tricky. If you need to transport some of the antiques to your new home or ship it to your clients, you should secure it well in the first place.

packing into cardboard box
Pack antiques for shipping by separating each piece and packing it into bubble wrap first.

No matter how carefully you pack antiques for shipping, there is always a risk of damage to your inventory. This is why the right choice of packing materials is very important during this process. Also, the company you hire to ship your belongings should be a reliable one, with years of experience in this sort of moves.

Here are some things you should do before you start to pack antiques for shipping:

  • Assess your inventory.
  • Find the right packing supplies.
  • Search for reliable shipping companies.
  • Ask for a moving quote and choose the right moving services.

After following these steps, you can pack antiques with ease. Also, you could consider hiring one of the cross country moving companies to help you handle this task. Packing services can pay off big time, especially when moving fragile inventory.

Which packing supplies to use?

The most important thing you need to consider before you pack antiques for moving is the right choice of packing supplies. Since you can’t improvise and use the wrong supplies for this task, here are some suggestions:

  • Bubble wrap – this packing material is light and versatile. You can use it to pack even the most sensitive items for shipping.
  • Packing peanuts are great for filling the remaining space in your moving boxes.
  • Cellophane wrap is used for securing items in the box and fixing their position for transportation.
  • Cardboard boxes. Although these boxes are not the most sturdy ones you could use, if you pack antiques for shipping the right way, they should hold the weight during the move. There are many different types of moving boxes. Keep in mind that your boxes should be in good shape, and try not to overfill them with heavy items.

Pack each item separately

The first step in your packing process should be packing each item separately. Antiques are prone to breaking and surface damage, especially when their surfaces collide during shipping. This is why you should pack antiques for shipping by separating each piece and packing it into bubble paper first.

antique furniture
When packing antique furniture you might need to use protective blankets and cellophane wrap.

Make sure not to save on this material for packing, since more of it will secure your inventory better. After you pack antiques for shipping, you should make sure to use scotch tape to secure the bubble wrap from unfolding.

Prepare the moving box

After packing your items individually, you should make sure to fill the rest of the box with packing peanuts. Keep in mind that you should pack together only the items that are the same size. By overfilling your moving box, you can cause antiques to damage during transportation.

Stack the sturdiest pieces on the bottom of the box and lighter ones on the top.

Another thing you can do in order to pack antiques the right way is to put them in a double box. Once you pack the items into the inner box, you can put that one into a larger outer box and fill the remaining space with packing peanuts. This is the most secure way to pack antiques for shipping, even for long-distance moves.

If you don’t have time to bother with packing fragile items, you could always count on reliable packing services Florida. Professional movers and packers can pack your antiques fast and efficiently.

Label your moving boxes

In order to let your movers or your shipping company know which boxes contain sensitive materials, you should label your moving boxes. After you pack antiques for shipping, let your movers know the value of your inventory and consider paying for moving insurance. By doing so, you will make sure to get your money back in case something breaks during transportation.

Other ways to pack antiques for shipping

Using the method of the double box to pack antiques for shipping is only one of the ways to handle this process. There are also some alternatives you could try. For example, when packing antique furniture, bubble wrap and packing peanuts will not do the job. For this purpose, you might need to use protective blankets and cellophane wrap.

labeling the moving box
After you pack antiques for shipping, let your movers know the value of your inventory and consider paying for moving insurance.

If you are in doubt and not sure how to pack antiques for shipping, you can always let professional movers handle this process for you.

Find a reliable shipping company

After you are done packing, you will need to find a reliable moving company to safely transport your antiques to a new location. Whether you are moving your home possessions or moving your art gallery from Tennessee, you should consider hiring reputable long distance movers Nashville TN. Packers with experience will know how to pack antiques for shipping in the most professional manner.

For a DIY packing process, make sure to prepare well and plan it on time. In order to pack antiques for shipping, all you need to do is to have a plan, some free time and good quality packing supplies.

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