When you have spent a lifetime accumulating beautiful and valuable furniture, artwork, and equipment, you take great pride in your collection. But a houseful of delicate items is even harder to move than everyday furniture and goods. 

That 100-year-old bureau will require extra care when packing and moving, and your grandfather’s credenza will certainly need the additional coverage of special insurance in case of the worst. If you are thinking about moving soon, you might be wondering how those professional packers will prep your belongings for transport. While every moving company is different there are some practices common throughout the industry.

Techniques for Packing Antique Furniture

The movers will want to assess antiques and valuables first before packing them. During this process, they’ll create an inventory of your heirlooms and offer additional insurance options. Some movers require additional insurance, while others do not. It is recommended that you get added insurance on the value of your antiques, as the standard insurance carried by movers usually only covers replacement costs.

When packing day comes, a team will come to your home and begin the process. Some items, such as tables or a large canopy bed, will be disassembled. Other pieces, like credenzas or desks with moving parts will be securely wrapped. 

Pad Wrapping of Antique Furniture

Furniture padding and blankets look like large quilts or rough woolen blankets. They may not seem very protective, but these simple throws keep your furniture from getting scratched or dented during the move. If you have pieces with sharp corners or legs, padding can also keep them from damaging your walls and floors by accident.

Plastic Wrapping Your Antique Furniture

Movers also use plastic wrap to secure furniture with moving parts. It’s dangerous to leave items like dressers, sofas, and china cabinets unwrapped during transit. The pieces can come out and hit our movers or cause them to drop the piece of furniture. They can also fall out inside the trucks and get damaged too. 

Plastic is wrapped around the item being moved several times to keep those drawers and other parts secure during transit. When your furniture is in place, the movers simply unwrap or cut the plastic film from your furniture. So, it’s an easy solution for most moves.

Custom Crating Your Antique Furniture

When the item in question is valuable or exceedingly delicate the best option is to have it custom crated to ensure maximum protection. Luckily, most movers offer custom crating services for businesses and residential clients. 

The movers will take careful measurements of your pieces, such as certain artwork, chairs, or a bedroom set, and build a crate to match. The great thing about building custom crates is they have a tighter fit than pre-made crates, so there is less potential for movement that could damage your item. Crates are also filled with packing materials for additional cushioning during transport. 

How Coleman Worldwide Moving Services Can Help You

At Coleman Worldwide Moving, we offer all of these packing options and more for our customers. You’ll be able to purchase packing supplies for DIY packing or ask for full-service packing and unpacking. We can also help arrange short-term storage as part of our full moving services for homeowners. 

Keep your family heirlooms and antique furniture in good condition by hiring professional movers to do the packing. Call Coleman Worldwide Moving to get started with a free move assessment right away. Or fill out our online form to ask about a free quote for any of our moving services now.