Fine art and antiques have a combination of emotional, historical, and monetary value that is irreplaceable. They deserve to be treated with care during the moving process.
A reliable fine art shipping company will take every precaution necessary to ensure your pieces arrive safely and in perfect condition. Here are three things to consider when choosing a moving company for your fine art and antique collection.
Know What You Want
You must know what you want when choosing a company to move your antique collection. You’ll want a company that can handle the logistics and safeguard your pieces, whether you’re moving across town or to another country.
Having the right movers, like White Glove movers in NYC, on your side can make or break your move. This is especially important when dealing with priceless and irreplaceable items. Choosing the right high-end moving company is all about researching and finding one that can accommodate your unique needs.
For example, if you have a large marble statue, you’ll need to find a company with experience shipping this type of item. A good mover can provide you with an estimate for your specific piece, and they’ll also have the necessary equipment to ensure its safe transportation.
Some companies can create crates for larger items, which helps to keep them safe during transit. They also offer various other services ideal for antiques, including their fragile-only packing option and a customizable full-value protection plan that covers actual value rather than a predetermined amount. Moreover, they have a team of experienced professionals who can help you with your unique move and are willing to answer any questions you might have. Their representatives can even advise you on preparing your antique furniture for a move.
Get Quotes
When it comes to your prized antiques and fine art, you want to ensure they are handled with the care they deserve. Not all moving companies are created equal, especially when handling delicate items. Getting quotes from multiple companies is essential when choosing the right one for your move. During the quote process, your personal moving coordinator will work with you to understand your needs and budget and help build a custom package that includes services like white-glove treatment for your valuables. They may also be able to offer specialized packing options and customized crates for your treasured items. Additionally, you should find out if the company offers additional content coverage in addition to their minimum Carrier Standard Liability plan.
The very characteristics that make your antiques and fine art special — their age, craftsmanship, rarity — are the same ones that can cause damage in transit. It takes a delicate touch and the right team of experts to ensure your items are delivered in pristine condition.
An exemplary art antique moving service will take the burden of packing and unpacking off your shoulders, freeing you up to focus on other key tasks like switching utilities or finding the best restaurants in your new home. They will carefully load and transport your belongings and unload them at their destination, ensuring they arrive in the same condition as when they left your home.
Do Your Research
Most items require delicate handling during the moving process, but antiques are often even more fragile. Whether it’s a finely carved bench or a gilded mirror, these pieces are extraordinary and deserve a mover who will treat them as such. Luckily, several movers specialize in transporting antiques and other fine art.
One of the first things you should do is thoroughly inventory your antiques and fine art pieces, including their size and weight. This will help you keep track of your items and determine which ones require special packing materials or special transportation arrangements, such as air-ride trucks.
Once you’ve done this, you can look for a suitable moving company. Ask friends and family for recommendations or read online reviews. Once you’ve found a few movers, compare the quotes they provide to find the best deal.
While many movers offer standard storage options, not all are equipped to store wine collections. Ask about their storage options for antiques and how their prices compare with other companies. It would help if you also asked about security measures, such as sealed containers or GPS tracking systems, which will help ensure your valuable collection’s safety during transport. Lastly, inquire about additional services the moving company offers, such as vehicle shipping, furniture disassembly, and home staging.
Ask Questions
It’s always a good idea to ask plenty of questions. Doing so ensures that you have a clear understanding of each company’s services and helps you make the right decision for your needs.
For example, if you want to know how the company will pack your items and what materials they’ll use, you need to ask about these things. Similarly, it would help if you asked about the company’s extra services (such as custom crating, temporary storage facilities, etc.) and how much they cost.
Finally, it would help if you asked about the company’s security measures and what they’ll do to keep your wine collection safe and sound during transportation. Some movers may use sealed containers, GPS tracking systems, or secure storage facilities to protect your valuables from theft and other damage during transport.
You should also ask if the company will perform all of the work themselves or if they’ll subcontract any parts of your move. If they’ll be working with an affiliated van line or another carrier, it’s important to find out so that you can do your research and check them out. This will help you avoid any issues or surprises down the road. Having your collection appraised and documented before the move is also a good idea. This will help establish your items’ value and allow you to create a detailed inventory with descriptions, condition notes, photos, etc. This documentation will be helpful for insurance claims, customs clearance, and other reasons down the road.
