Whether they have been handed down through the years or were meticulously chosen after months of looking through flea markets, marketplaces, and antique sellers for the ideal piece, antiques are among the most prized possessions in our homes.

When you move far away, it’s sometimes impossible to part with these goods because of their tremendous sentimental and occasionally monetary significance. If you’re an estate distributor, dealer, auction house, collector, or dealer, you’ll also have to cope with the difficult task of moving antiques across great distances.

You may transport antique objects using a variety of shipping techniques. Although it is feasible to pack and ship antiques yourself, experts generally advise partnering with a specialized mover or shipper who can assist you in the proper packing of your antique objects. You have numerous shipping options when it comes to transporting antiques. Most of the time, experts advise working with a specialized mover or shipper who can assist you in correctly packing your antique objects, even though it is feasible to pack and transport antiques by yourself. It is particularly true for heavy furniture, multiple-piece shipments, and delicate or expensive things.

Methods of Shipping Antiques:

No matter how expensive, delicate, or ancient your antiques are, moving them might be difficult, especially if you’re relocating far away. 

Five alternatives are often available to you when transporting antique furniture and other items:

  • parcel delivery
  • Hire a truck and do it on your own.
  • Employ moving experts
  • Peer-to-peer lending or shipping
  • consolidated shipping

Parcel Shipping:

You might be able to transport your antique objects utilizing parcel shipping services if they are under 108 inches long and 70 pounds in weight.

Antiques are often wrapped and labeled in individual boxes before being transported utilizing parcel shipping services. Similar to other shipments, they will be loaded and unloaded at several checkpoints along the transportation process using conveyor belts for unloading and loading. For this reason, if you are considering package shipping, carefully packaging your things for delivery is essential.

Cost of parcel shipping:

Your shipment’s size, weight, distance traveled, and how quickly you need it to arrive can all affect how much it will cost to send your antiques utilizing parcel shipping services. There will be extra fees for items that are too big or too heavy for a particular carrier.

When to ship antiques using parcel shipping:

  • Small packages or deliveries weighing no more than 70 lbs altogether and with dimensions no greater than 108″ in length or 165″ in width
  • time-sensitive deliveries

Hire a truck and do it on your own:

For smaller, local transfers, renting a moving truck and loading and unloading your possessions with friends and family is a typical option.

It’s especially crucial to pack your antiques carefully before loading them into your moving vehicle if you’re considering renting a truck to transfer them, as improper packing is the main reason why antique furniture gets damaged.

It’s crucial to pay attention to how you load your antique furniture and other objects into your moving truck, along with the specific precautions you’ll need to take when packing them:

  • Loading antique furniture upside down into a moving vehicle is recommended if it has delicate legs, feet, or casters. Especially when traveling long distances, these components might not be able to withstand the jolting of a truck bed. 
  • Try to keep antiques distant from other goods to lessen the chance of harm.
  • Avoid piling things, especially boxes, on top of boxes containing small antique goods or antique furniture.
  • Never attempt to lift and carry antique furniture to the moving vehicle; instead, use dollies or hand trucks.
  • Place old mirrors upright, ideally between two cushioned pieces of soft material.
  • Use ropes or ratcheting straps to fix antique furniture or crates carrying antiques. Thus, they don’t shift during transport and harm other things.

Cost for moving antiques by renting a truck:

Depending on the size of the rental vehicle and the distance you are relocating, renting a truck and doing your relocation might be expensive. Due to the size and heaviness of antique furniture, you might need to rent a larger vehicle to transport it all securely, which will raise the cost of your rental car.

You will pay a day rate to hire your moving vehicle, with extra charges for mileage, petrol, supplies, and insurance, regardless of the truck size.

  • For a 10′- to 17′ truck, day fees vary between $19.99 and $29.99, or $29.99 and $39.99 for a 20′- to 26′ truck.
  • On average, mileage costs $0.69 to $0.79 per mile during the week and up to $0.99 per mile on the weekends. During the busiest moving season, mileage costs may be higher.

The best reason to rent a truck for your antiques:

  • For small antique pieces that can be safely packed 
  • If you feel comfortable packing and transporting your antiques without incident
  • If you are moving antiques over a short distance or local movements

Employ moving experts:

It’s usually better to engage specialists to assist you in transporting antique furniture, whether you need to relocate them across town or the country. Professional antique movers will have the knowledge and tools necessary to pack and move antiques with care. If you’re hiring movers, inform them about any pricey and delicate antique objects so they can offer you an exact cost and come equipped to handle these goods.

Always check for experience moving or transporting antiques when selecting a professional moving crew. 

For transferring antiques, Custom Crating and Logistics may frequently offer specialized solutions and moving services. We will arrive well-equipped to maximize efficiency and safety since we know the material required to pack antiques appropriately.

Cost to hire moving experts:

The number of your belongings and the distance you are relocating will ultimately determine the cost of your relocation. Varying moving firms charge different rates for moves; some focus more on the weight of your things, while others focus more on the distance. Call at least three moving firms to compare prices when looking for experienced movers. 

Peer-to-peer or ride-share shipping:

Using ridesharing or peer-to-peer shipping services, you may pay someone already going to the place you need to go and has enough additional room in their car to convey your products. They may be a logistics firm, a lone truck owner or operator, or a regular person on a cross-country road trip. You must assess their skill and knowledge before hiring them because they may or may not have experience transporting priceless or delicate objects like antique furniture.

You can accept, reject, or continue to negotiate once potential partners submit their quotes. You may then assess their qualifications, bargain for a reduced price, and work out the specifics of how to pack, load, and unload your furniture.

Cost for peer-to-peer or ride-share shipping:

The price of peer-to-peer shipping might vary and is frequently nonnegotiable. Peer-to-peer shipping often ranges in price from $100 to $1,000 or more, depending on the number of items, their size, worth, and whether you want any extra services, such as packing or loading.

Consolidate shipping:

Your furniture or other antique objects will share space on the truck with other things traveling in the same direction when you send them via consolidated freight, such as less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping. Consolidating freight might be less expensive than employing professional movers for long-distance travel because you pay for the area your antique furniture occupies on the truck.

All regulated and insured shipping businesses offer consolidated freight shipment services. The top consolidated freights can put you in touch with a seasoned long-distance shipper expert in moving antique furniture and other things. 

It may include:

  • Loading antiquities on a vehicle with air suspension so they won’t move around while being transported.
  • Various service levels, such as white glove packaging services, assure that antiques are correctly disassembled, loaded, transported, and reassembled.
  • Crate packaging with unique foam enclosures to keep antiques securely in place during transit.
  • Managing the distribution of goods from a single place of origin, such as an auction house or as part of an estate sale, to several destinations

Small household relocation may be shipped using the secure, practical approach of combined freight. Be careful to inform potential shipping firms about your pricey, delicate, and antique belongings if you’re using consolidated freight services for your move so they can provide you with an exact cost and make the necessary preparations.

Cost To Ship Antiques Using Consolidated Freight:

For antiques, consolidated freight shipping prices start at $700. The actual cost will depend on the size, distance, and any services you choose, such as custom crating or expedited shipping.

When to consider consolidating shipping for your antiques? 

You should consider taking consolidated freight shipping antiques if there is any of the following reason:

  • Shipping across a long distance
  • Distributions from estates
  • Antique furniture that is particularly precious or old
  • When you want assistance packaging your antiques
  • When you want customized crates

Best methods for shipping antiques:

For local moves:

Hiring a professional antique moving company is the safest option for short-distance local transfers since they have the training and know-how to safely pack, load, and unload your antique furniture and goods.

For long-distance shipments:

Consolidated freight is your best option for long-distance shipments. You can get in touch with a long-distance shipping firm expert in moving pricey, delicate antiques when you choose a reputable consolidated freight service. Typically, this implies that your antiques will be transported utilizing first-rate White Glove services. White Glove services, which start at around $700, are more expensive than regular less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services. But, they also come with packing and custom crating, indoor pickup and delivery, and extra insurance. Loading and unloading of your antiques will be done by hand instead of using forklifts to keep them safe from damage. 

Your antiques will be handled with the respect and care they require during shipping since all consolidated freight suppliers are qualified, licensed, and insured experts.

Considerations for shipping antiques:

Depending on the item you’re delivering, there are different packaging and shipping requirements to bear in mind. Proper packaging is necessary when shipping antiques, irrespective of their material and distance.

The following things should be considered while shipping antiques:

Get your items appraised:

While professional movers or shippers, it is crucial to have antique goods with a high financial worth appraised before packing and shipping. If you need to file an insurance claim, having your possessions appraised will confirm their monetary value. You can obtain a reference from your insurance agent or bank representative or look up a trustworthy, licensed appraiser through the American Society of Appraisers.

Getting insurance for your items:

Additionally, getting extra insurance to protect the worth of your antiques is strongly advised. 

Document the condition of your item:

Document the present state of any antiques before packing them. Pay close attention to the mainframe, top, legs, feet, and any pre-existing damage like cracks or loose joints as you thoroughly inspect each piece to find any possible damaged spots. As you go, take pictures, you’ll need them if you need to file an insurance claim, and be sure to let your moving company know about these spots so they can take special care while packing and moving your antique furniture.

Consider the size of your antique product:

Antiques can range in size from tiny collectibles to substantial furniture. Smaller, box-packable objects will demand a different level of care and concern than big furniture pieces.

Environment:

Particularly for long-distance moves, humidity or severe temperatures in transportation can cause moisture build-up that might damage the delicate finish of some antique objects, depending on the age and kind of wood used. Moving firms with experience and expertise will know how to protect your antiques from these dangers. Look for climate-controlled storage facilities when placing your antiques in storage to reduce the risk of damage.

Estate Distributions:

As part of the dispersal of an estate, antique antiques are frequently sent. In these circumstances, it can be necessary to ship antiques from one origin to several destinations. These shipments will be managed by expert shipping firms, who will pack and move antiques safely.

How to pack antique items?

Every antique object or piece of furniture is unique. Thus, various packaging considerations will be needed. In general, there are three methods for packing antiques:

Blanket enveloping:

Large objects that don’t need extra special care, like antique furniture, are perfect for blanket wrapping. These objects will be cushioned and shielded from dents and scratches by blankets.

Boxes:

Smaller antique items can be carefully wrapped with bubble wrap and packing paper before being put into boxes with enough padding inside to keep them from moving.

Crates:

The best way to carry bulky, expensive, or exceptionally delicate antiques is in crates. Custom boxes can also be made to fit unusually shaped or massive antique goods.

Packaging instructions:

You may start packing your antiques once you’ve gathered the required packing supplies. Although each antique is unique, these procedures are excellent to start:

Empty the contents and box them individually:

Take out any objects you’ve kept within your antique furniture, such as china or cutlery, and box them separately.

Take photos of the object:

You may document the current state of your furniture by taking pictures. Check any damage, such as cracks or loose joints, and let your moving company know about any problems before they pack up your item. You may develop an inventory of all the antiques you are sending and make it simpler to monitor them by taking pictures of each one. If you need to file an insurance claim, you’ll also need the images and this inventory.

The size of your antiques:

Your possible moving partners will be able to provide you with an accurate quotation for your shipment if you know the measurements of your furniture before you call for a quote. Additionally, you may decide if your antiques will fit through doorways and hallways in your new house.

Sweep the furnishings:

Dust and other debris can be removed with a microfiber cloth. Avoid using chemical cleaning agents, especially if the object will be stored or transported for an extended time. It’s more difficult for furniture to breathe when it’s covered, and the chemicals may dampen or harm your antiques.

Disassembling:

Take off the drawers, door panels, and hardware if you can. They should be wrapped separately and placed in a box with clear labels. Try not to push anything apart if your antique is too old to be disassembled and put back together. Instead, pack these things carefully and carefully.

Conclusion:

Antiques are among the trickiest goods to move, whether you’re a long-distance mover, an estate executor, or an antique merchant. Because they are rare, delicate, and expensive, more care must be provided when transferring them.

When moving antiques, experts advise always using experienced antique shippers. Professionals will have the knowledge and skill necessary to pack antiques safely, including anything from little objects to massive furniture.

Consolidated freight is the most secure method of shipping antiques for long-distance removals or shipments. Custom Crating and Logistics can assist you. Our knowledgeable logistics coordinators will put you in touch with a reputable antique shipping firm and assist you in developing a shipment strategy that fits your budget and timeline.

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