As 32% of Americans are moving house to be closer to family, it’s no surprise that many challenges arise for people looking to move their belongings.
For example, you might be wondering, is moving books, art, and antiques the same as packing clothes? The answer is, no. Now, that might seem daunting to you if you’ve never moved valuable items before.
After all, you don’t want to accidentally drop a renaissance painting on a cobbled street and have a giant hole permanently etched on the canvas…
So, to prevent any moving disasters you should take notes from this article. Here is your guide to moving house and protecting your belongings.
Common Problems When Moving House
When you’re scrolling real estate websites in search of your dream home the last thing on your mind is packing boxes, and finding the protective wrapping for your artwork.
However, moving house is about more than just a pretty garden and new bedroom. You need to carefully move your items before you can settle in, and sometimes, this stage can go wrong.
1. Your Location
Depending on whether you live on the top floor of the flat, or you own a house in a rural area, the moving process will be different for everyone. The environment is a huge factor that can cause obstacles when moving homes.
Once you’ve packed the items you need to think about how you’ll move them from inside your house to the moving van. If the ground is cobbled or raised then you need to be extra cautious with packing artwork.
As well as the ground, you need to consider the humidity levels. When you’re moving books, art, and antiques you’ll have to ensure that humidity won’t affect their quality.
You can prevent any damage by choosing the best packing materials, and hiring a professional moving company that has experience with valuable items.
2. Packing Quickly
It’s easy to get caught up in the planning process and designing the layout of your new home that you leave all the packing to the last minute. Some people think all you need is a few boxes and a good labeling system.
Let’s be honest, the prospect of tidying up your home and placing everything in boxes is not appealing to most of us. It can cause a lot of stress. However, if you don’t properly plan your packing then it can cause problems.
When you move into your new home you won’t know where to find the necessary cooking equipment, or your pillows might be tucked away beneath a mountain of clothes.
The best way to avoid rushed packing is to ask your moving company for advice.
3. Not Booking a Moving Company ASAP
Another major problem when moving house is not booking the moving company in advance. You might end up having to choose your last choice if you don’t call up and reserve a date.
You can easily avoid missing out on the best moving company by booking as soon as you decide on a moving day.
Moving Books, Art, and Antiques the Right Way
Preparing to move your precious items such as books and artwork is tricky as they require special attention to protect the details, and preserve the quality.
Therefore, this section will give you everything you need to know about packing valuable items.
Packing Books
Books, especially antique books, are rare discoveries and people normally treasure them in their homes. So, the worst thing you can imagine is the pages being destroyed or the book bind getting damaged.
Firstly, you need to wrap the cover cautiously. As most antique books have leather covers then you should find wrapping material made specifically for this kind of design.
For other books, you want to wrap them to avoid the books rubbing against each other during the journey. Another tip for placing a barrier between books is using a piece of cardboard to stop them from touching.
However, if you want even more protection you can also cover the books with scarves and towels as these materials are great for sheltering these items.
Packing Artwork
Without a doubt, packing artwork is one of the most difficult items to wrap in your home. Here is a list of the packing materials you’ll need to protect your artwork:
- Picture boxes
- Glassine
- Corner protectors
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
Besides buying these materials, you can also get your artwork appraised and insured if it’s worth a lot of money. Taking out insurance on your most expensive items is always a good idea when you’re moving house.
Although, if you are careful during the packing process you shouldn’t have any problems. That being said, it’s better to be safe!
Packing Antiques
The last group of items to pack is antiques. To successfully pack your antiques, you should separate your belongings into different groups starting from large to small items.
It’s a good idea to begin wrapping the larger items with bubble wrap or packing paper. These bigger antiques are normally things like dining tables or wardrobes.
Next, you can focus on your smaller belongings such as jewelry and other collectibles. You should choose boxes according to the size of the antiques to prevent too much movement during the journey.
For special antique items, you should buy sturdy boxes so they don’t fall out when you’re moving them. As long as you prepare beforehand, and buy high-quality materials you’ll be fine!
Pick a Moving Company That Cares
Finding the right moving company is just as important as buying the correct packing paper and wrapping supplies. That’s why Smooth Move is the only place to get expert moving advice.
Not only will they give you tips for moving books, art, and antiques, but they can assist you with transporting your items from one home to another.
Just remember to get in touch as soon as you know the moving date. Ready to start planning your move? Reach out for more details today!