Storing Vacation Souvenirs

When moving to a new home, you may be concerned about your valuable antiques getting transported safely. An experienced residential moving service can provide safe care for your items, but you'll also want to take a few steps to ensure your items will be protected throughout the moving process. Use this guide to help prepare for your move and get your antiques packed away properly.

Have Valuable Items Appraised

As part of the moving process, you'll want to alert your moving company to any valuable items you have to move. Getting your items appraised before the move ensures you have the proper documentation for your items and their worth should they become lost or damaged. You'll want to point out the high-value items to the representative from the moving company in advance so the movers can create a plan to transport your items safely.

Label Your Boxes  

You'll want to make sure that any boxes filled with antiques or heirlooms are labeled appropriately so the movers can take extra care with them. You may want to indicate that the boxes should be loaded last and unloaded first to limit the time they spend on the moving van, and you'll also want to make sure each box is labeled "fragile" as an extra precaution.

Stock Up on Packing Supplies

Be sure to have plenty of packing supplies to cushion and protect your fragile items during the moving process. For furniture with delicate legs that can't be removed, consider wrapping them with bubble wrap and corrugated cardboard for added protection. You can also wrap upholstered furniture with commercial plastic wrap to prevent the fabric from becoming ripped or torn. For small items, use craft paper, tissue paper, and bubble wrap. For delicate items, such as books or antique textiles, you may want to consider investing in acid-free tissue paper to protect your items from damage. You should also have a supply of packing tape and invisible tape on hand to secure paper and bubble wrap around your items. You can purchase a bag of packing peanuts to fill your boxes for a bit of extra cushioning.

Supervise the Move

You are the person who knows just how valuable your items are, so you'll want to supervise the move. You can make sure fragile items are handled carefully and loaded onto the moving van or truck last. You can also answer any questions the moving team may have about how to handle your items. Once the van is on the road, let the moving team know to wait until you arrive at your new home before they begin to unpack your items. Talk to your moving company about the types of antiques you will be moving and create a plan together to ensure all your items arrive at your new home safely and in great shape. In some cases, you may even be able to hire a residential moving service such as NextView Moving to pack your antiques for you.