If you’re a collector of fine art and other valuables and you’re facing a move over a local or long distance, you are likely feeling some stress as you try to determine how to best transport it all without incurring damage. After all, you spent a lot of money and took a lot of time to preserve and display your art. You don’t want all that effort to be wasted on an improper packing job.
The best way to safely transport your collection is to hire moving professionals skilled in fine art moves. They’ll take the necessary precautions to ensure your artwork and valuables make the trip unscathed. They’ll not only bring the boxes, blankets and other supplies to properly pack your items up, they’ll also pack and load them so as to reduce or prevent the incidence of damage 0n route.
It’s important to protect your investment, so hiring movers is the first step. But there are some things you can do in the meantime to further protect your art collection.
Call Your Insurance Company
Call your insurance company and see what kind of coverage you have for your fine art collection. Ask them if your existing policy will cover your fine art collection during transit. If it falls short, consider adding coverage if you have a particularly valuable collection. If your home insurance company has nothing to offer you in the way of an artwork protection policy, look at other companies who do. The worst thing you can do is tackle a move of your art collection without the proper insurance.
Take Photos of the Collection
Create an inventory of your art collection. Write down the name of each piece, who created it, which year it was created, and the estimated value. If you’re not sure how to assess value, hire an art appraiser who can visit your home and assess the value of your collection for you. Take photos of every piece, ideally from a few angles. Take note of any existing damage so you can compare that with the piece once it arrives in the new house.
Print the photos and label them correctly. Put them in a photo album or binder, which will serve as an inventory of your entire collection that shows its current condition. This way, if anything gets damaged in transit, you can refer back to this book. It can back up any insurance claims you may file in the future.
Get Estimates From Movers
Next it’s time to find and hire a reputable moving company that specializes in fine arts moves. As an aside, Olde World Movers is a premier fine arts mover in Fort Worth that’s more than qualified to handle this task. Get a few quotes from each company you talk to. This will give you a general idea of pricing, but always follow up with an in-person quote to ensure better accuracy. In-person quotes are much more accurate and allow your movers to correctly determine the skills needed and time required to move your collection.
Choose the Right Boxes
Packing artwork involves choosing the right boxes to place it in. This is tricky, as many of your art pieces may be in different shapes and sizes. Thus, you will need different types of moving boxes. For instance, use a mirror box or an artwork box for paintings, prints and statues. But for large, bulky or heavy items, a wooden crate would be best.
Make sure each art piece has been fully secured within each moving box. Place enough padding inside each box and wrap each piece individually.
If you have framed artwork that you need to move, place it in a flat picture box — one that’s slightly larger than the piece of fine art.
Use Plastic Wrap
Before placing any artwork into the boxes, add another layer of protection to avoid scratches and damage. Wrap each piece, especially pieces with glass fronts, in plastic wrap to minimize damage caused by friction.
Bubble wrap is another great material to use. Use plenty of layers, then secure the bundle with tape. Add cardboard corner protectors for more protection if the item is particularly ornate.
Seal and Label Boxes
Place some crumpled newsprint at the bottom of the box. Carefully place the artwork into the box. Once inside, gently move the box back and forth to see if you can hear or feel any shifting. If so, add more padding. Seal the box with tape. Label each box with the specific contents as well as the room it should be placed into when in the new home. Don’t forget to mark the box FRAGILE.
Take a Bit More Care With Sculptures
Sculptures and statues need more care than other types of artwork such as paintings. Cover the sculpture in plastic wrap in order to protect the finish. Then add a layer of bubble wrap to vulnerable areas, followed by one more layer for the entire sculpture. Place the bundle in the box, fill with additional padding, seal it with tape, and label properly.
As you can see, there are many steps involved in packing and transporting your valuable artwork. But it does take time. If you don’t have time or patience for this important task, just ask your movers to do it. They will bring the right equipment and supplies to make sure your artwork will make the trip unscathed. This will give you peace of mind knowing your valuables will be well taken care of.
Contact Olde World Movers in Fort Worth
If you have a fine art collection and are looking to relocate it all soon, please contact us in Euless at 817-374-4316 or Frisco at 972-665-6910. Our fine arts moving specialists will treat your collection with care, preparation and attention.
