People are usually aware of all the things moving entails. They know they need to acquire packing supplies, hire movers, declutter their living space, and mentally prepare for relocation. But once the need for relocating fine art arises, most of us usually have no idea where to even start. Precisely because people make many mistakes with relocating fine art do they risk losing a lot of money in the moving process.
The good thing is that if you are aware of everything that can go wrong, you are more likely to prevent the bad things from happening. Feel free to think of this article as a short guide on the mistakes you need to be aware of so as not to risk the wellbeing of your precious collection. Whether you are relocating expensive paintings, family heirlooms or unique sculptures, here’s what you need to do if you want to prevent problems instead of fixing them down the line.
Hiring inexperienced art movers
Whenever you are moving special items, such as fine art, pianos, and pool tables, you need to hire specialized moving teams. That’s why your average local movers won’t do the trick if you have to relocate any of the aforementioned items. When it comes to fine art, you need to hire professional art movers. Once again, not every moving team should make the cut.
Look exclusively for a team of experienced and reputable movers. Not every sphere and industry will require experienced professionals, but the relocation industry is one of them. Unfortunately, inexperienced movers oftentimes come with damaged items and financial loss.
If you want to play it safe, you can find your perfect moving team on a website that specializes in connecting you with movers in your area. Feel free to visit verifiedmovers.com and you will easily find your match. Of course, you can decide to venture out on your own and surf the web for art movers. Just think twice before sealing the deal.
Choosing improper storage is one of the most common mistakes with relocating fine art
Are you storing your art collection before or after your moving day? If you are, then it’s of crucial importance to choose a unit that will suit the needs of the pieces that you are storing. Surely, you know that there are many different types of storage units to be found. Because people need it during a bathroom renovation, kitchen upgrades as well as moving, storage has become a multi-billion dollar industry. But there’s only one type of unit that you need to look for – climate-controlled.
These units will control the temperature inside and keep your items protected during extreme weather. You won’t have to worry about the blistering heat or the freezing cold – the temperature in your unit will remain nice and cool. That means there will be no damage to your items from natural elements, nor will there be mold. As a cherry on top, climate-controlled units will also keep away all the pests and insects as they are not very likely to dwell in an area that isn’t moist. Ensure complete safety for your valuable items and choose your storage unit wisely.
Failing to properly pack your fine art collection
When it comes to moving, packing is the name of the game. It’s the part of the process that directly decides how successful the whole endeavor will be, as well as how safe your items will remain. And it is fair to assume that you want your items to stay protected throughout your relocation, no matter their value. But the more valuable an item is, the more it matters for it to stay safe.
To properly pack your fine art collection and avoid one of the worst mistakes with moving fine art, you need to obtain high-quality packing materials. And a lot of them. Wrap every piece in two layers of protective packaging and ensure your items remain damage-free during transport.
Please bear in mind that damage means a lot of things. Scrapes, tearing, breakage, and even missing items – all of that can happen due to improper packing. Considering the fact that fine art is not only one of those objects that tie a whole room together but also a pricey investment, all the time and money you spend on their packing won’t go to waste.
Forgetting about moving insurance
Finally, we got to not only one of the most common, but also one of the biggest mistakes people make with relocating fine art – forgetting about insurance. We certainly don’t have to tell you how important insurance is in life. Nor do we have to mention how important it is to be insured during moving. But when moving fine art, you don’t have the luxury of relying on basic moving insurance – you need to get a special policy for your fine art.
This policy will cover the reimbursement for an expensive piece of art if something bad does happen. Even if luck has followed you during your endeavors in life, this is not the time to rely on it. Any damage that occurs to your items can set you back financially. Trust us – if any type of damage occurs, no matter how small it is, you will be more than grateful you didn’t forget about moving insurance.
The final words
Moving fine art is completely different from moving other items in your possession. This endeavor entails a lot of effort, planning, and careful execution – not something everyone can do. So keep your eyes wide open and make sure you don’t make the aforementioned mistakes with moving fine art. Some of them might seem like a huge waste of money – like putting two layers of protective packaging and buying high-quality packing materials. But they will ultimately turn out to be huge money-savers and a very worthy investment. Besides, it’s always much better to invest in preventing mistakes than struggle with finding a solution for the mess which was made.
This post is authored by contributor Sally Norton
