Antique Moving & Storage
Antiques are notorious for springing new life into whatever room they’re placed in. They’re known for adding personality, character, and a certain uniqueness that you just can’t find from a big-box store or the latest designer trend. At Element Moving and Storage, we understand these particular items require very special care; after all, if one of them breaks, you can’t really run out and buy a new one. Some popular antique items include:
- Uncommonly found sterling silver items
- Detailed, decorated porcelain
- Export jewelry
- Mid-century collectibles
- Sunburst clocks
- Fine Art
The list absolutely goes on. Any moving job that involves a number of antique items can be challenging, and we’ve (painfully) seen countless fly-by-night competitors fail to meet that challenge. Element Moving and Storage, LLC, the next generation in moving and storage, is different: unlike our competitors we offer unheard of services and add special touches to preserve the safety, security, and value of every piece we work with.
Our Antique Moving Process in Dallas
Element Moving and Storage’s clear-cut packing process ensures your most valuable antiques, vintage items, and collectibles are protected for the duration of the move. Our process begins with prepping the antiques. This includes inspecting, photographing, inventorying, valuing, and wrapping the antique. If your antique is located on a display surface, don’t worry; we will take it off the surface in order to produce the most accurate inspection. For your entire move, antiques are always the first item we inspect, protect, and inventory. We know how important they are to you, so we handle them with the same care.
Element Moving & Storage, LLC will then wrap and pack the item. Depending on the antique, it will either be put into a safe custom made wood crate, surrounded by foam protection, or placed into a corrugated box with cushions all around the item. Our movers use the “two layer protection method” to protect your valuable. The first of the layers is the protective wrap, which is used to keep your item safe and clean. This can include non-acidic paper for porous items (such as books and fabrics), or foam wrap for wood and glass. The outer portion is the vibration protection layer, which uses a combination of bubble wrap, foam, and professional moving pads to absorb shock while the item is in movement.
Now that your antique is protected, we move it into our truck. Depending on the height, weight, and shape, our moving experts will either carry it by hand or use a specialized dolly to carefully transport the antique. The antique will always be the last thing put on the truck, to ensure its safety and security. Typically, our movers will move all antiques separate from the rest of the moving shipment. The antique is placed against the wall of the truck, and is then buckled and strapped down to make sure no movement occurs during the drive.
Our highly experienced movers will drive the truck through a slow and safe route, ensuring the best path to its final location. Once the drive is complete, the antique is the first item taken off the truck and carefully brought to its permanent location.
Lastly, we end just like we begin, with another inspection to make sure no damage was endured. We know our job isn’t complete until we have the final confirmation by the customer that the antique is in the same condition as before the move. You might think there are many steps we take to move one item, but here at Element Moving & Storage, LLC we provide only the top-of-the-line services to our customers.
How to Prepare Antiques & Collectibles for Moving
At Element Moving and Storage, we handle everything it takes to get your antique safely moved. That’s why we recommend the customer perform a couple of tasks prior to the move, to create the smoothest and easiest move possible. First, we recommend you create a detailed inventory list of all your antique pieces that we’ll be moving. In the list, make sure to include all relevant information like the name, year, place of manufacturing, material, approximate value, and a detailed description of the antiques current condition. Although Element will create our own inventory list, it never hurts to have your own.
Next, we recommend customers have a professional antique appraisal to verify the value of your item (Element Moving & Storage, LLC will be more than happy to provide this service for you). Although Element provides the highest level of service, it never hurts to make sure your antiques are fully insured for the duration of transit. But don’t worry; We offer value protection for your antiques. Last but not least, it would help greatly if you emptied out your furniture pieces, allowing the piece to be lighter and easier for our men to carry—not to mention less susceptible to damage. While you are doing this, we can note if think any parts of the antique could potentially have problematic parts, so our men are aware. With these few tips, we guarantee your antique moving process will be a breeze.
Get Antique Moving Quote
We wish there was one set price for all antique moving (it would sure make our job a lot easier), but there are several factors that contribute to an antique moving quote. The first factor is how many items will be moved; the cost varies between moving one antique item versus an antique warehouse.
The next factor is who is responsible for packing the antique—is it the customer, or us? We will be more than happy to have our professionals pack your antique, but this will affect the quote. Another factor is whether or not the customer wants to opt into Element Moving & Storage, LLC’s full value protection (or insurance) for their antiques during their move. We also consider whether or not the customer will need our men to unpack the antique as well. Lastly, we look at the weight, shape, and size of the antique being moved. If your item is extremely heavy, big, or difficulty shaped, we may need to get special equipment in order to move it.
Don’t let this information overwhelm you! Give us a call, and we will have our guys come out and give you a quote. Element Moving & Storage, LLC is just as careful with moving a two dollar item as a five thousand dollar item.
Antique Wrapping
Antiques comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are sturdy enough where the primary duty of the mover is to keep them in place or reduce the amount of moving and shifting that might occur during the transport. Others are more delicate–we take each item on a case-by-case basis. If the antique is particularly vulnerable, we’ll securely wrap it and ensure it doesn’t come into contact with other items on the move that could stress or damage it. Some of our professional-grade materials include:
- Cardboard cartons
- Cushioning wrap
- Packing tape
- Fine tissue, kraft paper, and acid free paper
- Pad protection
Other items may require an extra layer of protection; however, if you wrap them too tightly, you could end up damaging them before you roll off the lot. Our movers are trained at spotting “soft” spots and responding with the appropriate care, and are especially trained in transporting:
- Fragile porcelains
- Family heirlooms
- Valuable antiques
We treat every item with the finest professional care, and understand that moving art, antiques, and collectibles takes extra care; no one values that more than Element Moving and Storage, LLC and our highly-trained staff.
Packing With Care
There is a vast number of antiques either crafted by hand, or on now-outdated machinery (after all, that’s what makes it priceless!). However, as a result of this, they end up not being designed for the same level of wear-and-tear that a similarly-crafted item made with today’s technology could be. In such cases, we use our utmost discretion—defined by decades of professional moving experience and collective expertise—to make the best use of space when transporting your irreplaceable, delicate belongings to ensure absolute predictability. If adjustments need to be made, we will swiftly navigate all possible options to ensure every single item, whether small or large, is wholly secured for safe, zero-damage transport.
Furthermore, if your antiques cannot have any other item stacked on top of them, we’ll use our experience to take that into consideration and adjust the whole process in order to expertly rearrange and continue transporting the load. If necessary, we’ll “float”—or make however many trips we need—to ensure everything arrives at its destination in identically mint condition.
All in all, our goal as your professional mover is to apply our vast knowledge and expertise in every aspect of your move, whether comprised of items bulky, delicately irreplaceable, or both, to ensure efficient, predictable transport and unparalleled results.
White Glove Service
Last but not least, we offer white glove service for everything we move. In other words, we don’t simply transport your antiques to their destination and leave—what are we, basic movers?—for us, it’s standard customer service to offer premier services when moving your antiques, such as:
- Cautiously removing your antiques from the truck
- Carefully taking them to the room or area where you plan to place them
- Skillfully unpacking and unwrapping your antiques
- Expertly setting them up, to taste, at the new destination
This is a unique service that our antique customers especially prefer and are always satisfied with; a service we have perfected since 2010. Given the delicacy and priceless value of our customers’ collections, we take our profession with utmost seriousness, and as a result, solidified their trust for any and all of their moving needs. Let us show you what we mean!
We Give Your Antiques the Treatment They Deserve
Our antique moving service is ready to come carefully pack, expertly ship, efficiently deliver, and preserve the integrity of each load and item. If you have a collection you’re particularly protective of, we completely understand! Our advice? Don’t trust them with any other mover. Allow Element Moving and Storage, LLC, the next generation in moving and storage, to give your antiques the patient, professional treatment they deserve.
Additionally, with competitive pricing, our issue-free delivery rates are the best value in the business. Contact us today if we can help make your move smoother.