In today’s guest post, learn about two different ways you can ship furniture locally or across the country safely. Shipping can be a daunting prospect for many folks; read on for some great tips on keeping your precious cargo safe along its journey…
Transporting antiques is not always a local endeavor. You may be shipping pieces to (or receiving pieces from) a friend or family member or even eBay contacts in another state. Or you may be doing what so many antique lovers do at one time or another – visiting a dealer while on vacation, only to fall in love with (and buy) a beautiful table and chairs, an elegant armoire, or some other must-have.
If you’re buying from a dealer, chances are they’ll be taking care of shipping. If you’re shipping on your own, you basically have two ways of doing it. Here’s what you should know about them:
Option One: engage a “crate and ship” company. Sometimes the company will do the crating on site at your home or wherever the pickup is made. More often they will make the pickup and take everything back to their location to do the actual crating. They will then ship it via a freight trucking carrier to its destination. Key things to remember:
- Crating is the safest way method of transport, and also the most expensive.
- Do not try to save money by crating it yourself. Items traveling by freight service bounce around in the truck like ping pong balls in a Powerball drawing. Leave crating to the pros.
- Insure your shipment, and insure it for full value. More on that later.
Option Two: hire a small move specialist. You’ll get a two-person crew, inside pickup and delivery. Your items will be wrapped in blankets or bubble wrap for transport. They will be strapped in and/or braced against other items and the walls of the truck. (Small move specialists carry multiple loads, which is why they are cheaper than full-load movers.) Key things to remember:
- A small move specialist costs less than a crate-and-ship company.
- There’s no substitute for experience, so make sure the mover regularly handles antiques.
- As mentioned above, insure your shipment.
How Shipping Insurance Works
Insurance is important because no mover or shipper has a perfect record. Blanket-wrapped items sometimes fall off the back of the truck, and crates sometimes get impaled by a forklift prong in the midsection. The shipping or moving company should offer insurance. If they don’t, that’s an immediate red flag and you might want to consider a different company or you can purchase insurance online. Before you ship, make sure you have proof of value, such as a purchase receipt or an appraisal. And lastly, take photos of your items before you ship them.
This article was contributed by Transit Systems, a fully licensed leader in the shipping and moving services industry for over 20 years. With many specialties including antique shipping, Transit Systems is the best choice for moves big or small.
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