Any antique can be ruined by an unsightly mark, blemish or crack. No one likes to see their antiques damaged in any way as it often decreases the value and as any antiquer knows, repair can be costly. Whether you’re taking your antiques to a roadshow, selling them on or moving house, simply follow this guide to put your mind at rest whilst your (hopefully) valuable antiques are safely transported.

How to prepare

With fragile goods of this nature it is important to describe your antiques to your chosen transport provider or man with a van courier. Always let the transporter provider know what the dimensions and weight of the items is. If there are any provisos when it comes to the handling and transportation of your antiques, let it be know to the courier beforehand. Always mark your boxes as fragile as well as writing down your name, in case any confusion or complications arise. It could also prove beneficial to photograph your antiquities from all angles to prove whether any damages occurred during transit. Write an inventory of all your antiques if know you are going have more than one moved at a time; you can then tick them off the list upon arrival (after checking for damages of course).

Ask your antique couriers as many questions as possible. Have they had experience moving antique goods? Do they have adequate insurance? Do they have the right equipment to move and load/unload fragile goods? These sort of questions should be raised before deciding upon any one transport provider. Check the history of any courier service by having a look at review from past customers.

The antique courier can be a worthwhile investment if you value peace of mind and cannot risk damaging your items by transporting them yourself.

Packaging

Newspaper and bubble wrap will be your best friend when it comes to packaging your antiquities. If you are transporting glass or porcelain make sure to wrap and double wrap; cracks and shattered glass are hard to repair!. Scrunch up the newspaper as much as possible and place it inside your glass or porcelain items. Bubble wrap and foam sheers are essential for more delicate or higher valued items. Whenever you deliver your antiques you will need to use blankets. Remember, thicker blankets will generally be needed for larger and heavier antiques. If the surface of your antiques is particularly prone to scratches, use a softer material.

Try not to group multiple items within the same box and certainly do not put mismatched items in the same packaging. You don’t want something heavy placed alongside something fragile for example. All space inside boxes should be used with newspaper or packaging filler like styro-foam “popcorn.”

If the item is light or small, it makes sense that it transported on top of heavier goods. Make sure you see where your courier puts your item and if you feel unsure let it be known to them and they will almost certainly try to accommodate you as best they can.

Isabel Frank is a freelance writer who creates quality content for websites in various sectors. She specialises in articles giving advice related to moving home, removal companies,