Art, antiques and keepsakes play an important role in making a new house or apartment feel like home. Plus, it usually carries great monetary and sentimental value. And this is why it is all the more important to properly handle the relocation of such property. It is a delicate necessity for most homeowners and renters, which not all movers are capable of. You don't want to trust just anybody to move it. Whether you just have one large piece to relocate or many smaller pieces, having expert New York City movers that specialize in fine art moving can make a large difference. So here are some fine art moving tips to help you along the way.

Fine art moving requires particular care and delicacy, which is why we offer these tips.

Fine art moving - what does it entail exactly?

Before we get into the measures you should take to ensure the safety of your fine art items, we should probably specify what they are. It's not like you would consider a coffee table or pinball machine fine art, right? So these are some of the valuables that you can label as fine art:

• Artwork
• Framed photographs
• Mirrors
• Canvases
• Sculptures
• Antiques

Fine art moving begins with proper planning and preparation

As you already know, careful and detailed planning is a necessary part of any relocation. So to begin, determine the dimensions, material and overall weight of your fine art property. Once you do, this will help you pick out a suitable form of transportation for the items. As an added advantage, this will help you determine a general idea when it comes to a moving estimate.

Be prepared for any scenario

Take photos of each piece of fine art you have and write down the condition it's in before the relocation. Then make sure that the insurance policy is still valid and covers moving accidents. If it does not, make sure to get coverage because mistakes can always happen and it's better to be prepared when they do. This way, you gain piece of mind and your fine art moving is made a whole lot easier.

Fine art packing guidelines

When we talk about fine art moving, the priority should always be placed on proper packing. We are talking about fragile and high-value goods here, so you need to ensure that it is safely prepared and transported before all else. So before all else, consider the best possible packing methods for various fine art pieces:

• Large framed artwork, mirrors, and canvases. When it comes to packing canvases, mirrors and large framed pieces, heavy-duty picture boxes work best. Use masking tape to create an “X” over mirrors and large expanses of glass. This helps prevent shattering in case the glass breaks or cracks. Wrap artwork or canvases in newspaper or plain brown paper. You don’t want any ink to transfer on to the paint. Also, use heavy-duty corner protectors and a layer or two of bubble wrap or foam front and back. And then package it all using large, heavy-duty, adjustable picture boxes.

• You need to understand how to properly pack any type of artwork before relocating.

• Small mirrors and framed photographs. Framed family photos and small mirrors should be individually wrapped in newsprint and bubble wrap. Once you do that, place them vertically into a cardboard box lined with more bubble wrap or foam padding.
• Sculptures, antiques and keepsakes. Odd-shaped breakables like sculptures, antiques, and keepsakes are a bit more complicated when it comes to packing. These is what fine art moving is all about. What you should do is tuck pieces of foam padding into crevices and around delicate appendages. Then wrap them in a double layer of bubble wrap and pack them into large, individual boxes. Make sure that the boxes are filled on all sides with several inches of foam padding.

Re-pack smaller boxes into larger ones for extra safety

Strong and resilient boxes can make all the difference when it comes to fine art moving. This is not something you want to cut costs on. Opt for high-quality sturdy boxes that are just right for this type of relocation.

1. What you do is pack the smaller items into smaller boxes. Make sure to surround it with packing material to hold it tight and safe. Just be sure not to use too much, as it might also damage the item.
2. Then take that smaller boxes and put them into a larger one. And finally, simply make sure to fill in the gaps using the remainder of the packing material. This will ensure maximum safety or your fine art moving task.

1. Packing smaller boxes into larger ones can save you a whole lot space while protecting your fine art.

Choose the best form of transportation for your fine art moving

Packing your fine art is only one half of the challenge. The other half (equally hard) is transporting it safely.Sculptures and other such fine art pieces are perfectly safe to be transported in packing boxes, as long as you secure them properly. The chance of damage is minimal with such large pieces of art. When it comes to transportation of paintings and canvases, you should rather opt for crates. You will find that crates are available in different sizes, so you will have no issues finding suitable ones, no matter the dimensions of your artwork.

• You can save space and money if you use crates with dividers to transport multiple paintings together.
• Climate controlled crates are most often used for long distance or international deliveries. This helps keep your paintings not only secure but in prime condition during relocations to extremely variable climates.

Ensure optimal storage conditions in case of emergencies

Fine art is something you won't always have room for in your new apartment or house. So having a place to keep them safe in while you find space or a buyer for them is advisable. And what better way to do this than by securing professional NYC storage units? Unlike your everyday storage, the important factors here are:

1. Find and rent a climate-controlled storage facility.
2. Verify that the storage company is certified and reputable.

Relocation costs are high but necessary

Fine art moving may seem excessive and expensive. However, when you really consider everything, all the expenses it involves are required.

• Professional fine art movers NYC
• Crate makers
• Fine art handlers and packers
• Storage facilities
• Insurance companies

These are all part of the solution that is the safe and secure relocation of your fine art pieces to your new residence.If the delivery is on an urgent basis, then that adds to the cost. If your possessions need climate-controlled vehicles, then your cost is bound to go up. Type, size, and weight of the artwork - the shipping cost is influenced by it all. International shipping adds additional costs that must be taken into account, such as:

• port fees of the destination country
• taxes
• duties and customs fees etc.

With so many necessities to consider, fine art moving can be a real challenge. In the chaos of it all, people tend to forget minor but crucial things, like:

• including their address inside the box or
• labeling the boxes with ‘Fragile’ and ‘Handle with Care’ stickers.

These are some things that no matter how small and insignificant they seem, can cause as much damage as any other accident. However, if you hire the right NYC movers and make certain that everything is planned ahead of time; most of these situations can easily be avoided.