How Much Does It Cost to Ship Antique Furniture?

Your antique is the most precious item around, and you would give anything to ensure it is safe. The fact that it may have been passed through generations or you got it after a special encounter gives it unsurmountable value.
As you choose the safest method for shipping your antique, it is paramount that you try to keep costs as low as possible. As much as these items are immensely sentimental, you do not want to break your bank account, moving them from one place to another.
On the question of how much it would cost to ship antique, there is no direct answer. Instead, the total cost will depend on various factors.

What classifies as antique?

Generally, items that fall within the antique category are often passed down from one generation to another. Most of the time, these items are older than 100 years. You will be surprised to learn that some countries have laws defining an antique as an item that must be 100 years old. Under this definition, these countries often allow 100-year-old imports to get in duty-free. This further helps reduce the cost of shipping such items.
When conversing about an antique, do not confuse it with vintage. As mentioned above, an antique ought to be at least 100 years old. Other similar terms that you may find confusing include retro and collectibles.
Collectible refers to an item that was to be collected, and this can come in all sizes and costs. You may have classic cars, coins, baseball cards, vinyl records, beanie babies, and older furniture (that has not reached the threshold of antique) classifying as a collectible.
On the other hand, the term vintage is vaguer. Alone, it denotes a high-quality item from the past but does not have a specific historical record.
The focus of this guide is on shipping antiques.
Factors influencing the cost of shipping antique
The following are some of the factors that will determine how much it will cost you to ship your antique:

• Packaging or no packaging

Will your antique be packaged as part of the shipping process? If that is the case, you can expect to pay more to cover the packaging. There are some situations where you may have to package, and in other cases, you are good shipping without any packaging.
Extra protection is often needed when it is clear that the antique could get damaged during the shipping process. Under such circumstances, you need to use packaging peanuts or bubble wrap bags. These are expensive and will reflect the overall cost charged.
If you have every reason to believe that the antique can be shipped without the need for packaging, that will go a long way in keeping your costs to a minimum. However, never make the mistake of keeping out packaging with the sole intention of reducing your costs.

• Type of delivery

If the shipping of your antique will entail door-to-door delivery, the cost is likely to reduce. That’s because door-to-door delivery removes middle persons from the shipping process. These often add extra cost to the amount charged.
Apart from saving you money, another major plus for door-to-door shipping is that it could save you a significant amount of time. The reason for delays when not using the door-to-door delivery is that your antique may often have to be stored in a logistics hub as it awaits collective shipping. Adopting this method gets rid of unnecessary storage.
Traditional modes of shipping often have a ton of paperwork, mainly due to the stiff regulation involved. This forces the shipping to go through hoops that make the process more expensive and impractical. To keep the costs of shipping antique to a minimum, you may find it valuable to go with the door-to-door delivery option.

• Size of the antique

Antiques normally come in all sizes: large, medium, and small. The cost of shipping a small antique will differ from that of a large-sized item. As far as size is concerned, your best shot at keeping cost down is to choose a shipping company with competitive rates. You wouldn’t reduce your antique just to save on the shipping cost.
When considering the size of the antique, it is important to also acknowledge that the size determines the type of packaging adopted. For instance, a large antique will typically go with blanket wrapping wholly covering it. Special blankets are designed to cushion items effectively and keep them safe from scratches and dings.
Sometimes you may have a large antique that can be disassembled. The best approach in such a situation is to have it examined and carefully disassembled, then wrap it in specialized cotton shipping pads. You may end up incurring less cost with this approach as the shipment would be billed as small items.
Hiring professional movers to ship your antique
Hiring us to professionally move your antique would be the best way to go when you want to keep your shipping costs down. We offer the most competitive rates while ensuring top-most safety for your precious items is maintained.
Moving large and heavy antique can feel daunting and intimidating when doing it alone. At the same time, the thought of contracting a professional mover may at times frighten you as you think of the possible costs involved. However, carefully considering the preferred mover may work in your favor if you select one with the best shipping rates.
Selecting professional movers to ship your antique turns out beneficial in the following ways:

1. You could be covered by insurance.

While looking at cost, a professional antique mover could provide you with free insurance cover, something that you may have to pay when shipping on your own. Knowing that your items are insured gives you peace of mind, and you would worry less about potential hazards.

2. Fewer chances of damage

When thinking of shipping antiques on your own to save on costs, you better reconsider. How much would you lose if you mishandled the items? Sometimes the loss may be more than measurable in monetary terms. Well, that is less likely to happen with a professional mover who has a wide range of experience doing this.

3. Special equipment for special antique

Each person has a unique antique. That makes it necessary to handle everyone’s antique with the uniqueness that it deserves. A professional mover understands this and will provide customized solutions depending on your shipping needs.

Wrap up

As far as the cost of shipping antique is concerned, one cannot give a conclusive shipping cost until your shipment is evaluated. Remember that the amount charged varies considering the factors mentioned above. At all times, always prioritize the quality of service over cost.
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