Tips for Moving Your Fine Art

Moving fine art is a delicate ordeal and one that must be taken very seriously. Your art may be worth thousands of dollars. You don't want to trust just anybody to move it. Whether you just have one large piece to move or many smaller pieces, the right fine art mover will make a difference. However, not all moving companies are qualified to move fine art. Here are a few tips to help you move your fine art successfully.

Don't Cut Corner

When you are moving fine art, it's not a good time to cut corners just to save a few bucks. This is the time to spend the money to get it done right. Even the smallest damage could cost you big in the value of the item.

Make sure you spend the money to have a professional moving company pack and move your fine art. They will know the best ways to pack the art to ensure it arrives at the new destination unharmed and in the same original condition.

You don't want to put this type of move to chance. If you do plan to pack the art yourself, don't use the newspaper you just received. Instead, make sure you choose the proper packing materials. Using newspaper will cause the ink to rub off on a canvas and could destroy your fine art.

Using reinforced boxes specially designed for art is the best way to go. This will ensure you have the best possible packaging to keep your art from becoming damaged.

Does Temperature Matter?

Some types of fine art could be destroyed in very cold or extremely hot temperatures. If this is the case, you need to take temperature into account.

Hiring a moving company specializing in moving fine art will allow you to move it without any worry. They will be able to use the right packing supplies and the right equipment to ensure any temperature sensitive items are not damaged.

Do your Own Research

While it's always a good idea to trust the professionals to move your fine art, you should know what they are doing throughout the process. Research specific tips about how to pack different types of fine art. This will ensure you understand why they are doing what they are doing with your art throughout the process.

Bigger is Better for Packing

Maybe you plan to pack your art yourself. Remember, this isn't the same as packing up a set of dishes from your kitchen. Don't be afraid to choose a much larger box to ensure you can use enough bubble wrap to protect your art. Bigger is always better with fine art and you don't want to skimp on the bubble wrap.

Talk to the Movers about the Art

When you talk to your movers about the piece of art they are moving, you get the opportunity to express how important it is to you. This will help to ensure they treat the box with your fine art with extra care because they will understand how important it is to you.

Moving fine art isn't as easy as moving a few boxes from your kitchen. It requires special attention, special packing and special consideration. If you want it done right, hire a professional moving company to pack and move your fine art.

moving fine art

4 Reasons a Professional Piano Mover is the Right Choice

Moving a piano is stressful, especially if it's older or very heavy. Most pianos require at least two people just to move them from one room to another in the same house. Whenever you have a piano that needs moved, you should hire a professional mover. You may be trying to keep your move as cheap as possible, but damaging your expensive piano in the process won't help. Here are four of the top reasons why you should always hire a professional piano mover.

Avoid Injury and Damage

Pianos are very heavy and often come in unique shapes. They are not easy to move, especially if there are stairs involved. If you try to take on moving your piano yourself, you are putting both the piano and yourself in danger.

It doesn't take much for the piano to slip out of your hands and end up chasing you down the stairs. Of course, if you don't lift properly, you could throw out your back sending you to the hospital. Even if you manage not to injure yourself, if the piano slips out of your hands, it could become damaged.

Some pianos weigh more than 1,000 pounds. If you don't have a team of 4 to 6 very strong men, you may not be able to lift the piano and move it properly. This could easily lead to injury or damage.

A professional piano mover will not only provide the man power necessary, but they will also provide a team of men used to working with each other. They will use professional techniques to ensure the piano and the workers remain unharmed throughout the process.

Proper Moving Truck

Not all moving vehicles are equipped to handle a heavy piano. When you hire a professional mover for your piano, they will use the proper truck and equipment. They will provide padding for your piano to ensure it doesn't become damaged and it survives any unforeseen road hazards.

Moving the piano on your own may not provide you with the same type of protection. You might not be able to find the right truck or tie downs to ensure your piano isn't damaged during the trip. Even if you find the proper truck, if you don't pack it into the truck properly, you could end up damaging the piano if you hit a pothole.

Saves You Money

It would seem like you would save money by not hiring a professional piano mover. However, if you damage the piano legs, pins or strings, you will have to have it tuned. When it's all said and done, moving the piano yourself may end up costing you more in the end than hiring a professional moving company.

Worth the Cost

Moving a piano from one place to another may seem expensive, but it's well worth the money. You won't have to ask friends to help you and you won't have to waste your time moving the heavy piano all day long. Instead, you will have a professional taking care of it for you while you sit back and relax.

Moving a piano is a hassle. It's not an easy job for those without experience. If you have a piano you need to move, leave it to a professional piano mover. This will make it much easier to ensure you avoid injury and damage to the piano.

Chicago Piano Movers - The Professionals

6 Winter Moving Tips for Cold Chicago Days

Moving in the winter isn't nearly as easy or as straightforward as moving in the summer, especially in Chicago. The winter months can be very cold in the windy city. If you plan to move during the winter, make sure you are prepared. Here are six tips to help prepare you for moving during a Chicago winter.

Keep Your Heat On

It may be tempting to save a little bit of money and have the heat turned off, especially if you’re sleeping somewhere else. However, if the heat is off come moving day, it will get very cold inside your home or apartment. You will probably have the door open quite a bit and the cold air will get in fast.

Cover the Floors

When winter comes, it tends to bring all types of slush, mud and snow inside. The last thing you want is your movers tracking dirt into your new home or even the old home you just cleaned up. Put down protective drop cloths and anchor them well to ensure they don't rip.

Keep Walkways Clear

Whether you have a driveway or a sidewalk, you want to make sure it's clear. Shovel any snow and put salt/sand down for any ice you may be dealing with. This will make it easier when the movers come and there will be less of a chance of one of them slipping and falling.

Be Aware of Temperature-Sensitive Items

Some of your items may be damaged by cold temperatures, such as house plants. Make sure you are aware of these items and take the necessary precautions to ensure they are moved properly. The last thing you want is for an old set of china to arrive with cracks due to extremely cold temperatures.

Pets Go First

Moving your pets first is a good idea any time of the year, but especially in the winter. You dog or cat may get cold if they have to wait at your current home for you to pack up and move. Moving them to the new place will ensure they are warm and secure before the movers arrive at your old home. This will also help to eliminate any chance of your pets escaping your home and getting lost in the cold city.

Be Prepared to Be Flexible

Winters in Chicago can turn ugly fast. Even moving companies with a reputation of reliability cannot control closed roads or blizzard-like conditions. Whenever you are moving in the winter, you should have a contingency plan in case of bad weather.

Moving during a Chicago winter presents many unique challenges. Navigating these challenges on your own may be more than you can handle. When the winter hits, moving becomes much more difficult with the cold temperatures and potential of ice and snow.

If you need to move your home or business during the winter, trust a professional mover to help. They will understand the risks and challenges you face. Since a professional Chicago moving company works with clients every day of the winter, they have the necessary experience to ensure your move happens without nearly as much stress.

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Tips for Avoiding Shady Movers in Chicago

Moving is stressful. Items might break, get lost or you might have to deal with a late moving truck. All of these issues can cause stress, but they certainly don't compare to dealing with a fraudulent moving company. Shady movers may try to take advantage of you by holding your items hostage and demanding more money. This is just one of the many types of things a rogue mover may do and it can get as bad as the shady moving company stealing all of your belongings. Here are a few ways to help you avoid getting ripped off by shady movers in Chicago

Do some Research

A little online research can go a long way. It's not hard to dig up consumer reviews and find out whether your mover has the federal seal of approval. You can use protectyourmove.gov to check for the seal and many sites, such as ripoffreport.com will give you reviews of moving companies.

Get Multiple Estimates

Securing more than just one written estimate will give you not only an estimate to compare, but also the interaction with the company. Most of the best moving companies will not provide a firm price online or over the phone. They will provide an estimate free of charge, however.

Price isn't Everything

A low-ball moving estimate may end up costing you in the end. You want to look at more than just the price and choose a moving company with a solid reputation in Chicago.

Avoid Brokers

When you try to hire a mover, you may run into brokers. These are middlemen between you and the mover. They don't own the trucks or provide any moving labor. You want to go directly to the moving company, even if you do go through a broker.

Make Sure they have Insurance

Every reputable moving company should have insurance o cover your goods while in transit. You should look for a "full value protection" policy, which may make the moving company a bit more expensive, but will also provide you with peace of mind.

Don't Skip the Paperwork

If you simply skim the paperwork, you might mist something important. The moving contract may be boring, but you need to read it thoroughly to ensure you understand what you are getting into.

Don't Pay a Large Deposit

None of the top professional moving companies in Chicago charge a large deposit for your move. You don't want to pay a large deposit up front, especially if the mover demands cash. This could be a sign of a shady mover.

Hold onto your Valuables

You don't need to allow the moving company to move important papers, jewelry, cash, coins and other valuables. Instead, ship these items with UPS or FedEx or move them yourself.

There are several good ways to avoid shady movers in Chicago. You don't want to get taken advantage of and if you follow the tips above, you will be in a better position to hire a professional moving company ready like The Professionals Moving Specialists to help you instead of a potential shady mover looking to steal from you.