Antique Furniture Moving Strategies for New Jersey Moves

Start with a record of each piece

Photograph each antique from every side before wrapping, with close-ups of old scratches and repairs, and measure it. Photos give a clear before-and-after. Measurements show whether a tall armoire clears the stairwell, doorway and elevator.

For valuable pieces, get a written appraisal before the move to show what each was worth.

Know what basic valuation coverage does

Basic valuation coverage is included at no charge. On interstate moves it is released value: 60 cents per pound per article. That pays by weight, not by what a piece is worth. A light antique side chair of great value would get very little under it. Ask at the estimate what coverage fits your pieces, and list your high-value items in writing before the move.

Prepare each piece

• Empty drawers and cabinets. Loose contents shift and crack thin bottoms.
• Lift off glass shelves, marble tops and mirrors. They travel separately.
• Remove knobs and pulls only if they come off easily. Bag and label them.
• Tie doors shut with soft cloth. Never tape the finish.
• Skip polish and oil before the move. A fresh coat grabs dust and pad fibers.

Take apart only what was made to come apart

Bed rails, table leaves and bolted legs can come off safely; glued joints, old dowels and carved parts stay as they are. Tell our crews which parts come off and which stay, and they’ll take furniture apart and put it back together.

Wrap, then pad, then crate if needed

Do not put plastic wrap directly on finished wood, lacquer or leather; it traps heat and moisture. Wrap first in paper or soft cloth. Then add thick pads, with extra padding on corners, legs and carved edges. Plastic wrap can go over the pads to hold them.

Some pieces need a crate: marble tops, glass-front cabinets, large mirrors, stained glass, and delicate carved work. A custom wood crate holds the piece still and keeps weight off its weak points. Crating is one of our packing services.

Clocks and pianos need their own steps

A tall case clock needs its pendulum and weights removed and packed before it moves. Pianos, from uprights to grands, need their own plan. Read about our piano moving.

Heat, humidity and the ride

New Jersey summers are hot and humid, winters dry. Wood swells and shrinks, and old glue joints feel it first. Keep antiques out of hot cars, attics and closed garages before and after the move. Load them near the end and unload first. At the new home, keep them away from radiators and air vents, and give each piece a day or two to settle before tightening loose joints or easing a sticky drawer.

Stairs, elevators and narrow doors

Older Hoboken and Jersey City brownstones have tight stair turns, and some elevators are too short for a standing armoire. Measure the cab and door, and tell us about pieces that may travel on their side or come apart. For building rules, the COI, and elevator windows, see high-rise moving.

Storing antiques between homes

Store pieces off the floor on boards or pallets, and cover them with breathable cloth, not plastic. Leave room around each piece so nothing leans on it. We offer short- and long-term storage through affiliated self-storage facilities.