Antique furniture gives your residence a unique look, but those vintages pieces do require some extra care. For the most part, antique tables and chairs are pretty sturdy, but they can be damaged during a common residential move. Scratches, dents, and chips in the varnish all detract from an antique's beauty and potential value. You also want to avoid having the worst imaginable thing happen, and that would be to completely break a piece of furniture. 

Plan for Potential Challenges Early

During your initial moving estimate, you get the chance to carefully go through your house to identify areas where the furniture might be especially hard to move. For instance, winding or steep staircases might pose a problem. Narrow doorways may also require you to look for potential alternate routes through the house. Be sure to tell the moving crew about any features of your new house that raise concern. This allows them to choose the best tools and crew members for the job. Furniture straps, dollies, and team lifting are all strategies that could be used to protect the furniture.

Find out Which Furniture Can Break Down

Some antiques were made with features that make them easier to move or replace pieces. Check over each piece of furniture carefully to determine which ones can be broken down by removing legs or other parts. If you do break furniture down, then make sure to keep up with the hardware. If there are pieces that are too fragile or impossible to break down, then let the moving crew know so that they can begin to plan for how to get them out of the house. This can also affect the size of the moving truck that you need since breaking down the furniture can help to save space.

Ask About Wrapping and Cushioning Services

Valuable furniture deserves the white glove treatment. Furniture moving services often include options for help with wrapping and adding cushions to delicate pieces. Bubble wrap, foam sheets, and other materials are all effective for protecting furniture from damage that can occur if it accidentally gets bumped or moves in the truck. Furniture that is wrapped in a way that leaves no surface exposed is more likely to survive the move unharmed. You may also want to make sure that the surfaces in your house are covered. Adding a layer of blankets to the handrail on a staircase or putting a cushion between the piece and the doorway can also help to prevent damage from happening.

Contact a moving company such as Worth Moving for more details.