Long-distance moves can be stressful on their own. Add in the anxiety of making sure your valuable collectible items are safe during your move, and you can easily become overwhelmed. However, hiring the right St. Louis long-distance movers can make the process so much easier. 

At A. Frisella Moving & Storage, our residential movers in St. Louis have the experience and resources needed to move all of our household items, including your valuables, such as:

  • Fine China or Crystal
  • Luxury Handbags
  • Vintage Instruments
  • Porcelain Dolls or Other Figurines

Here are some of our most helpful moving tips to help keep your collectibles safe during your long-distance move. 

Properly Pack Smaller Items

Smaller items can be the hardest to keep safe during a move. If you don't pack them correctly, they could move around in their boxes and get chipped or broken. There are a variety of materials we recommend to help reduce movement during transport, including:

  • Packing Paper
  • Packing Peanuts
  • Bubble Roll

If you have a collection of valuable dishes, they also make specially-made cardboard boxes with dividers or dish-pack cartons to keep them from rubbing against each other. 

If you're packing valuable artwork or objects with a layer of paint on them, be careful where you place your packing tape. Placing the tape directly on these items could result in minor damage. 

If you have a lot of valuables, you could consider utilizing professional packing services from your moving company. These experts know the best ways to pack and organize your valuables to keep them safe during your move. 

Protect Your Larger Items

One of the biggest risks to your larger items during a move are chips, cracks, or scratches. Often, professional movers use moving blankets to add an extra layer of padding around large items, such as pianos or paintings. If you don't have moving blankets, any thicker blanket should do the trick. 

You should also consider hiring a professional moving company if you have larger items. Most moving companies can design a custom crate for each of your large valuables, fitting their exact dimensions. These crates help eliminate movement during transport. 

Understand Full Value Protection

All moving companies are legally required to provide free basic valuation coverage. This coverage reimburses you for any damage done to your belongings during your move. However, this basic coverage is based on the weight of the damaged item. Since most collectibles are lighter in weight, this basic coverage will not provide enough reimbursement to cover the value of your smaller damaged collectibles. 

You have a few choices: you can ask your moving company which Full Value Protection plans they offer, or you can transport your smaller valuables yourself. Items such as jewelry, coins, stamps, or card collections are easily transportable in your vehicle. If you don't want to transport these items yourself, you can ship them via an insured shipping service. 

Utilize Short-Term Storage 

If you're overwhelmed at the thought of moving your valuables and your household essentials, you should hire a moving company that offers secure storage solutions. Most moving companies provide short-term storage solutions and secure wooden vaults to keep your valuables safe. In addition, if your items are affected by changes in temperature, you must find a moving company that offers a climate-controlled warehouse. 

Hire A. Frisella Moving & Storage Services

A. Frisella Moving & Storage has been a trusted St. Louis moving company since 1914. As an agent of Bekins Van Lines, we have access to a nationwide network of moving and storage professionals, allowing us to take the hassle out of any move, no matter the distance. 

If you are planning an upcoming long-distance move and want help moving your collectibles, our residential movers in St. Louis offer the following services:

  • High-Quality Packing Supplies
  • Packing and Unpacking Services
  • Professional Padding/Wrapping of Furniture
  • Custom Crating of Fragile Items
  • Short-Term Storage Options

Call our St. Louis long-distance movers today to learn more about our comprehensive moving services, or fill out our online form to request a free moving quote.