Moving house is a costly and time-consuming task, especially if you choose to do it yourself. It involves hours of packing, transportation, unpacking, and various other nuances. Additionally, as an artist, you can have numerous heavy items such as paintings and sculptures that can prove difficult to move. So to make matters a little easier, Art Connective has compiled a list of must-follow tips for an easy and organized move out.
Clean Up Before You Pack
Let’s be honest, you have more supplies lying around your house than you need. These can be old paints, canvases, brushes, or brand new equipment which you’ve never used. While moving, all these items add to space and cost. According to The Happy House, the first step is to clean the space thoroughly, then get rid of all excess and unwanted personal items. Here are the best ways to do it:
Donate your supplies to charities, schools, or fellow artists
Have a sale for your old paintings or gift them to your family or friends
Dispose of old brushes, paints, and palettes
If there are items that you cannot part with, but that shouldn’t be there for the move or for open houses, consider storing them off site for a while. Here you'll find local storage units in your area. Be sure to read the reviews and find some with the features you need, like climate control or 24 hours access.
Invest in Good Packing Materials
Plastic boxes with sealable tops are the best option as they are durable and can also withstand weight being put on top of them while transporting. They are perfect for packing your paints, brushes, and other supplies.
For large paintings and canvases, purchase new hard cardboard boxes of the appropriate size.
The ideal way to pack your fragile items is to wrap them in paper and then bubble wrap. The bubble wrap will protect your sculpture, canvas, or paintings from any possible fall damage. Do not stuff your boxes with items; rather, use a sponge or newspaper as padding on all the edges to ensure the items stay firmly in place.
Hire Professional Movers
To ensure a fast and safe moving experience, it is best to hire professional movers. In fact, you can hire professional art handlers alongside your movers to help with precious art pieces. Whichever service you choose, look for the following:
Efficiency – Movers are trained professionals with knowledge of the best moving techniques. They can pack and transport goods in a fraction of a time compared to you doing it yourself. Additionally, they can move all goods in one go.
Safety – Professional movers are well versed in the best practices of carrying heavy goods, loading, unloading, and safe transportation. Moreover, they will accommodate any special instructions for handling your canvases and sculptures.
Inventory Services – Using their inventory management system, movers ensure that each item is accounted for and moved to your new home.
Handle Fragile Goods Yourself
While heavy-duty items can be left to the movers, it is better to handle fragile goods yourself. These can include small old or unframed paintings, delicate paints, or art kits and chemicals. Instead of loading these items in the truck with others, you can move them in your car.
If you live locally, you can move these items a few days before the movers arrive. This will ensure that they are transported safely and stored in your new home. In the event you are moving far away, it’s better to have these items in your car under your guidance.
If you are moving out of a home you own, you are likely planning to sell it too. To ensure that you get the best price and make your house attractive to buyers follow these steps:
Make a strong first impression by landscaping your lawn, cleaning your driveway, and decorating your front door. Declutter your home before showings to present it the best way you can.
According to Estate Agent Today, homes that are staged sell three times faster than non-staged homes. Consider hiring a professional stager to showcase your home to buyers.
Clean carpet stains, replace leaky faucets, noisy door hinges, flickering lights, broken tiles, and conduct all necessary repairs needed to ensure you sell for the highest price.
Moving and selling your home can be stressful, so take it one step at a time. To ensure that your art and supplies are moved safely, plan your move out in advance and hire professional movers to handle the heavy lifting.