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Packing and Shipping

Tips for Packing Family Heirlooms

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Family heirlooms are treasured items. They are expected to be there even if you decide to downsize. That’s why it is important to ensure utmost care while packing family heirlooms and carrying them for moving. Some may require an additional care if they are fragile. Here are some tips that might help you with packing family heirlooms and transporting them:

  1. Keep a record of the items

Make a list of family heirlooms in your possession, including all details about their recent state, and also note down if there is already some damage to the item. In addition, you can even photograph such items to help keep a record. This will assist you in monitoring that all items are accounted for and that they have not been damaged while packing or moving.

Keeping a record of current damages to the family heirlooms will also prevent you from putting a wrong blame on whoever was responsible for the packing and moving task.

  1. Add padding while packing items that are fragile

Fragile items include pottery, china, materials made of glass, ceramic etc., require special care while packing and moving. To prevent the possibility of damage to such family heirlooms, you can use newspapers for extra support. You can even pad the packaging with foam, packing peanuts, or any other materials that will provide cushioning support for the objects. It is advised to pad all of the sides of the box containing fragile items, so as to prevent a potential damage, in case the box is bumped or dropped.

  1. Inform the moving company of such items

You can inform the moving company to take special care in moving family heirlooms. If the items are fragile, you can even label the box so in order to signify that it is to be carefully carried or moved.

  1. Take special care in wrapping heirloom furniture

Because of its size, furniture can be difficult to pack and move. Bubble wrap can help protect furniture from getting bumped against something and getting damaged. You can even wrap up sensitive corners using a bubble wrap. Stains, dust, or dirt can be prevented by covering furniture with a blanket or a cloth. You can dismantle the furniture, where applicable, and then pack the components to move, and assemble it later on.

  1. Let the family heirlooms stay with you

You can avoid handing over the responsibility of your family heirlooms to someone else, and keep them with you. Especially, if there are only a few items, carrying them won’t be a problem. Even if there are a lot of items, you can keep the box containing them in your car where you can keep an eye on it, instead of keeping them in the moving van.

  1. Temporarily give the heirlooms to someone else in the family

If you are afraid of damage to the family heirlooms or you cannot take it with you for some reason, then you can put the family heirlooms in possession of another family member, and get it back from them afterward.

Companies such as Pak Mail Santa Fe provide packing services that help you move, in a convenient and hassle-free way.

How to Pack Fragile China Like Professionals

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The stronger the objects, the lesser care you have to show while moving them. That means a lot of time and effort are to be invested in packing your fragile precious china plates and bowls. There are five steps through which you can reduce this effort and pack it like a professional.

1-Sort your supplies

Forget what the cost efficient say. These are really cheap available items and help you do a tidy, satisfying job. What you need is the following;

  • Packing peanuts or cushion foam
  • Bubble wrap (in sheets)
  • Soft padding paper or newspapers (which come free)
  • Packing tape
  • Paper cutter or a sharpie
  • A compact carton box
  • Square cardboard boxes (cut by a sharpie)

2- Layer and pack

Layer your box with packing peanuts which are of foam and provide a soft strong base to put china on. Avoid putting too many peanuts or too few peanuts. They should be just enough to create a floor inside the carton.

Next wrap your plates, trays, bowls, and cups in bubble wrap. In case you do not have bubble wrap than packing sheets are also useful however bubble wraps ensure safety in movement across bumpy roads. As other steps involve much lesser time, invest your time in this part. Any improper packing or haste with your china may cause you to drop and break it.

Once done, stack the trays and plates vertically in the box on one side. Use a separate bubble wrap for each plate. For cups, use them together with their saucers. Use cardboard pieces to make square dividers for placing cups. Put them in the box beside the plate stack and use more peanuts for a base in those dividers.

3-Fill extra spaces

Use peanuts or crumpled newspaper pieces to fill the spaces. That shall cut away any room for possible movement and hold the china steady in its place inside the box. To take a break, let your kids if you have any, fill in the spaces by using that as a game.

4-Seal your box

Closing the box also has a particular manner. First, close the shorter bottom flaps that are horizontal. Then follow them up with the vertical flaps.

Use packing tape to seal your box. After placing tape on the opening, complete the “H” by also applying tape on sides of the box from corner to corner. The hint is that the middle of the “H” would be the middle seam of the box. If it feels heavy, also apply tape diagonally in an “X” shape.

After you have done this do not forget step 5.

5- Mark “Fragile”

With similar boxes, it is highly probable that you lose track of what contains what inside. Since they are sealed, you can’t look inside without opening. That establishes the importance of marking it fragile. This will also indicate it for the lorry man to be gentle with it in case he offers you a hand.

If you still feel you can have somebody do it better, don’t worry and just visit Pak Mail to get a free quote for any shipment or packing job.

5 Tips on Shipping Family Heirlooms with Ease

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Family heirlooms aren’t just cherished for their monetary value and beauty; they are loved because people have a lot of history with that item. Whether it was passed down for generations orShipping Heirlooms Santa Fe New Mexico recently given to you, the value it has for you makes it extremely unique.

For this reason, shipping family heirlooms from one address to another can be a bit challenging since any damages means you could possible lose the item. If you are considering how you can go about shipping family heirlooms, the following are a few tips that you can follow:

1.    Age of the Heirloom

The age of the family heirloom in question can influence the way you decide to ship it. When shipping family heirlooms, this is an important factor to pay attention to. Certain heirlooms might be too delicate and may have to be shipped in a different manner as compared to traditional shipping through the mail. The older the heirloom is, the more you have to consider how it can survive the journey without suffering any damages.

2.    Value of the Heirloom

Shipping family heirlooms can be risky, largely because family heirlooms can often times be invaluable and irreplaceable too. Consider the total value of the heirloom, not just for you but also in the market. This can give you a valid idea on what kind of precautions, you and the shipping company will have to take when shipping family heirlooms. A valuable item can attract more chances of someone trying to steal it which would require greater shipping precautions.

3.    Wrapping Precautions

Always wrap everything when shipping family heirlooms. In this aspect, you have to be extremely careful since it is very easy for items to suffer minor damage when shipping. For certain heirlooms, their value lies in being available in pristine condition. For this reason, you have to exercise extreme caution when wrapping your item. Get bubble wrap or cushioning wrap for small objects whereas bigger objects will benefit more with foam peanuts and other packing materials. Newspapers are a popular choice but they are not as effective as bubble wrap.

4.    Packaging Precautions

Other than wrapping, pay attention to the material of the packaging box you choose. Opt for safe, durable and water-resistant materials that can easily put up with the wear and tear that they can be expected to face when being shipped. When shipping family heirlooms, you can never be too careful.

5.    Picking a Good Shipping Company

Work with a good shipping company who understand the challenges you face in shipping family heirlooms. A good company can also offer various shipping modes and even packaging options based on the kind of requirements you have for shipping family heirlooms. Their expertise can also be extremely useful in helping you safely ship the chosen item to the given destination.

If you are looking for a good company that can ship family heirlooms with ease, get in touch with us and let us handle all your shipping needs.

4 Tips on How to Pack Expensive Antiques for Safe Shipping and Storage

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Antiques can be extremely valuable and shipping them can be nerve wrecking for everyone involved. One slight chip or dent and you instantly depreciate the value of the item. On the other hand, sometimes shipping is inevitable since sellers and buyers do need to move the antique every now and then. If you are wondering how to pack expensive antiques safely for safe shipping and storage, the following are a few tips that you should consider

1.    Approach the Professionals

Unless you are a seasoned pro, don’t try to look up how to pack expensive antiques since you will get access to a number of packaging techniques. On the other hand, a professional shipping company knows to pack expensive antiques and you can be sure not to expect any rookie mistakes from them. Eliminate the risks associated with packaging and shipping of expensive antiques by opting to get the help of professional shipping experts. Usually their vast amount of experience ensures that they know how to handle these antiques with ease.

2.    Look for Custom Packaging

When you’re looking at how to pack expensive antiques, you are going to benefit more from opting for custom packaging. This is largely because there is no knowing how fragile and durable an antique is. Many have weathered through years but they tend to still be weak. A good knock or rough handling could leave you with a broken or damaged antique that is not worth anything. Custom packaging is crafted specifically to meet the shape, size and weight of the object being transported. This option also includes providing a double layered box, a crate or some other box that can easily accommodate the antique product.

3.    Different Mediums, Different Requirements

Another thing to consider when working out how to pack expensive antiques is by opting to pay attention to the kind of medium or material it is made out off. For example: Antique paintings will require packaging that can not only accommodate its shape, they also end up being resistant to liquids, have a liner that is resistant to punctures and more. For items that are made of ceramic or bronze such as sculptures and vases, there are different things to consider such as support, foam inserts, foam peanuts and more.

4.    Look for Certification and Validation

If you are thinking of opting for a professional shipping expert to help you with packing expensive antiques, look for different certification or other proof that gives validation, to their services. For example: we are the exclusive service providers for the Santa Fe SWAIA Indian Market, Folk Art Market, and Spanish Market, Altermann and Allard Auction and the Altermann, Tansey, and Mountain Trails Galleries. Our experience in handling expensive antique products gives us a great understanding of how to pack expensive antiques. If you want to find out more regarding our services and packaging options or have any other questions related to shipping, you can easily contact us and find out more regarding it.

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5 Things You Need to Know When Shipping Small, Delicate and Valuable Items

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5 Things You Need to Know When Shipping Small, Delicate and Valuable Items

Everyone hates shipping and receiving delicate and valuable items. The smaller they are, the bigger the chances that they might suffer some damage while being handled. For this reason, you have to pay attention to various aspects and packaging rules and regulations. The following are some important things that you need to know when shipping small, delicate and valuable items.

1.    Packaging Material Counts

The kind of material you use for packaging will play a huge role in the durability of the package. Make sure you opt for durable materials such as serrated cardboard or craft paper and other objects that are known for the extreme durability. The stronger your packaging material is, the less damage you will have to face when shipping small, delicate valuable items.

2.    Picking the Right Packing Materials

Picking the right packaging material is also important since this will be cushioning the small, delicate, valuable items that you are shipping. Bubble wrap is a popular option and people also like using cushioning wraps that can easily keep your products safe and sound. Based on the packing material, you can improve the durability of the product and prevent it from breaking from sudden bumps and jerks they might experience while being shipped.

3.    Avoid Wrapping Too Tightly

The packing materials you are using for shipping small, delicate and valuable items is responsible for ensuring that it doesn’t suffer from any damage. Yet, if you pack it too tightly around an object, it can also be the reason why your items break and suffer from damage. For this reason, always leave a gap of half an inch when wrapping the items. This gives the products enough room for leverage but still keeps them safe and away from harm.

4.    Sealing Your Packaging Correctly

Once everything is wrapped, you have to seal the package correctly to ensure that it doesn’t burst open when being shipped. Sealing it not only means closing the flaps, it also means wrapping the packaging box in a protective plastic wrap so that it has a little barrier that keeps it safe if it should come in contact with any liquids when it is being shipped. This also makes the packaged product more secure too since it is more challenging to unpack and any evidence of tampering will be visible easily too.

5.    Proper Labeling

When it comes to shipping valuable items, you have to ensure that you pay attention to proper labeling. This reduces the chances of any package getting lost in translation or being shipped to a different address due to labeling issues. When it comes to shipping small, delicate and valuable items, it is very easy for the shipping company to misplace the product. Always make sure that there are no errors on your part.

At the end of the day, the shipping company you choose to work with will also make an impact on how well you manage to ship your products. If you are looking for a reliable shipping company, get in touch with us and let us handle all your shipping requirements.