Valuables should be taken with you in your car or vehicle during the move. Packing your valuables and taking them with you cuts out the middle man and cuts down on your stress level. Items that should not be packed with your other belongings include anything that cannot be replaced. Coin collections, family heirlooms and irreplaceable paintings are just a few items you will want to consider “valuable.” Most of these items will be able to travel in the trunk of your car. Make sure when packing your valuables you take extra care so that they will not be damaged in the move. If you have an extra large painting that cannot travel with you, contact an art dealer who will be able to instruct you on the proper techniques when moving a painting. You will want to cover the painting and keep it out of direct sun light. These art dealers will be able to help you with move specific tips for your individual paintings and works of art.
Appraisal Even before you consider packing these irreplaceable items, make sure they have been appraised. If they have not been appraised before, make the time to do so before the move and have them insured. Do so at least a month in advance so you are not scrambling before your move to find a proper appraiser. You can find an appraiser in your area in the yellow pages or get a referral from a friend. Most antique shops will know where and whom to contact as well. These appraisers should be licensed within your state. Ask for their license from the appraiser before they look at your item. The carrier of your home owner’s insurance should be able to help you with your next step. Get your irreplaceable items insured before you consider moving them. Just having the insurance on these items will make you feel better. If damage does occur during the move, you will have some extra funds to get something special again for your family if the item damaged was in fact irreplaceable. In the case that it was a painting, you may be able to find a similar painting from the same artist to have in your next home, but without having the original appraised and insured, you may not have the funds to do so.
Family Heirlooms Family heirlooms truly are irreplaceable items. That watch you received from your great grandfather or the necklace your mother gave you on your wedding day cannot be replaced with other items. Consider wearing these items during the trip, or if this is not a possibility, get a padded treasure box, small enough to fit into the glove compartment of your vehicle, to bring with you and lock it into the glove box. Many vehicles now have separate keys for these compartments, so be sure to lock your valuables in it especially when making those pit stops along the way. When packing your valuables, the only way to guarantee their safe arrival to your new home is to move them yourself. When they do arrive to your new home have a place already picked out for storage. If you are using a moving company for your other items, lock your valuables in a safe deposit box while the move is still going on. This will insure your items will not get lost in all the confusion on moving day. You want to trust that you have hired the right movers for the job but don’t be naive. In the end, you are the best protection you have against theft and fraud.