How Much Does it Cost to Move Fine Art?

Moving fine art isn't the same as moving a couch or another large item. It's fragile, may be very valuable and needs to be moved properly. Since this type of item is rather unique, it cannot be lumped into the moving estimate with all the other items. Fine art, such as paintings, sculptures, collector's items, chandeliers, statues and pictures requires a professional moving company capable of moving the type of item you own. The cost may vary widely, depending on the item or items you need moved. Here are some of the considerations a professional moving company will make when quoting a price for moving fine art.

The Value of the Art

If you plan to insure the fine art during the move, the value will make a big difference in the price. You may need to pay for an appraisal before the item is moved to ensure its value is correct. More valuable pieces are more expensive to move simply because they will cost more to replace if damaged or lost.

The Size of the Art

Size is another huge factor. It's not going to be the same price to move a simple 24" x 36" painting compared to a 300-pound statue. The larger the item is, the more you can expect to pay to have it moved, especially if the larger size means more weight.

With heavier items, moving companies may need to bring out special equipment or staff an additional mover to ensure the move is handled properly. This will cost more and just one extra mover can up the hourly rate by $75 or more per hour.

Moving Fine Art

How Fragile is the Art

Fragile art requires special packing materials and a specific strategy for moving. For example, if you have a highly valuable chandelier you need moved made of crystal, it will probably cost more than moving a painting. The chandelier may be large, oddly shaped and incredibly fragile, while the painting can simply be crated and moved.

If you own very fragile fine art, you should expect the cost of moving it to be much higher compared to moving a handful of valuable paintings. While all fine art must be handled with care, fragile items require an even higher level of care.

Benefit of Hiring a Professional to Move Fine Art

While it's very hard to narrow down even a simple price range for moving fine art, there are several benefits to hiring a professional moving company to handle your fine art. The benefits include:

• Safety - Professional movers know what they are doing and you will no longer be risking yourself when moving.

• Less chance of Damage - With a professional moving company, your fine art will be packed properly leaving the chances of damage at slim to none.

• Saves you Time - You no longer have to spend the time tracking down the right materials and packing the art yourself.

• Affordable - Usually, the cost of moving fine art is far more affordable than trying to handle it yourself.

The cost of moving fine art will vary widely, depending on what needs to be moved. Just as art can be very subjective, so can the estimate for moving it. If you need to move fine art, it's best to get an estimate from a professional moving company specializing in fine art moving.

What Should you Do with your Used Moving Boxes in Chicago?

If you didn't use Chicago GreenBoxes (we HIGHLY recommend them if it's not too late!), you might have a huge stack of cardboard boxes left over. If they are properly broken down, you may have some options to recycle, donate or even sell your used boxes. Here are some of the options for your moving boxes in Chicago.

Use BoxCycle or Freecycle

BoxCycle allows you to list your boxes for sale. They will sell them for you and you just collect a profit. This is a great way to get a little bit of your cash back and allow someone else to get moving boxes at a discount.

Freecycle, on the other hand, allows you to list items you would like to give away free of charge. Every now and then, you can find moving boxes on the site and many look for moving boxes here. There are several groups found in the Chicago area where you can list your boxes and give them away.

Craigslist

Another place to give your boxes away free of charge is Craigslist. There are always free ads on the Chicago Craigslist site for boxes. This is a popular place for people to look, so why not give it a try to get rid of your boxes?

Recycle Them

If your neighborhood or building has a recycling program, you may be able to recycle your used boxes. Sometimes, you have to look up a place in the area that will take a large amount of cardboard for recycling, however. While this isn't the best or easiest option, it's still better than tossing the boxes in the trash.

Local Charities and Libraries

The library may need some of your boxes for moving or storing books. If you have any heavy duty books, you can ask your nearby library if they can use the boxes. Often, they will take some of the boxes off your hands.

Other charities may also need boxes, such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, Churches, Schools and anywhere else that might have a need for boxes. Community enters often need boxes for different reasons and with a few phone calls to local organizations; you can probably unload all of your boxes.

Use a Box Broker

There are actually box brokers in Chicago that will sell your used moving boxes for you. You can easily do a Google search and find a few brokers to choose from.

Check with your Moving Company

Some moving companies will recycle the used boxes for you by giving them to others moving or simply recycling them. Always check with your moving company if you're not sure what to do with your boxes. If they are local to Chicago, they may be able to connect you with someone needing boxes, as well.

While it's not a good idea to trust used boxes for moving your belongings, they can still have a purpose, if broken down correctly. There are many ways to reuse your moving boxes. You can sell them, give them away, donate them to charity or use a local recycling program. No matter what you choose, all of these options are better than just tossing them in the dumpster. Again, hopefully you are using Chicago GreenBoxes, which are made from 100% recyclable material, and much sturdier.

Used Moving Boxes

How to Avoid Losing Your Things During a Move

Moving is a big deal and may be one of the most stressful life events, if you don't do it right. However, with the help of a moving company, along with the right strategy, you can avoid losing things during your move and eliminate some of the stress. It seems like something always gets lost or broken during a move. It doesn't have to be this way. Here are a few tips to help ensure you don't lose anything during your next move.

Pack One Room at a Time

It may take you a bit longer and it may seem like a pain, but packing one room at a time is a great way to ensure you don't lose anything. When you're not floating back and forth between rooms, you're less likely to misplace an item or put it in the wrong box. It's much easier to label things properly when dealing with one room at a time.

Create a Proper List

The right list will also make a huge difference. You should create a master list of all of the things you are pacing. As you go room by room with your packing, just make an inventory list of the things you are packing. Make sure everything is on the list and you also inventory where it was packed.

Use Small, Ziploc Bags

There's nothing worse than getting to your new home and realizing you lost an important piece to your furniture or something else. Even the smallest piece can be lost and if it is, it could make a big difference.

When you use Ziploc bags for small items, you won't have to worry about losing them. These helps with computer and electronic cables, screws, nuts and bolts and anything else small.

You want to take the bag to the electronic device or piece of furniture the items in the bag belong to. This can make the entire move go much smoother and unpacking much easier.

Don't Send the Personal Items on the Moving Truck

Even if you hire the most trusted moving company you can find, there are some items you just don't want to send on the moving truck. You never know what will happen and having personal items, such as photo albums and important documents travel with you is very smart.

There are lasso other items you cannot pack on a moving truck, in some cases, such as your collection of alcohol, fertilizers, gardening chemicals, unsealed foods, perishable foods and gasoline.

If you're not sure if you can pack an item and send it on the moving truck, check with the company you hired first. Make sure all your small valuables, extra cash and important documents go with you, however.

Use these tips when you move and you will have a better moving experience. Of course, you can always eliminate the moving headaches by hiring a moving company to pack your items, move them and unpack them. Remember, they are professionals and know the best strategies to ensure everything gets to the new location without getting lost or broken.

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How Much Does it Cost to Move a Pool Table?

Moving is a huge hassle, especially if you have heavy items, such as a real, slate or marble pool table. Large, heavy pool tables are not easy to move and often, trying to do it yourself can lead to damage to the table or someone helping you move it. When an item weighs as much as a pool table does, it's best to pay a professional moving company to handle it. With a professional moving company, you don't have to worry about getting injured or hurting your table. They've moved many pool tables and they know how to do it efficiently. In addition, they will have special equipment to make moving your heavy pool table much easier.

Answering the question, "how much does it cost to move a pool table," isn't as easy as just providing a number. There are some specific factors that must be considered.

First, what type of pool table are you moving? Is it a drop pocket table? Does it have plastic pockets, leather pockets or a ball return system?

Second, how heavy is the pool table? The weight of the table may determine how many movers need to be on the job, which will factor into the cost.

Third, is the pool table going up or down any stairs? Moving a large item up or down stairs makes it a more risky and difficult job, therefore, it may cost a bit more compared to moving a pool table out of the first floor and into the first floor.

Finally, how far will the pool table be traveling from its' current destination to its' final destination? The price difference from a local move to an out of city/state move can be quite different.

Should you Move a Pool Table Yourself?

After answering the questions above and getting a quote from a professional moving company, you may consider moving the pool table yourself. However, this could be a huge mistake as damage and injuries can occur.

Videos on YouTube and information found online might show you how to take the table apart and move it piece by piece. However, if you've never assembled a pool table, you might be very disappointed with the results once you get it together. Plus, disassembling and reassembling a pool table for the first time may lead to damaging it in ways you haven't even thought of yet.

Trying to move a pool table in one piece is ridiculous to even attempt. Most slate tables would require 5 to 7 guys and there's a very good chance at least a few end up with a serious injury. This should not be attempted.

So, How Much Does it Cost to Move a Pool Table?

Getting back to the original question, it costs between $750 and $1000 to move a typical pool table, in most cases. Reassembly will usually require a specialist to level and custom fit the billiard cloth that covers a pool table. The price may be on the lower side if your table is only 7 feet and it may be on the higher side if it's a 9-foot table with stairs to negotiate.

Contact us if you need help with moving your pool table today!

Why Should I Hire Movers?

Moving is a huge undertaking, especially if you're moving to a new city. Most people dread the process of moving, even if they know the new location is far better for them. The packing, lifting, unloading and unpacking are not something most look forward to. There are several reasons to hire professional movers and many benefits. Whether you simply don't have the time or you want to eliminate some of the stress of moving, the right professional moving company makes a huge difference. Here are five reasons why you should always hire a moving company.

Chicago Moving Specialists

Free Up Time for Other Things

Moving day is one of the most hectic days of your life. Every single time you go through it, you wish there was an easier way. Not only do you have to get all of your belongings from one location to another, but you also have to handle other things, such as turning off/on utilities, getting your family to your new home, changing your driver's license and many other tasks.

Hiring a moving company will allow you to concentrate on other tasks instead of moving. Some moving companies will even pack and unpack all of your things for you.

No Need for Additional Equipment or Supplies

Whether you just need to move furniture or you have a valuable collection to move, the right equipment makes a difference. Sometimes, you have to rent or purchase additional supplies or equipment for specialty items or heavy items. It may be something as simple as a tool you need to take apart a piece of furniture.

A professional moving company will have the tool you need, along with all the other equipment/supplies necessary for moving. It doesn't matter if you're moving fine art or just basic household furniture, hiring a moving company will give you everything you need for moving day.

You Won't End Up Injured

One of the most common things people forget about when moving is their own health. Moving heavy items isn't easy for somebody not doing it on a daily basis. Professional movers handle things like heavy pianos and oddly shaped pieces of furniture every single day. They know how to move these items safely.

If you try to move everything yourself, you may be sore for a few days. Even worse, you may end up in the hospital with an injury because you didn't properly lift or handle a heavy item.

Your Things Remain Insured and Safe

With experienced professionals, you have the ability to safely move your belongings without as much concern. Not only are they experienced in moving, but they also carry insurance for your belonging. This gives you additional peace of mind when moving.

In addition, professional movers understand how to properly wrap and pack your items. Even fragile items are well protected when you hire a professional moving company.

You May Actually Save Money, in the Long Run

Without professional movers, you may end up in the hospital, with broken items, lost items or racking up unexpected moving expenses. You have to rent a truck, put gas in the truck, get the right tools and equipment and you may need to provide food and refreshments for those helping you. It can add up in a hurry.

Professional movers will give you an estimate and you will only need to pay what they charge. There won't be additional charges for equipment you didn't know you needed and you won't underestimate the amount of gas you need, either.

There are several excellent reasons why you should hire a professional moving company. If you want to take the stress out of your next move, a professional is the way to go.