... pack up and ship (across states) a small number of antique furniture items?

I was willed a few pieces by my mother, they're probably worth a fair bit and also have obvious sentimental value, but they'd need to be carefully packed up/crated and then shipped/trucked cross-country. I know this is likely to be hugely expensive, but on the other hand, it's just a few pieces, not a lot.

TiA

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

I don't have a suggestion for a company, but if possible I would get them appraised, by a professional recognized company in writing, where they are at so you have something to justify value if they go missing or are damaged. Make sure they are insured for the full value not just as "furniture".

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C(-)ris
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Know any antique dealers/auction houses in your area? They might be able to recommend someone.

Yes, I was thinking/wondering about appraisal too. The two items are a Queen Anne style drop-leaf table and two tiger maple wicker seat chairs. The table is definitely handmade, but I couldn't find any maker's mark anywhere on the underside, and is in pretty good condition except for needing a thorough cleaning and likely varnishing. The chairs I wasn't able to get a good look at, and they're definitely in need of repair but aren't in terrible condition otherwise.

Edit: on casual Googling, I was able to find a very similar looking table, here: [www.1stdibs.com] ... mine is quite a bit larger though and is obviously in nowhere near as good condition (but could be, with a good cleaning and varnish).

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/2024 06:48PM by PeterB.

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PeterB
Edit: on casual Googling, I was able to find a very similar looking table, here: [www.1stdibs.com] ... mine is quite a bit larger though and is obviously in nowhere near as good condition (but could be, with a good cleaning and varnish).

That table probably has provenance.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

If you want to be absolutely sure, go and rent a truck and drive them back yourself. You should hire a loader/unloading service and watch both acts in person. Then drive the pieces to where you want. It will likely cost less too.

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

I’d say roadtrip, but even if you’re not willing to, [www.uhaul.com] has options for you (loading and delivering).

Thanks guys, but a roadtrip really isn't in my future... I just don't have the free time or energy for that. (About a 20 hour trip...)

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2024 01:14PM by PeterB.

I imagine if you don't have a specific timeframe in mind, you could call a national moving service and ask them if they can send it on the next truck with a little space on it going in the right direction.

Otherwise, if you can find someone local to your mother that would crate them, then you could search for an LTL (less than truckload) service. Although, to get an accurate quote, you need to know the dimensions and weight of each crated piece and whether or not they are stackable. If you estimate (as I had to do on my last LTL shipment), you might get hit with overage charges after the fact. Dimensions are easy, but getting the weight after it's crated can be difficult.

Have you looked into how much it would cost for you to fly there and then drive it back, yourself, in a rental truck?

Because savings might be significant enough that it will overcome your dread of the trip.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2024 05:03PM by Tiangou.

…

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2024 05:02PM by Tiangou.

Gareth,

I deal with LTL carriers regularly. Whoever handles the shipment would have to factor in more than just the weight and dimensions. They'd need the National Motor Freight Code (NMFC). The carrier (or logistics company who works with multipel carriers) can easily get this, though.

In addition to the standard shipping charges, they'd factor in a residential pickup surcharge, the cost of a liftgate to allow for loading the piece into the truck and, likely, oversize charges. Could be hit by liftgate charges twice if the destination requires its use. Same goes for residential surcharge if the destination is residential. This doesn't factor in additional charges if the pickup and destination are in more rural areas.

All of the above can definitely come into play. This is based on my experience shipping goods via LTL carriers directly with my account with a given carrier as well as when I've used a logistics company. In the end, I can say this is likely to be a pricey proposition. Definitely worthwhile if the item has personal value as well as value as an antique.

Robert



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2024 07:00PM by Robert M.

Quote
Tiangou
Have you looked into how much it would cost for you to fly there and then drive it back, yourself, in a rental truck?

Because savings might be significant enough that it will overcome your dread of the trip.

Flying there also means finding somewhere to stay (at least temporarily), renting the truck, packing things up myself, loading them up myself (or having to hire someone to help, since the table is really impossible for one person), figuring out how to fit a truck into the driveway (not easy because it's in a backwoods area), etc. Really just too much hassle.

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

Interstate moving companies sometimes combine loads from a number of nearby locations to a distant area. I'd check with a couple based in the area where the items are and get a quote.

/Mr Lynn

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/2024 07:20AM by mrlynn.