Guide to storing antiques in Ottawa

Antique, vintage, or retro? People use these expressions to talk about old objects, thinking they represent the same thing. However, they are wrong. These three words all have different meanings, which collectors understand best. The key thing when it comes to antiques is their age, condition, quality, and rarity. If you have any of these things in your home and want to temporarily put them away and store them, then this post is for you! We and our Professional Movers Ottawa have prepared a simple guide for storing antiques in Ottawa for you. Storing antiques can be a real challenge and require a lot of attention, precisely because of the value that such things have. Therefore, this is how you should take care of your valuables!

What exactly are antiques?

In theory, an antique represents a relic or object from ancient times. Or, put more simply, a piece of furniture, a work of art, a decorative item, or jewelry that was made in an earlier period. An antique doesn’t belong to the group of everyday furniture that we use every day but represents another type of investment that we can leave as a legacy to our children, grandchildren, and future generations. Antiques can be used to decorate homes or other catering facilities. And in that way, it will make the space more elegant and beautiful.

When it comes to the definition of “antiques,” they represent anything older than 100 years. The term “antique” itself comes from the Latin word “antiquus,” which means old or ancient. Today, all of these things are outdated and have a much higher value than they did at the time. Also, the group of antiques sometimes includes items that are not very old, up to about 70 years on average, under a condition that they have a certain historical or artistic value. Some of the most valuable antiquities that are hard to find come from the cultural periods of Mesopotamia, Palestine, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, Egypt, Iran, and Crete. Also, it’s important to know that the value of an antique is affected by its rarity or authenticity.

Are you planning to store your antiques?

If you are in the territory of Ottawa and plan to temporarily store your antiques, then the best option for you is to look for storage facilities Ottawa.  You can use storage services in all situations, including when you are renovating your home, during and after moving, and when you need additional space in your home. But storing antiques in Ottawa isn’t like storing other things in your home. This is something more serious and challenging.

In Ottawa, you can find many antique exhibitions, which means plenty of opportunities to increase your collection. If you decide to store your newest additions, you need to:

• Find an adequate storage unit
• Get all the necessary packing and moving supplies
• Prepare your antiques for storage
• Pack them
• Organize your storage unit

How to find adequate storage units for storing antiques in Ottawa?

Finding the right storage unit is one of the most important things when it comes to storing antiques in Ottawa. Unfortunately, you can’t store your antiques in the attic or basement, as well as in other places that are full of moisture and dust. So, when we talk about finding a suitable storage unit, it must meet several conditions. Each storage unit needs to be spacious, clean, and air-conditioned; to have enough ventilation openings; to be protected from all external factors; and to be safe. Also, it’s very important that there are no moths or rodents in the storage.

If you have any difficulties, local movers Ottawa can help you find the right storage units according to your needs, quantity, and size of your belongings. They have experience storing various kinds of items, and even antiques, so, feel free to contact them for help. After all, this is the only way to find a safe place to store your antiques in Ottawa!

What packing and moving supplies do you need for packing antiques?

When moving or storing antiques, they require special care. This also means that you will need a little more packing material than the expected amount. When you decide to start purchasing materials for packing your antiques, you can count on packing supplies Ottawa. What you will need is bubble wrap, cotton cloth, tape, boxes, packing paper, and more paper. The quantity of packing materials required is solely determined by the number of antiques you have. Also, it’s very important that you avoid using plastic bags and boxes when packing your antiques. because moisture can form, which can lead to damage. The ideal solution is to use the original packaging, for example, for old typewriters, telephones, and cameras.  Don’t worry even if you don’t have the original packaging, since you can always improvise.

How to prepare antiques for storage?

In the usual packing process, sorting is the main part of the preparation. Is this the same case when it comes to storing antiques in Ottawa? Yes, the first thing you need to do is decide if you need all the antiques. You may want to sell some of them and keep others. After that, sort the antiques by size for easier packing. Then, you need to make a list of the antiques that you will store or move with you and enter their estimated value. After that, you can move on to the next part of the preparation, which is preparation for packing. Keep in mind that no matter the type of antiques you have, they need to be thoroughly cleaned. Also, if you have some larger items, such as stylish furniture, it’s going to be hard to move them, so make sure you call furniture movers Ottawa for help. We are sure that their help will be of great use to you. And they will also take care of the preparation and packing of your antiques.

Tips for packing antiques for storing in Ottawa

Packing is the hardest part of the job that awaits you. Not only in this case, but always when it comes to moving. And it’s precisely for this reason that most people decide to use packing services Ottawa. But if you want to do this yourself, we have some useful tips for you. First, you need to prepare the packing supplies, as well as the corresponding boxes. But before that, if you have the original packaging for some items, pack them first. Once you’ve done that, you can start with the smallest items. For antiques like small figurines, pictures, etc. you can use bubble wrap to protect them. Also, you can pack small items in the same box, trying to fill the empty space with crumpled novelty paper.

Large objects such as vases, large pictures, pieces of furniture, etc. will certainly not be able to be packed in boxes. But don’t worry. And we have a way for that. You need to first wrap all items in bubble wrap that is impact resistant and protects your belongings. Then you can wrap wrapping paper over it and fasten everything with tape. Also, if some things are impossible to pack, you can set aside a special place for them in the storage unit and cover them with cotton fabric.

How to organize your storage unit in Ottawa?

How you will use the space in your storage is one of the most important parts of this guide for storing antiques in Ottawa. You will choose the size of the storage unit exclusively based on your needs, that is, the number of items you will store. The most important thing is that the space in the storage unit is used wisely. To do this, residential movers Ottawa advise you to organize your storage instead of piling boxes on top of each other. Use shelves for smaller boxes and smaller items. The higher you go, the more space you will have on the floor. For items that are bulky, you can use pallets or large wooden transport boxes. You can place them on the floor. Set aside a special spot in the storage for this. Also, going through warehouses is very important, so you have to take care of that as well.

When it comes to a senior move, we will also provide you with support for storing your antiques in Ottawa

It’s not a surprise that the biggest collectors of antiques are people over 45+. It’s believed that older people know how to recognize the true value of old souvenirs. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that, when seniors look for a new place to live, they often intend to carry on a lot of valuable possessions. Keep in mind that a senior move is a move that requires a lot of attention, effort, and invested time. But with our professionals offering senior moves Ottawa, it can be a wonderful adventure. Regardless of the number of your belongings, as well as whether you want to move your antiques yourself, our movers are at your service. Also, we offer seniors the possibility of storing antiques, because our company can fully take care of them.

Interesting facts about antiques in Ottawa

Ottawa is a multicultural city, where a large number of people of different nationalities, religions, and customs live. This may mean that in Ottawa you can find many antiques that came from the other side of the world. The current most sought-after antiques in Ottawa are records, vintage advertising signs, cars, pictures, old cameras, etc. Furniture, comic books, old toys, and jewelry are also wanted. In Ottawa, you can also find some of the best antique shops where you can sell or buy new antiques. And yelp.ca singled out Ottawa Antique Market, The FineThings Antiques, Champagne Dit Lambert Antiques,  Nostalgia Warehouse, and others.

In the world of antiques, you can find many valuable things, some even more than 150 years old. Did you know which antiques are the most expensive in the world?RAREST.ORG presented the 14 most expensive antiques in the world. Among them are a Harrington dresser worth $6 million and dating back to 1770, and a Diamond Panther bracelet from 1952 worth $7 million. Also, there are two most expensive things, the first is the Hope Diamond from the 17th century, worth $350 million, and right after it comes the Pinner King Dynasty Vase from 1753, worth $85.9 million.

Be careful when storing antiques and save their value!

So, by now you could conclude that antiques are very valuable things, and that they come from ancient times, but also that they can cost a fortune. Also, you could conclude that the greatest value often comes from an object’s rarity and beauty itself. This is exactly why the Hope Diamond is the most expensive thing in the world. So, if you are a collector of valuable items and need a temporary solution for storing antiques in Ottawa, be careful. Make a good choice and keep your items safe, as that’s the only way you’ll be able to preserve their real value.