In January, moving to a warmer climate appeals to many in the Boston area. Some snowbirds split their time between winter homes and summer homes, going South as soon as the snow starts to fly. If you’re thinking about joining them, or if you’re sending furniture to your kids, or have some other reason to ship your furniture, here’s what you need to know:
1) Be strategic about what you ship. The condition and integrity of your furniture matters a lot when shipping it. Contemporary furniture in good condition ships fairly well. Ikea-style pieces often have to be disassembled prior to shipping and reassembled on arrival, which is a factor to consider. For antique furniture and extremely valuable furniture, you’ll want to choose a Boston Shipping company that specializes in shipping furniture.
2) Size and weight matters. When you’re trying to figure out how much it will cost to ship your furniture, you’ll need two sets of information: the furniture’s dimensions and its weight. Furniture dimension is usually measured in inches, length by width by height. Weight is measured in pounds. Be aware that there’s no such thing as ‘regular’ or ‘typical’ sized furniture. If you aren’t sure how you’re going to get the weight, measure the item to the best of your ability and then connect with your Boston shipping company. They can handle the rest!
3) Know where you’re going. Among the information your Boston shipping company will need to ship your furniture is the exact address, including zip codes, of where your furniture needs to be picked up and dropped off. It’s always helpful to have neighborhood specific directions, if available – notes like “Third house on left, blue house with red door” can make it much easier for a delivery driver to find you.
4) Understand what services you need. If you’re able to deal with your furniture once it’s been delivered to your front door, shipping furniture can work for you. If you need furniture unloaded and set up in your new place, talk to your Boston shipping company about small move services.