Tips For Preparing Your Art Collection For Temporary Storage While Selling Your Home
If you are in the process of selling your home and have decided to store your extensive art collection in a self-storage unit to keep everything safe, then there are certain things you need to do to ensure that each piece of artwork comes out of storage in exactly the same condition as it went in. By properly packing and stacking your art in the storage unit, it will be protected from damage from rodents, insects, and the elements. In addition, it will be protected while you move things around in your storage unit as well.
To prepare your artwork for safe storage in your rented storage unit, follow each of these important tips:
Tip: Always Store Artwork in a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit
Even if you are planning to sell your home quickly and think you will only need very short-term storage for your art collection, the reality is that you never know how long it will take for your house to sell. For this reason, it is important that you rent a climate-controlled storage unit. Without climate control, your art can become damaged from the storage unit heating and cooling from the outdoor temperatures. For example, some oil and wax-based paints will melt if they get too hot and this can completely ruin paintings made with them. Additionally, wooden sculptures can crack from heat fluctuations.
Tip: Keep a Written and Photographic Inventory of the Art You are Storing
As you are packing your art to put it into storage, make sure that you take a photo of each piece and keep a written inventory that includes information on every piece. This is vital in the unlikely case there is a theft or other damage to your storage unit. Keep the list outside of the storage unit in a safety deposit box for safe keeping. If you ever need to make an insurance claim, you will thank yourself for making the effort to do this one simple thing.
Tip: Clean and Polish Each Item Before Packaging for Storage
Before you pack away your items, first take the time to clean each one. For example, wipe down paintings and hanging artwork using a dry cotton cloth to remove dust from their frames. And, finally, if you have any wooden sculptures in your collection, you need to apply a thin layer of high-quality wax to protect the piece from drying out and cracking during storage.
For more information on choosing a storage facility near you, check out SaveMor Self Storage LTD!