Artwork needs more planning than ordinary household items. A useful preparation process starts with knowing exactly what you have, recording its current condition, and checking how each piece will travel through both properties. Share these details with your fine art moving service before moving day so the team can discuss suitable handling and logistics. Whether you are moving one framed print or a collection of varied works, a little organization helps prevent avoidable confusion and makes handover clearer.
Build a practical inventory
List each artwork separately and give it a clear identifier, such as a room name and number. Record the artist or title if known, the type of work, approximate dimensions, and whether it has a frame, glazing, or other attachments. Note which pieces need special attention, such as a large canvas, a sculpture with projecting parts, or a work that cannot be laid flat.
Take photographs of each piece and its identifying details. Keep the inventory and images together in a folder you can share with the moving service. If you have existing receipts, appraisals, or care instructions, gather them too. These documents can help clarify handling needs, but do not attach labels or tape directly to an artwork or its frame.
Record condition before moving
Inspect each piece in good light before it is packed. Note existing scratches, chips, cracks, loose joints, flaking surfaces, or damage to frames and mounts. Photograph any concerns from a few angles, including a wider view that shows where the issue appears on the work. Keep the notes factual and date them so they can be compared after delivery.
Avoid cleaning, repairing, or tightening anything just before the move unless a qualified conservator has advised you to do so. A small change can make it harder to distinguish an existing issue from a new one. Tell the moving service about fragile or unstable areas, and ask how the condition record will be checked during collection and delivery.
Check access at both properties
Measure the artwork, including its frame and any projecting parts, then check the route from its current position to the vehicle and into the destination room. Look at doorways, hallways, stairs, landings, lifts, and tight turns. A piece may fit through a front door but still be difficult to maneuver around an interior corner.
Tell the moving service about access limits at both addresses, including stairs, lift dimensions, restricted parking, loading rules, and any time windows for building access. Clear the route where possible and identify a safe place for the team to work. If a piece is too large for the planned route, raise the issue in advance rather than waiting until moving day.
Agree on handling details
Share the inventory, photographs, condition notes, dimensions, and access information when requesting a plan. Ask how the service intends to handle each type of work, what preparation they expect you to complete, and whether the team will supply and apply suitable protective materials. Confirm who is responsible for packing, unpacking, and placing each piece.
Discuss any handling instructions, delicate components, special lifting requirements, and the order in which works should be collected and delivered. Confirm the collection and delivery arrangements, how changes will be communicated, and what paperwork or condition checks will take place. Get agreed responsibilities in writing so you and the team have the same plan before the move begins.
A clear inventory, dated condition notes, and realistic access checks give your moving service the information it needs to plan carefully. Share concerns early and confirm responsibilities before collection. For help planning an artwork move in Leicester, contact Leicester Art Transit to discuss your collection and access requirements.