Although all items in your home are important, some are more valuable and closest to your heart. Most of these valuable items, such as fine art, antiques, and jewelry, are fragile and need careful handling and proper maintenance and storage to maintain their pristine condition.
Even if an item is not expensive it might have a sentimental attachment to you. Make sure that you protect the item since it might be irreplaceable. Whether you inherited your relative’s antique fine china or you’re an art collector, below are several tips for caring for your valuables.
Your valuable might have taken years of savings to purchase, but it takes a blink of an eye to lose them through unforeseen events such as natural disasters and theft. If you're a homeowner, you probably know about the homeowner's insurance that protects your property from unliquidated damages or natural calamities. Note that the home insurance might not cover the valuables in your home.
Suppose you need insurance on your valuables within your property. In that case, you need to schedule a personal property endorsement cover in addition to your homeowner's insurance to protect items such as jewelry, fine arts, coin collections, cameras, sports equipment, and fur garments.
If you decide to cover your valuable items with insurance, ensure that you keep an inventory of your home valuables that you can use to report a claim in the case of damage, theft, or natural disaster. Attach any existing documentation of the items, such as invoices and certificates.
Learning the tips to handle your artwork is crucial if you will continue to invest and collect art. For wall art, ensure your artwork is away from direct sunlight even if a layer of varnish protects it.
Even with the varnish, long-term exposure to direct sun can make your artwork fade or crack. Dust your precious artworks, often using a soft rag to avoid dust buildup. Never use water or any detergents to clean your artwork.
If your shifting houses, ensure your art is properly wrapped and cardboard placed over the back and front to protect it. Never preserve your canvas artwork under a glass frame since it needs breathing and away from any moisture that can be easily trapped inside the frame.
For ceramic artwork, avoid displaying it on metal prongs since, over time, it damages it by cracking and chipping it. Wash porous ceramics gently without soaking since they absorb water easily like sponges, which can cause damage.
If you notice that your collection is slowly outgrowing your available space, you might need to consider moving it to a white glove storage facility. This might be an opportunity to make some extra cash, so when looking for a storage facility for your artwork, consider the cost to view your items once they're stored.
You also need to consider and extra fees and how you will be compensated and the plans laid out by the facility in case of natural disasters. For jewelry and designer bags, store them in the dust bags they come packaged in.
When not wearing jewelry, store them in these dust pouches to protect them from tarnishing and dust. The pouches prevent gold and silver-plated jewelry from oxidizing, keeping them appealing for years.
Holidays provide an excellent opportunity to show off your fine china or your new fancy dishware set. Create memories of great company and food through your fine china, which becomes a reminder of the holidays throughout the year.
Consider automated calling to remind your family and friends of the next holiday you will be hosting. Before then, store fine china by wrapping them individually to avoid breakages. The bubble wrap is perfect for storing your dishware in your home or moving them.
It's more expensive to replace your valuables than to protect them. For highly valuable items that took you months if not years of savings, insuring them is a wise decision. Get a cover in addition to your home insurance to ensure that all your valuables are covered so that you can file a claim in case of theft or damage from natural disasters. Other tips are inexpensive such as storing your valuables properly and frequently dusting them.
Amy Sloane is an alum from Oregon State University and spends her free time as a freelance writer and knitting enthusiast. Amy loves reading, cooking, and spending time with her dog, Molly.