How to Move a Piano Without a Moving Company
By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
Working with professional movers in Houston is usually the best choice; however you might be able to move the piano without their support, provided you have the proper equipment, and plenty of helpers. Should you decide to go the Do-it-Yourself route, below are the fundamentals you ought to be aware of:
What to Do Prior to Relocating the Piano
Relocating a piano calls for some serious preparations. Listed here are a few of the foremost items to plan before you start moving one:
- Get the proper moving supplies and materials. For example, you need to have many moving blankets on hand to protect the piano throughout the relocation. You'll need a dolly capable of handling the piano's weight. If you have a grand piano, you may also need to rent a piano skid board from a local moving company. (Don't be surprised if you end up paying hundreds of dollars to rent one!)
- Form a team. At least, you should have 4 strong, capable people there to aid you with the move. It's ideal when you can enlist friends or family members who have experience moving heavy items. Make sure to have a supply of pizza on hand for "motivation!"
- Measure the appropriate doorways, stairways, and hallways. It is very significant to measure the passageway through which your piano will need to travel ahead of the actual move. You certainly won’t want to get your piano jammed in an awkward spot, and risk damaging it when you attempt to get it unstuck!
What to Do While Moving the Piano
There are several key items you should keep in mind during the actual move. These include the following:
- Wrap the piano keys, pedals, lid, and body up tightly with appropriate materials (e.g., bubble wrap, foam packing sheets, blankets, and so forth).
- Get your moving team in position to lift the piano. Make sure they all lifts together, on cue. Another person (or two) needs to be prepared to slide the dolly beneath the piano.
- Once the piano is securely on the dolly, in a controlled manner guide it out of your residence and onto the moving truck. Be cautious going through doorways, going around corners and going down stairs. (If at all possible, use a ramp when moving your piano up or down a stairway.)
- When you unload the piano on the moving van, be sure at least one person is in front of the piano, and has control of it during the lift to remove the dolly.
What to Do After Moving the Piano
For those who had to disassemble the piano to move it (for instance, by removing the legs), then ask your moving crew to to aid in reassembling it as soon as it has been successfully relocated. Wipe the piano down with a soft cloth or feather duster to eliminate any accumulated dust and maybe wipe down its outside with a mild solution of soap and water. (It is best to leave the interior to a professional piano cleaning company.)
As you can tell, moving a piano without the aid of a professional moving company in Houston necessitates lots of planning, coordination, and heavy lifting. The guidelines above are only the tip of the iceberg!
If you decide that it would be best to leave a move of this degree to professional movers in Houston, call our team of friendly experts at the A-1 Freeman Moving Group today to talk about the particulars.
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