By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
It's no surprise that moving a piano is one of the hardest and most complicated tasks that people face during a relocation. Considering that pianos may weigh hundreds, even thousands of pounds, it's no surprise that many (if not most) individuals decide to hire a
professional moving company to do the heavy lifting for them (literally).
Hiring professional movers is always the recommended option; but you may be able to move a piano without their assistance, provided you have the right equipment, and enough helpers. If you decide to go the DIY route, here are the basics you should know:
What to Do Before Moving the Piano
Moving a piano requires quite a bit of prep work. Here are some of the major things to take care of before you start moving one:
- Get the right moving supplies and materials. For example, you should have plenty of moving blankets on hand to protect the piano during the move. You'll need a dolly capable of handling the piano's weight. For a grand piano, you'll 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 the bare minimum, you should have 4 strong, able-bodied people on hand to help you with the move. It's even better if you can enlist friends or family members who have experience moving heavy objects. Be sure to have plenty of pizza on hand for "motivation!"
- Measure the appropriate doorways, stairways, and hallways. It is extremely important to measure the spaces through which your piano will be transported before the actual move. You don't want to get your piano stuck in an awkward position, and risk damaging it when you try to get it out!
What to Do While Moving the Piano
There are a few key things you should keep in mind during the actual move. These include the following:
- Wrap the piano keys, pedals, lid, and body up tightly with protective materials (e.g., bubble wrap, foam packing sheets, blankets, and so on).
- Get your moving team in position to lift the piano. Make sure everyone lifts in unison, on cue. Another person (or two) should be ready to slide the dolly underneath the piano.
- After the piano is securely on the dolly, slowly guide it out of your house and onto the moving truck. Take extra care passing through doorways, navigating around corners, and going down staircases. (If at all possible, use a metal ramp when moving your piano up or down stairs.)
- When you unload the piano on the truck, make sure at least one person is in front of the piano, and has control of it during the lift to free up the dolly.
What to Do After Moving the Piano
If you had to disassemble the piano to move it (for instance, by removing the legs), then ask your moving team to help you reassemble it after it's been successfully relocated. Wipe the piano down with soft cloth or feather duster to remove any accumulated dust and consider wiping down its exterior with a mild solution of soap and water. (It's best to leave the interior to a professional piano cleaning company.)
As you can tell, moving a piano without the help of a professional moving company takes a lot of preparation, coordination, and hard work. The tips above are only the tip of the iceberg!
If you decide that it would be better to leave a move of this magnitude to professional movers, reach out to our team of friendly experts at the A-1 Freeman Moving Group today to discuss the details.
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