When you’re moving, it’s difficult to figure out how to safely transport your piano. Whether your piano is a family heirloom or you bought it brand new, it is a prized possession that requires great care.
You can move your piano yourself, or you can hire professional movers to move it for you. To plan for either scenario, you should know what to do for each.
If You’re Moving a Piano Yourself
- Ask for help. Pianos are extremely heavy. The most important thing you need to do if you’re moving a piano yourself is to enlist other people in the process. Ask friends, family members, or neighbors to assist in lifting and maneuvering the piano down stairs, up ramps, and into the truck. Do not even attempt to do this by yourself.
- Secure the keyboard lid before lifting or moving the piano. You don’t want the keys to get damaged. Lock the lid if you can.
- Wrap the piano in blankets or protective tarps. You can also add padding if you like. Make sure the corners are protected and there aren’t any exposed surfaces that could get scratched. Be careful when securing the coverings that you don’t get any tape on the piano’s surface.
- Use either a furniture dolly or heavy duty straps to lift and move the piano. A dolly is preferable. You will still want to use straps to fasten the piano to the dolly.
If You’re Hiring Piano Movers
- Check that your moving company is capable of moving pianos. If you’re hiring a moving company to handle your entire move, don’t assume pianos are something they can manage. Not every moving company is equipped to handle large instruments.
- Consider hiring specialists. Some moving companies dedicate themselves to moving pianos and other large instruments. If you don’t need a full-service moving company, then piano-specific movers are worth looking into.
- Understand that damage may still happen. No one is perfect. However, movers are much less likely to damage your piano while moving it than you are.
Other Considerations
- Pianos should never be moved by their legs. The legs are delicate and break easily.
- If you’re moving from one climate to another, you may need to re-tune your piano after it has acclimated to the change.
For experienced and reliable piano movers, contact us today for an estimate!
