The How to Guide for Moving a Piano

Piano s- they’re lovely to listen to but definitely hard to move. If you’re relocating and you want to bring your piano along, the most ideal way is to have professional movers do it for you. Otherwise, if piano moving cost seems to be steep, you have to enlist the help of a few friends to help you do the task. Take note that extreme caution has to be followed, so as not to cause damage.

Here are a few reminders for moving your piano:

• Priority number 1 is packing appropriately. Surrounding it with blankets and pads is important so the surface doesn’t get gouged or scuffed. Always remember that refinishing it is almost as expensive as buying a new one.
• Make sure that you’ve measured your new place and that you can fit it comfortable there. Aside from the floor area, measure the doorways as well, so you’ll know how your route is going to pan out.
• Ensure that it is accessible from ALL sides. This will make it easier to push, pull and lift.
• Have two assistants position at the front and another two at the back. Make sure that they’re wearing gloves.
• Don’t lift the piano more than a few inches from the floor and don’t try to bring more than a few inches at a time. If you push too much, the bigger the chances of bumping, falling or stumbling. Take your time to lessen the risk of damage.
• If you’re availing the service of professionals, ask about their insurance policies.
• Some movers will attempt to “keyboard” a piano in order to move it easier. Doing this entails removing the keyboard section. Make sure to say NO to this option, as it can cause serious damage. Not to mention that you’ll have to pay extra to have it tuned afterwards.
• Note that some piano movers will only be responsible for transporting your piano. For this type of service, you’ll have to bring it to their store first.
• Once inside the new house, make sure that it is situated in a place where there are NO major shifts in temperature. Keep it away from windows and heating ducts because the temperature changes can cause warping, thereby affecting its sound quality.

Additional reminders:

• Upright pianos have most of its weight centered towards its back. Because of this, make sure that there is no one standing behind it when you’re moving it away from a wall.
• To avoid damaging spinets and console pianos, tilt them back slightly as you roll them away. These types have thin front legs that can easily break.
• Again, having your piano moved professionally is still the easiest way to go. It will cost a little extra but the convenience, speed and security are well worth the premium.