San Antonio Moving Blog - Tips, Tricks, and Insider Info
February 09, 2024

The Best Way to Move a Piano Without a Moving Company

moving a pianoBy Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

It is not a surprise that moving a piano is one of the more problematic and most intricate tasks that people face during a move. Considering that pianos might weigh hundreds, even thousands of pounds, it’s not a shock that many (if not most) folks make a choice to work with a professional moving company in San Antonio to perform the heavy lifting for them (literally).
 

Employing professional movers in San Antonio is most always the best choice; yet you might be able to move the piano without their help, only if you have the right equipment, and a sufficient number of helpers. Should you decide to go the DIY route, following are the fundamentals you should know:

What to Do Before Relocating the Piano

Relocating a piano demands quite a bit of prep work. Here are some of the main things to arrange before you commence moving one:

  1. Get the right moving supplies and materials. For instance, you should have lots of moving blankets on hand to protect the piano during the relocation. You'll need a dolly capable of handling the piano's weight. If you have a grand piano, you will in addition need to rent a piano skid board from a local moving company. (Do not be shocked if you wind up paying hundreds of dollars to get one!)
  2. Form a team. At the very least, you need to have 4 strong, capable people there to help you with the move. It's even better when you can recruit pals or family members who have experience moving awkward objects. Be sure to have a supply of pizza there for "motivation!"
  3. Measure the appropriate passages. It’s critically vital to measure the passageway through which your piano will need to travel before the actual move. You certainly won’t want to get your piano wedged in an unwieldy spot, and chance damaging it as you make an effort to get it out!

What to Do As you Move the Piano

Below are a few important items you don’t want to forget through the actual move. These include the following:

  1. Wrap the piano keys, pedals, lid, and body up tightly with protective materials (e.g., bubble wrap, foam packing sheets, blankets, etc.).
  2. Assemble your moving crew set to lift the piano. Make sure everyone lifts in unison, on cue. Another person (or two) must be set to slip the dolly underneath the piano.
  3. After the piano is securely on the dolly, steadily move it out of your residence and into the moving truck. Take extra care passing through doorways, going around corners and going down staircases. (If at all possible, utilize a ramp when moving your piano up or down stairs.)
  4. When you unload the piano on the moving van, make certain at a minimum one person is in front of the piano, and can control it during the lift to take out the dolly.

What to Do After Moving the Piano

If you had to take apart the piano to move it (for example, by removing the legs), then ask your moving crew to to assist you to reassemble it as soon as it's been carefully relocated. Wipe the piano down with a soft cloth or feather duster to eliminate all amassed dust and think about wiping down the 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 see, moving a piano devoid of the assistance of a professional moving company in San Antonio takes lots of organization, coordination, and hard work. The suggestions above are only the tip of the iceberg!

If you feel that it may be best to leave a move of this magnitude to professional movers in San Antonio, call our team of friendly experts at the A-1 Freeman Moving Group today to go over the details.

 

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