5 Tips for Moving Heavy Furniture
Whether moving heavy furniture from one home to another or into a self-storage unit, safe transportation can be a difficult task. Heavy lifting increases the risk of back or knee injuries, and damaging your belongings.
Avoid hassle, reduce clutter and prevent injuries with these five tips when moving heavy furniture.
1. Properly Wrap Furniture
Your furniture may get bumped around during transport. To protect from damage on the road, use the following supplies:
Corrugated cartons. Stabilize your furniture and protect edges from chipping.
Bubble wrap. Absorb shock and provide padding to protect breakable furniture.
Covers. Add an extra layer of protection to avoid furniture from being scratched during your move.
Packing paper. Protect fragile furniture from shattering or breaking.
2. Use a Moving Truck Valet Service
A moving truck valet service offers added convenience. Trucks come directly to your home to load and transport belongings. When considering service providers, clarify the time window allotted for moving your items and if there are additional fees for:
Gasoline.
Mileage.
Security deposit.
Insurance.
When considering utilizing a self-storage unit, look for a facility that is accommodating and provides valet services free of charge.
3. Hire Professional Movers
Homeowners should be cautious when moving heavy furniture as it can lead to property damage or injuries. Eliminate the possibility of hurting yourself or your belongings by hiring movers. Professional movers can pack and transport your heavy furniture for you. Research companies to ensure the movers you hire can be trusted with your belongings.
Prior to selecting a company, consider these factors:
If the company is insured and licensed in your state.
If the company understands how you want your belongings handled.
The company’s historical success and reputation.
What their rates are (look for hidden fees).
4. Follow Moving Best Practices
If hiring a professional service is not within your budget, use these moving best practices to safely do the job:
High-low method. Use two people to support the top and bottom of tall furniture.
Lifting straps. Use adjustable straps to accommodate different sized objects and people.
Planning ahead. Know where you want your items placed ahead of time to make the move seamless and organized.
Shoulder dolly. Rely on large muscle groups, and take the weight off your back to lift heavy objects.
Slides. Purchase furniture slides to avoid picking up heavy furniture.
Taking apart as much as possible. Take out drawers, and deconstruct furniture to lighten the load.
5. Store Furniture in a Climate-Controlled Unit
Even for a short time, wooden furniture (e.g., bookcases, bedframes and dressers) should be stored in a climate-controlled unit to prevent cracking, staining, warping or rotting due to moisture exposure. Climate control units maintain consistent temperature and humidity levels year-round, preserving the quality of wooden furniture.
Heavy metal appliances, such as your stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer, also require climate-controlled storage to protect from fluctuating temperatures and high humidity levels, which could lead to rusting.
In addition, consider a self-storage facility that offers various unit dimensions to accommodate furniture of all sizes.
How do you safely transport heavy furniture? Share in the comment section below!
