You’re planning a move and you’re on a budget. Sure, you can move most of your furnishings yourself, but what about the piano sitting in the family room? It’s tempting to do it yourself and save money, but moving a piano on your own can actually cost you more in the long run.

no-diyDON’T TRY TO DIY

It may be tempting to try and move a piano yourself, especially if it’s going a short distance. But it’s important to remember that pianos are much heavier than they look. The average piano weighs 400-800 pounds, and some are much larger.

You would need to find at least six people to move a piano weighing more than 1,000 pounds. But skilled piano movers with the right equipment can move the same piano with two people, and there’s less chance of someone getting hurt. So while it’s tempting to round up your buddies, keep in mind if someone does get hurt in the process of piano moving, it’s you who are liable. And frankly, it’s not much fun either.

Even if your piano is a more modest horizontal, it’s always best to get specialist piano movers to handle the job. They’ll be able to help with disassembly and reassembly, and they’ll have all the equipment required to handle large and valuable instruments. Any piano is a difficult thing to move and each one is a thing of beauty. As any music lover will tell you, they deserve careful treatment.

avoid-piano-damageAVOID DAMAGING YOUR PIANO

Despite their size, pianos are extremely delicate. If piano moving is done incorrectly, you could easily scratch the exterior of the piano or break one of its legs or pedals. It is also extremely important that the keyboard lid be closed securely during the move to prevent any type of damage. The interior mechanics of a piano are even more fragile. If just one stringer or hammer is damaged, it will affect the overall sound of the piano, which will require costly repairs.

Professional movers understand these issues and they know how to ensure that the piano is moved without causing any type of damage. They will secure the keyboard closed prior to moving, cover the entire piano with blankets and padding, and use a special dolly or wooden planks to keep the pressure off the legs. In addition, they will make sure the piano remains upright at all time to prevent damage to the piano’s mechanics.

avoid-home-damageAVOID DAMAGING YOUR HOME

Pianos generally are bulky and odd-shaped, which can make it very difficult to move them through doorways and up and down stairwells. If you are not extremely careful, you could scratch the paint on the walls, nick a hole in the wall, or damage a door. Professional movers have years of experience in piano moving and they know how to prevent accidents. Can you say the same?

insurance claim formAVOID INSURANCE CLAIMS

If you decide to attempt moving your piano and damage it, your home, or both, guess who is responsible? Yes, you. You’ll either pay to repair damages out of pocket or have to file a claim on your homeowner’s policy, which not only comes with a deductible, claims tend to drive up your rates, costing you much more long term. Professional piano movers will carry their own coverage against damage and loss.


DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND HIRE A PROFESSIONAL

The good news is that the piano moving services can be very affordable, if you work with the right company. Taking into consideration the high cost of most pianos today – ranging into the thousands of dollars – it only makes sense to do what you can to protect your investment to avoid damage during a major move. Hiring a specialty mover gives you greater assurance that the job will be handled with greater precision and care, despite the extra expense.

For piano moving, tuning and all maintenance needs, be sure to contact Turner’s!