Moving furniture is harder than most people expect and is the most challenging task on moving day. The simple fact of the matter is that furniture doesn’t get designed to make it easier to move. As a result, you’re faced with the task of moving large, heavy and awkward items from your home and onto a truck. For the unprepared, this can be a daunting to impossible task. Here’s what you need to do to move furniture yourself.
1. Take your time
Professional movers make moving furniture look easy. It isn’t, so never rush into the task. It’s the most important advice for moving any item of furniture. Plan how you’ll move it and get help. Attempting to move a very heavy item yourself will result in an injury or an accident.
2. It isn’t too big
If you’re standing there wondering how on earth you’ll fit an item through the doorway, remember, it got in, so you can get it out. Most often, these items are large armchairs or sofas, which have removable legs or feet for this reason. Other items that won’t fit will also have removable parts.
3. Disassemble everything you can
Disassembly makes light work of moving large items. As so many items come flatpacked when you buy them, return them to this state to make them easy to move. If you don’t have the instructions, make sure to use your phone to take pictures so you know how to put it back together again. You can probably also remove the legs from your dining table, which makes it much easier to transport through the house and load onto the truck.
4. Look after the hardware
As well as taking photos when you disassemble, look after the hardware. A lost screw or a missing bolt may cause some heartache when you reassemble the item at the other end. Put the hardware for each item in a separate bag, seal it well and label it.
5. Less weight means easier lifting
Dressers, portable wardrobes, sideboards and other items of solid furniture are usually very heavy. Make them easier to lift and carry by removing drawers, doors or mirrors. Load the item onto the truck and reattach the parts you removed for economy of space if required. Reverse the process at the other end. While it may look enticing to use those empty drawers as packing space, never put anything in them that will break. Because it will break.
6. Teamwork is king
As we mentioned before, attempting to move any item of furniture that you can’t lift easily yourself will result in an injury or an accident. Neither are worth it. Always work with a minimum of two people to make lifting and carrying easier. Take your time, communicate and rest when you need it.
7. Use moving equipment
Professionals use moving equipment because it makes moving easier. There are many tools available, such as trolleys, dollies and lifting straps. These items take load, help to distribute load and make carrying more stable. They’re worth every penny.
8. Use moving blankets
Moving blankets have two purposes: protecting items as you move them through the house and protecting the item while in transport or storage. Don’t use your linen or bedding. Moving blankets are thick and soft and designed specifically for wrapping protection, not warmth. Wrap every item before you move it and load it onto the truck.
9. Take regular breaks
Moving furniture is hard work and you’ll get fatigued fast without regular rest breaks. Remember to eat to keep your energy levels up, as you’ll burn a tonne of calories, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
10. Know your limits
If it’s too big, too heavy or too hard. Call us. If you don’t have the equipment, physical capacity or time, call us. We move furniture every day and can do all the hard work for you.