How to Find a Reliable Piano Moving Company

Anyone who has experienced moving can vouch that it can be a very stressful experience, more so if it includes piano moving. A piano is particularly difficult to move because it requires skills and special knowledge to safely move the large and oddly-shaped item.

Why Getting The Services Of A Professional Mover May Be Necessary?

Some people don’t find the need to hire a reputable piano mover since a traditional mover contracted to move the rest of your home’s contents can include it in the performance of their agreed tasks.

The primary reason a piano mover may be necessary is that majority of household movers are not armed with the right equipment or sufficient training to carry out the task of properly and safely moving your piano.

The cost of a piano varies widely – anywhere between several hundred to half a million dollars, depending on the model, make, condition, and age of the musical instrument. On the average, an upright piano can weigh from 400 to 900 pounds. Grand pianos are much heavier at 650 to 1300 pounds.

Typically, piano movers are forced to make the piano pass through tight openings and spaces like staircases or small door frames. It may even be necessary to dismantle the piano just to take it out of your home. An experienced piano mover can help considerably lower the risk of damage not only to the instrument, but to your home as well.

How Pianos Are Moved

A professional moving company specializing in piano moves typically sends 2 to 3 people to your home.

They come equipped with moving pads, ramps, piano skids, slings, and more importantly, the knowledge and skills necessary to move the piano safely.

Special techniques are utilized to maneuver the instrument out of your home. Once the piano is on their truck, it will be secured safely to the vehicle to make sure that it does not sustain any damage while in transit.

More difficult piano moves may involve 4 to 6 people. While there is still risk of damage even with a professional piano mover around, the risk is considerably lower. In addition, a qualified mover will first assess the situation and immediately let you know if there are existing factors that can potentially cause damage to your piano, even before the moving process is started. You will then have the option to decide on whether to proceed with the move or not.

About Insurance

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Unfortunately, not all moving companies are adequately insured. There are three kinds of insurance that you must take into consideration when looking for the right mover to work with.

• Automotive/Commercial Insurance – Find out if your prospective mover is properly insured against damages to vehicles and properties.
• Content/Cartage Insurance – You must make sure that the company is insured against damage to your piano.
• Workman’s Safety Insurance – The company must insure its employees against work-related injuries.

Some companies only have one or a couple of these insurance types, and not all three. It is not the mover’s responsibility to make sure that they are adequately insured; it is your job to make sure that they are.

Consider working only with companies with all three types of insurance. Likewise, ask how much your piano will be insured for.

An adequately insured piano moving company can easily provide you with a B/L (bill of lading). A legal document that contains the items being moved, names of all involved parties in the move. Where the items are to be moved to and from, and the full insured value of the items.

How The Move Affects The Sound Of The Piano

In general, a piano’s tuning is affected by humidity and temperature changes that cause the steel and wooden parts to contract and expand. The move does not directly affect the piano’s sound.

Other factors that may affect the sound or tuning of the piano include the acoustics and size of the room where the instrument is placed. Carpeting absorbs the sound, which is reflected by the hardwood.

The sound may seem louder in small spaces, while it may seem softer or quieter in larger areas. You may have to tune your piano a couple of weeks after the move just to help it acclimatize to its new home.

Not All Piano Moving Companies Are Created Equal

Just like in any niche, companies that specialize in moving pianos vary in terms of experience and quality of service. Some have more experience and have better equipment, and some are more careful and deliberate than others.

To find the right company for you, ask local piano dealers, teachers, and technicians which companies they use for their needs. Piano dealers, in particular, put utmost importance in making sure that they only use high quality and reputable movers who pose the least risk of damage to their merchandise, and have the proper insurance in case unforeseen events happen.