How to Safely Move Your Furniture
If you’re planning on shipping furniture, it might be worth hiring movers. They’ll have the strength and experience to move large pieces without damaging them in the process.
Before you start moving your furniture, measure your new home’s doorways and hallways to make sure the pieces fit. If you can’t dismantle the furniture, try hooking larger chairs around corners to make it easier to slip them through doors.
Make It Small and Light
Large pieces of furniture can be difficult to move, especially if they’re heavy. They can get stuck in doorways or snag on stairs. They can also be hard to fit into new spaces if you don’t sketch out a floor plan before moving day. To make it easier for you (and your helpers) to move and re-install your furniture, try to keep it small and light. You can also make your move more manageable by making sure all the corners of your furniture are protected with some kind of padding (either special furniture corner protectors or just pieces of cardboard). Don’t overfill boxes, either, they’ll be too heavy to lift and may break.
Break It Down
If you’re moving from one room to another, measure the new space and your furniture to ensure that everything will fit. This will prevent you from wasting time and money transporting items that are too big to fit into your new home.
It’s also a good idea to go through your closets, linen drawers and other storage spaces and get rid of any clutter you no longer need. This will make your move easier for everyone involved, including the movers.
If you’re hiring movers, ask if they offer disassembly as part of their service. This is a great way to lighten up heavy furniture for the move without compromising its safety or durability. For example, you can take off the legs of a dining table or the back of your couch to help it fit through doorways more easily.
Plan Your Move
A move requires a lot of planning. This is especially true if it’s far away. You need to find a new home, work with moving companies, and take care of a lot of other tasks before you get to your move date.
Make a list of things you need to do and set deadlines for them. This will help you remember and stay on track. You should also make a list of all the items you plan to move. This way, you can identify items that should be separated and packed separately from other items.
If you’re renting, give your landlord notice of your move. Also, change your address and update your online shopping accounts. This includes Amazon, iTunes, and any other accounts that display your address.
Keep It Safe
Furniture moving is a very dangerous undertaking, and it’s very easy to get injured if you’re not careful. Back injuries, muscle damage, hernias and even finger and toe injuries are all common during moves.
Keep a clear path by clearing the floor of any obstacles that could create tripping hazards. This includes rugs, clutter and any loose cords or cables.
Whenever possible, push your heavy furniture pieces instead of pulling them. This will reduce friction, making it easier to move the furniture. Always use furniture sliders under your heavy pieces to further reduce friction and protect the corners of your furniture and the carpet or hardwood floors inside your home. If you’re moving to a new house, sketch out a floor plan of the space before you start moving your heavy furniture.