Moving furniture is often harder than most of us expect. It’s the most challenging part of moving house. Large items are difficult to get through doors, they’re often heavy or the weight isn’t distributed evenly. This makes them awkward to lift, manoeuvre through your home and load onto the truck. So if you have to move these items yourself, how do you manage this difficult task?
1. The most important advice
There’s no need to panic, so don’t rush into the job and make a mistake you’ll regret. Moving furniture is a job that requires planning and teamwork. And never attempt to lift or move an object larger than a box by yourself without help or the right equipment. Remember, your large furniture got put into your house, so you can get it out again.
2. The couch doesn’t fit through the doorway
You might read the advice above and find yourself wondering why you can’t fit a couch or armchair through the doorway. Most feet on couches and chairs are detachable. Simply remove the feet to get the item through the doorway, load it onto the truck, and refit the feet at your new home.
3. Disassemble it if you can
Any item of furniture that seems impossible to get through a doorway should be able to be disassembled. Take it apart, but work smart and use your phone to take pictures to remind yourself how to put it back together again. For example, remove mirrors and doors from portable wardrobes and dressers and the legs from tables.
Anything you bought as flatpacked furniture can be returned to a flatpacked state. Hopefully, you remembered to keep the tools that came with it. But if not, don’t worry, as they’re usually assembled with standard tools and fittings.
4. Pack your hardware carefully
If you disassemble any item, make sure you pack the hardware in separate bags and label them. Make sure you seal the bag so nothing falls out in transit. Despite best intentions with packing, items move around in the truck. It’s frustrating if you find you’re missing a screw or two come reassembly time.
5. Reduce weight wherever possible
Solid furniture is heavy. Remove drawers from dressers, cupboards and sideboards. Carry the frame to the truck and reinsert the drawers. While you can use drawers as extra packing space, if you put anything breakable in them, it will break. We recommend you only load them with blankets, towels or linen.
6. Never work alone
If you attempt to move any large piece of furniture yourself, one of three outcomes will occur. You’ll injure yourself, you’ll damage the furniture or your house, or both. It’s not worth the risk or the expense. Moving furniture through doors, around corners and along narrow spaces requires careful lifting and carrying. To do this safely and without causing damage, you need a minimum of two people.
7. Use moving equipment wherever possible
Moving equipment makes moving large and heavy items much easier. Dollies, trolleys and lifting straps will save you time and effort, far outweighing the cost of hiring them. Make sure you have the right equipment on hand when it comes time to move.
8. Use moving blankets
We don’t recommend you use your bedding or linen to wrap furniture. Not only will they get dirty, they aren’t designed for the job. Moving blankets are thick and soft and prevent scratching or scuffing when moving and transporting furniture. Wrap each item in the blanket and secure it in position before you lift and carry it to the truck.
9. There’s no need for haste
Take your time negotiating doors, getting around corners and through hallways. Take breaks. It’s heavy work, and you will get fatigued fast without rest stops. Remember to hydrate and keep your energy levels up.
And finally, if you don’t have the time, equipment or people to do the job, give us a call. We can take care of every detail, including disassembly, wrapping, lifting, transport and reassembly at the other end.