Moving can be a very stressful time in a person's life, especially if they haven't hired the right help to move their furniture. Moving a piano can be especially scary because the mover needs to have special skills and knowledge to do it safely. In this newsletter, I've also answered some of the most frequently asked questions about moving a piano. This will help you understand what it takes to move a piano and give you the information you need to choose the right mover. At the end of the article, I've listed some questions you can ask to help you choose a piano mover, as well as the documents you should have ready so that the mover can be ready for your move.
Why should I hire a pro to move my piano?
Many of you may be wondering why you would need to hire a professional piano moving company to move your piano instead of using the same mover who is moving the rest of your home's belongings. The main reason to hire a professional piano mover is that many family movers don't have the right tools or training to move a piano correctly.
A typical upright piano weighs between 400 and 900 kg. The weight of a grand piano can range from 650 to 1300 kilos. The price of a piano can range from a few hundred dollars to half a million dollars, depending on its brand, model, age, and condition. Most piano moves involve moving the instrument through a small space like a door frame or a staircase. Sometimes, you may need to take the piano apart to get it out of your house. Using a professional piano mover with a lot of experience will reduce the risk of damage to the instrument and to your home by a large amount.
As a piano mover, I've seen many situations where a customer hired a family mover to move their piano, but the family mover couldn't get the piano out of the house and the customer had to call us for help. In other cases, I've gotten calls from customers who hired a less reliable piano mover because their price changed into much lower. They needed to book an emergency move with us because the piano mover didn't show up to move their piano or call to say why they weren't there.
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How do you move a piano?
When you hire a professional piano mover, you can expect two or three people to come to your home with piano skids, moving pads, ramps, slings, and the knowledge of how to move your piano the right way. They will use different methods to get the piano out of your house. When the piano is put on the truck, it will be properly fastened to the car so that it doesn't get damaged during shipping. Four to six people may be used for the hardest moves. Most of the time, when someone who is not a professional piano mover moves a piano, this system, this information, and these safety precautions are not used. Even though hiring a professional piano mover won't completely eliminate the risk of damage, it will reduce it by a large amount. A good piano mover will also check the piano's condition and let you know if there's a chance of damage before starting the move. You can then decide whether to go ahead or not.
Are all professional piano movers identical?
Unfortunately, just like in any other business, the level of skill and experience of each piano moving company is different. Some piano movers are more prepared and ready than others, and some act with more care and honesty. The best way to find a good piano mover is to talk to piano stores, piano technicians, and piano teachers in your area to find out which company they use. Piano stores in particular have a lot to lose if they don't hire dependable, high-quality piano movers who are careful with their equipment and have good insurance in case something goes wrong.
Do all piano movers also have insurance?
The answer to this question is no, which is a shame.
When you hire a piano mover, there are three types of insurance to keep in mind:
1. Commercial and auto insurance: Is the business covered for damage to its property and/or cars?
2. Coverage for the piano: Is the organization covered in case the piano gets broken?
Worker's safety insurance: Does the company cover its employees in case they get hurt?
Some companies that move pianos are insured for one or two of these things, but not all three. The customer, not the moving company, is responsible for making sure he or she is well insured. When you call piano moving companies, it's a good idea to ask about these three types of coverage and how much your piano can be insured for. A moving company that is properly insured should give you a Bill of lading. This is a legal document that lists what is being moved, the names of everyone involved in the move, where the piano is coming from and going to, and how much it is insured for. The moving company's terms of transport should also be written on the bill of lading. As a paper trail, a proper bill of lading makes sure that the piano mover will pay for any damages that happened during the trip (until a damage waiver turned into signed). It is also important to note that any damage done to your piano or your home must be written down on the bill of lading so that you have the right recourse if you need to take action.
Why do I care about worker damage?
You might be wondering why it's so important to make sure the piano mover you hire has Worker's Safety Insurance. When you sign a contract with a moving company, they are your employee for as long as they are running for you. If you hire a moving company that doesn't always have Workman's Safety Insurance, you're taking full legal responsibility for any employees who get hurt while working for you. Your responsibility will include medical bills, lost wages, and possible civil law suits. Most of these things will be taken care of for you by a company that has Worker's Safety Insurance. Some organizations don't pay the insurance premiums they are supposed to, so they aren't covered for all damage claims. You could also ask the company you are hiring to give you a workman's protection coverage clearance certificate that is up to date to make sure you are covered. If you want to be sure that the moving company's insurance is up-to-date, you can call your local Workman's Compensation or Workman's Safety Insurance board to find out how the company is doing.
Does moving my piano change the way it sounds?
The way a piano sounds or is tuned is no longer affected by how it is moved. Changes in temperature and humidity can cause the wood and metal parts of your piano to expand and contract, which can throw off the tuning. You might want to tune your piano a few weeks after you move it, when it has gotten used to its new home. The size and sound of the room where your piano is could also affect how it sounds. Sound is absorbed by carpet, while it is reflected by hardwood. In a small space, sound builds up, making it seem louder, while in a large space, sound gets lost, making it seem quieter.
How much will it cost to move a piano?
Most of the time, piano moving is billed in one of two ways:
The family mover way is to charge by the hour, with a minimum number of hours (usually three).
2. The way a professional piano mover works is by giving a flat rate based on the following factors:
a. Type of piano (upright or grand) and size
b. The distance moved
c. Hard stage because there are stairs, grass pulls, tight turns, etc.
D. There are time limits at the circulation
e. The likely amount of time spent waiting.
The benefit of a flat price machine is that, unless something unexpected happens, you can get a good idea of how much the move will cost before the movers come to your house, and it is often cheaper than an hourly rate.
How much time do I need to give the Piano Mover?
How much notice you need depends on when and where you want to move the piano. Most piano movers schedule their deliveries based on who calls first. If it's a busy time of year, you might need as much as a month's notice. During less busy times of the year, you may want one or two day's word. Most of the time, if you want your piano moved on a certain day, you should book the delivery well ahead of time to make sure it's available.
Here are a few recommended questions to ask when looking for a piano mover:
1. Have you been moving pianos for a long time?
2. Do you have any proof?
3. Do you have a full-time, skilled staff that helps you move pianos?
Four: How do you price moving, and what are your quotes?
Five: How often do you move pianos, and what days of the week do you do it?
6.Are you covered for Commercial/car insurance, Cartage/content coverage, and workman's protection coverage?
7. Can I have a copy of your workman's compensation coverage clearance certificate?
8. How much will my piano be insured for over the course of the year? What is covered by this insurance?
9. What are your shipping terms? Will you give me a second copy?
Will you give me a bill of lading while my piano is being moved?
Here are the details you need to have ready when you book your piano move:
1. What kind of piano do you need to have moved? (Stand-up piano or grand piano)
2. How long is the piano? (The height of an upright piano is measured from the floor to the lid, while the length of a grand piano is measured from the keyboard to the curve at the end of the bow.)
Where is it going to be picked up? (Have a complete address, including a postal or zip code.)
4. Who is being told about it? (Have a full address, including a postal or zip code.)
5. Does the piano want to go up or down any stairs (inside or outside)? Count how many if so. Are they straight, do they spiral, or do they bend? Depending on what you tell the piano mover, he or she will be able to tell you how many people they think it will take to get the job done. If you leave out important information or problems or don't give enough information about your move, it's likely that your piano won't be moved that day and you'll have to pay more.
6. When do you want the piano to be moved?
7. Are there any worries about time? (Because time limits tend to slow down the mover's day, putting a time limit on the mover should make your price more than double.)
Tell the piano mover ahead of time about any problems you think might come up.
The piano mover will be able to give you a more accurate quote the more information you give them. If you're vague and don't give many details, you shouldn't be surprised if you have to pay more for your flow. A good, reliable piano mover will make the process as easy on you as possible and will likely be the highlight and least stressful part of your whole move. The key is to make sure the mover meets all of your needs and gives them the information they need to help you well.
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