The Ultimate Tips and Techniques for Moving Furniture

How Do You Move Heavy Furniture by Yourself?

Whether relocating cross country or somewhere closeby, you’ll experience moving stress regardless, so there is no need to further your frustrations by continually worrying about your possessions’ safety. While it is usually better to find professional moving services for moving furniture, it isn’t entirely impossible to do it by yourself. However, you will need to make a lot of preparations before you get started. To make this all easier, follow our advice and moving tips.

We promise you, your possessions, as well as your back, will remain intact!

Make a Moving Plan

When moving heavy furniture, the goal is to make it as efficient as possible. Naturally, some organization is needed. So start by assessing which objects you should load first, as well as where. When loading into the truck, the most practical maneuver is to pack heavier items towards the back and the sides, to ensure balance and keep your belongings safe. So, you’ll most likely be carrying the heavier items first, and then filling out the rest of the space with smaller boxes. While creating a plan may seem like another draining step in the never-ending moving to-do list, it is recommended as it will help you keep track of all of your belongings. Taking inventory is also a good precaution, so you don’t lose or forget any of your possessions.

Equipment You’ll Need for Moving

Before you start to move furniture out of your home, you will need to have all the necessary equipment. If you’re wondering how much does it cost to move furniture, you’ll be surprised that the majority of the equipment is cheap. So, if you want to avoid getting hurt, scratching your floor, or just damaging your possessions, we suggest buying or renting appropriate stuff.

Moving Blankets and Plastic Wrap

If you’re moving cross country, the most practical thing to do is prepare all the necessary packing materials for moving; this also includes blankets and plastic wraps. Moving blankets are among the necessary moving supplies as they help secure and protect all the fragile edges of your dressers, tables, chairs, etc. You can usually rent them for cheap or buy them online, so you have them always with you and ready for the next time you relocate or decide to switch up your house arrangements. Make sure to secure the blankets tightly with plastic wrap and tape, to avoid any damage!

Moving Straps

You’re probably not a professional mover, but with these, you’ll get the job done.

Moving straps are a must-have when it comes to moving furniture in the house. They will help you take some weight off of your arms and back when you move the more massive objects. Straps allow you to lift even the heaviest of pieces with ease. They lower the center of the gravity of the item you’re carrying and will enable you to move it without bending too much. They are also adjustable to your size. Using straps will make your rearranging much more manageable and help you avoid injury!

Furniture Sliders

If you want to move the heavy pieces alone, you must include sliders in your renting/buying list!

You can get them on online sites such as Amazon or in your local hardware stores. You can also get them in Walmart for a lower price.

Sliders are pads usually made from foam, rubber, or similar materials that are good for sliding. You should place a slider underneath each foot of the item you plan to move and just easily glide it across to the other room. While you might question the quality of this product, you’ll be surprised to find out that sliders also work on carpets and handle a lot of weight pressure. The material used stops friction and prevents damage to the hardwood floor, tiles, or carpeting. Make sure to get lots of these for your rearrangements!

Furniture Dollies

If you are a music aficionado, you’re probably wondering how to move a piano? With an instrument as large as this, chances are you will have a tough time carrying it. Luckily, that’s where dollies come in! There are two types of dollies you can use for your most oversized items. Your first option is a four-wheeled square platform that usually has a handle for pushing. The second option is to get a two-wheel hand truck with a smaller base. While the two-wheel hand truck has a smaller platform, it distributes weight vertically, making it ideal for moving taller possessions. Don’t forget to secure them with a rope, straps, tape, and anything similar, before pushing the dolly.

Take Apart What’s Possible

Disassemble the furniture as much as you can! All of the removable parts, such as cushions, dresser knobs, drawers, need to be separated. This also includes bed frames and other sectional furniture. Anything that can add unnecessary weight should be removed. Remember, your goal is to make your possessions lighter and sleeker to fit through doors. There is no reason to keep your sofa’s footing if it’s just going to make carrying it a hassle!

Also, if you choose to dismantle some of your possessions completely, make sure that you keep the parts in separate bags and label them accordingly. One screw can make a difference!

Handling the Heavy Lifting Appropriately

As mentioned, the number one thing you want to avoid is getting hurt during your relocation. If you have hired a long-distance moving company, but some of your possessions are items movers won’t move, and you’ll have to move them yourself, or you just opted on relocating on your own, here are some tips on how to appropriately lift.

Follow Appropriate Lifting Techniques

You may have gathered this from the previous information, but you will most likely be sliding, pushing, and dragging your possessions, of course, with the appropriate aid (straps, dolly, sliders,) rather than lifting. However, when it comes to stairs or placing all of your belongings in and out of the truck, you will have to strain those muscles! So to make sure you don’t injure yourself during this process, we have these tricks:

• Bend from your knees and not your waist. You have to remember that you should carry the weight from your legs rather than your back to avoid injury. You should try to focus the weight onto your arms and legs instead of your back.
• Try to carry your belongings close to your body. By keeping them close to your body, you’ll be able to find the right balance. Balance is crucial if you don’t want to risk falling and getting hurt.
• Don’t twist your body while carrying. You should stay still as possible as any sudden movements can lead to injury. Try to lead with your hips and not and then feet when you’re carrying.
• Watch where you’re going! While this goes without saying, you need to see where you’re going. If the item is too tall, there are other ways you can carry it.

If you find the instructions unclear, we suggest checking out this video guide. It will teach you how to lift properly.

Going Up and Down the Stairs

To move everything up and down the stairs in your new home is a challenge of its own. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do this alone, so you’ll need to find a partner to help with moving furniture. The way you’ll want to carry your item is by the high and low system. Let’s say you want to move a dresser, for example. The person on the bottom side of the stairs carries the dresser from its bottom surface, and the person higher on the stairs carries the item from its top surface. Additionally, the person on the bottom is the one that sets the pace, but you should always try to go as slow as possible. Don’t underestimate the weight for those bulky objects that are not as heavy as you thought, and try to do it all by yourself because you think it will save you some time, you might get hurt, so call up a friend.

How to Get Furniture Through Doors

With pieces such as couches and sofas, we often think that due to their structure and size, we won’t be able to squeeze them in through doors without disassembling them. Sure, disassembling always helps, but you won’t be able to do that with all of your possessions. So for those bulky chairs, we have the “hook” method that long-distance movers usually apply.

The “hook” method means that you’ll be “hooking” chairs round door corners, curving it in the letter L shape, and pushing it through the door. When it comes to couches, realistically speaking, you won’t be able to get it through the door horizontally. Sliding and hooking it through the door is the maneuver you want to apply. Furthermore, angling is also an essential technique for those larger items. If your couch is too large for the door, try tilting it at 45 degrees, this will help make the coach more narrow.

Make an After Move Unloading Plan

After you arrive at your new home, it’ll be time to unload all of your things! You’re not finished with the move until you place all of your furniture in their positions. If you haven’t found movers for this service, you’ll be doing it yourself.

Make a plan on how you’d like to organize your new apartment or house and use the inventory checklist to track your possessions.

The heavier objects will probably be at the back of the vehicle, so first, unload all the smaller boxes. Once you take everything out, you can start sorting out where you’d like to place each piece and go room by room with the unloading. If you have a plan, you’ll finish quickly.

Hire Professional Movers to Help With Your Move

If you’re deciding on your moving budget, why not add professional moving services to your list of expenses? Sure, you’ll spend a bit more money, but it’s worth it! Why should you torture yourself with boxes, plastics, and lifting, when you can hire a reliable cross country moving company to provide this service. Contact one of the many long-distance moving companies in your area and hire movers to move furniture. Some companies even offer moving insurance if your belongings suffer any damage. Additionally, if you have any fragile belongings, you might want to keep it in mint condition, you’ll be pleased to hear that many companies also have storage services. Why break your back with carrying when movers can do it for you!