The Art of Piano Moving

In plenty of cartoons and movies, one of the more common scenes involves the moving of a piano into an apartment or a house. Obviously, the lunacy of a person moving an object 5x heavier and larger than themselves makes for a comical situation, and is placed as a way of giving comedic relief. However in real life, piano moving should only be done by experts for safety measures. If moving a piano had to do only with weight, it would only take a few strong people to accomplish the job. It is important to know that the danger of moving a piano is not only because of the piano's weight, but the shape should also be taken into consideration. The asymmetrical shape of a grand piano, for instance, calls for special techniques to maneuver such a large object. It requires skill and patience for successful piano moving. Usually, a device known as a piano board is put to use when moving a piano. First, the piano's legs are disassembled for easy movement through doors and hallways. It is then placed on its side on the top of the piano board. The piano board allows for easy movement along flat surfaces. When it comes to stairs, the board is removed and slid down in a slow and controlled manner. More often than not, movers would decide to make use of a crane or pulley instead of using stairs to maneuver a piano vertically. This is because it is more dangerous moving a piano through stairs if it is more than one floor high. The mover's safety is mostly at risk, since the piano can slip or prove to be heavier than the movers can handle. Piano moving does not necessarily mean transportation from one house to another. It may also mean moving it around in a contained room. Still, this task might require the help of experienced or professional movers. Even moving a piano a few meters can cause disastrous damage to the unit. The most important aspect to keep into mind when transporting a piano short distances are the legs. They have a high possibility of breaking. Perhaps one of the legs can get caught on a crack or uneven spot on the floor and end up breaking from force. Sometimes, a smooth material, or a platform with wheels is placed under each of the piano legs for easy movement. An alternative technique requires around 5 able-bodied people to encircle the piano and lift it for easier transfer. The piano should not be lifted off the ground, rather, it should be lifted enough to take pressure off of the legs. Another version of piano moving is international or oversea transfer. This will prove to be very complicated because of the steps required to be taken when making the move. First, a professional mover is hired to transport the piano to a freight forwarder, which is what actually moves the piano overseas. Once it reaches its destination, the customer must pay all the fines involved and process any of the documents required by the country. The customer must also be there at the time of arrival to sign for the piano. If not, the piano will be stored, which can be expensive. Overall, piano moving should be left to the experts. There are many incidents that can occur which can prove costly for an inexperienced owner. The owner of the piano also has many responsibilities to take care of. Insurance should be secured by the owner just in case anything happens upon transportation. Also, the owner should be responsible enough to make sure that the piano can fit into its new storage place.

Helpful Questions to Consider When Planning to Move

Are you getting ready to move and not sure where to start? There are so many things to do when you move and it can be hard to remember all of them without losing your mind. Here are a few questions to consider as you prepare to move. Use it as a checklist to help you get started.

-- How will you find the right house for you? This is possibly one of the most important questions you need to ask yourself. There are so many ways to shop for houses these days. You can always drive around looking for "For Sale" signs sticking up in front yards. This may not be that cost efficient, however. You can hire a real estate agent who will dedicate their time and talents to finding a house that meets your unique specifications.

You can also do a little shopping from your own home as you browse the internet for possible homes. There are many real estate websites that allow you to search their available properties. This can be nice because you can see on paper what the houses offer and compare them side by side. Then once you have narrowed the search down to a few, you can make appointments to go out and view the actual properties.

-- How will you settle your current living arrangements? If you own your own home, you will need to decide if you will be selling the property yourself or if you would rather hire a real estate agent to sell it for you. Perhaps you will keep the home and rent it out to bring in some more income. If you are currently renting an apartment, do you have more time on the lease? If so, you will want to check to see how much you will owe your landlords if you break your lease agreement early.

-- How will you move all of your possessions? Depending on what you own, it may be costly to hire a moving company. On the other hand, movers are professionals who have the equipment necessary to make your move almost effortless. You just pack all the boxes and then direct them where to go. Hiring movers is probably the best route to take if you don't have a lot of family and friends close by to help you out on their time-off.

Hopefully, the task of moving doesn't seem so hard now that you have a few ideas of how to start. Remember to have fun shopping for your house and don't let the "to do" list overwhelm you.

Money Saving Moving Tips -- Maximize Your Move With Moving Kits

Preparing for a move can be intimidating and stressful. You have to change the information on all your accounts, have medical and financial records transferred, and enroll your child in a new school in addition to a host of other things. The list of details to deal with can seem endless, including new phone numbers, new neighbors, new jobs, new streets, and new stores. You will also need boxes, tape, and packing materials in addition to plenty of time to pack your belongings.

If that weren't enough to worry about, moving budgets are smaller than normal for most families, considering the economy. Many people do not have the luxury of hiring professional movers. Deciding to move yourself may be your only option, but when you add the cost, clutter, and confusion of a move together, your stress level skyrockets. Staying organized and saving money are ideals most movers only dream of and rarely realize. However, there is a way to save time, money, and your sanity by using moving kits and discount moving boxes.

Buy Custom Moving Kits Based On Your Type Of Move

Moving kits are prepackaged collections of discount moving boxes, packing supplies, and moving supplies. Instead of buying boxes individually and having to return to the store for more tape and then again later for more air bubble cushioning wrap, these kits come with the appropriate combination of boxes and supplies, depending upon your type of move.

Exiting the college dorm room requires an entirely different set of materials than relocating to a large single-family home. Moving kits provide you with the expert experience of professional movers while allowing you to save money by moving yourself using discount moving boxes.

1. College Moving Kits - These kits provide the supplies you'll need to make your college move fast and on a budget. They'll save you money, which is great when you also have tuition to pay, and come in several sizes since students usually don't pack an entire household when moving to a dorm.

2. Small Moving Kits - When relocating from a small townhome, apartment, or single-family home, small kits provide you with the right amount of discount moving boxes and supplies to make your move a breeze. If you have up to four rooms with small and medium sized items, small kits will usually be just right.

3. Medium Moving Kits - This size is perfect for those in-between moves where you have plenty of things, but not a huge household of family members to move. Medium kits work great for condominium, duplex, townhome, apartment, and single-family home moves of between five and seven rooms of small, medium, and large items.

4. Large Moving Kits - For a move from a townhome, single-family home, or multi-family home with seven to ten rooms of small, medium, large, and extra large items, choose a large kit. These kits can take the pressure off preparing for a large move because they offer everything you need to move even a huge household.

5. Office Moving Kits - Relocating a home office or small business office can become just as complicated and expensive as moving a household. Office kits provide the specialized boxes and supplies you'll need to move files, office supplies, and delicate computer equipment.

Most suppliers offer custom kits to suit any kind of move, whether you're transitioning from an apartment or single-family home, into a college dorm room, or when relocating your home office or small business office.