5 Household Items That Are Difficult to Move Without Professionals

Thinking about hiring professional movers? There’s no denying that some moves are best left to the pros – especially those involving items that need special attention and care. If you happen to own household belongings that are particularly heavy, large or valuable, then it’s a good idea to enlist professional movers for the job. Not sure which items we’re talking about? From instruments to appliances, here are 5 household belongings that are difficult to move without professionals.

Hiring professional movers is necessary when moving…

Pianos Moving a piano by yourself isn’t going to be an easy task. Given that most pianos weigh hundreds (if not thousands) of pounds, the heavy lifting involved when picking up and moving a piano is quite strenuous. In addition, pianos are typically expensive (think: upwards of $100,000) – making them one of the most valuable items inside a household. Dropping and damaging any of the piano’s parts during a move could be devastating, so handling this valuable item with care is extremely important. To move a piano, special equipment and moving tools will be necessary. Unless you’re a moving expert with ample experience moving heavy items, and you have strong friends to help, it’s best to hire professionals for the job. Fortunately, there are plenty of moving companies available who specialize in moving upright and grand pianos.
Hot tubs
Need to move your heavy hot tub? From gathering the right supplies and draining the water to planning a route and hoisting it onto a truck, moving a hot tub is not for the faint of heart. Unless you have a team of friends to help (and they actually know what they’re doing), we strongly recommend hiring professional movers to relocate the hot tub for you. Unfortunately, moving a hot tub is a complicated process, one that involves specific types of moving equipment and tools not usually found in the average person’s tool box. In addition, the sheer weight of a hot tub (think: 900 to 1,000 pounds without water) is simply too much for any one person to handle. Professionals should be able to move and reassemble your hot tub without a problem – just be sure that the movers have experience handling these types of outdoor jacuzzi moves.
Pool tables
Planning to move your heavy pool table from one house to another? It might be time to bring in the pros. Unfortunately, moving a pool table not only involves a complicated disassembly and packing process, but it also means having to lift extremely heavy parts. Overall, pool tables can weigh up to 1,000 pounds – making for quite the moving challenge, especially when stairs are involved. Thankfully, most moving companies have experience in moving heavy pool tables. You may even be able to find a moving company that specializes in moving pool and billiards tables. For more information about moving a pool table, check here.
Appliances
Moving household appliances requires planning, prepping and a whole lot of manpower. Unless you’re prepared to move these heavy items yourself, hiring professionals to do the lifting and moving for you is a good idea. For reference, the average fridge weighs around 300 pounds, the average washing machine weighs around 200 pounds, and the average dishwasher weighs around 150 pounds. While you might be able to manage moving one of these items, you’ll likely need help if moving several appliances. Professionals movers should be able to effectively and efficiently disconnect and move these appliances for you without a problem. They may even be able to assist with the reinstallation process.
Art, antiques and valuables
Safely moving artwork, antiques and other valuables takes quite a bit of planning and prepping to keep items as safe and secure as possible throughout the moving process. Art is especially prone to damage when being moved from one home to another. Valuable artwork will need to be packed using several different types of supplies specifically designed for moving framed art and canvas prints. Antiques, such as family heirlooms, furniture, porcelain figurines, china dinnerware and crystal glassware, will also need to be handled with special care. Fortunately, professional movers and packers should be able to move your items safely without breaking anything along the way.

Tips for moving these items yourself

Of course, hiring professional movers to handle these household items isn’t in everyone’s budget or timeline. If you are set on a do-it-yourself move, then know that it is possible to move just about anything with the right planning, materials and helpers. Here are a few tips that will help you move even the most challenging of items:

Make sure you have the right equipment and supplies – When moving heavy and/or valuable pieces, you’ll likely need more than just boxes and packing tape. Make sure to research specific packing supplies that are necessary for moving your household belongings. You will also need to rent various pieces of moving equipment prior to the move. Equipment that may come in handy includes dollies, wooden planks, trailers, a loading ramp for the truck and tie-downs – among other items.
Enlist help – You shouldn’t be moving any heavy household items by yourself. Make sure to enlist a strong friend or two (even more, if necessary!) to assist with the heavy lifting and loading. If you can’t find a friend or family member to help, try using HireAHelper’s marketplace to find labor-only professionals who can assist with the move. For tips on how to lift heavy items appropriately, check here.
Measure doorways, stairways and any other tight spaces that the item must pass through – Any doorway, stairway or entryway space that the item must pass through in order to enter or exit a home should be measured. The reason? You’ll want to make sure that a large household appliance or belonging can pass through the space. Otherwise, you could end up getting stuck during the moving process. Items such as a piano and pool table will likely need to be disassembled in order to fit through these passages.
Keep warranties and owner manuals in a safe, easy-to-find location – From hot tubs to appliances, most items come with an owner’s manual and warranty information. Be sure to keep this in a safe location throughout the moving process. If something breaks or becomes damaged during the move, the warranty information will certainly come in handy. You may also need the owner’s manual for details on how to remove and install an item correctly.
Check your insurance for coverage details – If an item, such as a valuable piano, breaks or becomes damaged during the moving process, you may need insurance to help cover repairs. Keep in mind that your homeowners insurance policy probably doesn’t cover items while they are being moved from one home to another. If hiring professional movers, you can purchase valuation coverage to help cover the loss. If not, consider purchasing additional moving insurance through your insurance provider. For tips on when and how to purchase moving insurance, check here.

Moving soon?

Moving these household items by yourself is no easy feat. Fortunately, if you do decide to hire professionals for the job, we can help. To find a capable moving company near you, check Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers – all licensed and insured. By choosing a Moving.com mover, you can rest assured that all heavy and valuable items will be in good hands. Best of luck and happy moving!