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Moving a piano into an apartment is not always an easy feat. Even the smallest of uprights can weigh hundreds of pounds, and the largest grands can total over a thousand. While it is undoubtedly possible to move a piano into an apartment, there are some precautions to be aware of before the move.

Measuring Is Important

Because apartments are sometimes lacking space, it is integral measurements are taken before the piano is moved. There are a few measurements that should be taken to ensure you know the exact size of the piano and whether it will fit into the space properly. Take the following steps to measure a piano.

• Grand pianos are typically all the same height and width. You will need to measure the length because it can vary among models.
• An upright piano will require multiple measurements, including height, width, and depth.

Once you have the measurements of the piano, it is vital to measure the space. Knowing it will fit precisely is essential before moving takes place. Do not forget to measure all the doorways the piano will need to go through. Doing so will help to prevent unwanted surprises.

It is also essential to know how much the piano weighs. On average, a baby grand piano is going to weigh around eight-hundred pounds. When you consider it will take one strong person per two hundred pounds, it makes sense this a baby grand will require at least four strong people to move it into an apartment.

Never Move a Piano with the Casters

Many people make the mistake of trying to move a piano on its casters. Piano casters are not functional and are more for decoration than anything else. If you decide to move a large piano on its casters alone, the legs will buckle and splinter, causing catastrophic damage and possibly serious injuries.

If you are moving a grand piano, it is wise to rent a piano dolly with four wheels. Even with the dolly, it can be challenging to move a piano, especially if it will be transferred via stairs.

To use a piano dolly, you will need to remove the three legs of the piano, the lyre, and the music rack. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions before removing these pieces, so damage does not occur.

How to Move a Piano with Stairs

If you are moving to a new apartment, chances are there will be stairs involved. Stairs are particularly challenging to transverse while carrying a large piano.

The piano must be protected with foam wrap that is thick and made for pianos or furniture. It only takes one miscalculation for the piano to become damaged, which can end up costing hundreds of dollars to repair.

With a lot of stairs to go up or down, moving a piano will require teamwork and coordinated movements. If everyone is not organized together, the wrong moves are likely to be made, and the piano could be dropped.

Stairs are the riskiest part of any piano move. Most piano accidents happen on the stairs, and they can cause serious injuries. Unless the stairs are wide, it will be difficult to have two people on each side of the piano. If you are going up four or more stairs, plan on hiring a professional piano mover.

Common Piano Moving Problems

Many costly mistakes can happen as a result of attempting to move a piano into an apartment. Most people find it best to leave moving a piano in the hands of the professionals. If you must move a piano, try to avoid these costly mistakes.

• Avoid moving a piano without enough help. For a grand, you will need at least four people. You will need about one person for every 200 pounds of piano weight.
• Make sure the piano is wrapped in protection before moving. All areas of the piano are vulnerable during a move. Even the jarring motion of the move can cause extensive damage to the piano’s calibration.
• Without proper research, moving a piano can be arduous and even dangerous. If you are going to take on such a big task as moving a piano, research is incredibly important.
• Do not treat your piano as a piece of furniture. It cannot be moved like furniture, or it could become severely damaged.

Reasons You Should Not Do It

It may be tempting to save money and request friends to help with moving a piano, but this is not always the best choice. The following are some reasons you should never move a piano without professional help.

1. Severe injuries can occur and could even lead to death. Some pianos weigh as much as 1000 pounds.
2. Significant piano damage is possible when one is moved without professional help. At the very least, the piano could be forced out of tune.
3. Improperly moving a piano could lead to damage to flooring, walls, stairs, and other components. No one wants to pay for damages done because they refused to hire the professionals for help.

Hire the Professionals for a Safe Piano Move

We do not want you to experience the problems that can happen by moving a piano alone. There is so much that can go wrong in the process. One bad move and your piano could be toppling down the stairs, destroying the beloved instrument.

We are fully certified and insured to handle all types of piano moving services. We have the equipment, training, and workforce to take care of your piano move.

Moving to a new location can be exciting, but it can also be complicated and dangerous when a large piano is involved. Allow us to take the stress away by moving your piano to its new location.

Hiring professional piano movers will give you peace of mind in knowing all the right protections will be in place. We will handle the entire move from start to finish. We carefully plan every last detail and ensure the move is as seamless as possible. We also offer piano storage options, should you need them now or in the future.