Moving furniture during a house move involves careful planning, preparation, and execution to prevent damage and injury. Here's a breakdown of the process:
Planning and Preparation
- Assess Your Furniture: Identify each piece of furniture you plan to move. Determine its size, weight, and fragility. Disassemble furniture where possible (e.g., beds, tables).
- Gather Supplies:
- Moving Blankets: Protect furniture from scratches.
- Bubble Wrap: Ideal for fragile items and corners.
- Packaging Tape: Secure blankets and wrap.
- Plastic Wrap: Useful for keeping drawers closed and protecting upholstery.
- Furniture Sliders: Make moving heavy items easier on hard floors.
- Dollies: Essential for very heavy or bulky items.
- Straps/Rope: Secure furniture in the moving truck.
- Tools: Screwdrivers, wrenches, etc., for disassembling and reassembling furniture.
- Markers: Label boxes and furniture with destination room.
- Measure Doorways and Stairwells: Ensure furniture can fit through openings in both your old and new homes. If necessary, plan to remove doors or windows (as a last resort and potentially with professional help).
- Create a Moving Plan: Decide on the route you'll take when moving furniture through the house and into the truck. Designate someone to supervise and direct the process. Consider hiring professional movers if you're dealing with particularly heavy or delicate items.
Protecting Your Furniture
- Disassembly: Take apart furniture as much as possible. Keep all screws and hardware in labeled bags attached to the corresponding furniture piece.
- Wrapping:
- Blankets: Wrap each piece of furniture with moving blankets, securing them with packaging tape.
- Bubble Wrap: Add bubble wrap to corners and fragile areas.
- Plastic Wrap: Use plastic wrap to further secure blankets and protect upholstered furniture from dirt and moisture.
- Padding: Add extra padding to vulnerable areas like table edges and corners.
Moving the Furniture
- Lifting Techniques:
- Lift with your legs, not your back. Keep your back straight and bend at the knees.
- Get a good grip. Use furniture straps if necessary.
- Communicate with your moving partner(s). Coordinate your movements to avoid accidents.
- Using Equipment:
- Furniture Sliders: Place sliders under the legs of heavy furniture to glide it across hard floors.
- Dollies: Use dollies for extremely heavy items. Secure the furniture to the dolly with straps.
- Loading the Truck:
- Distribute weight evenly. Place heavier items at the bottom and towards the front of the truck.
- Secure furniture with straps. Prevent items from shifting during transport.
- Protect surfaces. Use blankets between furniture pieces to prevent scratches.
Unloading and Reassembling
- Unload Carefully: Use the same lifting techniques and equipment as you did when loading.
- Inspect for Damage: Check each piece of furniture for any damage that may have occurred during the move.
- Reassemble: Reassemble furniture according to your notes and labeled bags.
- Placement: Position furniture in the desired location in your new home.
By following these steps, you can safely and efficiently move your furniture to your new home, minimizing the risk of damage and injury. Consider professional movers for large, heavy, or delicate items.
