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Tips and Tricks That Will Make Moving Furniture Easy and Stress-Free

Posted in Moving Tips & Tricks on October 20, 2022

Are you preparing to move but dread the thought of moving furniture? Relocations are hard enough without having to worry about how you’re going to get your heavy pieces of furniture from one place to another. Don’t worry – with these tips and tricks, furniture moving will be easy and stress-free.

We all know how stressful moving across the country can be, especially when you’re about to pack and move heavy and bulky furnishings. But besides investing in cross-country moving services, there are some simple tips and tricks you can use to make the process much easier and have a stress-free relocation. The point is to approach the issue with a plan and don’t sweat it. With the right preparation, this daunting task will be a breeze! Just remember to take your time, use the right tools, and get some help if you need it.

When Moving Furniture, Start by Making a Plan

In order to move efficiently, the idea is to move furnishings as quickly and effectively as you can. As you get ready for long-distance moving, determine what requires to be loaded, when, and where. Do so right after making a household inventory list of all the heavy items that need to get onto the relocation truck. In order to balance the weight and protect all of your stuff, large objects are typically placed at the rear of the truck bed and along the edges. This implies that you’ll probably start off by doing the heavier lifting and then fill in the spaces with smaller boxes and lighter pieces.

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Establish an Order for This Task

Just like you’re making a plan to move to another city, you should plan how you will approach each piece of furnishing. It’s important to keep in mind that the largest and heaviest pieces go on first. The time and work it would take later to reposition all the heavy objects on the truck would be saved if you had a plan of attack in place now. That is despite the fact that it appears like just one more thing on an endless list of things to do. However, bear in mind that some objects should be left to professionals and that you shouldn’t move a piano by yourself.

Couple moving into a new home
A good plan is a secret to a successful and effortless relocation

Don’t Forget to Gather All the Necessary Equipment

It’s a good thing that you’re not the first person to need to figure out how to transport big furnishings on your own. It means that there are some amazing DIY relocation hacks out there. After you’ve thoroughly downsized for the move, it’s time to do something about the things you don’t want to get rid of. If you need some advice on how to declutter the best way possible, grab some advice from Marie Kondo.

And before you rent or buy the required equipment for your furnishings, decide whether you’re going to use this equipment only once or if you would want to save them for other potential relocations or rearrangements. Remember, the equipment we imply you should get differs from the packing materials you will use to pack clothes and securely wrap up books.

Get Some Specialized Straps

Lifting heavy items by yourself while you prepare for long-distance movers is one of the common relocation mistakes you should avoid. However, there are helpful tools, sometimes known as “lifting straps” or “furniture straps,” that will help you lift big objects much more easily. They work by transferring part of the load off of your arms and back. They are also adjustable, so make sure to fit them to your body size and the dimensions of the items you will be lifting.

Sliders for Heavy Objects Will Save Your Back

These are essential if you are in need of help moving furniture within homes. If you have a heavier and larger item and want to move it efficiently across the floor or even carpeting, these sliders are the answer. They are often composed of single- or multi-part plastic and fitted below each leg or corner. If you want to transfer your furnishings more easily and reduce the chance of damaging your hardwood, tile, or carpeting, they function by forming an easily moveable barrier between the object and the floor.

Dollies for Heavy Items

It really doesn’t matter if it’s an office move or you plan to relocate to another state alone. When you plan to transfer furnishings around your home or to another house, you’ll need one of two different types of furniture dollies, though you can generally get by with just one. The first is a square platform with four wheels that can include a push handle or not. The other option is a two-wheel hand lorry, which fits well for tall objects since it helps disperse weight vertically. However, compared to the four-wheeler, it has a tinier base than the square platform with four wheels. Before beginning to push, you should fasten objects to the dolly using rope or additional straps.

Disassemble Furniture Into Smaller Parts

The more each piece of bulky furniture can be disassembled, the better. That entails disassembling items like sofa sets and bed frames as well as removing all removable components, such as pillows, knobs, legs, drawers, and similar items, to be moved separately. If you ever need to extract screws and other small bits to complete this, make sure to identify each baggie with a relocation label, so you know what each piece is for.

The following video is a tutorial on how to disassemble a gaming chair.

To Avoid Getting Injured, Follow Safe Lifting Techniques

You probably need to slide, shove, and drag big furniture a lot more than you’ll want to lift it, as you can certainly guess from the list of necessary tools. This significantly reduces the amount of tension on your physique and simplifies the whole procedure considerably. Dragging and sliding won’t work, though, when you run into a stairway or need to put the object into a truck. Safety must always come first, so make sure you know how to lift properly before you begin.

Bend at Your Ankles

The most important thing to keep in mind when moving heavy furnishings is to lift using your legs, not your back. Crouch down at your knees for the first lift rather than bending over in order to properly position the weight. When you stand up, the bulk of the weight will be on your legs and arms rather than your back as a result.

Keep Each Item Close to Your Body

Carry all these things near your body. Carry heavy furniture as close to your body as you can, not away from it. This accomplishes a number of goals, including maintaining your body’s balance and involving your upper arms and shoulders in the activity (a better alternative than using your forearms).

Avoid Twisting Your Body

Lifting and moving a big piece of furniture while twisting or producing other quick motions might injure you, so keep your posture as steady as you can. When you have to twist or turn, allow your hips to take the lead first, followed by your feet, rather than the other way around.

Watch Your Step

Make sure you can see where you’re going at all times. This is yet another safety advice you shouldn’t disregard. It can be challenging to see where you’re going when an armoire is in the way, but you shouldn’t be totally blind to your surroundings. Additionally, keep your head forward and avoid looking down because your body follows your gaze.

people packing a sofa and boxes for long-distance moving
If you want to move heavy objects with ease, ensure you have someone to help you

Carrying Furniture Down the Stairs Doesn’t Have to Be Tricky

There isn’t always going to be a solution to avoid having to transport heavy furnishings up or down stairs, which adds another level of difficulty to an already difficult task. In such a situation, it’s important to have some help. Here are a few tips on how to make the process easier and safer:

  • Make sure you have enough people to help. You’ll need to team up with a buddy or two to lift heavy furniture up or down the stairs. You shouldn’t try to do this by yourself, so it’s best to have at least two people for this job.
  • Carry the object high and low, that is, from its top surface when you are higher up the steps and from its bottom end when you are lower down.
  • Take your time, and don’t try to rush the process, even if you are relocating at the last minute. As always, it’s not worth risking a serious injury to finish a task a little quicker. Be patient, and don’t rush the task.
  • The individual at the bottom should set the tempo as you move very slowly.
  • Be careful, even if it’s a smaller object. Descend the stairs slowly and cautiously while employing the top-to-bottom method if the object is heavy.
  • Make sure you’re using proper lifting techniques and not straining your back.
  • Use the dolly. This can be a big help if you have to move a heavy piece of furniture downstairs.

With these relocation tips in mind, you’ll be able to move your heavy furniture safely and efficiently.

Two professionals carrying an item down a flight of stairs
Carrying anything large down the stairs requires a proper technique

Make a Plan for Unloading as Well

Until everything is not only unloaded from the relocation truck but also placed in its proper location in your new house, you are not in the clear. Because of this, plan and prioritize how you’re going to unload everything, just like you did when you were getting your belongings out of your former house. In this manner, you spare yourself the headache of having to move heavy furniture again after taking it home from the truck. However, you can save time by waiting until everything has been unloaded before you begin assembling each piece of furniture.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship Furniture Cross Country?

The cost of shipping furniture cross-country can vary widely, depending on several key factors. Firstly, the distance between your current location and your new destination plays a significant role in determining the cost, with longer distances generally resulting in higher expenses due to increased fuel and time requirements. Longer distances typically result in higher expenses due to increased fuel, labor, and time requirements.

Secondly, the volume and weight of your furniture play a pivotal role. Larger or heavier items require more space in the moving truck and may involve additional handling, leading to higher costs.

Additionally, when it comes to planning how much does it cost to ship furniture cross-country, the time of year and demand for moving services can influence pricing. Moving during peak seasons or weekends may result in higher costs compared to off-peak times. It’s advisable to obtain quotes from multiple moving companies, compare services and prices, and factor in any additional services you may need to get a clear estimate of the total cost.

To Avoid Injuries, Hire Professional Cross-Country Movers to Assist You

Have you considered to hire movers to move furniture instead of you? Hiring professional cross-country movers to assist you with heavy items is a great way to avoid injuries. These professionals are experienced in transporting all kinds of objects and will be able to do so quickly and efficiently. This will save you time and energy and will also prevent you from having to lift bulky items yourself. Professional cross-country movers will also have the necessary equipment to move everything safely. This includes straps, dollies, and other moving tools.

When hiring professional cross-country movers, be sure to ask about their experience and moving insurance coverage. You will want to hire a company that is experienced in moving heavy items, and that has adequate insurance coverage. This will protect you in case of any accidents or damage that may occur during the move. Moving heavy items can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Hiring professional cross-country movers will save you time, energy, and possibly even money.

Kate Holland

A true grunge and rock music fan born in Seattle, Kate has moved across the country and started writing about her experience.

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