How To Move A Small Upright Piano On Your Own
If you have a large upright piano or a grand piano, then you are most certainly best off hiring a professional piano mover to transport it to your new home. These styles of pianos can weigh more than 1200 pounds, and their awkward shapes makes them even harder to move without damaging any of their fragile components. However, if you have a small upright piano, which weighs only a couple hundred pounds, you can likely transport it yourself. Doing so won't be easy, and you'll want to have a few helpers on hand--but it is possible. These are the steps to follow.
Step 1: Amass your equipment.
To move a small, upright piano, you will need a moving dolly (one with four wheels works best), 2 pairs of furniture traps, and a moving truck with a loading ramp. Most moving truck companies also rent furniture straps and dollies; this is a good way to obtain them without having to buy them outright. You will also need plenty of blankets and some stretchy tape.
Step 2: Prepare the piano.
Close the piano lid and lock it shut. Wrap several blankets around the piano, using the stretchy tape to secure them. Make sure the blankets cover the entire surface of the piano, as you want them to offer protection should you accidentally bump the piano into a corner or wall.
Step 3: Lift the piano onto the dolly.
Secure the moving straps under the piano. Place the dolly directly next to the dolly. Have your helpers each pick up one moving strap, being careful to lift the piano straight up into the air. Make sure to keep it upright; don't let it move from side to side as this can cause it to come out of tune. Set it right down on the dolly.
Step 4: Put the piano in the truck.
Wheel the dolly up the ramp and into the moving truck. Pull the lighter side of the piano (the treble side) up first. Lock the wheels of the moving dolly into place, and then park it directly against one of the truck's walls. Use the straps to secure it to the side of the truck. Then, as you continue to pack your moving truck, pack items tightly around the piano. This gives it added security.
When you arrive at your new place, you can wheel the piano out of the truck the same way you wheeled it in. Have your moving helpers lift it off into its new space, and then unwrap it. Congratulations on a job well done. Check out sites like http://www.extremepianomoving.com for more information.