The Most Commonly Damaged Items During the Move

The most commonly damaged items during the move include different areas of your household and can be very costly to repair or replace. Some of them are pretty obvious, while others may come as a surprise to you. But there are ways to prevent accidents, breakage, and to reduce the likelihood of your belongings being damaged during relocation. Identifying what items are most commonly damaged during the move can be a great way to prevent the actual damage. By knowing what requires special attention, you’ll be more prepared for packing and moving those items.

Nearly all accidents can be prevented. It’s up to you to take all the measures of precautions to prevent your property from damage. You can hire a full-service moving company NYC that will handle your belongings professionally, but if you prefer to DIY, go ahead and read our guide that will help learn what are the most commonly damaged items during the move.

The most commonly damaged items during the move

Glassware and china

You were probably aware of these items even before reading this guide, but it’s worth mentioning that glassware is at the top of the list when it comes to breakage. When you’re packing your glassware or china, pay extra attention. Pack each piece individually using proper packing materials and proven packing methods. You can also hire professional packers that will take care of your breakables. They’ll have the necessary materials and knowledge about packing glass.

Broken Items During The Move

Artwork, mirrors, and framed items

Framed items are some of the most common items that get damaged during moving. Those include your art pieces, framed pictures, and mirrors. There are certain techniques you can use to protect them, as well as professional material for covering face and corners or framed belongings. In case you have a really valuable antique mirror or an extremely important piece of art, it’s better to reach out to specialized movers NYC. You will have peace of mind knowing that your precious items will be handled professionally.

Furniture pieces

This may come as a surprise, but furniture is often on the list of the most commonly damaged items during moving. Because furniture is often very heavy and bulky, it’s not always so easy to take it through your home to the moving truck and into your new home without damaging it. It can also cause damage to your walls and floors if not handled correctly. Always cover your furniture before moving it to make sure it doesn’t get scratched or scratch something on the way.

Antique Furniture Packing

Lampshades

Lampshades are one of the most fragile things to move. If you don’t handle them with care, you’ll likely have to spend extra money on replacing them. That’s especially the case if you have antique lamps or pieces that you’re emotionally attached to. So when you’re packing lampshades, put one inside another to stack them up. Use a generous amount of packing paper and bubble wrap to protect them. Your moving box should be able to fit the biggest lampshade in the stack comfortably and have enough space for making cushioning inside.

Electronics

Electronic items in your household such as a flat TV screen are usually valuable. Buying a new one is often an investment. So when you’re moving home, you should make sure that you transport electronics with utmost care and avoid the extra cost of replacing them. Electronic can be affected by rain, snow, extreme temperatures, scratching against other items, or any type of improper handling. They’re often on the list of the most commonly damaged items during the move. It’s important to learn how to properly pack electronics for moving. It’s always best if you use the original packaging. But if you don’t have it, use another sturdy box. Cover your electronics with packing paper and bubble wrap, and mark them as “fragile”.

Bottles

In case you’re moving your wine collection or any other type of bottle, be aware that they’re commonly damaged during the relocation if not handled correctly. To make sure your bottles will arrive at the new address without breaking − get boxes that are designed specifically for this purpose. These boxes are sturdy enough and they also have dividers to prevent bottles from scratching and shifting during transit.

Packing a Wine Collection

Sport equipment

You’ve probably expected to see china on this list, but sporting goods may come as a surprise. Sporting equipment is also on the list of the most commonly damaged items during the move. So, if you plan on moving your golf clubs or tennis rackets, make sure to use covers or designated bags. Add an additional layer of protection by wrapping them with bubble wrap.

Musical instruments

Some of the most important items that get damaged during the move include musical instruments. These should always be handled with the utmost care and proper protection. Big musical instruments like pianos are absolutely necessary to be moved by piano movers NYC. However, smaller ones can be transported personally if you have their case and if you add additional padding for an extra layer of protection.

Hire Professionals for Moving a Piano Safely

Plants

Given the fragile nature of plants, it’s easy to understand why they’re on the list of most commonly damaged items during relocation. If you want to ensure your plants will make it in one piece, follow tips from professional movers or even hire movers to take your plants safely to a new home.

After going through all the fragile items in your home that can easily get damaged while you’re moving, don’t forget that the most important part of your home is you. Don’t forget to take care of yourself during the stressful moving period. Get all the help you can to make sure you’re not overwhelmed. Dorothy and Martha can be a perfect choice for you to delegate the entire move. Or at least one part of your relocation to professional Brooklyn movers.

What are the Most Expensive Items to Move?

Budget planning is one of the key elements for a successful relocation. Creating a plan will help you cut down some of the expenses. Also, you’re more likely to avoid overspending if you plan ahead. One of the best ways to save money when moving is to find affordable Brooklyn movers, and while you certainly want to find the moving company with the best rates and save some money, quality should never be compromised. You should always hire the best movers that your budget allows. Other things that directly impact the moving cost are some of the household items. Do you know what the most expensive items to move are?

Moving certain possessions can greatly affect your moving cost, and you may be surprised by some of them, so it’s helpful to know about expensive items to move and plan accordingly. That’s why we created a list of expensive items to relocate to help you plan your budget properly and get ready in advance. Carry on reading to find out what are the most expensive items to move.

List of the most expensive items to move

Furniture pieces

The first item on our list of the most expensive items to move is furniture. You’ll often find oddly shaped or bulky furniture pieces, and moving heavy items like that requires time, manpower, and a large moving vehicle. Trying to save money on moving your favorite sofa or another heavy piece of furniture is not the smartest thing to do. The final cost can be even more expensive if the item gets damaged. You may want to DIY, which is not impossible but do consider the cost of renting a large moving truck, the time you have to spend organizing everything, and the effort it will take to load and unload it. That’s why hiring the most affordable movers NYC is always a better choice when you’re moving bigger pieces of furniture.  They know how to pack and move oddly-shaped items.

Store Your Antique Furniture

Mattresses

This may come as a surprise, but mattresses are among the most expensive items to move. That’s because their size and shape make them difficult to handle, and additional equipment like special bags or covers are often needed to keep the mattress clean. On the other hand, there are some types of mattresses like the memory foam ones that are much easier to handle because they can be compressed and take up less space. These types will not be so costly, so basically, the more difficult the mattress is to move, the higher the price for moving it.

Carpets

If you plan on moving rugs to your new home, you may have to face additional costs. Talk to your movers in advance to make sure you count in that extra expense. A few helpful tips that can lower the price – get your carpets professionally cleaned, roll them up, and secure them by using a rope. If you have bags that are large enough, go ahead and use them to pack your carpets. These steps will make it faster for movers, meaning that the cost will be lower.

Packing Rugs for Moving

Artwork

Because of the shape and the value of your artwork pieces, moving them can be quite pricey. Packing valuable paintings requires special materials and the utmost care, and the same goes for loading and transporting them. It is always the best option to book specialty NYC art movers that have the experience and necessary materials to complete the move successfully. But, if you decide to pack the artwork yourself, make sure to create several layers of protection and handle them extremely carefully.

Mirrors

For the same reason as artwork, mirrors can be very expensive to move. Unlike moving boxes Brooklyn that can be loaded and carried without too much trouble, delicate mirrors need to be well protected and handled carefully, and extra effort means extra cost. You should book professional movers or choose to pack on your own and hire them only for transporting fragile mirrors.

Musical instruments

You probably guessed that large musical instruments, especially pianos are extremely difficult to move. Besides being tremendously heavy, they’re also fragile and any lack of care can lead to some serious damage. While booking piano movers NYC will add extra cost to your overall moving expense, it’s definitely the smartest decision to make. They will have the proper equipment and necessary knowledge to move a valuable item like a piano or any other large musical instrument. To make the move smoother, study the layout of your current home as well as the new one. That way, you will make sure that a piano can pass safely through the doors. Also, you should know exactly where the piano will be positioned because moving on the ground floor is more affordable than carrying a piano to the top floor.

Hire Professionals for Moving a Piano Safely

Flat-screen TV

Even a slight scratch can permanently damage the TV screen, so it makes sense that extra caution is necessary when moving it. With proper packaging and care, moving a flat-screen TV can go smoothly. You can let your movers take care of packaging and transporting it. But, you can also pack it yourself by covering the “face” of the TV, using the original box. Also, do not forget to make cushioning for extra protection.

Aquariums

Turns out aquariums can be one of the most expensive items to relocate. If you’re lucky enough to have a beautiful aquarium, you’ll want to keep it safe during relocation. But aquarium is one of the most expensive items to move due to its delicate nature and odd shape. If you’re moving to another state, this cost will be even higher.

Professional movers will protect your expensive items during a move

Now that you’re familiar with the most expensive items to move, you can plan and decide what’s worth coming with you, and what may be better to leave behind. By choosing the most affordable and reliable movers, you can have a successful and smooth move. Get in touch with Dorothy and Martha to chat about your relocation and moving services Brooklyn, and make the best plan for moving your precious belongings.

Moving a piano: hiring professionals vs DIY

Home relocation brings so many new opportunities and thrills that an actual moving process can easily get overseen. When moving home, there are certain things that you can do alone and save money instead of hiring professionals. Packing is one of them, and transportation can be as well if you are moving nearby. However, for some valuable items, it is always smarter to let the pros handle it. One of those things is moving a large musical instrument. Moving a piano is a serious task. There are so many little tricks that you need to be aware of. Pianos have more than 12,000 parts and they can weigh up to 1,260 lb. Thus, moving such an instrument is not that easy, especially if it has irregular design. Not to mention if the piano is located on the second floor and you have to go downstairs.

Depending on the size and type, one needs to start on time. Whether you want to do it yourself or hire experienced piano movers NYC, preparation is the key. Have all the tasks that you need to do on the paper. Then make a decision if you want to hire professionals or do it yourself when it comes to moving a piano

Make a plan for moving a piano

Moving a piano requires well-thought preparation. Any way you put it, you really need to put every thought on the paper. One doesn’t want to have a bad experience with piano relocation. We are talking about really, really, really, a heavy item which is fragile at the same time. The damage that can occur can be counted with a lot of dollar signs when it comes to piano. Serious injuries can also happen, so you need to have a proper plan, equipment, and people to move a piano. Here’s a list of the essentials you need to have to perform piano moving without any problems.

Planning an Upcoming Move
Start writing ideas for moving a piano

A detailed plan

If you ever moved before, for sure you found out that making checklists is a must for any successful relocation. Things are no different when moving musical instruments, so make a perfect moving checklist. You can download one for your laptop or tablet, and the best thing is that those apps are free of charge. Before you even begin planning, decide on important things such as a moving date. It will be helpful in case you decide to hire movers, but also if you decide to DIY and you have to schedule helpers.

Check your surroundings

It is crucial to be aware if there is enough space for getting around with a large item. Check your surrounding and start with measuring the piano. See what the dimensions are and if it is possible to pass and take it out safely. Then measure the doors, stairs, and hallways where the piano will pass. Remove vases or any other obstacle on the way. Take into consideration any hallways, elevators, etc. Check if there is enough space necessary to pass with the piano? You don’t want to end up damaging a wall. When it comes to those obstacles, do not think just about the interior of the house.

You don’t want to have something exterior that will be on the way to the van/truck. Of course, this is a plan if you live in a house. Location is important if you live in NYC, the situation is different. If, for example, you need to go downstairs for two or more floors, you want to have the best Brooklyn movers.  You will be sure that there will be no problems with a professional insured moving company. Of course, if the moving company did the piano relocation multiple, why risk damaging a very expensive item?

Check its condition and size

 Since there are different sizes of piano, it is not the same if you want to move an upright or grand piano. Also, think if you can disassemble some parts of it or not? A very important factor is the condition in which your instrument is because it greatly affects its potential to be safely moved. Of course, remove everything that is on the piano, piano paper notes, or any kind of decoration. Clean the piano and consult the people who know better the instrument. See what is the professional going to tell you. How to perform a piano relocation, what are the damage risks? 

Get help 

If you decide to DIY, helping hands are a must. You need to know that you need to have the manpower of at least 4 people, depending on the weight of the piano. Check with your friends if they are available on a moving date and if they are willing to assist. Try to find the best crew possible because even if they have the will, there will not be much use unless they are able to lift a heavy item. Remember to pay them back by taking them out for drinks or making a dinner party. Whatever they find entertaining will do, as long as you show your appreciation afterward.

Necessary equipment 

Once you have cleared the way of any vases or any other obstacles, it’s time for the equipment. For moving a piano you need to know how to properly pack your valuable items

Moving a Piano
Get the right tools for moving a piano

 

Patience 

The first necessary tool on your list is patience. That will be your best tool when lifting and moving an item whose weight is 600 lbs. Stay optimistic and flexible, and take your time. Take breaks along the way, and schedule enough time to avoid rushing. The last thing you want to do is rush your helpers and move such a valuable item in a hurry. 

Supplies  

Get the work gloves, moving protection blankets, padding, piano dolly, straps, etc. Check if you can buy at the same store dolly straps to lift and secure the piano. Use moving blankets or plastic covers to protect the item. One doesn’t want to damage the piano or the walls/staircases. Remember as well to protect floors and to leave all doors open to be able to pass without putting the instrument down. Pay attention to the edgy corners when moving a bulky piano. You can use some plastic covers as well. Here are the best places to find packing supplies in Brooklyn.

Disassemble 

If possible, decompose the piano as much as possible. Try removing the pedals, so you need a screwdriver also. If that is not possible, do not try to put all the weight of the piano to its pedals. The sight will be unpleasant.

DIY or hire piano movers?

What else do you need to know before moving a piano alone or should you still hire professionals? You need to know the mistakes we make when moving. The reason for that is because if you do make a mistake when lifting a concert grand piano, there is no coming back. Imagine that you didn’t place a dolly strap in the right place and end up hurting your friend. One should be sure that the stairs can bear the weight of that bulky piano. And that is not the only risk. Did you know that most of the weight is located in one part of the piano? If you didn’t, how were you planning to move the piano alone? This is not something that you see on the TV and think you can do as well. There’s a lot of precaution to be involved when performing this action. If you waited long enough to move, don’t make a mistake when moving a piano.

NYC Piano Movers
What else do you need do know about moving a piano?

 

Extra tips for moving a piano 

Be sure not to tilt the piano too much. When doing it alone, you risk damaging the floor or the carpet. Yes, there’s that as well. There are many reasons why you should hire professional movers. What else is there that you did not now? Even if the piano is not that heavy, one mistake is enough to turn your childhood memory into a nightmareHaste makes waste! So, hire professionals with experience and do not think about all the bad scenarios that can happen.

Hire Professionals for Moving a Piano Safely
The mover is moving a grand piano

You need to make a new city your home, not getting stressed about moving a piano. It is normal that the tuning of your piano is different after the move. Give it a couple of weeks and then call a professional for that as well. Enjoy the relocation and contact Dorothy and Martha moving NYC if you need any help.

 

 

Tips for Moving a Piano Safely

We will be honest with you, piano moving is not a piece of cake. It takes time to organize everything down to the last detail, get the right moving equipment, and prevent any moving injuries. Of course, when relocating your favorite musical instrument, it is vital that it does not suffer any damages whatsoever. We have prepared a list of tips for moving a piano safely that will help you perform the relocation most efficiently. If, at any point, you feel like there is a risk of injuring yourself or damaging the instrument, simply call the piano movers NYC to the rescue.

Moving a Piano Safely
 

Before you begin moving a piano, inspect it thoroughly

Inspect every inch of your piano. Check if there are some existing scratches, marks, dents, or anything similar. Take photos of the piano as well. This will be an excellent indicator of whether some changes were made to the piano after the move. You will know exactly if the piano sustained some damage or not. In order to get better results, clean the piano first. Use only the cleaning supplies that you can find in musical equipment stores, as they will not damage the surface of the instrument.

Get the right equipment in order to safely move a piano

Packing Supplies for Moving a Piano Safely
 

Pianos are some of the heaviest musical instruments and therefore require special moving equipment. A grand piano, for example, can weigh up to 1,400 pounds. On the other hand, an upright piano can weigh as little as 300 pounds. Moving companies Brooklyn know this and are equipped to handle any weight. Find out how much does your piano weigh, and get the best moving equipment in order to perform a safe relocation. Here is what you will need to do this:

A skid board

Especially useful for grand pianos that are usually heavier.

A piano dolly

There are piano dollies that you can use for the relocation. However, make sure that you rent a dolly that will not collapse

under the weight of your piano.

Moving blankets

It is vital to cover all the parts of the piano with moving blankets. Here, you can use your old blankets and towels, just make sure they are thick.

Duct tape

You will need to secure the moving blankets with duct tape.

Screwdriver

For disassembling and assembling the piano.

Stretch wrap

Measure the piano, as well as the doorway and staircase

Measuring the Piano and Staircase

You need to plan the exit strategy, as well as the entrance strategy for your piano. Measure the piano precisely, and then move on to measure the doorway. If you need to take the piano down from the second floor, measure the width of the staircase. If the piano cannot fit, it can always be taken out from the window, or using some other strategy. In this case, though, it is better to use moving services Brooklyn, as they have the right equipment for this type of situation. Plan the entire route that you will use to relocate your piano. The same needs to be done in your new home, as you do not want to move the piano all the way there only to realize that it cannot fit through the front door.

Disassemble the piano

It is safer to relocate the piano if you disassemble it. You will pack the bench separately, of course, but you need to disassemble its legs as well. Have two people hold the piano while you unscrew the parts of the main leg. Prepare the piano dolly and the skid board and place it next to the piano. Once you disassemble the leg, carefully place the piano on the skid board. Since it will be placed sideways, you will be able to easily disassemble the other two legs from it. Keep all the screws in one place, preferably a plastic bag with a ziplock.

Wrap all the parts carefully to safely move a piano

Now that you have disassembled the piano and located it on the skid board, all you need to do is to safely pack all the parts. One by one, wrap the legs, the bench, and the main part of the piano into the moving blankets. They will prevent any scratches, and minimize the impact of moving. Next, secure the moving blankets by using the duct tape. Once you are certain that the moving blankets will not fall off, you have done the right thing.

As far as the main part of the piano is concerned, once you have wrapped it into the moving blankets, the cover is with a stretch wrap to prevent any damage. Here you should also use the duct tape to secure the moving blankets.

Place the piano inside the moving truck

Here comes the trickiest part. Make sure that you have at least three experienced friends or neighbors helping you get the piano out and in the moving truck. Make sure that your sneakers are stable and that you are wearing appropriate clothes. Use a safety ramp on the moving truck to safely load the piano inside. Make sure that you do not place anything over the piano, and that there is no risk of any items falling on the piano during the move. Place the piano first, and then you can proceed with loading other household goods into the moving truck. Go step by step, as your safety is your number one concern.

Hire professionals if necessary

Hire Professionals for Moving a Piano Safely

We already mentioned that pianos can weigh a lot. If you are inexperienced in moving bulky items, and you do not have reliable help, it is wise to hire professionals for your piano moving. Not only do reliable movers have the right skills, and know the right techniques to safely move and transport your piano, they will also offer you insurance. In this way, whatever happens, you can relax as you will be compensated. Plus, piano storage NYC is perfect for you if you need to store your beloved instrument for a few days, weeks, or even months.

Follow our helpful tips for moving a piano safely to make sure it’s done the right way. And, of course, good luck!

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