Moving is definitely not a piece of cake. Without a professional assistance of reliable long-distance moving specialists it is even getting harder. But moving heavy furniture by yourself doesn’t mean you are actually completely on your own. One person isn’t going to be able to carry a couch up or down stairs, or load up a moving truck with the entire contents of their home, heavy items included.
Make a plan
When it comes to moving heavy furniture, the goal is to be as efficient as possible. Assess every heavy item that needs to get on to the moving truck and then figure out what needs to be loaded when, and where. Heavy items should go toward the back of the truck and around the sides to help balance the load and keep all of your belongings safe. Prioritize the order. This way you are doing the heavy lifting right in the beginning, and then filling in gaps with lighter boxes and smaller items of furniture.
Choose equipment
Special equipment can be purchased or rented, so decide if you’re only going to use them once or if you might need them for future moves. Here’s what you’ll need for DIY heavy lifting:
• Moving straps
Also called “lifting straps” or “furniture straps,” these handy devices work to transfer some of the weight off of your back and arms when you’re lifting a heavy item. They’re adjustable, so be sure to tailor them for the size of the furniture you’ll be lifting and the size of your own body.
• Furniture sliders
A must-have tool for moving heavy furniture on your own is a furniture slider. Furniture sliders are usually made of single part or multi-part plastic. They are placed under each leg or corner of the piece of furniture that you are moving to help it easily glide across the floor, including on carpet. They work by creating an easily mobile barrier between the item and the floor, reducing the friction.
• Furniture dollies
There are two types of furniture dollies but having one type on hand is enough. The first is a four-wheeled square platform, with or without a handle to push. The other is a two-wheel hand truck, which has a smaller base than the four-wheeled square platform but helps distribute weight vertically making it a good fit for tall items. Secure items to the dolly with rope or additional straps before starting to push.
Break furniture down into its smallest parts
The more you can break down each item of heavy furniture, the better. That means taking away all removable pieces, including cushions, knobs, legs, drawers, etc. to be moved separately, as well as breaking down things like sectionals and bed frames. If at any point you have to remove screws or other small pieces to accomplish this, be sure to store each item’s small materials in a baggie and label it so you know what all those pieces are for.
Follow proper lifting techniques
Safety should always come first, so before you lift make sure you’re apprised of how to do it right.
• Bend at your knees, not your waist. You should carry the weight in your legs—not your back. To settle the weight correctly, squat down at your knees for the initial lift instead of bending over. This will place the majority of the bulk onto your arms and legs when you rise, and not onto your back.
• Carry items close to your body. As much as you can, carry heavy furniture close to your body, not away from it. This accomplishes a few things, including helping your body maintain balance and getting your upper arms and shoulders involved in the task (a much better alternative to your forearms).
• Don’t twist your body when lifting. Keep your body as still as you can while you lift and walk with a heavy piece of furniture. All these can lead to injury. For those times that you do need to twist or turn, let your hips lead and then follow with your feet instead of the other way around.
Be sure that you always see the path you’re going. It can be difficult when there’s an armoire blocking your point of view, but you should never be completely blinded to where you’re heading. And because your body tends to go where your eyes go, keep your head facing forward, not looking down.
Getting up and down stairs
Moving heavy furniture up and down means you have to work with a partner. Carry the item high and low, meaning the person lower on the stairs carries the item from its bottom surface and the person higher on the stairs carries the item from its top surface. Don’t hurry, go very slow. Looks can be deceptive. You better rely on somebody of your friends.
Unloading plan
Plan and prioritize how you will get everything out of a moving and into your new home. To save time however, you can wait until everything is unloaded before you start putting each piece of furniture back together.
If you changed your mind and decided to hire professionals contact the reliable moving helpers as soon as possible. The reliable movers specialized on long-distance moving will be happy to assist your forthcoming relocation and make it fulfilled! Start your FREE moving quote right now, don’t hesitate! Wish you good luck.
