How Do You Move Heavy Furniture Across the Country
An interstate relocation is bound to take an emotional toll, but it is a physically demanding process, as well. This is especially true when heavy lifting gets involved. That is why answering questions such as how do you move heavy furniture becomes very important. If you wish to know how to make relocating all the heavier pieces easier and injury-free, we have your back – all you have to do is keep reading.
How Do You Move Heavy Furniture?
Before starting with all the heavy lifting, it’s important to assess all the furnishing pieces you own and determine if there are some better left behind. Then, make sure to measure all the items you wish to move to see if they can fit into your new home. At the same time, assess where the disassembling is needed.
You’ll also have to get all the necessary packing materials that will help you wrap and protect your goods and decide on the preferred transportation method. It is also advisable to learn some of the proper lifting and carrying techniques to avoid injuries.
Should You Even Bother Moving Furniture?
It’s a well-known fact that relocating to a new city is not cheap. Naturally, the more items you have on a relocation inventory list, the more expensive the transportation will be.
You’ll simply need more packing materials and a bigger relocation truck, especially if you own a lot of furnishing. So, when deciding what to keep before cross-country moving, why wouldn’t you leave most of the furnishing pieces behind and buy new ones once you relocate?
The answer is simple. More often than not, furnishing a place costs more than transporting what you already have to the new location. Although these prices vary depending on the property, trends, owner preferences, available budget, and so on, here is what to expect when it comes to furnishing costs:
| Size of a home | Lowest average cost | Highest average cost |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $5,000 | $12,000 |
| One-bedroom house | $6,000 | $17,000 |
| Two-bedroom house | $11,000 | $22,000 |
| Three-bedroom house | $16,000 | $27,000 |
| Four-bedroom house | $31,000 | $32,000 |
| Five-bedroom house | $36,000 | $100,000+ |
Make Things Easier by Downsizing
For many, furnishing a new home from scratch is highly unlikely, so they have to find some other way to save on relocation costs. Most find a solution in downsizing for a move. It’s a process that takes time and a bit of effort, but it pays off in the long run.
You’ll have to evaluate all the pieces you own, paying particular attention to the items’ condition and value. Logically, items in good condition and those with higher value (both financial and sentimental) should be packed and moved.
At the same time, furnishings that don’t fit the style of your future home or pieces that have suffered too much wear and tear should be left behind. Save money to move by selling good furniture, or simply gift them or donate to Goodwill. Overused items should be recycled.
Put Your Measuring Tape to Good Use
It’s always advisable to know the dimensions of your bulky furniture as well as room sizes and plans in your new home. This way, you can avoid bringing pieces that are just too big for your new space. Measuring will also help you opt for the best-sized relocation truck for your belongings. Remember, you need a truck that is big enough to accommodate all of your furnishings but also not too large that you end up paying more for a lot of empty space.
Make the Pieces Smaller by Dismantling
It’s highly possible you’ll have to measure doorways and pathways as well to assess if a furnishing piece you wish to bring can be transported from your old home. But what if they can’t? Luckily, in most cases, the solution is simple – disassembling.
Objects such as beds, sofas, shelves, tables, wardrobes, and desks can all be transported more easily if you succeed in dismantling them into smaller components. This way, large items will be made more manageable.
Gather All the Necessary Supplies
Before the actual heavy lifting begins, make sure to have all the right equipment by your side. The right tools and supplies will keep everybody and everything protected during the process without any unnecessary difficulties. When relocating to a new state, you will need to gather:
Measuring Tape
If you decide to listen to our advice and measure everything beforehand, a measuring tape is a must. Make sure you have it near you even when relocation day preparations are done – it would be a necessary tool in your new, unfurnished home, as well.
Toolset, Zip Bags, and Markers
Use a toolset to disassemble furnishings and plastic zip bags as a storage option for small pieces such as bolts and screws. You’ll also need a marker to label a bag with the name of a furnishing piece those small items belong to. Markers are generally used for relocation labels, so you’ll need them for the boxes, as well.
Boxes and Duct Tape
Smaller or disassembled furnishing pieces should be packed in boxes. It is best to use sturdy cardboard and choose boxes of various sizes that can accommodate different household items. Duct tape is also one of the relocation essentials used for sealing boxes.
Wrapping Material
Packing paper, stretch plastic, or bubble wrap can all be used to protect furnishings or some of their most delicate parts. However, keep in mind that plastic and leather don’t mix – plastic materials can’t be utilized for protecting chairs, sofas, and other furnishings made of leather. On the other hand, wrapping materials can also be used for cushioning by filling empty spaces in boxes.
Moving Blankets
Relocation blankets (or pads) are used to shield furniture surfaces from damage, such as dents or scratches. These coverings are usually made from thick materials that serve as one more layer of protection during the move.
Furniture Sliders
When relocating furniture, especially the heavy pieces, these sliders can be life savers. You simply need to place these plastic or rubber pieces under the furnishings, which will allow you to slide them. Sliding heavy objects instead of picking them up or dragging them is always a better option since the risk of getting yourself, your property, or your belongings damaged is minimized.
A Dolly or Relocation Straps
Lifting and carrying heavy furnishings without any equipment is an injury waiting to happen, especially if you don’t have many friends and family members to help you. It would be wiser to buy or rent relocation straps or dolly. The former will allow you to distribute the weight of heavy furnishings more evenly, while the latter has wheels, allowing you to easily transport even the bulkiest of objects.
How to Pack Furniture When Moving Cross-Country?
There is no simple answer to this question since the packing technique often depends on the type of furnishings you’re dealing with. Packing furniture such as sofas, armchairs, beds, and the like implies using the covering or wrapping materials we previously talked about. The same goes for heavier objects, such as closets or shelves. Make sure to cover all parts of the items, including small wooden elements such as legs, and secure the covering with tape.
Wrapping glass pieces, on the other hand, demands a little extra attention. As with packing fragile items in general, you’ll need to use quality cardboard and bubble wrap for the most delicate parts. For mirrors, or, for example, glass cabinets, place the tape in the shape of an X on the glass to prevent it from shattering in the case of breakage. For glass tables, place cardboard on each side and then wrap it with the help of bubble wrap or packing paper.
Learn Proper Lifting Techniques and Avoid Injuries
When organizing a move, the goal for most is to do everything as fast as possible, especially if it’s a last-minute relocation. However, it’s important to take some time to study proper lifting techniques so that relocating heavy furniture doesn’t become a nightmare. To avoid injuries and finish your relocation problem-free, make sure to:
- Apply a hip-width stance for a stable base,
- Stand close to the piece you’re handling at the moment to avoid strain on your shoulders and arms,
- Bend at hip and knees, but ensure to keep your back straight,
- Rely on leg strength to lift
One more thing to remember is not to turn and twist while lifting and carrying, since it may cause a back strain. Rotate the object yourself instead, or in the words of the wise Ross Geller – pivot!
How to Transport Heavy Furniture?
When relocating out of state, you have several options for transporting furnishings. The easiest way is to hire a long-distance moving company and let professional movers transport your belongings from point A to point B. Another option is to place as many belongings as possible in your vehicle – but even the most spacious of cars won’t be able to accommodate all of your furnishings. It’s always a better option to get a moving and auto transport company to transport your belongings.
Spare Yourself the Trouble and Hire Long-Distance Movers
As you can conclude, relocating furnishings by yourself is possible – but it’s heavy work. Not only do you need to put a lot of effort into protecting your belongings, but with such bulky goods, you also need to take care of yourself and your old and new property. That is why it is much smarter to get long-distance moving services and let an experienced team deal with all of your heavy items.
By hiring cross-country movers, all the heavy lifting will be placed into the hands of those highly trained to move the furniture (and the rest of all belongings) with the utmost care and attention. Some companies, such as Flat Price Auto Transport and Moving, will even disassemble, protect, and reassemble furniture free of charge – which is an exceptional deal. As for the rest of your belongings, you can also book professional packing services and ensure everything is packed efficiently and safely. It’s the best way of securing a stress-free relocation.
Storage Service
Knowing what kind of surprises cross country move may hold, we offer 30 day free storage for belongings at the origin state.
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Auto-Transport
If your first concern is having your vehicle transported safely and efficiently, enclose shipping is the way to go.
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Moving Insurance
Flat Price Moving and Auto Transport Company offers moving insurance to cover potential damages
Read moreSit Back and Let Your Belongings Be Our Concern
Thinking about possible damages and injuries while relocating furnishing pieces makes many give up on organizing a DIY move. After all, you can’t put a price on safety – and safety is what Flat Price Auto Transport and Moving is all about. Our experienced team knows all the ins and outs of packing furniture and is able to do so splendidly. If you’re hoping for a relocation without too much hassle, you’ll make no mistake with our moving and car shipping company. Contact us today and relocate worry-free.
