MOVING EXTRA LARGE FURNITURE: THE TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Moving extra large furniture is a thankless task, especially if you’re doing it without professional assistance from furniture movers. Apart from running the risk of hurting yourself, there’s also the possibility of causing damage to your home, and to your furniture as well. In this post, we’ve compiled some really handy tips that will help you to move extra large furniture around whenever you need to relocate or simply rearrange the existing furniture set up in your home.

1. Remove attached parts

Most types of extra-large furniture feature attachments and you’d be wise to detach the removable attachments before moving them. For example, if you want to move a big desk, you should remove all its drawers before you attempt to pick it up. Without the drawers, the desk’s weight will go down by a notch or two or more, and you won’t have to worry about the drawers opening as you’re carrying the desk around.

If you own a desk whose drawers you can’t remove, it’s best to tape them along with the other shelves before moving them. Also remove other parts such as protruding pulls, knobs, handles, and legs. Keeping these parts attached while moving may lead to floors being scratched and walls being gouged.

2. Label removable parts correctly

During furniture removals, you may have to deal with multiple sets of detachable parts. Once the items are moved to the new location, you’ll have to attach those parts. This is where proper labelling comes in handy. Remember to sort and label the detachable parts correctly, as this would save you a lot of hassle later on.

Without labelling, you may have to manually attempt to attach the various parts. This can take ages, especially if you’re moving many pieces of similarly-styled furniture and are unfamiliar with the parts.

3. Use protection

When you’re moving heavy furniture from one area of your home to another, you’ll have to manoeuvre through tight spaces like doorways. If you’re not careful, the furniture may bump into the doors, which indicates the potential for damage to both your furniture and your doorways. To prevent damage, it’s recommended to use bubble wraps and/or furniture blankets, which would allow for a few minor bumps without causing much trouble.

Another option to consider is the removal of doorway mouldings, which would give you some extra room to manoeuvre as you move with your extra-large furniture.

4. Invest in the right tools

There are several tools that are meant to make moving furniture safer and you should definitely consider them when it comes to moving extra large furniture. Let’s take a look at some of them:

• Glides and sliders: Glides and sliders are amazing tools for moving large couches and dressers. To use them, you simply need to tilt your heavy furniture and fit the sliders in under the legs. Once the fitting is perfect, you only have to push the furniture to see it glide across the floor.
• Lifting straps: Lifting straps can be used to lift extra large furniture without putting yourself under excessive physical strain. They work like pulley systems and significantly lower the furniture’s centre of gravity, which makes the furniture easy to lift, irrespective of its weight.
• Dollies: A furniture dolly works like a utility dolly. However, unlike utility dollies, furniture dollies aren’t upright; they’re flat. Furthermore, they have 4 wheels. Dollies are recommended for moving dryers and washing machines. However, if the furniture you want to move has a height that’s greater than your chest level, it’s best to steer clear of dollies.

Professional Auckland movers use several other tools as well, but these are the ones that don’t have steep learning curves.

5. Learn the right techniques

Learning the following techniques can help you move furniture like a pro:

• Whenever you need to bend to lift extra-large furniture, don’t use your waist. Instead, use your knees. Also, remember to generate strength for lifting the furniture from your legs. Using your back to generate the strength will result in back problems sooner or later.
• Moving extra large furniture should be a slow and steady process. Rushing will only make things harder for you.
• Lifting heavy furniture with arms extended outwards or above your shoulders are strict no-nos.

6. Get in touch with the professionals

While moving heavy furniture within your home from one area to another is something you can accomplish on your own, if you’re relocating, it’s best to get in touch with professional East Auckland movers. Long-distance relocations involve transportation and logistical elements that would be incredibly difficult for you to sort out on your own.

Also, if you and your family members suffer from any sort of physiological issues, don’t take the chance of moving furniture on your own. You may inadvertently hurt yourself or someone else in your family and end up incurring considerable medical expenses.

So, keep these few tips in mind whenever you’re moving your extra-large furniture next and stay safe.