By the pure act of hiring separate movers, there will be an additional charge. But your furniture movers will then not charge you because they won't be dealing with the piano at all. It is the net cost that is the true price of moving the piano.
Depending on where you live, charges will vary based on cost of living, competition, experience, and a whole host of other factors. The best way to get a handle on what piano movers charge in your area is to call around and get a bunch of quotes to compare. You will also want to get a separate quote from your furniture movers for the relocation of the piano. Do not have the price bundled in with the cost of moving the rest of your belongings.
The piano movers in your area will likely quote you an hourly price multiplied by the number of hours estimated to complete the job or they will charge some type of standard fee. In order to give you an accurate quote they may need to come out and see your location and examine your instrument. The destination will also play a factor in the quote. Some moves are more inherently difficult than others. If the terrain (i.e. doorways, entranceways, stairs, etc.) is prohibitive of moving such a large piece of furniture, then costs will go up. The more difficult the move, the more manpower will be required, thus - the more expensive the move.
Distance and storage will also play a part. Are you moving across the country or across town? Will you need to store the piano at a storage facility for a few days before you have access to your new location? Some specialized piano movers also offer temperature controlled storage which is something that you may also want to consider.
Seasons may be another consideration in the cost. If it is a busy time of year for business, piano moving companies have more leverage to charge more.
And you must also consider insurance. Good, reputable piano movers are insured or may charge additional for insurance. It is always better to protect yourself against accidental damages.
In the end it may cost more for specialized piano movers but the peace of mind gained is priceless.
First, keep in mind that when are moving the piano that you need to keep hold of the handles behind the piano all the time it is rolling. Don't even think about moving your piano across town, let alone up and down stairs, without professional help or a series of persons. Don't assume that just two people can effectively handle the job. You don't want to know the pain of that.
An important factor to keep in mind is having the exact measurements of the piano on hand. If you're using professional piano movers, then this is the first bit of information they will need from you, if they don't come out to measure themselves. You should want to know this before they state you a quote and to allow the company you choose to assess the home situation. This should be clear before moving to avoid any delays on the day of moving.
If you don't know the exact measurement, you need to contact your choice company so that they can send a member of their team out to accurately measure it for you. If you plan on moving the instrument yourself using moving pods as a means of transportation then all you need to know is making sure you can get it out of your home safely.
Secondly, just for a bit of security to your piano you and all others need to be careful rolling the dolly over thresholds and door jambs. If you plan on using door to door movers you're kind of in the same situation if moving an upright piano from room to room or house to house. You need to be able to trust the integrity of the mover. It really is a good idea to interview the movers to get a feel for how long they have been in the business.
Last but absolutely not least, make certain that the piano won't tip over by being pushed over any obstacle too fast. Always make sure that you at least have or see that two persons are at both ends of the piano when transporting. You need to make certain of this if you are using your own means of transportation with moving pods, door to door movers or professional piano movers.
Both Logan Smith & Laura Buckley are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.