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Transporting beds, bookcases, sofas, dressers and other hefty furniture involves considerable risk. Some items have fragile components and moving parts — like display cabinets — making them more hazardous than others.
One misstep can result in an injury and property damage. The furniture itself may not survive the move when handled incorrectly. Learn why it’s safer to have heavy furniture delivered and why you should be selective about your carrier.
What's Inside
Self-Move’s High Risk and Low Reward
Professional moving often costs thousands of dollars. The more stuff you have and the farther the distance from points A to B, the more expensive it is.
Renters and homeowners wanting to cut costs usually take the DIY route. The savings you can enjoy depends on how much sweat equity you want to contribute to the moving process.
In addition to reducing your expenses for truck and storage container unit rentals, self-service gives you control over logistics. You can handle your prized possessions as you see fit, pack your things at your own pace, and enjoy more flexibility when deciding your moving day.
While self-move is the most affordable way to relocate, this option can inflate your costs in other areas. Involving as few professionals as possible means increasing your responsibilities.
You’ll be liable for most things that go wrong — even if the friend doing you a favor makes the blunder. Tearing a muscle while loading a wooden wardrobe into a box truck or trailer may require expensive surgery and cause you to miss work for months.
General Shipping Carriers Do Little
Entrusting a shipping company to handle your heavy furniture’s transportation can save you money and spare you some of the headaches associated with such a challenging task. Companies like FedEx and UPS can do this job efficiently and provide tracking support to monitor your valuables in transit.
The problem is that general delivery vendors reserve their white glove services only for specialty freight — a category under which furniture generally doesn’t fall.
As a result, they will only pick up your shipment once packed. You need to do the heavy lifting — source packing materials and other supplies, disassemble your pieces, and figure out how to fit them inside.
If your shipment breaks, a general delivery vendor can compensate you for your loss when proven at fault. However, most shipment damage cases stem from improper packaging, which you’re responsible for. It’s one of the hidden costs of sweat equity you should consider when deciding who to pack and transport your bulky goods.
How Single-Item Movers Ensure Furniture Safety
Single-item movers specialize in handling distinctively bulky, fragile and valuable objects. They’re well-equipped to move furniture of any size, weight and shape. These companies have meticulously trained professionals and specialized equipment to perform the job efficiently and properly.
Single-item moving crews plan everything to ensure your valuables arrive on schedule and in one piece, allowing you to settle in more quickly.
These moving enterprises do more than transport goods door to door. They also offer white glove assembly services to ensure your furnishings are in good shape and have no missing parts before placing them in their designated spots.
After unpacking furniture boxes and crates, these technicians make sure every component is accounted for and undamaged before putting them together. They follow instructions precisely and inspect the pieces after assembly to ensure they meet manufacturers’ specifications and high quality standards.
Factors to Consider When Comparing Single-Item Movers
Some single-item movers are better than others. Consider these factors to find the most credible ones.
- Specialization
Most single-item movers handle various items, but some may focus on specific objects — such as pianos, gun safes and electronics.
For example, you should use an auto transport company when transporting classic cars because such a business has properly inspected freight vehicles to haul your collection safely and can help you navigate the federal government’s weight, height and width restrictions and stay below legal limits.
Determine whether your prospective company explicitly offers furniture relocation to ensure its crew uses the right equipment and knows the best practices to prevent damage.
- Experience
The moving industry is competitive. Decades in business speak volumes about a single-item mover’s expertise and credibility.
- Accolades
All moving companies put their best foot forward. However, awards validate their claims. Find a mover that has earned prestigious industry recognitions.
- Customer Support
Communication is key, so find a single-item moving company that assigns a dedicated support team to you. Having a clear point of contact to address your concerns can give you peace of mind.
Ensure Your Heavy Furniture’s Safety During Relocation
Using a professional moving company costs money, but its fee is worth the expense. Outsourcing your heavy furniture’s transportation to a specialized team that holds itself to high standards ensures your precious pieces reach their destination unscathed.
