Packing up your belongings and moving to a new home seems like a tough chore to do. Whether you live in a large city like Seattle or a small-town apartment, the whole process of shifting your possessions can make anyone go crazy. A common problem faced by most movers is handling large and heavy pieces of furniture and ensuring their safe and sound arrival to the desired destination.
Heavy or bulky furniture can include bedroom sets, patio furniture, bookshelves, antiques, sofas, and swing sets. Often movers make the mistake of assuming their furniture will fit right through the doorway, and hence don’t make any preparations beforehand. It’s not until moving day that they discover that the coffee table is too large or the couch is too broad. Without a proper strategy, several other complications like throwing your back out or knocking the hardwood are just disasters waiting to happen.
Anyone who has ever moved to a new home knows how tedious and stressful it can be. However, most people are unaware that their life can be much easier by following these seven simple tips.
Hire professionals
Although moving to a large city like Seattle has its glamor, the process can become complicated and tiring for you, whether it is your first time or the tenth. Luckily, there are top companies available, which can take care of all your needs without worrying about all the hustle and bustle that comes along with it.
All you have to do is type “moving companies Seattle” in the search box and you will find many reputable companies that will make the process easier for you. Their workers are experts in moving large furniture. Years of experience and skills provide them with abundant strategies to safely maneuver your things through narrow spaces and short doorways. In addition, they have access to multiple resources like quilted furniture pads and packing foam to avoid damaging your stuff and home during the move.
Additionally, since these experts have licenses to look over a move, you can rest easy knowing that your belongings are in good hands.
Use a measuring tape
Although it may seem pretty obvious, many people skip out on measuring their furniture before moving it. So before you start moving things, it’s crucial to get the correct dimensions of each piece you’ll take. The last thing you want is a piece not to fit through the front door, even if you take it off its hinges. Some essential measurements you must always consider are the width and height of doorways and the width of the stairways. Next, you’ll want to measure and record the depth, size, and width of each piece you plan to move.
Don’t just assume it will fit, take proper measurements!
The slide
Often dragging items like a heavy filing cabinet or bookshelf across the floor can damage your tiles and mess up the new flooring. Instead of hauling them into position, it’s easier to place a towel or a thick blanket under them and slide the furniture. This technique is instrumental if your new house has hardwood or linoleum floors. You can also use furniture sliders placed under each corner or leg of the furniture you’re moving to help it quickly glide across the floor. They are also helpful when you have carpeted floors as they reduce friction and mitigate the risk of damage to your house.
Use lifting straps
Lifting straps are nylon straps that help carry heavy-duty items. After placing them underneath the objects you want to move, you can loop the straps over your forearms to lift them. They are helpful in situations where it’s not practical to slide furniture. By spreading the heavy load over a larger group of muscles, the lifting straps keep the furniture under your control without putting too much strain on you. It’s usually ideal to use straps where you require more than one set of hands to move something. You can use them to move things such as a sofa, big screen TV, refrigerators and other household appliances. They prevent back injury and ensure the safe transportation of your items.
Push, don’t pull
Whether you’ve mounted your furniture on a dolly or moved it without any tools, pushing instead of pulling it can simplify the job. Pushing not only takes less effort but is also safer since it allows you to look ahead and see where you’re going. On the other hand, pulling the furniture puts additional strain on the back and makes it much more challenging to move it. If the situation doesn’t allow you to push the items, you can slide old cardboard or sheets under them to make them easier to pull. Gliders or furniture pads can also help you pull your furniture much safely.
The High-Low technique
Even without access to tools such as lifting straps, you can lift and move your furniture. The high-low method is beneficial when carrying heavy and tall objects and makes traversing stairs slightly easier. The high-low technique requires you to tilt the furniture backward and hold the top while another person takes the bottom side. You must maintain the angle as you move to prevent injury to you or your furniture. Using people to carry an object keeps the weight of your furniture centered, hence making it easier to maneuver and move around. Filing cabinets and dressers are incredibly awkward to move, so it’s best to employ the high-low technique when moving them.
Lighten the load
Before you start moving a heavy item, make sure you’ve emptied it. For instance, remove all the books and knick-knacks from a bookshelf before you begin dragging it somewhere. By emptying it of its contents, objects become lighter to carry and prevent your things from falling or being damaged.
Conclusion
Other tips like bending at your knees and not your waist while lifting a heavy object are also helpful when moving furniture. However, it’s essential to know your limits and not put any excess strain on yourself. If you’re unsure how to move an object or discover that it’s too heavy to maneuver, it’s best to call in professionals and let them take care of it for you.
