The Right Way to Move a Piano

Piano Moving Made Easy

You have two choices for moving your piano: hire a professional or do it yourself. If you hire a professional, you know the move will be done carefully, expediently, safely and properly; it just costs money. If you are inclined to move it yourself it may be cheaper, but it would be wise to have the proper equipment, sufficient knowledge, and some additional help. Weigh your options thoroughly before you start.

Hire an Experienced Piano Mover

There are many advantages to having someone else move your piano who knows what to do. An experienced piano mover:

  • Has all the proper equipment.
  • Can get the job done swiftly and carefully.
  • Has moved hundreds or even thousands of other pianos and knows what to do.
  • Knows a wide variety of techniques and has a system for each maneuver.
  • Does not harm the piano, the building or the people.
  • Knows how to disassemble, reassemble, repair, and handle a piano.
  • Makes everything really easy and frees you up to do more important things.
  • Give me a call and I would be glad to move your piano for you. I have several different skid boards, three different types of piano dollies, straps, lots of blankets, and, best of all, years of experience. I cover the greater Seattle area, as well as King County, Snohomish County, Island County, and San Juan County.

    Before You Move It By Yourself, Read This
    How To Move a Piano Yourself with the Wrong Equipment” by Dean Petrich, RPT

    Before moving a piano yourself, read this little e-book and learn some short-cuts and techniques. Good idea. Let’s see now, you only want to read the parts that apply to you? Go to those sections and find the answers. However, since it’s a short book, it might not be a bad idea to read it from cover to cover in case something else comes up. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be. Take a look at some of the topics.

    • Basic rules
    • Equipment and clothing
    • Various ways of transporting pianos
    • Techniques for Loading, Tying Down, & unloading various vehicles
    • Techniques for lifting and setting down a piano
    • Stairs, corners, slopes, and elevators
    • Floor surfaces
    • Inclement weather
    • Unusual terrain
    • Maneuvers
    • Finding help an giving directions
    • Protecting the piano
    • Safety
    • Impossible but true stories

    Sounds pretty good, huh? Great! To order a copy, either email me at petrich@whidbey.com, or call Petrich’s Piano Shop at (206) 324-5055. At this time, the book has not officially gone to print; it will soon be an e-book available for downloading. If you have a pending move and need immediate assistance, call me for advice and I’ll talk you through your move. It would greatly help if you supply me with the following information:

    • What types of floor surfaces will the piano be resting on and moving over?
    • How many steps and stairs do you need to contend with?
    • Are there any tight corners, turns, or odd angles?
    • What type of equipment do you have access to?
    • What kind of piano are you moving?
    • What type of truck are you using?
    • How many people will help?
    • How soon is this?
    • Any hills?