Pianos are Very Large
A typical piano is very awkward in size and shape, and they are very heavy. Some pianos can weigh up to and over 1,000 pounds. If you intend to move your piano yourself, you risk damaging the piano. This can be a very expensive accident. You can also injure yourself. You can strain your back, your legs, or you can break your foot if you accidentally drop it. Finally, you can damage something else if you drop the piano on your way through the house. If you hire a piano moving company who does not have experience moving pianos, they can damage your piano or other items in your home as well. When you hire professional piano movers in Virginia Beach, your piano, and your other belongings in the home will be safe.
Moving a Piano Requires Special Care
It takes special care to move a piano. The person moving the piano needs to first pack it properly to avoid doing any damage to the keys and the internal parts. Most people and moving companies who don't have experience moving pianos won't know how to prepare the piano for moving. Also, it can be tricky to maneuver the piano around corners and down stairs. It would take the knowledge and experience of a professional piano mover to move the piano safely.
Specialized Piano Moving Equipment and Skills
Professional piano movers have the necessary equipment to transport the piano quickly and safely. Most of them use skids, which are known as piano boards. These are made specifically for moving pianos. They will also use special padding to protect the wood, keys, and the components. The padding and the skid would be strapped to the piano so that it is safe during transportation. A large dolly is also necessary to move a piano, which is something that most people don't own. It also takes special skills to use this moving equipment and maneuver the piano safely. If you hire a professional moving company to move your piano and they have never moved a piano before, you could end up with a scratched or broken piano. In some cases, a crane would be necessary to move the piano. You will likely not have access to a crane or the knowledge and experience to move one safely. The same is true if you hire a moving company who does not specialize in moving pianos.
Pianos are Expensive
Pianos are very expensive. If you try to move your own piano, or if you hire a Virginia Beach moving company who has no experience moving pianos, there is a risk of the piano being damaged. If your piano has sentimental value, the moving company's insurance cannot give you that back if they break the piano. If you move the piano yourself you break it, you will never forgive yourself. It is best to leave the job to someone who has experience moving pianos.
Even Short Moves Can Be Damaging
If you are planning to move your piano a short distance, from one room to another, you should still hire a professional piano mover. Even though you are not moving the piano far, you can still damage the piano. You can also scuff your floor or hurt yourself. No job is too small for most piano moving companies, and hiring a professional piano moving company will be well worth it.
How Much Do Professional Piano Movers Charge?
Moving a piano takes time and many steps need to be taken to ensure that the piano gets to its new location safely. During the move, the moving company would need to prepare and protect the piano and get it to their truck. When they get it to the truck, they would need to secure it so that it stays put while the truck is moving. When they arrive at your home, they would need to get the piano off the truck, secure it on the moving equipment, and get it into the home and place it in the spot that you indicate. It is important to know exactly where the piano is going to be placed before the moving company arrives with the piano. If you keep changing your mind, it can greatly increase the cost of the job.
There is really no flat fee for moving a piano. Piano moving companies in Virginia beach will break down the cost, and the average cost breakdown is as follows:
The average cost to move an upright piano is between $125 and $250. If you have a baby grand piano, it can be more expensive. It can cost about $600. If it is a grand piano, it can cost up to $1,000 to safely move the piano.
If you are moving your piano long distance, you can expect to pay between $700 and $2,000. The actual price would depend on the distance that the movers need to travel to deliver your piano and the accessibility of the beginning and end location.
Most piano moving companies charge extra if they have to go up any stairs. This can include the outside stairs that they need to climb to get into your home, the stairs that they need to climb to get up to your apartment, and the stairs that they need to climb to get to the second story of your home. Most piano moving companies charge per stair, and the average cost is between $2 and $12 for each stair. Some moving companies will charge a flat fee for a flight of stairs, which is around $100.
In order for a moving company in Virginia Beach to move your piano, you would need to purchase an insurance policy. Most professional piano moving companies charge for insurance based on the weight of the piano. If you have an upright piano, the average weight is around 550 pounds. If you have a baby grand piano, it weighs around 600 pounds. Grand pianos weight the most, at an average of 820 pounds. If you are working with a moving company who charges per pound, it is often around $4 per pound. There are some piano moving companies who charge an insurance fee based on the value of the piano. The cost of this is often between $10 for every $1,000 that your piano is worth.
What to Look For In a Piano Moving Company
If you are moving a piano in Virginia Beach, you don't want to hire the first company that you find online. There are a variety of things that you should look into first. Your piano is likely very expensive and means a great deal to you, therefore, you should take the time to find the best in the business.
Piano Moving Experience
It is a good idea to hire a company who has experience moving pianos. If it is a new moving company that you are looking into, chances are the employees who work for the moving company have worked for years with another company before branching out on their own. Before passing on a company who has not been in business for very long, find out how many years of moving experience they have been working for someone else. If you are planning to hire a moving company who has been in business for several years, you should still find out how many years of moving experience the people who will be moving your piano has. Since your piano is expensive and important to you, you should make sure that you will have people working for you who have a great deal of experience.
Get Piano Moving Quotes
If you are like most people, you are living on a budget. In order to be sure that you get the best price possible, you should contact a few Virginia Beach piano movers to find out how much they will charge you. Before you make the phone call, you should know what type of piano you have, its average weight, the value of the piano, and the number of steps the movers would need to climb to get it out of its old location and into its new one. When you get the prices from various piano movers, you can be sure that you are getting the best price possible.
Ask About the Piano Moving Company's Insurance Policy
Some piano movers will charge you for insurance, as mentioned above. Others will have their own insurance policy, which will cover your piano and the other things in your home. If the insurance is included in the cost, you can expect to pay more. If it isn't you should find out how they charge for the insurance, and what would be covered. You don't ever want to hire a piano mover who does not have their own insurance and who won't offer you the option to purchase an insurance policy. You never want to move a piano unless it is insured. If the moving company doesn't have insurance, they are likely not a reputable Virginia Beach piano moving company and you want to stay away from them.
Get References
If you have friends, family members, or coworkers who have had a piano moved in the past, you should ask them who they used and if they were happy with the cost and the service. If they did a good job for someone you know, they will likely do a good job for you as well. If you don't know anyone who has ever had a piano moved, the internet can give you the information that you need. There are a variety of review sites online, such as Yelp, Angie's List, and Google+. These are sites where you can read reviews from previous customers of various moving companies to see what their experiences were. If you find a moving company with several excellent reviews, you will likely have a good experience with the moving company as well.
Check the Piano Moving Company's Credentials on uShip
uShip is an excellent source to get all of the information that you are going to need before you hire a moving company to move your piano. This site has extensive customer ratings and the level of success that the mover has had moving similar shipments in the past. You can also find the moving company's MC and DOT numbers, which is important. Finally, you can view their insurance coverage and their past cancellations. The more you know about the moving company will give you peace of mind that you hired the right Virginia Beach piano moving company to get your piano to its destination safely.
Don't Hire a Virginia Beach Piano Mover Who is Located Too Far Away
It is a good idea to hire a reputable piano mover who is close to your home. There are some piano moving companies in Virginia Beach who will start charging for transportation and mileage from the second that the truck leaves the depot before they even get to your home. If you hire a piano moving company whose depot is located far from your home, it can be much more expensive than if you had hired someone close by.
Check Up on the Piano Moving Company's Reputation
While you can learn a bit about a moving company's reputation from previous customers, you can get a more official idea regarding the moving company's reputation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can visit the moving company's website and enter the moving company's name to see if they have had any previous complaints filed against them. The Better Business Bureau will give the moving company a score, where A+ is the highest, and F is the lowest. The ratings are based on the following factors:
The number of complaints filed with the BBB
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The size of the business
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If complaints were filed, the business responded to the appropriately
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If the complaint was resolved in a timely manner, according to the BBB
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If the company made a good faith effort to resolve the problem, even if the customer was still not satisfied
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If not following up with complaints is a pattern, according to the BBB
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The age of the complaint. Older complaints have less of an effect on the score.
You want to find a company who is registered with the Better Business Bureau, and who has a score of at least a B+.
Most people look at their pianos as one of their most prized possessions. Not only do they play beautiful music, but they can add a great deal of style and elegance to a room. If you need to move your piano, you should only hire someone who specializes in moving pianos. You should also do extensive research into the moving company's reputation and pricing policy. There more you know about the moving company that you are hiring, the more peace of mind you will have that your piano will be moved safely.
Southside Moving and Storage
1533 Harpers Rd.
Virginia Beach, Va. 23454
757-985-3737 or 757-234-7080
Proudly serving All of Hampton Roads Virginia, Virginia Beach, Kempsville, Oceanna, Indian River, Chesapeake, Richmond, Chesterfield, Chester, Henrico, Ashland, Hanover, Mechanicsville, New Kent, Powhaton, Hopewell, Beach movers, Chesapeake, Suffolk Virginia, Hampton, Hampton Roads, Buckroe Beach, Aberdeen Gardens, Newport News, Williamsburg Virginia, Portsmouth, Franklin, Isle of Wight, Surry, Smithfield, Oceana, Damneck Virginia Beach, Seaford, Little Creek, Ocean View, Toano, Gloucester Va., Fort Story, Fort Eustis, Langley AFB, Jamestown, Hayes, Doswell, Glen Allen, Goochland, New Kent, Isle of Wight County,
