Moving Your Piano with MVM Moving
If you’re planning on moving your piano to a different room in your home, to a new home down the street, or across the country, you can trust MVM Moving to do the job right. We only hire professional movers dedicated to improving their skill on the job through training and are committed to treating your move as if it was their own.
Across our locations in Columbus, Toledo, Fremont, and Fort Wayne, we move over 1,000 pianos each year and are ready to assist you with our professional piano moving equipment and house-trained staff. Our team is known for excellent customer service and attention to detail; it’s what earned us our reputation as the go-to piano movers.
How Much Does It Cost to Move a Piano?
The cost of moving a piano with MVM varies with the moving circumstances and size of the piano. In general, we charge a flat hourly rate for this service based on the number of movers needed to complete the job safely. Larger pianos as well as ones located in basements or second story rooms often require additional manpower which does increase the hourly rate. For a better idea on pricing and the time to complete, call us at 844-424-MOVE (844-424-6683), use the contact form to the right, or email us at info@mvmmoving.com.
Piano Moving Valuation Coverage
MVM Moving is fully licensed and insured to conduct professional home and business moving. This universal insurance policy is included on all moves as required by law. The included coverage allows for the federally required minimum reimbursement rate if your instrument is damaged. Additional cargo protection coverage is often times included in your home owner’s or renter’s policy and is also available for purchase thru MVM.
Characteristics of A Piano That Affects the Move
Pianos are one of those instruments that can be in a home for reasons other than just producing beautiful music. They are often family heirlooms that have been passed down from generation to generation, with a connection of stories that should be preserved just as well as the piano itself.
Therefore, deciding how to transport a piano is not a decision to take lightly. Many factors going into figuring out the best moving plan, including the piano’s:
- Age
- Brand
- Type and Style
- Location in the home or business
- Wheels (or lack of wheels)
Age of the piano
At MVM, we treat all pianos with the same care and concern, but the older the piano is, the more attention it will need. For especially old pianos, we make sure that the people moving the instrument are aware of any weak spots or cracks before the move begins. Age also has a lot to do with the worth or value of the piano, which can make a difference in the type of insurance you choose to buy to protect the piece.
Brand
There are literally hundreds of piano manufacturers around the world. Each one has different warranty information, different tips for caring for their particular piano, and different nuances designed to be appreciated by the piano owner.
It is always good to know as much information about your particular piano to ensure that it is being given the proper care and so that you know it’s worth, which is helpful when purchasing the proper moving coverage.
Type & Style
There are three main types of pianos. The type and style of your piano will largely dictate how much time it will take to move the instrument, the number of movers required to move it safely, and the proper equipment to use during the move.
- Upright Pianos are the most common type of piano. Uprights stand up next to a wall and take up the least amount of space. In addition to being called an ‘upright’ piano, this style is commonly referred to as a spinet or console. They are most often found in residential homes but are commonly used in churches and schools for musical education. Studio and player pianos are also considered an upright-style piano even though they are much larger and heavier than a typical upright.
- Grand Pianos are much larger (and more expensive!) than upright pianos and are typically used by performers and professionals. This type of piano ranges in from a baby grand, which is the smallest and most commonly found in personal residences to the larger styles including medium grand, parlor grand, and concert grand which can be upwards of 9 ft long and are usually reserved for professional applications.
- Digital Pianos are also referred to as keyboards. Digital pianos can range from very basic and easy to transport, to very high-tech and heavy such as ones used in bands and musical productions. When requesting a digital piano move it is important to let your movers know as many details as possible as the specific type of digital piano will determine the necessary equipment and manpower.
Location
When determining the best way to move a piano, the location is a very important piece of information a moving company will need to give you the best estimate on the cost to move it. Factors usually include:
- If the piano is upstairs or on the ground floor
- The width of the doorways the piano must go out
- Availability of a freight elevator
- Ramp access
Wheels
Many smaller upright style pianos come equipped with wheels. Many larger style pianos do not include casters or wheels on the legs. While wheels can make things easier, they are not necessary for MVM to safely move your prized piano
The Piano Moving Process
It takes a highly skilled team of movers to correctly transport a piano without damaging it, or the home it’s moved out of and into. The size of your piano moving crew will vary based on the type, style, and location of the instrument.
MVM Moving can tackle a wide variety of piano moving circumstances, including:
- Within a home
- Up and down stairs
- Locally within range of one of our locations
- Long distance in the continental U.S.
- Into and out of high-rise buildings
- Into and out of storage units
When moving your piano, the MVM team starts by covering doorways with door jamb pads to protect your home or business. We may also use piano ramps to cover porch steps and four-wheeled carts with soft-tread casters to roll the piano through your home and onto the truck.
The size and type of your piano and your home will determine how the piano is moved. Upright pianos can typically be moved in an upright position if it will fit thru the existing doorways and halls. Moving a grand piano (baby-grand thru concert grand) is best accomplished on its side after removing the legs.
When we arrive, our team will prep your piano by protecting it and the surroundings with a variety of equipment including pads, ramps, carts, specialized piano boards, and plastic shrink wrap as needed. Part of the prep work for grand pianos includes removing the legs when required.
After the piano is prepped, our team will make sure that the exit path is cleared of any obstacles such as other pieces of furniture or rugs and will make sure that if a ramp is needed it is firmly in place.
After your piano is prepped for transportation and the area is clear of obstructions, we will move it on to the truck where it will be padded further and strapped down for transportation.
After the piano is loaded safely, we will move your other items back to their original places and collect any supplies that were used. Before leaving the origin address your crew will ask you to verify that everything has been loaded onto the truck before proceeding to the next stop.
When arriving at the destination, your crew will first ask to inspect the area where the piano is to be placed and prep the site as needed. From that point, we will begin unstrapping and unwrapping and then carefully bring your instrument in. Please note that sometimes it is safer to unwrap the instrument in the truck as the pads can sometimes be slippery, especially when going up or down interior stairs.
After the piano is successfully placed in its new location, we will verify that it looks as good as you thought it would. If it doesn’t, no worries, our team is happy to help you re-arrange items until you are completely satisfied.