4 Reasons a Professional Piano Mover is the Right Choice

Moving a piano is stressful, especially if it's older or very heavy. Most pianos require at least two people just to move them from one room to another in the same house. Whenever you have a piano that needs moved, you should hire a professional mover. You may be trying to keep your move as cheap as possible, but damaging your expensive piano in the process won't help. Here are four of the top reasons why you should always hire a professional piano mover.

Avoid Injury and Damage

Pianos are very heavy and often come in unique shapes. They are not easy to move, especially if there are stairs involved. If you try to take on moving your piano yourself, you are putting both the piano and yourself in danger.

It doesn't take much for the piano to slip out of your hands and end up chasing you down the stairs. Of course, if you don't lift properly, you could throw out your back sending you to the hospital. Even if you manage not to injure yourself, if the piano slips out of your hands, it could become damaged.

Some pianos weigh more than 1,000 pounds. If you don't have a team of 4 to 6 very strong men, you may not be able to lift the piano and move it properly. This could easily lead to injury or damage.

A professional piano mover will not only provide the man power necessary, but they will also provide a team of men used to working with each other. They will use professional techniques to ensure the piano and the workers remain unharmed throughout the process.

Proper Moving Truck

Not all moving vehicles are equipped to handle a heavy piano. When you hire a professional mover for your piano, they will use the proper truck and equipment. They will provide padding for your piano to ensure it doesn't become damaged and it survives any unforeseen road hazards.

Moving the piano on your own may not provide you with the same type of protection. You might not be able to find the right truck or tie downs to ensure your piano isn't damaged during the trip. Even if you find the proper truck, if you don't pack it into the truck properly, you could end up damaging the piano if you hit a pothole.

Saves You Money

It would seem like you would save money by not hiring a professional piano mover. However, if you damage the piano legs, pins or strings, you will have to have it tuned. When it's all said and done, moving the piano yourself may end up costing you more in the end than hiring a professional moving company.

Worth the Cost

Moving a piano from one place to another may seem expensive, but it's well worth the money. You won't have to ask friends to help you and you won't have to waste your time moving the heavy piano all day long. Instead, you will have a professional taking care of it for you while you sit back and relax.

Moving a piano is a hassle. It's not an easy job for those without experience. If you have a piano you need to move, leave it to a professional piano mover. This will make it much easier to ensure you avoid injury and damage to the piano.

Chicago Piano Movers - The Professionals

6 Winter Moving Tips for Cold Chicago Days

Moving in the winter isn't nearly as easy or as straightforward as moving in the summer, especially in Chicago. The winter months can be very cold in the windy city. If you plan to move during the winter, make sure you are prepared. Here are six tips to help prepare you for moving during a Chicago winter.

Keep Your Heat On

It may be tempting to save a little bit of money and have the heat turned off, especially if you’re sleeping somewhere else. However, if the heat is off come moving day, it will get very cold inside your home or apartment. You will probably have the door open quite a bit and the cold air will get in fast.

Cover the Floors

When winter comes, it tends to bring all types of slush, mud and snow inside. The last thing you want is your movers tracking dirt into your new home or even the old home you just cleaned up. Put down protective drop cloths and anchor them well to ensure they don't rip.

Keep Walkways Clear

Whether you have a driveway or a sidewalk, you want to make sure it's clear. Shovel any snow and put salt/sand down for any ice you may be dealing with. This will make it easier when the movers come and there will be less of a chance of one of them slipping and falling.

Be Aware of Temperature-Sensitive Items

Some of your items may be damaged by cold temperatures, such as house plants. Make sure you are aware of these items and take the necessary precautions to ensure they are moved properly. The last thing you want is for an old set of china to arrive with cracks due to extremely cold temperatures.

Pets Go First

Moving your pets first is a good idea any time of the year, but especially in the winter. You dog or cat may get cold if they have to wait at your current home for you to pack up and move. Moving them to the new place will ensure they are warm and secure before the movers arrive at your old home. This will also help to eliminate any chance of your pets escaping your home and getting lost in the cold city.

Be Prepared to Be Flexible

Winters in Chicago can turn ugly fast. Even moving companies with a reputation of reliability cannot control closed roads or blizzard-like conditions. Whenever you are moving in the winter, you should have a contingency plan in case of bad weather.

Moving during a Chicago winter presents many unique challenges. Navigating these challenges on your own may be more than you can handle. When the winter hits, moving becomes much more difficult with the cold temperatures and potential of ice and snow.

If you need to move your home or business during the winter, trust a professional mover to help. They will understand the risks and challenges you face. Since a professional Chicago moving company works with clients every day of the winter, they have the necessary experience to ensure your move happens without nearly as much stress.

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Tips for Avoiding Shady Movers in Chicago

Moving is stressful. Items might break, get lost or you might have to deal with a late moving truck. All of these issues can cause stress, but they certainly don't compare to dealing with a fraudulent moving company. Shady movers may try to take advantage of you by holding your items hostage and demanding more money. This is just one of the many types of things a rogue mover may do and it can get as bad as the shady moving company stealing all of your belongings. Here are a few ways to help you avoid getting ripped off by shady movers in Chicago

Do some Research

A little online research can go a long way. It's not hard to dig up consumer reviews and find out whether your mover has the federal seal of approval. You can use protectyourmove.gov to check for the seal and many sites, such as ripoffreport.com will give you reviews of moving companies.

Get Multiple Estimates

Securing more than just one written estimate will give you not only an estimate to compare, but also the interaction with the company. Most of the best moving companies will not provide a firm price online or over the phone. They will provide an estimate free of charge, however.

Price isn't Everything

A low-ball moving estimate may end up costing you in the end. You want to look at more than just the price and choose a moving company with a solid reputation in Chicago.

Avoid Brokers

When you try to hire a mover, you may run into brokers. These are middlemen between you and the mover. They don't own the trucks or provide any moving labor. You want to go directly to the moving company, even if you do go through a broker.

Make Sure they have Insurance

Every reputable moving company should have insurance o cover your goods while in transit. You should look for a "full value protection" policy, which may make the moving company a bit more expensive, but will also provide you with peace of mind.

Don't Skip the Paperwork

If you simply skim the paperwork, you might mist something important. The moving contract may be boring, but you need to read it thoroughly to ensure you understand what you are getting into.

Don't Pay a Large Deposit

None of the top professional moving companies in Chicago charge a large deposit for your move. You don't want to pay a large deposit up front, especially if the mover demands cash. This could be a sign of a shady mover.

Hold onto your Valuables

You don't need to allow the moving company to move important papers, jewelry, cash, coins and other valuables. Instead, ship these items with UPS or FedEx or move them yourself.

There are several good ways to avoid shady movers in Chicago. You don't want to get taken advantage of and if you follow the tips above, you will be in a better position to hire a professional moving company ready like The Professionals Moving Specialists to help you instead of a potential shady mover looking to steal from you.

A Quick Guide to Senior Moving in Chicago

As an older adult, moving may have become a huge hassle. However, you may need to plan an upcoming move for retirement or another reason. Whether you are moving into a smaller home or to a new city, it's important to understand a few of  things about senior moving.

Is it the Right Time to Move?

Before you start putting together a good plan for moving, it's often smart to make sure it's the right time to move. Sometimes, you need to take care of other things before it's time to move, such as downsizing your belonging for a smaller home. Some of the main reasons seniors move include:

• A decline in health or mobility

• A feeling of isolation

• Not much support in the area where they live

• Time to downsize to a smaller home

• Ready to retire to a new state/country

If you have experienced a decline in health or any of the other reasons apply to you, it may be time to move. Make sure you evaluate the reasons for moving to ensure you are making the right decision.

Downsize before You Move

In many cases, seniors will be moving from a larger home to a smaller condo, apartment or home. Sometimes, they will even be moving into a nursing facility or long-term care housing.

Whenever a senior moves from a larger place to a smaller home, they will need to downsize. This could mean giving away or selling some of your belongings. Do this before moving so that moving becomes easier.

Take your Time With Packing

There's no reason to rush the move, if you don't have to. Often, you will have plenty of time to prepare for the move. If you don't have to rush to get out of your current home, take things one step at a time. Start small with just preparing one room at a time until your entire home is ready to go.

Obtain a Layout of the New Home and Plan the Move

A layout of your new home will help with the planning of the move. Since most moves with seniors will include downsizing, it's smart to understand how much space you will have in your new home. This will help you to part with the right items and only take what you can fit in the new place.

You will also want to plan the actual move down to labeling boxes properly and the timing of the move. If you feel better in the morning, plan your move for the morning. Taking care of the actual moving process during the best time of the day for you will make a difference in how the move will affect you physically and mentally.

Hire Outside Help

Most seniors don't want to deal with packing and moving all of their belongings. Some may not even be physically able to handle the moving and packing process. Plenty of professional movers will help you get all of your belongings packed and moved to your new home. Don't be afraid to hire outside help, as it may be the best way to ensure your move goes smoothly.

When you are a senior and you plan to move from one home to another, it can be a stressful time. With outside help and the tips listed above, you will be able to take the stress out of moving, even as a senior.