As you could probably tell from the list of required equipment, you’re going to want to slide, push, and drag heavy furniture much more than you lift. This puts considerably less stress on your body and makes the entire task a whole lot easier. However, when you hit a staircase or it comes time to load the item into the truck, dragging and sliding isn’t going to cut it.
Safety should always come first, so before you lift make sure you’re apprised of how to do it right.
Bend at your needs, not your waist. The biggest thing that you want to remember when lifting heavy furniture is to carry the weight in your legs—not your back. To settle the weight correctly, squat down at your knees for the initial lift instead of bending over. This will place the majority of the bulk onto your arms and legs when you rise, and not onto your back.
Carry items close to your body. As much as you can, carry heavy furniture close to your body, not away from it. This accomplishes a few things, including helping your body maintain balance and getting your upper arms and shoulders involved in the task (a much better alternative to your forearms).
Don’t twist your body while you’re lifting or carrying. Keep your body as still as you can while you lift and walk with a heavy piece of furniture, as twisting or making other fast movements can lead to injury. For those times that you do need to twist or turn, let your hips lead and then follow with your feet instead of the other way around.
Another safety tip you shouldn’t ignore: be sure that you can always see where you’re going. It can be difficult when there’s an armoire blocking your point of view, but you should never be completely blinded to where you’re heading. And because your body tends to go where your eyes go, keep your head facing forward, not looking down.
Having to move heavy furniture up or down stairs adds another layer of complexity to an already arduous task, but there’s not always going to be a way around it. To move heavy furniture on stairs, you’re going to have to work with a partner—this isn’t something you want to attempt on your own. Carry the item high and low, meaning the person lower on the stairs carries the item from its bottom surface and the person higher on the stairs carries the item from its top surface. Go very slow, with the person at the bottom setting the pace.
Looks can be deceiving. If an item is heavy but small, you’ll still want to put two people on the job and work your way down the stairs both slowly and deliberately using the high to low method. As always, it’s not worth risking a serious injury just to get something done a few minutes faster. Take your time, and don’t rush the job.
You’re not in the clear until every item is not just unpacked from the moving truck but also situated in its correct spot in your new home. For that reason, just like you made a plan and prioritized how you were going to get everything out of your old home, do the same for how you’re going to get everything unloaded. That way, you save yourself the trouble of moving heavy furniture off of the truck and into your home only to have to move it again. To save time however, you can wait until everything is unloaded before you start putting each piece of furniture back together.
Does having to move heavy furniture by yourself sound like too much work? It doesn’t have to be. Use our free moving company directory to find reputable movers in your area who can take those heavy items off of your hands and get the job done fast.
Not every move is a big move. For instance, those moving into college dorm rooms or just down the street may not need the help of full-service movers. If you’re only moving a small load of belongings, you may be able to get away with using your car or a shipment service to transport items. For expert advice on how to handle small moves, read our tips and information below.
So, what’s considered a small move? Most moving companies consider shipments weighing under 2,000 lbs. a small move. For the most part, small moves consist of a studio or one-bedroom apartment’s worth of belongings. Large moves involve shipments that are more than 2,000 lbs.
Still not sure if your move is a small move? Here are a few examples of small moves.
College dorm room move – While leaving home for the first time can certainly be overwhelming, the number of belongings in tow shouldn’t be. In fact, a college dorm room move is the perfect example of a small move. Most college dorm rooms come furnished with a bed, desk, bookshelf and kitchen appliances, so you won’t have to worry about packing and shipping large furniture items. Instead, you’ll only need to bring smaller items such as bedding, school supplies, toiletries and clothes. Here’s a list of what to bring with you to college.
Studio or one-bedroom apartment move – If you’re moving to a studio or one-bedroom apartment, then your move is typically considered a small one. This is especially true if you plan to purchase furniture and have it delivered after moving in. Moving to a small apartment means only having to move a small truck’s worth of boxes and furniture. This can usually be accomplished by simply renting a truck or cargo van.
Local move that doesn’t involve moving to a new neighborhood – Moving down the street? Even if you plan to bring a household’s worth of belongings, you may consider the move to be “small” because of the ease and convenience of moving nearby. Keep in mind that a moving company may not consider this a small move if it involves more than 2,000 lbs. of belongings. However, given the short distance, you may be able to accomplish the move on your own by simply renting a truck.
Moving only specialty items – Small moves often involve moving one or two large items from home. Examples of items that are typically shipped separately from others include a piano, a pool table, an appliance, valuable artwork and a bathtub – just to name a few. Oftentimes, these items can only be moved by a moving company that specializes in packing and moving the item. For instance, there are a number of moving companies in the U.S. dedicated to moving pianos and only pianos. If you decide to move a specialty item yourself, be sure to read and follow instructions carefully.
Minimums are the smallest amount that a mover will charge a customer. Local moving companies charge by the hour and usually have minimums in order to make the job worth their while. An example of this is Two Men and a Truck charge an hourly rate for local moves and require a one to two-hour minimum. Many local movers require a three to four-hour minimum. Even if your move takes less than the minimum to complete, you are still required to pay the hourly rate X the minimum number of hours.
Long-distance moving prices are determined by the weight of the shipment. Many full-service moving companies have a minimum weight of 2,000 lbs. for shipments. This means that even if your household shipment weighs less than 2,000 lbs., you’ll still be required to pay the minimum. Therefore, if you’re moving only a few pieces of furniture – or what’s considered to be a small move – you are better off opting for a moving service specializing in small moves.
Movers In CalgarySmall Move Options: How to Move Small Loads
The easiest (albeit most expensive) way to handle small moves is by hiring professional movers to do the heavy lifting for you. Local moves, studio and small apartment moves, and specialty moves all happen more efficiently when a professional moving company is involved. If hiring a full-service moving company seems unnecessary for your small move, but you still wish to hire help, try enlisting labor-only movers to help with the lifting. For assistance moving only one or two large items, hire a specialty moving company that is solely dedicated to moving your specific item (i.e. piano movers, appliance movers, etc.).
Renting a moving container from U-Pack, Zippy Shell or others
Moving containers are ideal for small moves. A typical moving container can fit about a room’s worth of belongings – maybe more. Many moving container companies offer multiple-size containers to choose from. Zippy Shell’s street-legal containers are beneficial for anyone moving to an urban environment where space is tight and parking is limited. U-Pack and PODS are two more reputable moving container options for long-distance moves. Both of these moving containers can double as storage units as well. For reviews and information on more moving container companies, take a look at our resources at the bottom of this page.
Oftentimes, a college dorm room move means only having to move a carload (or two) of belongings. If a small move can be accomplished by simply loading items into your car, then we recommend trying this method first. Not only is this the cheapest way to move, but it also gives you the most flexibility with your moving timeline. When using your own car to move, you have absolute control over the moving process from beginning to end and can move on your own schedule. Plus, you’ll save a boatload of money by doing the move yourself.
Small moves can usually be accomplished using a small truck rental, cargo van or trailer attachment. Small truck rentals can typically handle a one to two-bedroom move. Trailer rentals and cargo vans are ideal for studio and college dorm room moves, which typically don’t involve large furniture items. When renting a truck, van or trailer, it’s usually possible to also rent moving equipment as well. So, if moving equipment rentals are something you need, then renting a moving truck could knock out two birds with one stone. For more information and discounts on various rental truck companies, such as Penske, U-Pack and Budget, check out our truck rental center.
Shipping items individually with uShip or a mail courier
Moving long-distance? Oftentimes, the best way to handle small moves is by simply shipping your furniture and boxes to the new home. If you decide to ship a small load, there are several ways to do this. For larger items, it’s a good idea to consider shipping partners on uShip.com. The online marketplace for shipping services connects you to service providers who can handle the shipment of specialty items for you. For boxes and other miscellaneous items, consider shipping your items via USPS, UPS or FedEx. Keep in mind these mail services often have specific rules and restrictions on the size and weight of items that can be shipped.
Speaking of shipping items, Ship Smart is a shipping service specializing in small shipments of household goods. The service can handle everything from shipping antiques and art to large furniture and office moves. The service provider even offers small moving services for shipments that weigh under 2,000 lbs. Ship Smart offers a variety of services, including on-site packing and guaranteed delivery dates. Prices can be tailored to meet your specific moving needs, and customers can get as much or as little moving help as they need.
With a network covering most U.S. cities, MiniMoves is an excellent option for moving small shipments over a long distance or locally. The moving service is a national moving furniture company focused on moving small shipments throughout the country and the world. The company can move anything from a few items to an entire apartment. According to the company, MiniMoves does not have a space minimum, so you can move as little as you need. The moving service delivers goods within two to 14 days and provides short-term storage for those who need it.
What to Consider When Moving a Small Load
Before choosing a method of moving your items, there are several important considerations to make. These include:
The condition of your belongings – Do you plan to move fragile wine glasses, mirrors or TVs? Will your belongings need a little TLC when being moved? If so, throwing items in the back of your car probably isn’t going to cut it. Instead, consider hiring professionals to help with the packing and loading process. If you decide to move yourself, rent a truck with proper tie-downs to prevent items from shifting while in transit.
Your moving timeline – Do you have all the time in the world to move? Even a small move can take weeks – if not months – to complete. If you have ample time to complete your move and prefer to do it in incremental stages, then using your own car or a rental van makes perfect sense. If, however, you need the move completed in one day or weekend, it might make more sense to hire professionals to get it done.
The distance of the move – How far away are you moving? When moving long distances, it makes sense to either ship items to the new home or to hire professional movers to drive belongings to your destination. If moving close by, you may be able to move yourself in a car or with a truck rental.
Your storage needs – Need a place to store items before, during or after the move? Renting a small moving container is probably your best bet for a successful move. These containers double as storage units, so you won’t have to stress about finding a self-storage facility upon moving to the new home.
