Moving bulky items: how to prepare

As if the move is not challenging enough, there are some massive furniture pieces, appliances, and other stuff to make your move just a little bit more complicated. You can skip moving and packing these items if you contact Professional Movers Canada to help you. Professional movers have all the skills and equipment to complete the move efficiently. If you still want to do it by yourself, be well prepared for moving bulky items. Maybe these tips will be helpful, check them out.

Moving bulky items and how to cope with it

Whatever you need to move, start by making a good plan. It would be best to make a list of all the things you will be needing to transport your massive items with success. This is what you should put on your list:

• tools for disassembling massive items
• packing supplies
• a dolly
• get some help for moving bulky items
• measure your items and your doors, to estimate if you should take them off
• apply proper lifting techniques
• get the right size the moving truck
• in the end, you can hire a trustworthy moving company

These are all the things you should think about. First of all, it is important to know what do you want to relocate and then you should gather all the necessary tools and supplies. When it comes to moving heavy furniture, the goal is to be as efficient as possible. Prioritize the order of the items your load to the moving truck. In general, heavy items go toward the back of the truck bed and around the sides to help balance the load and keep all of your belongings safe. Maybe it seems useless to make a list and a plan but it will save you the time and effort it would take later on to rearrange all that heavy furniture on the truck.

As already said, it is important to decide what you will be relocating to. In case you figure out that you have too many items, you can rent storage. In that way, you will not have to disassemble, pack, and carry all the massive pieces. You can safely store them in a storage facility for a while. 

When moving bulky items – disassemble them

Disassemble all the furniture you can. To the smallest pieces. In this way, it will be much easier to pack and carry them. That means taking away all removable pieces, including cushions, knobs, legs, drawers, etc. to be moved separately, as well as breaking down things like sectionals and bed frames. If at any point you have to remove screws or other small pieces to accomplish this, be sure to store each item’s small materials in a baggie and label it so you know what all those pieces are for.

So, remove legs from tables, couches, and chairs. Make sure you empty drawers and shelves. Tape screws and other components to the furniture it came from, or place them in a bag and label it. Number and label the parts if necessary. This is very important so you do not lose some parts, especially crews. When it comes to moving bulky items it is important to clear obstacles out of the way and make sure there’s a clear path in and out of your place. Remove doors if necessary.

One of the things you should think too is to protect your floors, walls, and doors. Cover floors and banisters in cardboard or towels to protect them against damage. If you are moving your bed, wrap and pack your mattress in a mattress box before your movers arrive. Moving these items can be very stressful, especially when you live in the apartment and you need to carry all these items through hallways, stairs, etc. In this case, maybe the best solution would be to hire condo movers Toronto residents gladly recommend. They have the skills to handle carrying and packing massive stuff.

Gather tools and packing materials

To move bulky items, you will be needing a lot of moving straps, furniture sliders, moving blankets, and of course a dolly. A dolly is a must. It’s way easier to slide your heavy furniture across the floor than it is to pick it up and carry it, but you’ll most likely need special sliders to ease the process. If you’re sliding your furniture over the carpet, you’ll need hard plastic; if you’re sliding over tile, laminate, or hardwood flooring, look for soft padded sliders. Moving blankets are essential for protecting your furniture against damage. They’re also a good alternative to sliders.

Furniture straps, also known as shoulder dollies, are very useful. They are taking the weight of your back. They loop over your shoulders and shift the weight to stronger muscle groups by using leverage to take the full weight of the furniture off your back. Look for straps that can be adjusted to several heights. Dollies are perfect for transporting heavy or bulky furniture or stacks of boxes. Be sure to use a dolly. It will be way easier.

Use proper lifting techniques

When you have disassembled and prepared your items for the move, it is time to take them to the moving truck. Stand and face the item with your feet shoulder-length apart. If your feet are too close together or too far apart, you will only increase the chances of a back injury. Bend your knees and squat down. Try your best to avoid hunching over. Grip the box or the item that you need to move at the two opposite corners. Make sure you have a firm grip on the box before lifting it up. Carefully and slowly lift the items using the strength of your legs. If you lift with your legs you’ll be much less likely to strain or injure your muscles. Walk slowly and evenly towards the moving truck.

Get some help

If you aren’t able to lift even part of the box, you will likely need assistance or equipment when moving it. Especially if you are the owner of some valuable items such as a piano. Hire piano movers Toronto residents highly recommend and let them handle the moving of your precious instrument. It will be a smart move.

Moving is a tricky business, especially when dealing with massive items. But, hopefully, with these tips, you will manage successfully moving bulky items to the new location.