Transporting furniture: when is it worth hiring professionals?
Transporting furniture can be a challenge. Comparis gives valuable tips for transporting furniture yourself, and explains when it’s better to get professional help.
16.08.2022
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1. What should I bear in mind when transporting furniture?
Transporting furniture of a certain size can be a challenge. Will the chair fit in the car? Can I get the shelves through the front door? Is the table too long to carry up the stairs? These are just a few of the questions that can come up during a move.
Think about the size and weight of the furniture, the means of transport, the necessary tools and the number of helpers needed.
What can I transport with a car?
In theory, you are allowed to transport everything in your car – as long as the following requirements are met:
Load: the load must not exceed either the permissible total load or the roof load (stated in the vehicle registration document).
Visibility: the load must not obstruct the driver’s view and doesn’t interfere with steering.
Mass: the load must not extend beyond the width of the car, or protrude lengthwise from the centre of the steering wheel more than three metres to the front and from the centre of the rear axle, and no more than five metres to the rear.
Signalling: you need to mark the end of the load if it projects more than one metre beyond the rear of the vehicle.
Number plate: the number plate must be visible.
If you want to transport a piece of furniture by car, measure it and make sure the mass is balanced with your vehicle. Don’t forget to consider the loading sill height. Is your vehicle too small? Then a moving van could be an alternative.
Line the vehicle with tarpaulins or blankets before loading to prevent any damage. Secure the load tightly so it doesn’t slip while driving. If the load is heavy, you should adjust the tyre pressure accordingly.
Weight – how many helpers do I need?
The furniture must also be moved from the apartment to the vehicle, and then from the vehicle to the destination. Check how many people will be needed for transporting the furniture.
Carrying straps and sack trolleys can be helpful here. You should also note that some items, such as large electrical appliances, are best transported upright.
Do I need tools and accessories?
When transporting larger pieces of furniture, you should disassemble certain parts beforehand. This can include doors, shelves or table legs. To do this, you need appropriate tools such as allen keys, screwdrivers (slot or cross) and pliers. Check this in advance.
In addition to moving boxes, you should also keep packaging material such as blankets, bubble wrap, etc., ready to avoid any damage during transport. You may have to organize a furniture lift for very large furniture.
2. Should I handle transport myself or hire a moving company?
The alternative to transporting furniture yourself is to hire a moving company. This is the more convenient solution, but it also costs more. You should be able to transport a side table yourself. On the other hand, an antique oak display cabinet, a solid wood dining table or a piano can quickly pose a bigger problem to non-professionals.
Is organizing transport already taking up a lot of time, and do you also have to arrange a vehicle, moving equipment and helpers? If so, it may be worth leaving transport to the experts.
What should I bear in mind when transporting furniture myself?
Set a date: organize the moving date early – especially if you need helpers.
Create a schedule: be realistic – in most cases, transporting everything for a move can’t simply be completed in an evening after work.
Organize helpers: depending on how much you have to transport, you may need a lot of helping hands.
Transport vehicle: if you need to rent a moving van, you should compare prices and availability.
Packing material: organize enough packing material as well as straps to secure the load.
No-stopping zone: for more extensive moves, arrange a no-stopping zone or reserve parking spaces at the pick-up location and destination.
Choose a new location: think ahead about where the transported goods should go at the destination. This can also be a storage room.
What should I do when transporting furniture with a moving company?
Find a suitable company: research locally or online, or request quotes.
Arrange the dates: plan the day of transport according to your needs. Make an appointment in advance with the moving company – this will help the professionals to better estimate the effort involved in transport and will prevent surprising costs at the end.
Report relocation damage: if there has been any damage during transport with a moving company, report it to the company within three days. Moving companies have insurance for this. When moving on your own, it’s a good idea to be covered by private liability and home contents insurance.
3. Price for transporting furniture: calculate realistically
It’s easy to underestimate the costs and effort involved in transporting furniture on your own. The more valuable the piece of furniture, the more worthwhile professional help. Even if you want to save yourself these costs, stay realistic and include all costs in your budget.
Don’t forget the effort involved in preparing for transport. With the Comparis moving cost calculator you can calculate the costs of using a moving company yourself online.
