Is It Worth Moving Furniture Yourself?
Dec 05, 2022
Are you moving homes in Canberra soon and wondering whether to move furniture on your own or let the professionals handle it? If you lift and move heavy furniture incorrectly, you can end up with injuries like broken backbones, slipped discs, spinal cord damage and painful pinched nerves.
According to the
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 4 million Australians have back-related problems and injuries. Therefore, to avoid aggravating your back problems and injuries like the above, you should follow the expert tips below from Canberra removalists to help you move furniture by yourself.
Prep For The Move
Take Measurements
First, you must start by taking an inventory of all the furniture items you have to move and make a note of which items will go where on the truck. You should place the heavier furniture items at the back and sides of the truck to keep it balanced.
Next, take measurements of all your furniture items, doorways, and pathways to see what route you should plan when moving these items.
Remove Obstacles
Professional removalists in Canberra suggest that you must next remove any obstacles from your routes that could cause you to trip and fall. For instance, move boxes, children’s toys, shoes, packing equipment and more from doorways and pathways.
You should also clean and clear your pathways so they are not full of dirt and grime that can make them slippery. If it is raining, it is better to wait and move once it stops, or you could injure yourself.
Dress Appropriately
Next, you should dress properly for the move, and the most important thing is to wear the right shoes. You must wear closed-toe shoes that are non-grip to protect you in case any furniture item falls on your foot. Also, wear loose and old clothes to be able to move around more easily.
Now that you have prepped yourself, you should arrange tools and supplies to
move your furniture safely and efficiently.
Tools To Help You You Move Furniture
Furniture Dolly
There are two types of furniture dollies that you should arrange:
- The first kind is an upright dolly, where you can stack several furniture items. This will also help you protect your back as you won’t have to lift or bend over when moving these items.
- The second type of dolly is on four wheels, where you can arrange and stack large and awkward furniture items and move them without any worries.
Moving Blankets
You should also use moving blankets to warp your couches and big furniture items to keep them well-protected and secure. This will also keep your furniture items safe from spills, dirt, and grime.
Moving Straps And Ropes
It is a good idea to arrange moving straps and ropes to secure couches and large furniture items to a dolly and moving truck. This will also help you
move your furniture more securely and avoid any back strain.
Scissors And Packing Tape
Keep packing tape and scissors with you at all times to secure parts of furniture items together. You can also use this packing tape to fasten small screws and parts to the undersides of desks and beds.
Stair Rollers
If you have stairs in your home or apartment, you should use a stair roller to help you move furniture up and down stairs easily. This tool is also good for carpeted stairs which can cause resistance.
Furniture Pads
Expert removalists in Canberra suggest investing in furniture pads that can secure the bottom of your furniture items so that you do not scratch your floors and walls when moving them.
Plastic Wrap
Lastly, keep plenty of plastic wrap with you to secure desks, shelves, cupboards and more when loading and unloading them. If you do not want plastic, you can use old blankets and towels to wrap these items.
With your tools ready, disassemble your furniture into smaller pieces and then use lifting techniques to start moving it on your own.
Moving Techniques
Disassemble Your Furniture
You should break down your furniture into as many pieces as you want so that you can move these items easily. Take the legs of couches and beds if possible and remove screws and bolts and either secure them to the bottom or place them in plastic bags.
You should also keep the manual and instructions for assembling these furniture pieces so that you know how to reassemble them. If you don’t know how to disassemble your furniture, you can always hire a furniture removalist in Canberra to help you do the same.
Lifting Techniques
It is now time for you to load your moving truck, and you can use the following expert techniques to
lift and move items by removalists in Canberra:
- You should start by stretching exercises for your shoulders, arms, legs and back to avoid any strains.
- Next, you should lift an item with your legs, not your back.
- You should keep the item as close to your body as possible to avoid shoulder and arm injuries.
- Also, stand with your legs wide apart to have a firm posture.
- It is good to hold them below waist level for heavy furniture items.
- Make sure you can see ahead when moving furniture to avoid injuries.
- If you have back problems, it is a good idea to use a back brace when loading and unloading items off your moving truck.
Conclusion
Thus, you can move your furniture using the above techniques and tools. Still, if you have many items or are facing extraordinary circumstances like rain or snow, you should leave this job to the professionals.
Professional removalists Canberra know all the proper procedures to lift and load your furniture items and will also keep them well-protected to avoid any damage.
