|
|
| |
 |
|
| | | The size and weight of a piano affects its moving cost, but the biggest variable is how hard it is to maneuver between the home and the truck. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Local moves within a town or city run between $125 for an upright piano with only a few steps and up to $600 for a grand, baby grand or an upright with multiple stairs or difficult access.
- Long-distance moves including state to state average $700 -$2,000 depending on the distance traveled and the ease of loading and unloading.
- Pianos may be moved by owners with special care to both the safety of the piano and the owner. An alternative for do-it-yourselfers is to hire a piano moving service to wrap and load the piano into the moving truck. The owner drives it to the new location and hires a piano moving service at the other end to unload it into the new home for $275 -$400.
- Tip: Take detailed pictures of the piano before it is packed and again before the wrapped piano is unloaded from the truck to record any potential damage.
|
| What should be included: | - A professional moving company should wrap the piano in blankets, take it out and strap it against the side of the moving van or truck. At the other end, the piano will be unloaded and placed in its new location.
|
| Additional costs: | - Stairs may cost an additional $2 -$10 per step.
- Climate controlled storage runs $50 -$60 per month.
- A piano that needs to be lifted through a window by a crane can cost $750 -$2,000, depending on access. A 21"x62" window opening is needed for a grand piano.
- Insurance to cover the piano move should be high enough to cover its full replacement. Costs vary by piano moving company and run $7 -$10 per $1,000 of value. When a piano is moved as part of an entire household, the insurance rate may be about $3.50 -$4 per pound. An average upright weighs 550 pounds, a baby grand 600 pounds and a grand 820 pounds. Some homeowner's policies will cover property -- including pianos -- while in transit. Check that the piano mover has insurance to cover workers' compensation.
|
| Discounts: | - A senior discount is available through many piano movers.
|
| Shopping for a piano mover: | |
| |
Article updated June 2007 |
|
|
Digg this
del.icio.us
E-mail
Post