If you’re trying to get organized for a move, getting started can be a difficult process. This is especially true when you have large, oversized, and bulky items that you’re unable to move on your own. Everything from musical instruments, delicate tech equipment, priceless artwork, pianos, vaults, marble statues, and more can be extremely difficult or even hazardous to move. Before you start to feel overwhelmed, rest assured that there are ways to make packing and relocating a lot easier.

To start, you should know that you don’t have to do it all yourself—and you shouldn’t, either. Moving large and heavy items can be dangerous for those that aren’t trained to provide moving services, or for people that lack the equipment and tools to facilitate the project.

For moving pianos, fine art, computer systems, and many other fragile or difficult items, trusted specialized movers like Peroulas Moving & Storage can make your relocation safe, swift, and efficient. In this guide, we’ll tell you what you need to know about moving specialty items, and how you can prepare for an easier, more efficient relocation.

Identify Your Home’s Difficult-to-Move Items

A great way to get started with the moving process is to take inventory of all of your belongings. A moving list is important as it helps you to get organized before packing, and to become familiar with all of your belongings that you’re taking with you to the new home. While making the list, you can identify the problem items that might be difficult to move out of the house or into the new one. These can be oversized or very heavy furniture, including marble tabletops, mirrors, giant couches, and other items.  

Moving companies often set aside difficult-to-move items in a separate list for “specialty moving”. These items usually require special attention and care when moving them, which can be due to a large size, heavyweight, or anything that’s fragile, expensive, or otherwise challenging to move. Some of the most common specialty items our household movers at Peroulas Moving & Storage can help with include:

  • Pianos, Harps, Organs, Drums, and Other Musical Instruments
  • Priceless Artwork
  • Antique Furniture
  • Expensive Jewelry
  • Safes and Vaults
  • Aquariums and Terrariums
  • Animal Cages, Crates, and Habitats
  • Wine Collections
  • High-Tech Electronics and Equipment
  • Plants

Top Tips for Moving Your Specialty Belongings

If you’re thinking about moving your own belongings, know what you’re getting into before moving day arrives. While we always recommend leaving heavy and fragile items to the professionals, take a look at these tips from our team to prepare for your own DIY moving project for relocating your specialty items.

  • Wine Collections: Wine bottles are fragile and can be sensitive to sunlight, shaking, and changes in temperature—all of which are normal events in an average move. For this reason, it’s important to prepare by finding the right supplies to use to wrap your bottles safely, and a moving vehicle that’s dark and climate-controlled. Use high-quality wine boxes to keep wrapped bottles from shifting in the moving van, and strap the boxes into the van’s storage area for extra security and protection. 
  • Pianos and Other Instruments: Instruments like pianos, organs, and also speakers, synthesizers, and other equipment can be very difficult to move. Sometimes very heavy and large items won’t fit into the doorway and will need to be made to fit, or lifted in through a window or another entryway. In other instances, you’ll need to move these heavy items up or downstairs, or through steep or sloping walkways. It is highly recommended that you hire professional movers that are equipped with the expertise and resources to do this for you.
  • Household and Outdoor Plants: Plants can be difficult to move, especially if they’re large, delicate, or prohibited from moving into certain areas of the country. Check with state or country laws before planning to bring plants in to be sure they’re allowed (some plants are not). If the plant is allowed, make sure to secure it inside the moving vehicle to prevent it from shifting. Use a climate-controlled moving van if you’re driving long-distance and be sure to water it sufficiently over the course of the relocation to prevent it from drying out.
  • Fragile Antiques, Fine Art, and Mirrors: Wrap fine art, paintings, and mirrors carefully with packing paper. Cover the corners with cardboard or Styrofoam padding to prevent damage to the corners. Use high-quality cardboard boxes and bubble wrap or packing peanuts to cradle fragile antiques and smaller items during the move. Consider keeping these items separate from your other belongings in the moving vehicles, and to keep paintings and other fine art items out of sunlight to prevent fading.

Professional Moving Services for Specialty Items in Knoxville

Some things are easier to move than others. If you’re like most homeowners, chances are you own a number of things that you shouldn’t try to move by yourself. Whether you own a heavy grand piano, a 300-lb. safe, a hot tub, a pool table, antique china, or any other specialty item, it’s worth it to protect your belongings and your own safety and call in expert piano movers for assistance.

If you’re planning a relocation and wondering how in the world you’re going to pull it off, we can help. At Peroulas Moving & Storage, we’re a team of highly trained and professional piano and priceless art movers, equipped with a global network of resources and moving tools designed to make any-sized relocation a breeze. We’ll make sure your specialty items are well-taken care from point A to point B, whether you’re moving locally, long-distance, or internationally. 

For more information about our full-services movers, give our team a call to speak with a representative over the phone. Or, to request a free, in-home pricing estimate and consultation, fill out our online form and a representative will get in touch with you right away.