My brother is giving me his upright piano since his kids don't play it. The only problem is that he lives in Dallas and I live in Austin. Do you guys know approximately how much it would cost to move/ship it? Could/Should I rent a U-haul and move it myself? Who do I call for this kind of stuff.
A Uhaul would probably be the cheapest, do you have a truck or SUV to tow it? Or are you think the UHaul truck, which is not cheap and can sometimes be mileage limited? If you can do it, do it yourself. DD
$19.95 a day uhaul truck or similar. Try to score one that doesn't charge per mile... with fuel and truck you're looking at $100-125, throw mileage costs on there and you are looking at $300-350 probably.
Get a trailer with a ramp that allows you to move the item up and in..... A stand up piano sounds awesome, less room needed and terrific sound. DD
Piano moving usually requires some special moving staffs because it is multiple times heavier than a normal couch and the size of it make it very difficult to move up/down the stairs. If you can afford it, hire some specialist to move the piano. You already get a piano (which ususally costs thousands if not 10K) for free, why not just chip in a bit more to make sure the piano shipped to your home without damage or damaging your brother's home? Don't forget to tune up your piano too after moving.
You need to detension the strings before you move it or you'll mess it up. Typically you do this by strategically placing a large block of wood under the piano when you set it on the trailer/truck.
If you're worried about damaging it while transporting it... TAKE IT APART! In all seriousness, pay a professional. Do this for your peace of mind. They will ensure nothing happens and if something does happen, you can always have them pay for the damages. That's what SHE said!!
Yeah, do NOT use regular movers or a U-Haul if you care about the piano at all. There's a reason there are so many companies that specialize in only moving pianos. It's not as simple as just rolling it into the back of a truck and driving. Hire some professionals. It will pay off in the long run.
Wrong way: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JbXS2rFPlrc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Right way: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mU9eRYCle-E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> But I would only do it if you are a bound and determined do-it-yourself-er. The business of piano moving exists for a reason: there is an extremely high whoops-factor.
Moving a piano, grand or upright, is not as difficult you think. Uprights are especially easy. Four wheel dolly and two people with blankets and straps. Grands take the same four wheel dolly, but with a skid and more blankets and straps and it helps to have 3-4 people when setting it back up. Any time you move a piano it will require re-tuning. Especially when changing climates like you will be.
