How to Pack and Prepare Musical Instruments for the Move

Musical instruments are complex and fragile. However, they can be moved safely to your new home if you pack and prepare them properly.

String Instruments

When packing violins, cellos, and similar instruments, first loosen the strings. This will prevent damage from the extra tension experienced during the move. Do not loosen them so much that the bridge falls. If you have a hard case, put the instrument inside but fill any extra space with crumpled paper or cloths to prevent the instrument from moving around in the case. Preventing movement is especially important for the headstock.

If you don’t have a hard case, wrap the instrument in a plastic garbage bag and seal it with tape. Then wrap with bubble wrap. This helps prevent potential water damage.

Place the instrument in a box with enough space for several layers of peanuts. You may be able to find an appropriate box from your mover or local music store. Be sure to note which end is the top. Once you’ve packed the instrument, gently shake the box, you’ll need to take it out and fill it with more peanuts if the instrument moves inside the box.

Brass and Woodwind Instruments

Disassemble your brass or woodwind instruments and place them in their hard case. If you no longer have the case, wrap each piece of the instrument in bubble wrap so that the parts do not collide with each other. Place them in a box large enough to contain several layers of packing materials. If you use packing peanuts, tape the film around the instruments to prevent any peanuts from getting inside the instrument.

Drums

Choose a box that is two to four inches bigger than the drum. Remove the rims and heads and put drums one inside the other.

Place any small parts inside separate bags and tape closed. Wrap spurs and legs in bubble wrap. Put packing materials around before placing the drums in the box.

Pianos and Organs

Most professional moving companies train their employees on how to move pianos and organs. Consult with your professional mover to see about your options.

 If you are packing yourself, you can prepare these instruments.

  • Separate any removable parts, such as music stands, from the instrument and pack them separately.
  • Close and lock the keyboard cover.
  • Put blankets and other soft materials and bubble wrap around the instrument. Use extra wrapping on the legs. Tape the wrapping.

Additional Considerations

Always pack your musical instruments in a separate box or case; packing them with other items may damage them. Also, pack equipment such as guitar straps separately from the instrument. Ensure your boxes are marked as “fragile” so that movers handling your instruments know to take special care.

Schedule your move carefully with the moving company to ensure your instruments will arrive in time for concerts. Woodwind instruments should sit for 24 hours after the move before you use them. You may also need to allow time for having your instrument tuned professionally when you arrive at your new home.

If you need to store your musical instrument, choose a facility with climate control to always be at room temperature.

 Move Your Instruments Right

Are you planning a move? We can help get you and your family moved in. Contact us today to see what we have to offer.

 

 

How To Hire A Moving Company That Fits Your Needs

Hiring a terrific moving company may rank only second to picking out your dream home. If you stop and think about it, the people you hire will be in charge of handling personal belonging, fragile items, and precious family heirlooms.

 When packing and transporting irreplaceable things, there are no second chances. That’s why it’s essential to conduct thorough due diligence and ensure you are working with a careful crew you can trust. 

Here are five ways to vet professional moving companies and choose the right one.

1. Thorough Moving Estimators are a Positive Sign

If you are considering a residential moving company, it’s in your best interest to get a few competitive quotes. When the company provides someone in-person or through a virtual survey to review your belongings and calculate the cost, their detail speaks volumes about the organization. 

A thorough estimator will take an inventory that looks at the number of fragile items, square footage, trips, and discusses transportation methods. Estimators may be a sign of what type of people the moving company hires.

2: Consider Moving Company Referrals from Friends & Family Members

It’s usually worth considering the experience people in your orbit had with a moving company. Many outfits have established policies for their employees. These include appropriate ways to handle personal belongings, fragile items, and protective measures for getting bulky furniture through doorways unscathed. If someone you know had a good experience, it stands to reason they are worth considering. Of course, the opposite also holds as well.

3: Verify the Moving Company is Licensed and Insured

You might be surprised by how many unlicensed and uninsured movers present themselves as professionals. Some people think that moving a family to a new home is just a matter of loading up a truck and doing some heavy lifting. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

In reality, experience, safety equipment, and a mindset to care for a client’s belongings are necessary. It’s always best to work with a licensed and insured professional over some guy with a truck.

4: Take a Look at Online Reviews

Living in the information age has its benefits. When hiring a moving company, you can check reviews written by a company’s former clients and get the details. Check the top-rated reviews and consider the description of why they enjoyed a positive move. Weigh this against poor experiences and the reasons provided. 

Online reviews typically run the gamut of personal opinions. If nothing else, the information may prompt you to ask pointed questions.

5: Does the Moving Company Use Specialized Teams?

One of the cost issues when hiring a mover is whether to pack your own belongings. This is crucial because a moving company’s insurance may not cover damage if you do it yourself. On the other hand, outsourcing the packing phase does add an expense.

But beyond the cost, it’s worth asking who would do this packing. If the moving company sends an advanced team of experienced packers to handle the task, that speaks volumes about care. If they are the same people who also do the heavy lifting, that may demonstrate a lack of specialization.

The Right Movers

Hiring a moving company that fits your needs requires due diligence to develop a sense they are thorough professionals who will take good care of your things. By using these and other strategies, you’ll be able to make an informed decision when the vetting process has been completed.

Contact us today. See how we can help you with your move.