Describe the item precisely
For a piano, identify upright or grand, make/model if known, and dimensions. For another heavy item, share manufacturer information and whether parts can be safely removed. Photograph existing condition and any delicate finish. Do not estimate weight by lifting or tipping the piece yourself.
Survey both routes
Include stairs, landings, door openings, lifts, slopes and the legal truck position. A piano that fits a room doorway may not fit the turn outside it. Exterior lifts, specialist equipment or additional approvals require qualified assessment; they are not standard services assumed by an online guide.
Confirm the specialist scope
Ask whether Montreal Movers can arrange the requested handling for your route and who performs it. Agree protection, disassembly, coverage and exclusions. Any piano tuning, equipment installation or technical recommissioning should be discussed separately with the appropriate specialist.
Send a piano-specific assessment package
Identify the piano type, maker or model if known, and any available dimensions. Send photographs of the instrument and the full route at both addresses: doorway, landing, turns, exterior steps and loading point. Include the floor and elevator dimensions where relevant. A close-up of the piano alone does not reveal whether the team can move it through a narrow landing. Ask whether a site assessment is needed before confirming the plan.
Keep the handling decision with the assessed team
Do not attempt to solve a tight route by removing parts or tilting the instrument yourself. Ask who prepares the piano, which parts are handled separately and how they will be identified for reassembly. Confirm in writing whether piano handling is included in the household booking or requires a separate specialist. If access changes, pause and obtain a revised assessment rather than expecting the original plan to fit a different staircase.
A piano handling plan starts with evidence
Measurements inform an assessment; they do not replace the trained team’s decision about equipment or feasibility.
Prepare the receiving room
Choose the piano’s position before delivery so it is not moved repeatedly around unpacked cartons. Clear a continuous path and ask about floor protection suitable for the instrument and the room. Keep a condition record before and after the move. For tuning or environmental advice, contact a qualified piano technician; the appropriate timing depends on the instrument and conditions rather than one universal deadline.
Identify what you are asking the team to move
Begin with the instrument itself. An upright piano, grand piano and digital keyboard require different assessment and preparation; “one piano” is not a complete inventory description. Record the maker, model if known, dimensions and photographs from more than one angle. Include any separate bench, stand, pedal assembly or removable accessory. Explain whether a qualified technician has already worked on the instrument and whether existing damage or repairs need special attention. Do not estimate the weight by lifting a corner or rely on a number from a similar-looking model. Use available manufacturer information and let the assessing team identify any uncertainty. Tell the company if the instrument is an antique, has sentimental importance or has additional equipment attached. Those details help define preparation and documentation even when they do not change the ordinary household inventory. Ask explicitly whether the company is quoting the piano as part of the household move or arranging a separate specialist.
Prepare a route survey the specialist can interpret
Start at the piano’s current position and follow the entire path to the proposed loading point. Photograph the room exit, corridor turns, stairs, landings, exterior route and the point where the truck can lawfully stop. Repeat the exercise at destination. Include fixed obstructions such as a handrail, radiator, low ceiling or door closer. Show a tape measure in the photograph where that helps explain a clearance, but also write the measurement separately. A collection of close-up photographs can be hard to interpret, so include a wide view that shows how the spaces connect. If the original piano was brought in through an opening that is now altered, tell the team. The destination may be the limiting property even when pickup is straightforward. Send the survey before the booking is final so the proposed method and any additional assessment can be reviewed without a loaded truck waiting outside.
Ask about equipment and responsibilities without prescribing the lift
The assessed team should explain how it will protect and secure the instrument and which preparation tasks must be completed beforehand. Ask who provides the equipment, who prepares removable components and who will reassemble them if that work is included. Keep the answer tied to the actual piano and route. A list of equipment on a website does not demonstrate that every instrument can use the same method. Do not buy a household dolly and expect it to solve a specialist handling problem. Avoid attempting an unassessed stair carry, balcony transfer or improvised lifting operation yourself. If an alternative opening, lift or additional contractor is proposed, ask which property permissions and professional assessments are required before it is authorised. The useful customer task is to supply accurate information and clear access; the handling decision belongs to the team qualified to assess the work.
Document value and condition before protection
Take clear photographs of the instrument’s exterior, existing marks and identifying information before wrapping. Keep any relevant valuation or purchase record in a secure file and ask how a high-value item must be declared under the agreed protection terms. Ask about the compensation method, exclusions and reporting procedure rather than relying on the phrase “fully insured.” Do not assume the household shipment’s general terms answer every piano-specific question. Separate physical-condition documentation from musical performance: a photograph records a visible finish mark but does not diagnose action, tuning or an internal fault. If there is a concern about the instrument’s operation before the move, consult a qualified technician and keep their record. At delivery, use the same item identification when recording a concern. A clear before-and-after file makes the follow-up more useful than an uncertain recollection of which scratch was already present.
Choose a destination position before moving day
Walk the receiving room with the intended piano position in mind. Check that the team can reach it without navigating around unpacked cartons or newly delivered furniture. Discuss floor protection suitable for the load and surfaces. Keep a clear receiving route and identify the person authorised to approve placement. If the family has not decided between rooms, resolve that before arrival where possible; repeatedly repositioning an instrument is a different task from one agreed delivery placement. Consult the piano manufacturer or technician about the instrument’s environment, including conditions near heating, sunlight or damp areas. Do not select the location solely because it looks attractive in a photograph. Note whether accessories and the bench should be placed with it. If the destination position changes after assessment, explain the new route and measurements so the handling plan can be reviewed before the team commits to that area.
Coordinate timing with the household shipment
Ask whether the piano travels with the household goods or under a separate appointment. Record the pickup window, receiving contact and which contractor is responsible at each stage. If the piano is moved separately, make sure its route will still be clear after the general household delivery. It is easy to protect the entrance for the first crew and then block it with cartons before the specialist arrives. If there is a gap between collection and possession, ask about the storage arrangement specifically for the instrument; a general storage quote does not establish appropriate preparation or conditions. Tell the mover about fixed building slots and any technician appointment dependent on delivery. Keep expectations about tuning separate from the transport booking and confirm appropriate timing with the technician rather than using a universal waiting period. A coordinated schedule should show the order and dependencies without promising that every household service will finish at the same hour.
What to do when the assessed route changes
Contact the company as soon as a new obstruction, building restriction or furniture-placement decision affects the route. Send updated photographs and identify exactly what differs from the original survey. A newly installed railing, occupied loading area or changed elevator may require another assessment. Do not conceal the difference because the move is already booked. Ask whether the original method remains feasible and obtain a revised scope if the work changes. If the issue is discovered on moving day, keep the area clear and let the team pause to review it. Do not pressure anyone to force the instrument through a space simply because the truck is waiting. Clarify the next decision, who authorises it and how any revised timing will be communicated. This approach protects the instrument and gives both sides a record of why the original plan was reconsidered.
A professional assessment request you can send
A useful enquiry combines the instrument details, two addresses and the route evidence in one message. For example: “We have an upright piano with a separate bench. Pickup is on the second floor of a walk-up; the attached photos show the lower doorway and upper landing. Delivery is at a house, through the side entrance shown. Please confirm what further measurements or site assessment you need, who prepares the piano, and whether this is included in the household quote or requires a specialist booking.” Adapt the description to your instrument; it is not a statement that this route is feasible. Keep the reply with the inventory and notify the company if anything changes. Before the date, reconfirm access contacts, clear paths and the agreed receiving position. This small preparation file is more useful than collecting generic lifting tips that may not apply to your instrument or property.
Piano survey inputs
Use this comparison to prepare a professional assessment, including photos and measurements.
| Instrument or condition | Assessment inputs | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Upright piano | Make, model, dimensions and photos of all sides. | What equipment and handling plan suit this instrument? |
| Baby grand piano | Model, overall footprint and photos of legs and pedals. | Which parts require specialist preparation? |
| Grand piano | Model, dimensions, condition record and destination position. | Is the complete route feasible before booking? |
| Digital piano | Model, stand type, cables and detachable components. | Are packing instructions available from the manufacturer? |
| Interior stairs | Flight count, widths, landings and turning-space photos. | Does the assessor need an onsite visit? |
| Exterior stairs | Photos of stair surface, railing, landing and street approach. | What weather or access conditions could change the plan? |
| Elevator route | Door opening, cabin dimensions and building booking details. | Has building management approved the planned access? |
| Arrival and condition | Destination floor, placement photo and existing damage notes. | Who checks condition and arranges any technician follow-up? |