Finding a transporter for your Craigslist piano purchase

Cagri Sarigoz Cagri Sarigoz · Updated January 16, 2024

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A piano with a book of music and a cat sitting on the piano keys

If you have just purchased a piano from an auction on Craigslist, it’s time to find someone to move it. Moving a piano requires strength, equipment, and experience. Not moving it properly can result in a damaged instrument as well as a damaged body. Be sure you look after your new investment from the first moment by hiring a reputable piano mover. 

Discuss with the seller

It’s essential to maintain communication with the seller about how long you need to find and organize someone to move the piano. Finding a piano mover on a budget can be tricky – so warn your seller that the pick-up date needs to be flexible. 

Information is key

Before you begin your transporter research, you must understand what it is you need to move. Learn how big the piano is, its model, make, and approximate weight. An Upright Piano can range from 300 to 500 lbs, whereas a Grand Piano can weigh more than 1,200 lbs. Additionally, check if it has wheels or if any parts are removable. Once you know the details of your piano, you can begin to look for a mover. 

Moving it yourself

Of course, with time, patience, and the right equipment, it is possible to move a piano yourself. However, if you have never done this – it is strongly recommended that you don’t. Moving a piano requires at least two physically able people, straps, a piano trolley, and a suitable vehicle for transport. Damaging the piano during transit might be irreversible, so think hard before going down this route. Moving companies report they are often called to rescue pianos that have become jammed in door frames, fallen downstairs, or don’t fit into the transport they were being moved to. If you don’t’ have experience moving a piano – it’s much better to leave it to the experts. 

Using a local moving service

Your local moving service will certainly have the equipment and the right staff. But they may not have the experience of moving the piano that you do. Pianos are less and less common these days, so be sure to check if your local moving company has handled one before. While they may have a flat fee for a house move, heavy, bulky, and fragile items such as pianos can mean additional fees. If the move takes longer than expected, even more chargers may incur. 

Use CitizenShipper 

CitizenShipper is a marketplace that matches transporters with people who need things moved. Start by creating a listing for your piano with the necessary details of size, location, new address, and preferred dates. Once you have added your request, professional, experienced piano movers will contact you with personalized quotes. You can discuss their experience, equipment, and availability before choosing a driver. 

Your driver will arrange all the necessary extra labor, equipment and provide the truck or van. This makes moving so simple and easy. Better yet, you can organize CitizenShipper in another city or state with ease. Many drivers do long inter-state drives, so if your piano move was bought at auction else where – they can figure out a way to move it. 

Final tips

Some final advice before moving – if your piano is old, fragile, or rare, it makes sense to have a piano tuner look at the instrument and prepare it for transport. Adding cloth inside the piano or securing moving parts might help protect the piano from losing its tune during transport. Finally, before you move such a valuable item, make sure it is well insured. Your existing plan may cover it, or you might need to look for a temporary solution.Â