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Very few people enjoy the prospect of moving, with the possible exception of professional movers whose livelihoods depend on our reluctance to deal with the chore at all. Most of our belongings are simple and straightforward to move- we simply pack smaller items in manageable boxes and then carry these boxes into the new apartment or house. Other items may be heavy, such as a television set or sewing machine, but they come with appropriate handles or cases for proper carrying. Most furniture requires the assistance of a willing strong back or two, but generally fits through a standard doorway and is not especially awkward to carry, in spite of the weight.
But no matter what, there are always a few items that are either too awkward to carry without strain, or are too bulky to fit through the doorway. The couch that looks great in the old livingroom may not even threaten to fit through the new doorway, regardless of how many ways you try to squeeze it through. An airconditioning unit that fits so well in the windowframe may be entirely too heavy to carry, and the corners keep digging holes in your leg. A brand new futon may look great in the store, but try to get it into your car's trunk or back seat. What can you do to make these items fit? Here are some ideas on how to handle those difficult items when moving.
1. When in doubt, dismantle. If that chest of drawers is entirely too heavy and bulky to carry up the stairs, take out all the drawers and make a few more manageable trips. Refrigerator doors are not difficult to remove, and may make all the difference in the world. Remove the legs from oversized couches. If you buy a new piece of furniture or an appliance from a store, take the item out of the box and store the individual pieces. Having trouble with a sleeper sofa? Try taking out the mattress to lighten the load.
The point of dismantling an awkard or bulky item is to make the object fit the hole. You only want to dismantle items that can be easily reassembled on the other side. If the problem is more about logistics than actual size, you may be better off planning a new way to get the entire item through the opening, instead of disassembling it. If disassembling the item is completely out of the question, you may have to figure a way to increase the size of the opening to accommodate it, or consider life without it.
2. Create handholds and handles. If you have an item that is heavy for its size or is just too large to get a good grip, you may have to create your own handholds. Sometimes a rope can be wrapped around an awkward item in order to give it some stability. By holding onto the rope instead of the item itself, you may give yourself some much needed leverage. If the item once had a handle, you may want to fashion a replacement handle for easier carrying. If you cannot attach a rope or handle to the item, consider a handtruck or dollie. You may have to adjust or extend the plate on the handtruck, but it is preferable to straining your back in an awkward attempt to carry an uncarriable item. Some items, such as air conditioners, are simply too heavy to move without some assistance. Never let pride stand in your way of simplifying a move. If you need two people to move what appears to be a small item, get the help you need. In a pinch, use some skateboards or rollerskates to fashion a carrier for an awkward item.
3. Plan your 'attack' carefully. Sometimes you'll get into a situation where the couch just won't fit through the doorway, or the piano won't make the turn on the stairs. When in doubt, measure everything. Find out how wide the doorway is, and then measure the width of every possible angle of the couch. Remove all the legs, and measure again. If you can, remove the door from the doorway and remeasure. Try to get every spare inch of space you can before attempting to get the couch inside again. Most of the time, all you need to do is plan out another way to fit the bulky item inside as is. In general, you want to get the skinniest pieces of the couch through the doorway at any one time, then hope that the rest of the couch will follow. For most couches, this means standing the couch vertically. Try 'twisting' the back of the couch through the doorway first, then continuing the twisting motion until the seat section has cleared the doorway. You should then be able to pull the remaining portion of the couch through the doorway. When planning out such elaborate maneuvers, it helps to think 'outside the box'. Don't dismiss any suggestions that sound unworkable or outlandish at first. If you have a piano stuck in the hallway staircase, you may have to come up with a radical idea or two. You may indeed find you and five strong backs flinging a piano up and over a railing or two.
4. Evaluate your options objectively. Sometimes a square peg will not fit in a round hole, no matter how big the hammer may be. You may discover that an item will not fit inside your new home, despite your best efforts. In this case, you may have no other option but to replace the item with one that will fit the parameters of the new house. Sometimes it's best to make these sorts of decisions long before making the move, so if you feel that an item may not survive the moving process, you may want to deal with its disposition onsite. It would be a waste of time and effort to move anything that you know ahead of time will absolutely not fit. Sometimes the most difficult aspect of moving is leaving behind treasured items simply because of space considerations. If you cannot sell the item, consider renting a storage unit or storing the item in a safer, more accessible area until you can accommodate it or find a new home for it.
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