Special requirements when moving

This post addresses a few special requirements when moving that may cause some anxiety. Perhaps you'll find the exactly the answers you've been looking for. If so, our information and tips will equip you perfectly to deal with your upcoming move. 

Moving a piano

First of all, moving a piano under your own steam is the worst possible option. It’s possible in theory, but you run the real danger of damaging it in the process. Moving a piano isn't something you can just decide to do on a whim, as it requires special carrying techniques. In fact, when it comes to transporting delicate objects, it doesn’t get much more difficult than an upright or grand piano. But never fear: there are plenty of transportation professionals out there who can help you pull off this tricky feat.

Your first step should be to choose a moving company that specialises in transporting pianos. And if you need to move a grand piano, this is definitely a job for seasoned pros. In that case, make absolutely sure that the moving company of your choice has specific experience with grand pianos. Moving a piano is a delicate, complex operation requiring special equipment and appropriate protective measures. You shouldn’t forget about safety, either.

A piano is a very heavy, fragile instrument that does not come cheap; indeed, the cost of a piano can run into the thousands of Swiss francs. And it's not just about the material value, of course– this much-loved instrument also has sentimental value that should not be underestimated. If you want to move with your piano, you’ll need to let the transport company know how heavy it is. After all, pianos can weigh anywhere between 200 and 500 kg. A grand piano can weigh over 600 kg.

Given its considerable monetary value and weight, transporting it comes at a cost. The precise figure depends on a number of factors, including the distance transported, the potential need for an electrically powered furniture lift, the number of floors it needs to go up and any extra charge for grand pianos. The price is usually between CHF 300 and CHF 900.

Hopefully that's cleared up any questions you may have about the best way to move an upright or grand piano to your new home.

Moving your washing machine

If you're one of those lucky people who has their own washing machine and you treasure it, you may well have asked yourself what happens if you ever need to move and want to take it with you.

It’s a good question, and we’ll be answering it here. Moving with a washing machine can often prove to be a major challenge. If you make the right preparations in advance, however, you can certainly pull it off. As with a piano, in theory it’s possible to transport a washing machine yourself, but it’s not recommended. This is another case where it’s well and truly worth hiring a professional moving company.

A washing machine can weigh up to around 100 kg, making it one of the heaviest household appliances of all. As a result, transporting it doesn’t come cheap. The cost of moving a washing machine is determined by roughly the same factors as transporting a piano, with the transport distance and floor on which your new apartment is located being the key factors. It usually costs between CHF 200 and CHF 500 to have one moved.

If you’re weighing up the risks of transporting your washing machine to your new home yourself, bear in mind that this may not actually save you any money, let alone time. The many steps and precautionary measures that you’d need to take would make this an extremely time-consuming business. For one thing, you’d need to start getting everything ready at least a day before the move. Besides manpower, the move itself requires various transport arrangements. When handling a washing machine, you need to be mindful of certain details if you want this heavy appliance to survive the journey unscathed.

As transport companies usually charge by the hour, it’s best to get an obligation-free quote from a few firms. You could start somewhere like here.

Moving with plants

Decorating an apartment with plants is probably the most popular way of instantly giving it an exotic vibe or a calm and cosy atmosphere. Whether small and subtle or big with an abundance of leaves, plants tend to get plenty of admiring glances from visitors. You too probably have at least one large-ish potted plant and a little cactus in your apartment, and now you're wondering how you’re going to get your green darlings from A to B.

Moving plants is easy to do on your own; you don’t need a specialist moving company. To get them there in one piece, make sure you have plenty of packaging material to hand, keep an eye on the temperature and stow the plants properly during transport. Let’s start small: house plants in small pots can easily be transported in standard moving boxes. If you’re putting multiple pots in one box, stuff the spaces between them with bubble wrap or newspaper so that the pots won’t topple over, damaging the plants. During the warmer months, you should water your plants again the day before packing them up for the move.

Generally speaking, you should only pack house plants at the very end, so that they don’t spend any longer than necessary confined to their box. Long branches and bushy foliage should be carefully tied in. Be especially careful when transporting cacti. Pieces of Styrofoam are good for disarming spines. If you have a particularly large cactus, your best bet is to enclose it completely in Styrofoam panels and transport it in a tall box.

Small and large house plants alike should be packed last, and they should also be the final thing to go into the lorry. If you’re planning to move in winter, you will need to pack any sensitive plants in frost-proof packaging and make sure that they warm up again as quickly as possible upon arrival at their destination. We also recommend transporting especially sensitive plants like orchids 'by hand' in a suitable bag, just to be on the safe side.

Moving with cats & dogs

Transporting heavy objects or delicate plants isn’t the only thing that can prove tricky when moving home. Sometimes you have another 'item' in your household that needs even more TLC: your pet.

Moving home can be a whole lot more stressful for pets than it is for us, so it’s important to get your animal companion ready for the change, alongside making your own preparations. If you want to move with your four-legged friend, your first priority is to make sure that keeping pets is allowed at your new place. If it's all fine, you can start planning for the move itself. The following tips should help moving with a cat or dog go as smoothly as possible.

For cats and dogs, it’s advisable to prepare a place to retreat with their cuddly blanket or a favourite toy or treat for during the move, whether it’s an empty room, a friend’s apartment or a cattery or kennel. If your pet is of a somewhat anxious or shy disposition, sedatives like Zylkene or pheromone sprays can also prove useful. But the secret recipe to a successful move with a cat or dog is patience. It’s very important to give your pet plenty of time to get used to their new environment.

If you usually let your cat roam free, keep it inside your new home for a few weeks before letting it resume its independent ways. Otherwise, your kitty could go out in search of what she considers to be home, and try to make her way back to your old place.

You’ll find more info and tips on moving with other pets in this article.