How to prepare for the piano movers arriving

Before the piano movers arrive, clear the route from where the piano stands to the street, sort any parking permits needed for the vehicle, and have the access details for both addresses confirmed and ready. Those three things cover most of the delays and surprises that happen on moving day. Everything else the crew brings with them: the equipment, the fitted transit covers, the padded skid board and the training. Get a fixed price in advance at book.pianospeed.com so the crew already knows the access at both ends and has planned the job before they set off.

Clear the route before the crew arrives

Walk the route yourself from the room where the piano stands to the street, and think about what the crew will be carrying through it. A standard upright piano is 135 to 155 centimetres across, and on a padded skid board it takes up more width still. Anything in the corridor, hallway, on the stairs or at the front door becomes an obstacle that takes time to work around or that the crew will need to ask you to move.

Remove before the crew arrives:

• Loose rugs and stair runners at the collection address: they create a slip hazard under load and the crew will ask for them to come up before starting
• Hall tables, coat stands and any furniture that narrows the corridor
• Items stored at the foot of the stairs, on the landing or at the top of a flight
• At the delivery address, clear the route from the street into the room where the piano is going, and move any furniture already in that room that would stop the crew positioning the instrument correctly

Five minutes walking the route before the crew arrives is the most effective preparation you can do. It also lets you spot problems and flag them in advance rather than discovering them once the piano is already partway down the stairs.

Parking and vehicle access

A specialist piano moving vehicle is a large van or truck, and it needs a clear loading space at both addresses. Parking close to the front door keeps the pavement run short and reduces the amount of handling involved.

If the address is in a permit zone or a controlled parking area, apply for a parking bay suspension in advance from your local authority. In London, most boroughs offer this service: suspension typically takes two to five working days to arrange, sometimes longer. Check how many days' notice your borough requires and apply well before the move date. The crew cannot control what other vehicles are parked on the street when they arrive.

If the street has particular access restrictions, tell PianoSpeed when you book:

• A gated entrance, height barrier or width restriction on the approach
• A narrow turning point that rules out a full-size vehicle
• A red route or bus lane directly in front of the address
• A road that is partially closed for building works or a utility dig

The crew plans the route to your address before the day, not on arrival. Accurate access information when you book is what allows that planning to happen.

Access details to have confirmed

When you booked, you gave the floor level and access details at both addresses. On the day, have that information confirmed so you can answer quickly if the crew asks. If anything has changed since you booked, contact PianoSpeed as early as possible rather than on the morning of the move.

The most important change to flag in advance is a lift that has gone out of service. At a block of flats, an out-of-service lift means the crew needs to plan for a stair carry instead, which may affect both timing and the number of crew members sent. Stair access is chargeable and is priced automatically in the online quote at book.pianospeed.com. If the access has changed from what was quoted, speak to PianoSpeed before the day.

Have ready for the crew:

• The floor the piano is on at collection and the floor it needs to reach at delivery
• The staircase width at the narrowest point if there are stairs, which is usually where the banister newel post projects into the flight
• Lift internal dimensions if a lift is available and you want the crew to consider it
• Any temporary restriction that has arrived since you booked: scaffolding, a new parking order, building works
• The piano's make and model if you did not give it when booking, as dimensions vary considerably between models and a specialist uses this to plan tight corners

What to do with the piano itself

Close the piano lid and, where there is a lock, lock it. A closed lid sits flush against the case and does not catch on doorframes when the instrument is tilted through a tight gap. An open lid, even rested back on its hinge, adds height at one end and is the first thing to catch on something above the piano as it is angled into a staircase.

Remove anything stored inside the piano before the crew arrives. Small uprights often have sheet music behind the lower toe panel or papers resting inside the top lid section. Any loose object inside the case will shift when the piano is tilted and a hard item can damage the action. Take a minute to check both spaces.

Tell the crew in advance about any known issues with the instrument:

• A castor that is damaged or missing, which changes how the piano can be rolled on its wheels
• A leg that is loose or has been repaired, particularly relevant for a grand that will have its legs removed before it is moved
• Any existing damage to the casework that you want to note before the move begins, so there is no dispute about its origin afterwards

The crew will not open the piano to inspect the action or play it. If you know of anything mechanical that affects how the instrument should be handled, say so before they start.

Be present, and secure pets and children

Be at the collection address and, if possible, at the delivery address throughout the move. If you cannot be at both, have a trusted person present who knows the access and has a contact number for you. Someone needs to be available to confirm the piano's position at collection, agree the delivery room, and sign off the job at the end.

Secure dogs and other pets before the crew arrives, away from the route the piano will travel. A crew managing a 200-kilogram instrument on a staircase cannot stop to deal with a dog that has come through a door at the wrong moment. Keep children away from the staircase and the loading area while the crew is working.

Have the PianoSpeed number ready: 020 7164 0000. If something changes at either address before the crew arrives, a call in advance gives them time to adjust. A call when the crew is already at the door does not.

Common questions about preparing for piano movers

Do I need to be in for the whole move?

Yes, or have a responsible adult present throughout. Someone needs to be at the collection address to confirm the piano's condition before it is moved, and at the delivery address to confirm the room and position. If collection and delivery are happening simultaneously at different locations, arrange cover at one of them.

Should I remove sheet music and other items stored inside the piano?

Yes. Remove everything stored inside the case, including behind the toe panel and inside the top lid. Loose items inside the piano move when the instrument is tilted and can damage the action. It takes two minutes and removes a real risk.

Can I arrange for a key to be left rather than being present?

For a property you are vacating, speak to PianoSpeed in advance about key handover. A key alone is not enough if access questions come up on the day. Someone reachable by phone throughout the job is necessary.

What if the parking permit takes longer than expected to arrange?

Apply as early as possible and allow the maximum notice period your borough requires. If the suspension does not come through in time, contact PianoSpeed before the day to discuss alternative loading positions on the street or a revised approach. Turning up without a clear loading space adds time to both ends of the job.

Does the crew need access to electricity or water?

No. The crew brings everything required for the move.

What if the piano does not fit through a doorway?

PianoSpeed assesses access from the details you give when booking. If you have a doubt about a specific doorway or window, contact the team before the day with measurements. On a narrow access, removing a door from its hinges is often the solution, and the crew can do this on the day if they know to plan for it. What a specialist crew will not do is attempt to force a piano through an access that cannot safely accommodate it.

Is stair access included in the price?

Stairs are chargeable at both addresses. The instant quote at book.pianospeed.com asks for the floor level and lift availability at each end and prices the access automatically. The figure you see is fixed, not an estimate adjusted when the crew arrives.

Book a specialist piano move

Piano moves start from £125. For a fixed price covering your piano, the access at both addresses and a confirmed date, get an instant quote at book.pianospeed.com. Or call 020 7164 0000 if you have an access question you want to talk through before booking. PianoSpeed is rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 77 reviews, all from real piano moves. PianoSpeed London Limited, 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ.