This is one of the most common questions we see in the moving industry. Putting together and taking apart your furniture is no easy task and when you hire a full service moving company, you’d expect them to help with that. So…
Will movers assemble and disassemble furniture?
Yes, movers will assemble and disassemble your furniture. In fact, some items like bed frames will need to be taken apart in order to move them safely. If your move is considered a local move (under 100 miles) movers will charge their normal rates by the hour. If your move is considered a long-distance move, (over 100 miles or state to state) movers will charge for the service by the weight.
Most furniture items in your home will not require disassembly. However, some items will. The most common items to be disassembled are bed frames, large dining room tables, bureau’s (dresser with mirror attached), and vanities. Sometimes, if you have assembled a piece of furniture in a room and did not move it into that room, it may not necessarily fit through the door. In those cases, your mover will decide how it will be disassembled and prepared for transport.
Should You Assemble & Disassemble Your Furniture Yourself Or Have The Movers Do It?
Sometimes it’s worth having your movers do this task and sometimes it’s not. It all depends on your specific move and if you need to save money. Ultimately is it your choice. Here are 3 insights to know if you can’t decide whether to have the movers do it or do it yourself.
Disassembling furniture yourself will save you money. In fact, the more you are prepared for the move and the more small things you can do yourself, the more money you will save. Movers can be a bit costly and having them do tasks you can do yourself is going to be expensive. You wouldn’t have your mechanic clean your car, would you? Same goes with movers. Hire movers for what they’re good at to get the most out of your move.
When moving locally, your movers will be able to disassemble and assemble your furniture, but your move is going to take longer, costing you a bit more. If you are moving on a budget and are fully capable of disassembling & reassembling the furniture yourself, then do it yourself. Movers will charge their standard rate for this which is usually around $50-$60 per hour per mover.
If you have the money and/or you don’t have the capability, then have the movers do it. If you know you have a lot of furniture that needs to be disassembled, you can always hire a handyman or furniture disassembly service to do it. These services will only charge $20-$30 per hour per person. But remember, that’s only if you know 100% if the furniture needs to be taken apart.
When moving long-distance (over 100 miles or from state to state) moves can take several days and there is a possibility that a different moving crew will be unloading your belongings at the destination city. This means the movers who disassembled your furniture will not be the same movers who reassemble it. So before you decide, ask yourself, will the new movers know how to reassemble the furniture? or should you reassemble it yourself and make it a project for the new home?
What Items Should You Prepare or Disassembled Before Moving (that will save you time and money)?
- Bed Frames – Most bed frames will need to be disassembled before moving. Movers will do it just right before the item, but if you want to do it yourself, consider getting up a bit early before the movers arrive to take this apart.
- Bureau’s & Vanities – Any piece of furniture with a large mirror or glass attached to that can easily be removed and protected will likely be taken apart. If the glass is part of a door like on a china cabinet or glass coffee table, it might be wrapped intact. If you’re unsure as to whether to take it apart or not, just wait until the movers arrive and they’ll be able to make the best decision based on a case by case basis.
- Large Dining Room Tables – Regular sized dining room tables may just be wrapped and protected as is. But, if you have a large, heavy dining room table, the movers will likely take off the legs and protect everything separately. This keeps the legs and dining room table from breaking during transit because it’s easier to load it in the truck if the legs are off.
- Bookcases/Shelving Units – If your bookcases have glass shelves or the shelves come right off by lifting them, the movers will likely remove the shelves and wrap them separately.
Important Tip For Disassembly: Make sure you keep ALL screws and parts and place them in a sealable plastic bag and label them correctly.
Movers do provide a few other services besides assembling and disassembling furniture. Here are a few other common things movers will do and will not do.
Will Movers Uninstall and Install Large Appliances Like Washers, Dryers, and Refrigerators?
No, most movers (but not all) will not attach or detach major appliances like washers, dryers, or refrigerators. This is because they do not want to take on the liability if a pipe breaks and starts a water or gas leak. However, some movers will hook up these appliances. So be sure it’s clear if your moving company will provide these services.
If your moving company will not do it and you’re not sure exactly how to do it, you might want to hire a handyman or plumber to do it. You can also always simply do it yourself if your handy or know how watch a youtube video and learn how to do it.
What Other Tasks Or In-Home Services Will Movers Provide?
Packing Boxes?
Yes, movers will definitely help you pack your boxes as part of their services. Some movers will charge a different price, and some will just be their normal hourly rates. In fact, if you have very fragile items that need to be protected, having a professional moving company pack them will not only protect your items better, if something breaks, the liability is on them, not you.
Hook Up The TV or Other Electronics?
Most movers who you are paying by the hour will do these types of tasks since you are already paying them by the hour. If the task involves any kind of liability, then it’s likely they won’t. If you’re moving long-distance and paying by the weight, these tasks can be added as an a la carte price at the end of the final bill.
Cleaning?
Some movers, depending on which ones you hire will also provide cleaning services or be able to contract a cleaning service to help you clean your home after everything is moved out.
Concierge Services?
Some movers, again, depending on which ones you hire will also provide certain concierge services like setting up your utilities and cable. Again, it all depends on who you hire.
Particleboard Furniture & Furniture That Required Assembly – What To Know When Moving
Many inexpensive furniture items that are made from particleboard (Ikea or cheap brands) that you have to put together yourself are not really meant to be moved.
Remember when hiring movers or moving yourself that this kind of furniture is very prone to breaking. These types of furniture are meant to be assembled in the room they will go in, not necessarily be moved from one location to the next.
Related Questions:
How Do Movers Charge & Estimate Costs? (Weight? Volume? Hourly?) – The way moving companies charge can get a bit confusing when it’s time to move. You may be asking: what’s included in those charges? Are there any hidden charges? In this article, we break down how different types of household movers charge and what to look for when hiring a moving company.
8 Ways To Get Rid of Your Old Furniture Before Moving – The hassles of making your new home comfortable for you and fixing your previous apartment for the new tenant is stressful. The additional trouble of dealing with your other possessions which you no longer need can be overwhelming. You certainly want to avoid moving unwanted items to your new home to save valuable space.
