Bay Area Piano Movers
Tips & FAQ
Questions to ask your potential piano mover.
When researching having your piano moved, you should compare apples to apples. Comparing a mover by price alone is not the best way to ensure a safe, quality experience. When getting piano moving quotes - if you get a bid that is "too good to be true"... it most likely is. Hiring an uninsured mover could turn out to be a very costly mistake.
Besides the obvious reasons for requiring that your mover have insurance (traffic accidents, possible damage to your home, etc.), here is a scenario most customers don't think of, but would certainly like to avoid.
Your piano mover is pulled over by authorities while transporting your instrument, and does not carry valid insurance. The truck can be impounded, along with your piano.
Some critical questions to ask your potential movers:
- Are you insured, and will you provide a current dated copy of your insurance prior to the move date? Many "budget" piano movers claim to be insured - but can't or won't show proof, and some will attempt to send a copy of their automobile policy. Make sure the policies provided are in the business name and cover the following:
- General liability to protect your home and contents.
- Cargo insurance to protect your piano while in transit.
- Vehicle liability insurance to be on the road legally
- How long have you been moving pianos? -Bay Area Piano Movers has more than 20 years experience moving pianos.
- Can you provide references from local musicians and piano stores? -BAPM is the mover of choice for many dealers and musicians, the ultimate vote of confidence.
- How experienced are your employees? How long have they been with your company? -I wouldn't want just anyone entering my home. All of our employees have been with us for at least 7 years, and all have extensive training and experience moving all types of pianos.
- FAQ's
How do I know the ‘type’ of piano I need moved?
The ‘type’ is usually an upright or grand piano. An upright piano would be a vertical piano or one that sits upright against a wall. Among the many common names for this type of piano include; spinet, console, studio, full size upright, grand upright and player upright.
A grand piano normally has three legs (in rare cases four legs for square grands)Among the many common names for this type of piano include; baby grand, apartment grand, parlor grand, concert grand and player grand.
What does ‘player piano’ mean? And why does it affect the cost?
‘Player’ pianos are pianos that mechanically play by themselves either with old paper rolls or by floppy disc or CD’s.
The ‘old style player’ pianos or the ones that take the paper rolls are significantly heavier and thus more difficult to move. The construction and size of the old style ‘player’ piano adds more to the weight than the actual player mechanisms themselves. So even in the cases of the player units being removed from the piano, the cost of moving may be the same.
Why do I need to provide so much information just to get a quote?
Given the wide range of prices we charge to move a piano, it is worth the time you take to gather the necessary information we need to determine an accurate piano moving quote. It's best to provide us with the measurements of the piano along with the details of the locations; number of steps on the outside of home along with the terrain; hills, grass, walkways and the details of any interior steps or stairways.
It is helpful to use our contact us page to plug in info about your piano to determine the cost of moving. We would rather take the time to give you an accurate quote than to explain why the charge is different than expected when we show up to move your piano.
Does the quote to move my piano include tuning?
No, but we do have long standing relationships with piano tuners in the area and will be happy to provide a referral.
** Pianos should be tuned a week to 10 days after a piano is moved to allow the piano to acclimate to the new environments humidity.**
Are there any hidden charges with our quote?
Never. We ask for all the necessary information before we provide you with a quote, and as long as the information you supply us is accurate, that will be the price you pay.
Will my floor be protected while the piano is moved in my home?
YES! We take special pride in the way we leave your home once your piano is in place. Our equipment has been specially designed by us, incorporating our decades of moving pianos into the design. Our dollies will not harm your floors, period!
Our moving methods are based on not scratching or damaging your piano, your walls or your floors.
How do I know which entrance the piano movers will use to move the piano?
The most common belief is that it is always easier to use the doorway closest to where the piano is or where it will be placed. But the truth is that once we are in the house and on the same level where the piano will be placed, we can usually maneuver it quite easily on our dolly. The entrance we use will need to be the easiest and safest way, considering the pathway and steps involved.
Can I assume that Bay Area Piano Movers will use the same path/doorway to take away the piano as the previous movers used to deliver the piano?
Not necessarily. We may have different methods, equipment and ideas than the previous movers. The time of the year and the weather is also a factor in our decision making. Please allow us to check out all options before beginning the move.
Will you need to drive your truck on my lawn?
No. We never have to drive on your lawn. We have equipment that allows us to move the piano over rough terrain; grass, gravel, and rarely light snow.
"After a bad experience moving last year, I was really apprehensive about hiring a new crew and had braced myself for another scary adventure. Mike and his team are amazing - they made my move happen so quickly and efficiently, I would definitely use them again. It's absolutely worth doing some research and hiring an experienced team with verifiable references and insurance. Take it from someone who learned the hard way!"
~LL via Yelp
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may still have about your upcoming move - we are happy to help!
(800) 895-6022
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