To disassemble or not to disassemble ahead of your movers arriving?  That is the question today!  There really isn’t a totally right or wrong answer but there are definitely some protocols which you can follow. Professional movers will dismantle (at origin) and reassemble (at destination) “standard household items” items at no extra cost to you. “Standard household items” include (but may not be limited to) the following articles…

  • Dining room tables (removing legs from the table top)
  • Removing your dining room china cabinet hutch-top from its base
  • Standard beds (headboard, foot board, mattress, box spring, and bedrail frame)
  • Mirrors which are attached to bedroom dressers

Professional movers may also dismantle other articles which (due to their unique nature, size, or fragility) need to be dismantled and reassembled to be loaded, transported, and unloaded safely. Such items may include (but may not be limited to) the following items…

  • Baby or grand pianos
  • Pool tables
  • Bunk beds
  • Beds with large attached tall pedestals and/or light-bridges
  • Large wall units or entertainment centers
  • Wall mounted televisions
  • Large marble or glass tops (which may also need to be wood crated)

Rather than starting to dismantle any such items yourself it may be wise to contact a professional mover who can advise you which articles need to be dismantled to be safely moved. Your mover will also be able to advise you what they would charge for any specialized disassembly which may be required.

In addition, it can be generally said that professional movers do not perform any disassembly work which requires carpentry work, electrical work, plumbing work, or audio/visual/computer disconnections (although your mover may be able to refer third party companies who will perform such work for you).

If you are absolutely sure that you can disassemble any of the pieces of furniture in your home with confidence, then do so but make sure that you place all hardware together and in an easy to find location.  We would recommend either placing the hardware in a ziploc bag and taping that bag to the furniture (not the fine finish) or placing all of your hardware in bags and then organizing them in a box that is strictly for hardware.

Happy Moving!