How do I assess a moving company’s piano and specialty moving skills?

Ask for a list of the specialty jobs done recently: pianos, safes, fine art, antiques, hot tubs and oversized items. For each type, ask who led the job, how long it took and how it went. A company that does a few a year with a trusted pair is different from one that treats them as a routine service. Both can be fine, but the reasons matter.

Next, inspect the tools and methods. Look for proper boards, skids, ramps, straps, padding and hoists, and ask how they are used. Ask how the crew handles a staircase or a tight turn, and what happens if a job looks unsafe. Listen to how the crew leads describe their method. Practical, specific answers are a better sign than general reassurance.

Then ask about outcomes. Have there been damage claims, injuries or disputes on specialty jobs, and how were they handled? Does the insurance cover this work, and has the insurer asked questions? Ask whether a piano shop, interior designer or gallery refers jobs, since those relationships can be a source of repeat work. Finally, consider who holds the know-how. If a single mover is the expert, ask whether he or she will stay, and whether others can be taught. Your advisors can check the financial weight of this part of the business.

Key takeaways

• Ask who leads specialty jobs and how they were trained.
• Inspect the boards, ramps, straps and hoists the crew actually uses.
• Review damage claims and insurance coverage for this work.
• Ask whether the skill sits with one person.