There are often a lot of questions someone looking to move might have. It’s a complicated and confusing process, and there can be many variables. You might be wondering what movers are right for you. Another common question people looking to move often have is, “Do movers offer disassembly furniture services?” Let’s unpack it!
Table of Contents
- Do Movers Offer Disassemble Furniture Services?
- Items to Prepare for Furniture Disassembly
- What About Appliances?
- What About Electronics?
- What About Cheap Furniture?
- Should I Ask Movers to Disassemble My Furniture?
- Alternatives to Furniture Disassemble Services
- Something to Consider
- Helpful Tips
- Things to Remember
Do Movers Offer Disassemble Furniture Services?
The short answer is yes, movers will usually disassemble the furniture if you ask. It might even be impossible to move without taking apart at least some larger items of furniture.
For example, your bed might be too large to even fit through the door! But you do not have to take apart the bed yourself. The movers will often do it for you. Movers are experienced in doing this and they know the most efficient way to take apart your furniture for the smoothest transit.
Before you get ready to move, it helps to know what items of furniture often need to be disassembled. Your movers may require that any furniture you plan to have them disassemble/assemble is requested prior to your move. Remember each company is different so ask questions when you book your move!
Items to Prepare for Furniture Disassembly
Tables
Large tables, such as kitchen or dining room tables, sometimes need to be taken apart before your move. This is not always the case though. Some tables are small and light enough to move as-is.
But some tables are large, unwieldy, and heavy. Disassembling them makes the job of moving them much more efficient. Movers usually detach the legs from the table surface. This makes the table easier to load and unload. It also makes the table less likely to break during the move.
Finally, for extra protection, movers will protectively wrap everything separately, often in moving blankets at no extra cost.
Bookshelves
Bookshelves are a piece of furniture usually disassembled before a move. They can be very large and heavy, and taking them apart makes them much lighter and easier to move from one home to the next.
Some bookshelves contain glass or other breakable materials. Disassembling the bookshelf before a move allows each piece to be wrapped and protected as much as possible for peace of mind during a move.
Bureaus & Vanities
Like bookshelves, bureaus and vanities often are partially made of glass or have mirrors attached. These parts are very breakable and often need extra protection. Sometimes, it can be unclear if these types of furniture are meant to be taken apart.
For example, you could have a bureau with a glass door, and not know if the door is supposed to come off or not. If you are inexperienced or unsure, you can always ask a professional for help. They will be able to use their experience to help you make the right decision.
Bed Frames
Bed frames are another piece of furniture that almost always needs to be disassembled before they are moved. Also, movers generally anticipate taking apart a bed frame since they are so long.
They usually do not take very long to disassemble. These items of furniture are often the easiest to take apart so you could do it yourself if you would like.
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What About Appliances?
Your washer, dryer, and other appliances are probably some of the more expensive, heavy, and complicated items in your house. Most movers will NOT disassemble these items for you, even if you ask.
There are always exceptions, but this is the general rule of thumb. This is because appliances are very expensive, and it is easy to do something wrong. That is a big liability that moving companies do not want to be responsible for that.
If you need help disassembling or moving appliances, it is best to call a plumber or other expert to help you out. If you are looking to save money, there are always tutorials available online. But be careful and remember it might end up saving you money in the long run to hire an expert.
What About Electronics?
Movers are usually willing to help you hook up electronics like your TV. However if budget is a concern, keep in mind that their time costs money. You could be able to do this yourself so weigh the pros and cons.
Sometimes movers will even help you set up cable, internet, or other utilities! But you should always ask your moving company in advance if they help with these things just to be sure.
What About Cheap Furniture?
Some more inexpensive furniture is often not meant to be moved or taken apart. This type of furniture is very convenient and budget-friendly, however, it is not often built for long-term use.
If you are unsure of whether to attempt to disassemble inexpensive furniture, there are some general rules of thumb to help you. Usually, if you had to put together the furniture yourself (such as furniture from Ikea) it is not meant for disassembly and re-assembly.
Additionally, if the furniture is made of materials like particleboard it is often not made to be taken apart. Furniture made of particle board is prone to breaking and may not survive your move intact.
Should I Ask Movers to Disassemble My Furniture?
However, just because a service is offered does not mean you must use it. If you are moving, you might want to disassemble your furniture yourself. You could have an attachment to a piece of furniture and want to make sure there are no accidents.
You might be looking to save money, or you may have no other reason besides wanting to learn something new! In the end, it is your decision to make! So, let’s look at the pros and cons of having your movers disassemble your furniture.
Pros of Furniture Disassemble Services
The biggest plus of having your professional movers take apart your furniture is that it is a lot easier. You may have never taken apart a bed frame or other pieces of furniture before, and it can be a stressful, time-consuming, and anxiety-inducing task.
But for professional movers, it is a routine part of the job they have experience. If you’re short on time, or inexperienced with tools or moving in general, this could be an option for you. Letting the professionals take the reins is better for some people.
Cons of Furniture Disassemble Services
Paying for furniture disassembly is expensive. Taking apart furniture can take a lot of time which, in turn, can make your move more expensive. This is especially true if you are paying per hour for your move.
The best way to save money when it comes to moving is to try and do as much as you can by yourself. This way you’re only paying for what you really need and getting the most bang for your buck.
Alternatives to Furniture Disassemble Services
An alternative to paying your movers to disassemble your furniture is to hire a furniture disassembly service to do it. These are professionals too, but often charge much less per hour than movers do.
You could also get a general handyman to help you with the job for a similar rate. Another option is to try sites like Tasker or Facebook Marketplace to hire someone looking for an odd job. If you are short on time and money, this could be a good option for you.
Something to Consider
If you do decide to pay your movers to disassemble your furniture you should probably think about reassembly too. If you are moving a short distance, you will likely have the same movers to help you out during the final stages of your move. But if you are moving long-distance, a completely different company will likely be doing the job on the last leg of your move.
Although many pieces of furniture are easy to figure out how to reassemble that may not always be the case. Your new movers may not know how to put together what your old movers took apart. That might end up being an unexpected project for you to figure out!
Helpful Tips
Something very important for you (and your movers) to remember when disassembling furniture is to keep everything! You do not want to move cross-country only to realize you left the screws from your bedframe in your old house. That can be a nightmare, especially at the end of a long day!
It is also very important to label screws and other tiny furniture parts. This is critical to knowing which screws belong to what piece of furniture. One easy way to do this is to put your screws in baggies and label them with a marker. Labeling your screws and keeping close track of them can make your move much easier and less stressful.
It can be super helpful to take pictures before and during the disassembly of your furniture so you can have a guide to help you piece everything back together in your new home.
Things to Remember
Your movers will almost always disassemble your furniture for you. But sometimes there are exceptions to this, and you should contact each individual company for their policies and with questions. Many movers will not disassemble appliances, like your washing machine or dryer. Additionally, some cheap furniture is not meant for disassembly. It can break if you take it apart.
You can also always decide to take apart your furniture yourself. If you are deciding on whether to ask your movers to disassemble your furniture, consider factors such as time, budget, and your own experience level. Then, decide what is right for you!
Ashlyn is a homegrown Iowan (go Cyclones!). She graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 2023 with a degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications. Now, she serves as UniMovers' Community Outreach Manager. In her free time, she loves to try new restaurants, travel, watch baseball, and spend time with her dog!
To get in contact with her regarding blog partnerships at UniMovers please email blog@unimovers.com.