If you are getting ready to move houses then you are probably very interested in how to move a safe. The most important part of any move is getting everything into your new place with no damage. If you are like most people, you have probably even made a schedule of all the different jobs that need to be done during the moving process.
You probably noticed that some jobs are a lot more difficult than others. Packing up your personal computers and tablets to make sure they get a spot in your car is not too difficult. Moving your great grandmother's antique Victrola, however, is time-consuming and difficult.
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to moving houses is transporting a large, heavy safe. This is especially an issue if you are doing all the moving by yourself. Even if you plan on using movers to transport some of your goods, you may not want them touching your personal safe.
Either way, we have written this article to help you know exactly what you need to do to move your safe properly.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MOVE A SAFE?
When planning how to move a safe in a way that guarantees both the safe and you arrive in one piece at your final destination, there are several things you need to plan out in advance.
GETTING PROFESSIONALS
The first thing you want to ask yourself is whether it is worth it to simply hire professionals to do the job. Professional movers have a lot of experience with large and heavy objects. They will have the equipment necessary to do the move safely and securely. They know how to move a safe or other large objects quickly. Finally, they will also have the insurance needed in case something happens to one of the movers or to the safe itself.
DOING IT YOURSELF
There are some reasons why you might not want to use professional movers. Perhaps you do not want anyone to be aware of the existence of your large safe or you may just be moving the safe from one room to another. Whatever your reason for doing it yourself, there are some things you will have to do in advance in order to be sure that your move goes well.
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO
It is absolutely essential you know all the dimensions and the weight of your safe so you know exactly what you will be transporting, how many people you will need to help you, and what size and strength of equipment you will need.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FRIENDS
No one can move a 500-pound safe by themselves. There is not only incredible risk to you as an individual should you choose to do this, but you also risk all kinds of property damage. Although your safe itself may be undamaged even by a bad fall, the contents could be jostled and destroyed. A fall could destroy other parts of your house easily. You could crack floors, cave walls, destroy banisters and stairs, or break down a door or window if the safe gets out of your hands.
PLAN OUT YOUR ROUTE
In addition to knowing the size and dimensions of your safe and making sure you have the help you need, it is also important to plan out the route you will take while moving the safe. Ideally, it would be a good idea to have more than one route just in case an unexpected obstacle presents itself once you start moving.
WHAT SITUATIONS REQUIRE MOVING A SAFE?
Moving a safe is not a small matter and it is important to ask yourself whether the move is necessary. There are a few situations where moving is safe is necessary.
WHEN YOU ARE MOVING
Obviously, if you are moving to a new home or apartment, it is important to take all your valuables with you. In this case, it is important to move the safe. The best bet here would be to get professional movers to do the job. If that is not possible, then do it yourself, but do it very carefully.
MOVING TO A DIFFERENT ROOM
In some cases, it becomes necessary to move a safe to a different room of the house. Maybe a child is about to be born, an elderly family member is moving in with you, or you are starting a home business and need the room. Whatever the reason, it is a good idea to get a professional mover who knows how to move a safe, particularly if the new room is on a different floor. If you need to make this move by yourself, make sure you plan it out carefully before you start.
MOVING WITHIN A ROOM
Sometimes it is only necessary to move the safe to another part of the same room. Perhaps you've discovered that the safe is blocking light or you need to move another piece of furniture into the room. In this case, most people are likely to try moving the safe by themselves. If that is you, make sure you know how to move a safe and that you plan out your strategy carefully. Do not be fooled into thinking it will be simple just because you are moving within the same room.
HOW TO MOVE A SAFE, SAFELY
When it is time to move your safe, there are several steps to follow to make sure it gets done properly.
GATHER YOUR EQUIPMENT
The first thing you need to do is make sure you have all the proper equipment and that it is all rated for the weight you are planning on moving. You will need an appliance dolly or hand truck capable of moving appliances like washers and dryers, several supporting straps, rope, and moving blankets. You will also need packing tape.
PREPARE YOURSELF
You need to dress properly for this event. Any baggy clothes or loose jewelry can get caught on something, broken, or torn. In a worst-case scenario, you might try to save your clothes or your jewelry and end up seriously hurting yourself or someone else in the process. Make sure you are wearing close-toed shoes that have a good grip on the floor. Get good work gloves that can protect your fingers but also give you grip. Hopefully, nothing too drastic will happen, but it is always wise to be prepared and cautious.
CLEAR THE AREA
Make sure you completely cleared every area through which you will need to move the safe. Make sure there are no ends of carpet or rug the dolly can get snagged on and that you have moved all pieces of furniture out of the way. Make sure that all the doors between you and your final destination have been propped open. Even better, take those doors off completely while moving the safe.
PREPARE THE SAFE
To get your safe ready, first remove all items. Then close the door and lock it so there is no chance it can swing out during the move. Wrap heavy moving blankets around the entire safe and tape these down with packing tape. There should be no metal showing.
GETTING ON THE HAND TRUCK
With the help of at least three, and ideally five other people, carefully tilt the safe and slide the hand truck under the bottom and lift it up onto the dolly. Once the safe is on the hand truck, carefully strap it down tightly. This is one of the most important steps and serious injury can result if the safe slides off the dolly.
MOVING
Have one person move the dolly while everyone else supports the safe as you slowly move it to its new home. If possible, have an extra person who can go in front of the dolly just to make sure that no obstacles have suddenly appeared in the way. Before you begin, make sure everyone understands there should be no unexpected movements such as sharp turns or shoves.
NEGOTIATING THE STAIRS
The key with stairs is making very slow and small movements while fully supporting the safe at all times. Never begin the second step until the first step has been completely negotiated and never have fewer than three people supporting the safe and its weight at any one time. Slow and steady is always the best way when negotiating stairs.
GETTING ON THE TRUCK
Once you have the safe loaded onto a truck or van, assuming you are moving it to a new home or apartment, do not forget to strap it down. It is easy to assume that the safe is so heavy it will not move around on the back of the truck. This is the kind of assumption that can get people killed.
Conclusion
The best way to move a large, heavy safe is to find professional movers who know how to move a safe and get them to do it for you. If that is not possible or feasible, be sure to plan your move in advance, carefully prepare the safe and yourself for the move, get the help of at least three other friends, and take your time. This is how to move a safe the right way. Whether you are moving locations in a room or moving across the country, we hope this article has helped you get ready to move your safe properly. Have a happy and safe move!
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