A sofa is one of the most important pieces of furniture at home. It is considered the anchor piece of a home as the rest of the furniture surrounding it will depend on how it will be arranged. It is also the biggest piece of furniture in your living room and the most used piece of furniture as it provides comfort and relaxation. But with all these usages, it also makes it one of the hardest things to move, especially if you own a big and heavy sofa.

If you are thinking of moving your sofa to your new home or even buying a used sofa, you have the option to hire a removalist to do this task for you or move it yourself. But whatever choice you make, planning is necessary. Here is a guide on how to move a sofa.

Preparation is significant

Everyone knows that moving furniture is not an easy task, especially if it is as big and heavy as a sofa. Thus, preparation should be done beforehand.

• Measure the sofa’s dimensions

It is advised to correctly measure the dimensions of a sofa. You can use a measuring tape to do so. You should get the width, height and diagonal depth.

For the width, you can measure it from one couch arm to the opposite arm. Moreover, height can be measured by lengthening your measuring tape from the floor to the highest point on the back of the couch. Lastly, the diagonal depth can be identified by first placing a straight edge from the highest point of the back to the front of the arm. Then measure from the bottom back corner of the sofa up to the point that crosses the straight edge.

• Measure the size of all entryways

Once you collect the measurement of your sofa’s dimensions, you also need to collect the sizes of all the entryways your sofa will pass through. Make sure to include narrow spaces such as your doorways, staircases, hallways or even elevator doors. Measure the height and width of all these openings for you to correlate the measurements of your sofa with the entryways.

Get your sofa ready for the move

Now, it’s time for you to make your sofa ready before the moving day. Here are some things you need to do.

• Break it down into all of its parts

This is necessary to avoid any delays while moving your sofa as loose pillows may hinder people's movement. Moreover, detach cushions and legs, and remove each of the sections if the couch is sectional. But of course, you don’t want to damage your sofa by forcing anything off that isn’t intended to be detached.

• Remove the sofa covers and clean

Removing sofa covers and cleaning them would be a great start. You also have the option to vacuum your sofa to remove all the hidden dirt and stinks from daily usage.

• Sofa protection

Once your sofa is completely free from any hindrances and is already clean, you can start packing. You can just put them in a large garbage bag for your cushions and pillows or if you want maximum protection, use plastic wrap. If you were able to remove the legs, you can just put them together with your cushions but of course, you can separately wrap them as well.

For your sofa base, the best way is to cover it with a plastic protective sheet and then cover it with a moving blanket. This will surely prevent any damage before you put it in the vehicle.

• Identify new placement

If possible, identify the new placement of your sofa in the new home. This way, it would be easier for you to pinpoint the narrow openings you will be moving to and at the same time, you can prepare for paddings for the areas you want to stop if you need to rest for a while.

Sofa Delivery

Once you finish with the preparation of your sofa, you can now decide how you wanted it to be moved. You can either do it yourself or hire a trusted and reliable removalist Perth or removalist Adelaide, wherever you are in Australia.

• DIY move

This is considered by many people as the cheapest way to move the sofa. But of course, you need to keep in mind that you will be needing help from two or more people to lift a big and heavy sofa. You also need to have the necessary equipment to do it. Thus, this may not be the most affordable way to do it. But if you are still interested in choosing this, here’s what you need to do. 

You need to remember to exercise caution when lifting a sofa. Remember, when lifting heavy furniture like a sofa, you should carry the weight in your legs and not your back. Bend your knees if necessary. Also, carry the sofa close to your body and not away from it as it helps maintain the balance of your body and particularly, it gets your upper arms and shoulders involved in the lifting. While you lift and walk, make sure to keep your body as still as you can and avoid twisting or making other movements that may cause injury.

•  Hiring a removalist

Now, if you think you can’t do it by yourself, some removalists can assist you with your sofa move. You may also want to consider the advantages of hiring a removalist. You can get insurance but be sure to check the company first. Also, hiring a removalist will surely lessen the chances of any damages and injuries as they are experienced enough with the task. Take note, inform your chosen removalist about the service you only need to avoid paying additional fees.

Compare quotes

Contacting removalists all over Australia just to receive multiple quotes is also a tricky task. But now, it will be easier with Upmove. You will just need to submit one listing, and Upmove will be reaching out to a network of moving companies who can help you with your move-in on just one platform. Whether it’s car transport, motorcycle transport, a home move or just a furniture move, it’s highly recommended. Making your move safe and easy as they are knowledgeable and experienced enough with any type of move.