You have to move your apartment and the elevator is unavailable, too small, broken or simply non-existent.
Rest assured, there are solutions to simplify your task and to move by the stairs (or otherwise) in good conditions. In this file, we invite you to discover several tips from the pros to move your apartment without a lift by yourself or to call on a moving professional with ease.
Tip n°1: to move without a lift, it is better to do some sorting!
To move more serenely without a lift, the first thing to do is to sort through your belongings. Do you really need everything or do you also tend to keep a lot of things “just in case”? If so, sorting will benefit you in many ways since you will reduce the volume to move and the volume to move in, and you will finally get rid of the superfluous at the same time!
Start by sorting your objects, clothes, toys, equipment and miscellaneous belongings. Anything that is broken or too worn can be thrown in the trash, taken to the landfill or recycled. What has become useless, but which is still usable and in good condition, can be given to relatives, associations or put up for sale through online classified ads.
Then tackle your furniture. If some furniture is unsuitable for your new home or if it no longer serves you, donate or sell! As for those that are no longer in good condition, take them to the recycling center or offer them free or at a low price to renovation enthusiasts, they can still make people happy!
Just with a good sorting, you have the possibility of reducing the volume of business to be moved. This is a real plus if you have to organize this event without an elevator. This will save you several laps and reduce the risk of injury on the stairs.
Tip n°2: reduce the volume of your business as much as possible
Furniture is the most difficult to move without an elevator. Consequently, it is better to make life easier by dismantling everything that can be. Admittedly, this requires a bit of time and organization, but you will limit the risk of injury and move around the stairs will be easier.
Dismantled furniture takes up less space and is less heavy to carry. Better to go a little more back and forth to move your closet than to get stuck on the stairs. Remember to group together the small tools (screws, etc.) for each piece of furniture. For example, you can place everything in an airtight freezer-type bag that you identify with a marker or that you tape to an element of the dismantled furniture.
To limit the number of bulky boxes intended for transporting clothes, blankets, throws, bed linen, towels and other miscellaneous linens, use compressible bags instead. These covers are indeed more compact and easy to carry up stairs. All you have to do is place your belongings in it and then suck in the air by placing the hose of your vacuum cleaner on the valve provided for this purpose. Space saving guaranteed!
Tip #3: Dress accordingly
Moving by the stairs is a much sportier operation than with an elevator! You should therefore plan to dress accordingly. Choose a comfortable outfit, not too baggy so as not to hinder your movements, but not too tight. Leggings and a sports t-shirt are a good solution, for example.
Consider non-slip shoes for climbing up and down stairs while limiting the risk of falling. Don’t forget the protective gloves either, because you will have to wear your things for a longer period of time, sometimes without the possibility of a break.
Tip #4: Protect Your Assets
The risk of falling is greater when moving without a lift, because you will increase the number of trips up and down the stairs while carrying your furniture and boxes. Better to limit the risk of breakage and premature wear with good equipment.
Choose good quality boxes. Forget the half-torn recycling packaging and prefer to invest in solid and resistant boxes. Remember to reinforce the bottom with suitable adhesive and properly close each box before handling.
For your furniture, limit the risk of impact by protecting everything that can be protected. Anything that cannot be dismantled must be well protected on the sides and the bottom to prevent the contact of the steps and the banister from damaging them. Also remember to tape the doors of the furniture well and to fix everything that can be when you move your household appliances to reduce the risk of shocks.
Tip #5: think of the devil
The hand truck is ideal for transporting large furniture or boxes up the stairs. This equipment designed to go up and down stairs with a load is essential safety for your belongings and for those who handle them! You can rent a hand truck easily from DIY stores or find one for sale or for rent on private classifieds sites.
Also think about the straps that will allow you to attach the furniture to the trolley for transport.
Tip #6: don’t forget about safety!
If you have to move without a lift, it is better to be well accompanied. Do not hesitate to call on all your relatives available to help you in order to avoid that the same people multiply the round trips on the stairs at the risk of exhausting themselves and/or injuring themselves.
To avoid mobilizing everyone for too long, make sure that everything is ready and only get help for transporting goods up the stairs.
However, pay close attention to your movements to avoid falls. It would be a shame to damage or break your belongings, but the health and safety of those who help you is even more important. Do not hesitate to ask for help to be guided in the transport of bulky goods, carry the heaviest furniture by the sides and adopt the right postures to relieve your back, your arms, your legs and your neck.
Indeed, remember to bend your knees well to grab and lift a box and keep your back straight as much as possible so as not to mistreat it when you carry heavy loads.
Tip n°7: using the furniture lift
It is sometimes impossible to move bulky furniture up the stairs. In this case, it is possible to get help from a furniture lift, a suitable platform that allows you to move these bulky items safely and without discomfort. This equipment can be made available by a professional mover or rented from a professional who offers this type of product.
Thanks to the furniture lift, you can raise or lower your imposing furniture by passing them through the window. It will only take a few minutes to make the transfer, a real time saver for moving bulky items and heavy furniture, or even to avoid dismantling and reassembling your furniture.
Be aware, however, that this type of equipment is handled by a competent technician. This relieves you of its installation and management, but it will be necessary to provide a certain budget for its use.
In addition, the furniture lift must be parked at the foot of your building to be used. You will therefore need to obtain prior authorization from the town hall of your municipality, which will mark its location on the ground. This process can take time, so anticipate it! Depending on the city, it takes between 15 days and two months of delay!
This service is very convenient, but it comes at a price. Depending on the height to be reached and the duration of use, you will have to pay between 80 euros and 150 euros for a single trip and between 250 euros and 500 euros for a daily rental.
Tip #8: Hire a moving professional
Even if there are solutions to allow you to move alone without a lift, as we have just seen, the best thing is still to call on a professional mover and entrust this event to him. Admittedly, this operation has a cost, but you will simplify your life by delegating this task to an expert equipped with suitable equipment.
Indeed, moving companies are used to working on sites without lifts. The teams are trained to handle the goods to be moved without risk and without injury. The staff will be able to protect your furniture and your boxes with adequate and reinforced equipment. Your goods will be moved in complete safety and if the use of the furniture lift is necessary, it will be integrated into the service.
Beforehand, the professional mover sets an appointment to carry out a technical visit on site. He will thus be able to identify the characteristics of your accommodation and adapt the teams and equipment to move you without a lift.
Tip #9: Ask for quotes!
Of course, the fact that it is necessary to move your belongings without a lift will have an impact on the price of the service. Indeed, the teams will have to be mobilized longer, it will be necessary to provide reinforced protective equipment and specific equipment. However, you save yourself valuable time, you avoid the fatigue that such an operation generates and you reduce the risk of injury and breakage.
Do not hesitate to contact several moving professionals and ask for several quotes. Comparing them will allow you to choose the best service. Our online comparator is a ready-made tool for this. It is free, without obligation, personalized, fast and efficient. All you have to do is fill out a simple questionnaire that will help the tool identify your needs and it will send you a list of suitable offers in a few seconds after validation.
It’s up to you to select the most interesting service providers and organize the technical visits with them. They will be able to assess your needs and the terms of your move, in particular the need to intervene without a lift. Detailed and personalized quotes will then be offered to you. You just have to select the most advantageous. You can even rely on competing offers to negotiate price advantages or additional services!