"I wanted to move my piano into climate-controlled storage while I was having new flooring installed in my home, so I found Johnson’s Piano Moving based on their excellent online reviews. Ted from Johnson’s worked with me to have my piano moved into their climate-controlled storage for a week during the installation. My house has a side entrance which made the move pretty challenging, but the excellent crews who moved the piano out and back in were very creative in accommodating the challenge with the front door and they took great care not to damage my railings on the stoop. I highly recommend Johnson’s Piano Moving!"
"Everything went as planned. They showed up early on the planned day. The workers were efficient, friendly and went beyond what I expected. The owner checked on the progress throughout the move. I would definitely use this company again!"
"Following the death of my father, I contacted Metropolitan Moving and Storage to move my mother from Silver Spring, MD to Charlotte, NC and make a stop to drop some furniture off in Mount Jackson, VA. Everyone with whom we spoke and worked were absolutely wonderful! We scheduled an estimator and a few days later Edward came to the house. In less than an hour he provided an estimate and scheduled her move. Not only was he extremely polite and compassionate, he was spot on with the estimate. My parents and I have moved with the government several times in the past. This move was markedly different. The movers who packed and loaded the trucks stayed with the household goods and unpacked them upon arriving at their destination. The office called to confirm the delivery of boxes and the move dates. On the packing and moving days, Luis and his crew arrived a few minutes early so they would be punctual. We were surprised by such wonderful service. They had our three-bedroom house loaded in two trucks in less than four hours, including moving a Steinway Grand Piano! Luis and his crew were unbelievably disciplined and efficient. Once completed I spoke with Justin to follow-up on our wonderful experience. He and Lena continued to provide unmatched customer service to this day. I highly recommend this team and will definitely use them when I move from Virginia."
"The move itself went very well. The movers were very careful, punctual, and professional. Making the appointment, getting an estimate, and dealing with the customer service staff was good as well. But the true test of a good company vs a great company is how they handle the things that go wrong, that is where NOVA Express Movers really came through! There was an oversight on my first move. I should have been given a discount for paying in cash that I did not receive. I know this was an honest mistake by the crew manager. When I contacted the office, the very professional staff agreed to refund my over payment. They also broke the wooden music holder on my upright piano. The crew was very careful, it was just a difficult piece to move. To their credit they told me about it right away. I contacted customer service to seek a repair. Ultimately I ended up taking it to a professional furniture repair shop. They said to let them know the cost and they would send me a check to cover the repair. I did this, the cost was $170, I sent them a copy of the receipt. The manager very happily sent me a check to reimburse me. I'm really pleased with how well the move went, and how professional and pleasant the staff was to work with. I felt they really wanted me to be happy with their service, and I am! I would definitely use them again."
"The movers did good work, but as is the case with most moving companies, it was unclear about the final payment terms until the end. In particular, travel time was an additional fee, not included in the deal purchased."
"Security Movers and Greg did a spectacular job in moving our family and all of our belongings from our long-time home in Vienna Vrginia to our new home in suburban Chicago. Based on glowing recommendations from two of our neighbors for both Greg and his work, we invited him to quote the move. He spent more than 3 hours reviewing and fully documenting all of our belongings and to fully understand what items we would be moving ourselves or selling off before we moved. His quote was not only more complete but also more affordable than any of the national carriers. Naturally we selected him for the job. Once the move was confirmed and scheduled, Greg truly went above and beyond with numerous deliveries of complimentary boxes and paper packaging gathered from earlier moves. We literally saved thousands of dollars in packaging and boxes because of his help. More than that, he stopped by regularly to check on our progress with packing and stacking to assure that if there were issues or concerns that he could work with us ahead of time so that when “moving day” came - we would be 100% ready But it was more than just Greg – his full team in both Virginia for the load and Chicago for the unload were as friendly and careful as they were fast and efficient. Only one item was broken during the move (a glass pane within a picture frame that we had packed ourselves) compared to the dozens of items broken by poor care and handling in our earlier move to Virginia. Better still – Greg was just as effective when things did not go as planned as he was in working through the plan. When we came up short and needed additional space, he was back in an hour with an additional truck. When there was concern that the second load could take more than a month to get to us, he worked with one of his loading team members to use a rental truck to get our items up to Chicago only a week later. When a key item was accidently packed on the second truck that we needed for our personal travel, he made the trip (late night) to go get the item and have it back on our doorstep before we need to roll out Moving your home and your family is as challenging as it is emotional. Your mover should be someone who makes a difficult time and task easier not harder. Greg and his team did exactly that and it made all the difference for us"
"Great job packing, loading, unlaoding and placement -the same packers moved the items so they had ownership of everything. Very professional, experienced and very nice people. Very helpful in picking up empty boxes later. I would definietly use Majestic again and highly recommend them. thank you! "
"Movers were fast and professional. They knew how to setup the piano and even pointed out several things to us. They provided pre-move damage pictures as well. They worked within a very tight time frame and on short notice. Would highly recommend them to anyone needing a piano moved."
"Hiring these guys was the best decision ever! My husband and I normally DIY when it comes to moving. Since we moved into our townhome we accumulated a lot more then we had in out tiny apartment. It seemed overwhelming trying to DIY this time around. We searched around a bit but got a recommendation from a friend who used Johnson's in the past. We got a quote from Johnson's that was very reasonable compared to some of the other places we called. We thought we'd have a month or so to coordinate but things moved a lot quicker then we expected. We had just a few days to pack and move! We called Johnson and they were able to get our move scheduled very last minute. I should mention on move day we were not 100% packed. There were still some odds and ends left to be done. The crew was very understanding and helpful. We got the job done quickly and under budget! Woohoo! I will definitely use and recommend Johnson Moving And Storage in the future. "
"Divine is an understatement. We've moved a dozen times and this move was by far the least stressful. First, the process was extremely organized to make the move more efficient and reduce the frantic need to be with each mover for furniture/box placement. Second, the team was courteous and hardworking. The manners of each team member was exemplary. Third, the no touch unpacking service was above and beyond what any moving company offers. The entire house was organized and boxes were gone in a day and a half. To top it off, Chris was enthusiastic, friendly and most pleasant. (And he treats his employees with kindness and fair working policies so they don't get jaded or burnt out)."
Yes, in almost all cases, it is worth the investment to hire professional piano movers. Pianos are not only heavy and bulky but are also often expensive and delicate instruments. Attempting to move one yourself poses a significant risk of damage to the piano, your home, and can lead to serious personal injury, especially when navigating stairs. The average cost of hiring professional movers (around $400) is typically much less than the potential cost of repairs, replacement, or medical bills that could result from an unsuccessful DIY move.
Tipping movers is not mandatory, and most professional companies do not expect it. However, it is a common way to show appreciation for their hard work and the care they take with your belongings and home. A standard tip is between 10% and 20% of your total bill, split among the crew, or about $10 per mover per hour, tipped individually. It's an especially good idea to tip if the movers work in difficult weather, handle specialty items like pianos or pool tables, provide extra packing services, or go above and beyond your expectations.
Yes, there are sometimes hidden costs when hiring a moving company. These can include fees for packing, handling, and assembling specific large items, fees for packing materials used, and charges for trips over a certain mileage. To avoid hidden fees, always request a detailed quote before booking or paying a deposit.
It is best to book a moving company two to three months before your move-out date. This provides enough time to compare rates, organize your belongings, and find an available crew for your desired day and time. While you might find movers with only one or two weeks' notice, some companies require booking up to 90 days in advance.
Planning ahead is especially important if you're moving during the busy summer season when demand is highest. Summer weekends, in particular, book up quickly. Securing your movers well in advance helps you avoid the stress and potential extra fees of last-minute arrangements.
There are different types of moving companies, and you’ll want to look for one that has experience moving houses. Ask them how many houses they’ve moved, how long they’ve been in business, whether they coordinate all of the labor, permits, and subcontractors needed, and what their liability is for any damages incurred.
The Kettering, MD homeowners’ guide to professional moving service pianos
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Planning a relocation? Learn everything you need to know about piano moving, including average costs, preparation steps, and how to hire the right local pro.
Professional piano movers help ensure the safe, smooth transportation of your instrument. Before you hire, it’s important to check qualifications, review references, and get a contract in writing. Find out the steps for hiring a piano mover here.
