Start by removing any obstacles in the moving path, such as side tables, lamps, or other furniture. If your couch has legs, unscrew them. Measure the couch and the stairway to ensure you have enough room; if it seems unlikely, examine the shape and size of the couch and decide whether it might fit better up the stairway and through doorways on its side, held diagonally, or moved in an upright position.

Consider putting the sofa on a dolly to go up the stairs. It should be able to fit upright on a standard dolly with wheels. You’ll still need to lift the dolly—with the couch on it—up the stairs, but it will reduce the physical strain. The person holding the dolly should pull the couch up, while the helper should be on the other side, keeping the couch secure and steady.

If you don’t have a dolly, the person in front should lift the couch slightly higher than the person in the back to create more stability. The person in the back should also be the stronger mover, as most of the weight will be distributed there.

If you need to move heavy furniture inside your house, like a grandfather clock, consider hiring professional movers for this service, too. Many moving companies advertise in-house moving services, including transporting heavy items to different rooms or floors of the house. It’s best to hire professional movers for this task to avoid damaging parts of your home, like narrow stairways or flooring, or the item during the process.

To pack mugs safely for a move, start by lining the bottom of your moving box with padded material like bubble wrap. Wrap each mug individually; for a snug fit, you can tuck the ends of the bubble wrap sheet inside the mug. Place the wrapped mugs in the box, using a box with slots for extra separation if available. The key to preventing breakage is to pack the box tightly enough that the mugs cannot shift during transit. Fill any empty gaps with additional packing material. However, be careful not to pack more than 10 mugs in one box, as it can become too heavy to carry safely. Finally, be sure to label the box as “fragile” to alert movers to handle it with care.

It’s best to book local movers about three months in advance to ensure your moving date is available, as most of the time, you’ll have a fairly tight window for moving your belongings. When booking your moving date, provide your moving team with as much detailed information as possible to prepare for the big day. Let your movers know an estimate of how many boxes they’ll move, any large or bulky items, number of bedrooms in your current home, the type of moving vehicle, and more.