Piano Removals

Piano Removals in Richmond by Experienced Specialists

Moving a piano is very different from moving ordinary furniture. At Richmond Movers, we provide specialist piano removals across Richmond and the surrounding areas, using trained staff, purpose-built equipment and carefully planned methods to protect both your instrument and your property.

Expert Local Piano Removal Services in Richmond

Based in Richmond, we understand the mixture of period houses, narrow staircases, flats and tight parking that can make moving a piano challenging. Our local knowledge means we can plan access, parking and routes in advance, helping your move go smoothly and safely.

We regularly move pianos in and around:

• Richmond town centre and riverside properties
• Richmond Hill and surrounding residential streets
• Flats and apartments around Richmond station
• Local schools, churches, halls and studios
• Nearby areas such as Twickenham, Kew and Ham

Every move is handled by a trained, professional team who understand how to protect your instrument, your floors and your walls at every stage.

Who Our Piano Removal Service Is For

Our specialist piano removals are suitable for:

Homeowners

Whether you are upgrading, downsizing or moving across town, we can move your upright or grand piano between houses, into storage or to a buyer with minimum disruption.

Renters

If you live in a flat or rented house, we carefully protect stairwells, lifts and communal areas so you can hand the property back in good condition and avoid damage charges.

Landlords & Managing Agents

We help landlords and agents remove or relocate pianos between properties, often at short notice, ensuring common parts and fixtures are fully protected.

Businesses & Venues

We move pianos for schools, churches, theatres, hotels, restaurants, event spaces and recording studios, including time-sensitive moves outside normal hours when required.

Students & Young Musicians

Moving between student accommodation, halls or first flats can be stressful. We provide affordable, properly planned moves for pianos in smaller properties with tricky access.

What Our Piano Removal Service Includes

Items Typically Included

Our piano removals service usually covers:

• Upright pianos (all sizes and ages)
• Baby grand pianos
• Grand pianos (with partial dismantling where appropriate)
• Digital pianos and stage pianos
• Piano stools and benches
• Associated music stands and small accessories

We provide padded blankets, piano skids, ramps, dollies and floor protection as standard, and can also incorporate your piano into a full house or office move.

Items and Services Not Included as Standard

To be transparent, the following are normally not included in a standard piano removal, but can often be arranged or recommended separately:

• Piano tuning before or after the move
• Internal repairs, regulation or restoration
• Disposal or recycling of pianos beyond economical repair
• Crane or hoist hire for very restricted access (can be organised on request)
• Removal of windows, doors or structural alterations by third parties

We will always explain clearly what is and is not included before you book, so there are no surprises on the day.

Our Step-by-Step Piano Removals Process

1. Enquiry & Quotation

Contact us by phone, email or through our website with basic details: piano type, current location, destination, access notes and your preferred dates. We will ask a few questions or request photos to understand staircases, steps and tight corners. From this we provide a clear, no-obligation quote, outlining what is included and any potential additional costs.

2. Survey – Virtual or Onsite

For more complex moves, or where access is uncertain, we carry out a short virtual survey (video call and photos) or an onsite visit. This allows us to measure doorways and stairwells, assess parking and decide whether extra equipment or staff are needed. The survey helps avoid delays or risks on the day and ensures the quoted price is accurate.

3. Packing & Preparation

On moving day, our team arrives at the agreed time and talks you through the plan. We protect floors and walls, remove any removable parts (such as music desks or pedal lyres on grands) and carefully wrap the piano in padded blankets. For grand pianos we usually remove and wrap the legs and secure the body to a specialist skid for safe handling.

4. Loading & Transport

The piano is carefully manoeuvred using straps, dollies and ramps, then secured in our dedicated removals vehicle using tie points and additional padding. Our vehicles are fitted for safe, stable transit, and your instrument is covered by our goods in transit insurance while in our care.

5. Unloading & Placement

At the destination, we reverse the process just as carefully, protecting floors and doorways and positioning the piano in your chosen room. Where possible we will suggest a position that avoids direct heat and sunlight. We reassemble any removed parts and carry out final checks before leaving.

Piano Removal Pricing – How We Work

We prefer to price each piano move individually so you pay a fair rate that reflects the actual work involved. Our quotation considers:

• Piano type and size (upright, baby grand, grand)
• Distance between properties
• Stairs, narrow corridors or difficult access
• Parking restrictions or long carries
• Number of staff and any specialist equipment required
• Time of day or weekend/unsociable hours if requested

We provide a clear written quote before you book. There are no hidden charges: any potential extras, such as hoist hire, will be explained in advance.

Why Choose Professional Piano Removers Instead of DIY

Many people underestimate the weight and complexity of pianos. A typical upright can weigh 200–300 kg; a grand considerably more. Attempting to move one with friends or a casual man-and-van often leads to:

• Injury from lifting incorrectly
• Damage to stairs, floors, doors and walls
• Serious damage to the piano’s frame or action
• Insurance not covering any losses

By contrast, a professional service gives you:

• Trained staff using the correct techniques and equipment
• Appropriate goods in transit insurance and public liability cover
• Pre-planned access and risk assessment
• Careful protection of both instrument and property

In most cases, using specialists is more economical than repairing damage caused by DIY attempts.

Insurance and Professional Standards

Richmond Movers operates to high professional standards designed to protect you and your piano at every stage.

• Goods in transit insurance – covering your piano while it is in our vehicle and under our control.
• Public liability cover – protecting against accidental damage to third-party property during the move.
• Trained moving teams – all staff receive specific training in piano handling, manual handling and safe lifting techniques.
• Well-maintained vehicles – suitable for carrying heavy, delicate items.

We are happy to confirm cover levels and provide evidence of insurance on request.

Care, Protection and Our Approach to Sustainability

We treat every piano as if it were our own. This means:

• Using high-quality padded blankets and covers
• Protecting floors, carpets and bannisters
• Planning routes to avoid unnecessary lifting or risk

We also aim to work as sustainably as we reasonably can by:

• Reusing durable packing materials wherever possible
• Recycling old materials responsibly when they reach the end of their life
• Planning routes efficiently to reduce unnecessary mileage

Real-World Piano Removal Scenarios

Moving House with a Piano

We often integrate piano moves into full home removals, coordinating timing so your instrument is moved safely alongside your other belongings. This avoids you having to book separate services.

Office and Venue Relocations

From a piano in a hotel lounge to an instrument in a school music room, we work with businesses and organisations to move pianos between sites or within the same building, often outside normal hours to minimise disruption.

Urgent or Short-Notice Moves

Sometimes a piano needs to be moved quickly – a tenancy ending, a sale completing sooner than expected, or urgent building work. Where our schedule allows, we can offer same-day or next-day service in Richmond and nearby areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a piano removal in Richmond cost?

The cost depends on the type of piano, the distance between properties and how easy the access is at each end. As a rough guide, local upright piano moves with straightforward access are at the lower end of our pricing, while large grands, stairs and awkward turns increase the cost. After a brief discussion or survey we provide a fixed, written quote so you know exactly what to expect before you book, with no hidden extras added on the day.

Can you do same-day or urgent piano removals?

Where our schedule allows, we can often accommodate same-day or next-day moves in Richmond and nearby areas. Urgent moves depend on vehicle and crew availability, access complexity and the piano type. If you need a fast move, contact us as early as possible with full details so we can advise realistically. We will always be honest about what is achievable and will never cut corners on safety or protection to squeeze in a last-minute job.

Is my piano insured while you move it?

Yes. Your piano is covered by our goods in transit insurance while it is in our vehicle and under our control, and we also hold public liability cover for work on-site. This is in addition to the care taken by our trained team, who use specialist equipment and proven methods to minimise the risk of any damage. We can confirm policy details and limits on request, and we recommend you also check any cover provided by your own home contents insurer.

What exactly is included in your piano removals service?

Our standard service includes the provision of a trained crew, all necessary handling equipment, protective blankets, floor protection, safe loading, secure transport and careful placement of the piano in your chosen room at the destination. We can also move the matching stool and small accessories. Tuning, internal repairs and crane hire are not included as standard, but we can often recommend trusted specialists or arrange additional services where needed. We explain all inclusions clearly in your written quote.

How is a professional piano removal different from a man-and-van?

A casual man-and-van service may not have the training, equipment or insurance needed for heavy, delicate instruments. Professional piano removers use skids, ramps, dollies, straps and multi-person teams who understand safe techniques and how to protect the instrument’s structure. We also carry dedicated goods in transit and public liability insurance. While a man-and-van can look cheaper initially, the cost of repairing damage to a piano or property after an inexperienced move is usually far higher than using a specialist service.

How far in advance should I book a piano removal?

For maximum choice of dates, we recommend booking at least one to two weeks in advance, especially if you are moving on a Friday, weekend or at month-end. However, we understand that piano moves sometimes arise at short notice, for example when a property sale or tenancy date changes. If you are working to a tight timescale, contact us as soon as possible. We will check our schedule and do our best to offer a suitable slot, or suggest alternative options if we are fully booked.