Hiring Safe Movers To Handle The Heavy Lifting

Make the safe move and bring in a professional to move your safe

Few things are as difficult to move as a safe, no matter the size or model. While strong boxes or hotel safes may only be 40 or 50 pounds, these are about as light as a safe will get. A typical home or office safe weighs several hundred pounds, and some tip the scales at half a ton or more.

That weight ensures the safe is extra secure (otherwise, a thief would be able to pick the whole thing up and drive away), but it also means the safe is a problem on moving day. To solve the safe moving problem, many homeowners in Houston turn to professionals to get the job done.

Why do homeowners rely on professionals to move safes?

Even if you have a team of strong friends to help out, there are several good reasons to hire a professional instead. For example:

1. There is a major risk of injury

Strains and sprains are always a risk when performing a move, especially among people who don’t have the right training and experience. This risk is much higher when moving something like a safe, where every movement requires a great deal of effort.

A lot can go wrong when hauling hundreds of pounds of metal and composite materials. Someone could slip and throw their back out. Someone could drop the safe on their foot and shatter their toes. Even worse, someone could be pinned against the wall or floor if the safe is dropped down the stairs.

Serious, even fatal injuries are possible when handling so much weight, but this risk is minimized when professionals are doing the lifting. That’s because they have the experience, manpower and teamwork needed to operate like a steady machine.

2. There is also a major risk of damage

Mishandling a safe can cause harm to people, and it can also cause harm to the building. If the safe is dropped or smashed against the wall, your friends may escape injury, but the house likely won’t be so lucky.

Drywall, hardwood and tile aren’t designed to withstand thousands of pounds of force, which is why professionals observe many precautions when moving a safe.

3. Special equipment is needed to efficiently haul a safe

If the move involves stairs, tight corners or a long walk to the truck, special equipment is necessary to make it happen. A heavy-duty appliance dolly, at the minimum, is a must. In most cases, additional straps and ropes will be required to secure the safe during movement.

If there are a lot of stairs between the safe and the truck, professionals may use a powered dolly or lift to get it out. This greatly reduces the amount of effort needed to do the job. Every now and then, a crane is necessary to remove the safe, particularly when the safe is installed well above the ground floor.

How can a homeowner find a reputable safe mover?

Professionals are the people to call when moving a safe, so your goal is to find an experienced safe mover. Here’s what to look for when searching for the right moving company:

Plenty of experience moving safes

Experienced professionals are trained and equipped to handle a variety of moving challenges, including safes. The first thing to consider, then, is experience. It takes time in the industry before most professionals are comfortable and fully trained in handling safes.

Ask your mover if they have handled safes before. Ideally, they can provide photos of previous safe moving jobs or provide contact information for previous clients, so you can verify the mover’s abilities.

Good standing with the Department of Transportation

Professional movers are regulated by the Department of Transportation (DoT), through a DoT license. Reputable safe movers will provide their DoT license number willingly, and most even display it on their trucks and paperwork.

Once you have the mover’s DoT number, you can take it to the department’s online motor carrier’s database and use it to reference the mover. Through the DoT’s online portal, homeowners can check a mover’s work history, insurance, certifications and any infractions. It’s not a complete picture, but it should be clear right away if you’re working with an experienced safe mover or not.

Liability and worker’s compensation insurance

Insurance protects the client and their belongings while the movers do their job. Given the extra risk involved in moving a safe, both liability and worker’s compensation insurance are necessary for a secure move. Without them, the client will be responsible for any damage or injury.

Proper estimation and communication processes

Even if your Houston moving professional has the experience, insurance and resources to do the job, they will still need to check the property before the move to see what needs to be considered. This is why reputable safe movers insist on an in-home estimate. Compared to a phone or e-mail estimate, an in-home estimate may seem like a hassle, but it’s critical for both the mover and client.

Without an in-home estimate, it’s possible that the movers will show up without the manpower or equipment they need to handle the safe. It’s also possible that the client will pay more than what they were initially quoted, due to difficulties that weren’t identified beforehand.

There’s nothing safe about moving a safe, unless you have an experienced professional moving company steering the process. With their training, expertise, manpower and equipment, a reputable safe mover will ensure your move is both injury and damage-free.