Heavy Keys, Steady Hands: Piano Moving Done Right in Lethbridge

There's probably dozens of things you can think of that are easier than moving a piano. In the best of conditions, pianos are heavy and awkward and there's very little room for error. So, in a town like Lethbridge, if you're a professional mover and you're tasked with moving a piano, the best you can hope for is that it doesn't happen in the winter. But sometimes, there's no avoiding it. Mayank Parmar, who works for the Two Small Men Lethbridge location, has been there, done that. And as far as moving jobs go, pianos stand out as the most stubborn items to relocate.

Before starting his career with Two Small Men, Mayank had been working mostly in warehouses, hauling pallets and freight around. He's been with Two Small Men for about a year now and he's come to realize that moving people and their possessions requires quite a bit more finesse than he was used to back at the warehouse.

“Especially when we move pianos,” Mayank says, “it’s challenging. You really have to figure out how to do it safely, without any injuries.”

At Two Small Men, almost nothing is more important than safety, especially in hard weather cities like Lethbridge where conditions can be downright treacherous depending on the season. In the winter, there's everything to deal with from icy steps to sudden gusts of wind that can knock down even the sturdiest of movers. With every piano or difficult item that he has to move, Mayank's appreciation for the company's safety standards grows.

“I’ve moved basically all kinds of pianos now,” he says.

And every piano is different. Some will fit through the standard doorway, others need to be taken apart. Some can be lifted by a couple of movers, some require a whole team. Lethbridge features a rich array of both new homes and much older constructions, so this further complicates things. As well, many of the houses are built into inclined lots high above street level, so even accessing them is an adventure. Try getting a piano up or down one of those angles!

“The angle was so steep that we tried to push it, but we couldn’t,” Mayank explains.

The moving crew pressed on and tried a different tactic.

“I took the ramp from the truck and placed it on the stairs,” Mayank says. “Then all three of us pushed together.”

This bit of ingenuity and creativity ultimately saved the day.

“It was tricky,” Mayank admits, “but the important thing is that nobody got injured, nothing was damaged, and everyone was happy.”

Satisfactory results and satisfied customers are the result of hard work and open communication.

“I always strategize before doing anything,” he says. “I talk with the team and explain what I’m trying to do so everyone is clear about their role. Before doing any job, I like to communicate so nobody is confused.”

While the average piano usually takes about 90 minutes to complete, Mayank reminds us that this can vary greatly depending on conditions and the home itself.

“Sometimes when we have to take it out from the basement and there are turns, it takes more time,” he says.

As a lot of older Lethbridge homes feature this kind of basement, it's a scenario he sees a lot.

“Sometimes customers aren’t sure where they want the piano placed,” Mayank explains.

Such uncertainty obviously slows everything down. That's why it's great to make all necessary preparations before a move.

Winter moves in Lethbridge, as mentioned, are exceedingly more difficult. One of the worst piano moves Mayank took part in occurred during the bleakest days of winter.

“It was winter,” he says, “and it made everything more challenging because of the ice. I don’t want anyone on my team to slip or fall.”

There was snow everywhere but Mayank is all about the glass being half full.

“There wasn’t much wind, which was good,” Mayank says, “but it was cold and there was a lot of snow around. Lethbridge is super windy,” he explains. “When it’s snow and wind together, nobody wants to work in that.”

Wind doesn't just make things uncomfortable.

“When it’s windy, we have to figure out whether to carry things vertically or have more people holding it to keep it stable,” Mayank says.

It's all worth it in the end though when the customer is happy.

“They know it’s a difficult job,” Mayank says. “When we do it successfully, without damage and without injuries, they’re really happy.”

Ready to plan your move? Contact us for a free quote.