Moving a gun safe is not like carrying any other furniture in your home. That is because of its heavy weight and large size. It is risky to attempt to move the safe by yourself. That is because you may sustain injuries or damage your property.
If you intend to relocate your safe, the best option to protect your gun safe and your home from damage during a move is to hire a professional moving company with experience. This is the safest and most efficient way to approach it, especially if your property is a rental and you want to avoid excessive property damage to save your security deposit, explains RentEasy, a Hampton Roads property management company. Hiring experts is also a good option even if you are not relocating but intend to move your gun safe from one room to another.
But have you ever wondered how professionals move a gun safe and succeed on the task?
Below is how professional movers move a gun safe.
1. Determine the weight and dimensions of your gun safe
The size and weight of your safe determines how the movers will plan and conduct the move. If you did not know these features before purchasing the safe, this is another opportunity to do so. There are several ways that you can find these dimensions.
You can search the internet for the model and brand of your safe, ask friends that own a similar gun safe, or inform the moving company about the model of gun safe you own. It is not advisable to try weighing the gun safe by yourself. High-quality gun safes are made of very thick steel. They can be inconvenient and cumbersome to lift.
The dimensions are essential because your movers will need to know if your safe will pass through the doorway and hallways they intend to move it through. There may be some choke points or tight corners in the house. Your movers will need to know the clearance they will have so they can plan accordingly.
2. Make a plan
Making a plan is essential because gun safes are heavy and you do not want to keep moving them around. Since this task is a hazardous one, it requires careful planning and work. As part of the plan, you should decide on the best spot to keep your safe after moving it. When you have a specific location, it becomes easy for the movers to plan how to move it from one point to the other.
Your movers can then plan on the best route to take as there may be some steep staircases, tight turns, or narrow hallways that can make the process difficult. It is also essential to have the dimensions of the new location ahead of time.
This will prevent the movers from getting the gun safe to your new house only to discover that it cannot fit. Having the details of the new location helps in planning the routes to take the gun safe out of the present home and into the new property.
3. Preparing your gun safe for the move
There are numerous ways to prepare your gun safe for the move. One of the crucial safety measures your movers will consider is emptying the gun safe. Movers will not move your safe while it is loaded. That is because several accidents may occur. Your firearms may sustain damages that are costly to repair. Also, it is risky to move a loaded gun in the gun safe.
Professional movers will clean your safe because dust and debris reduce the hold on it. When your gun safe is clean and dry, it makes it easier to carry. Depending on the weight of your gun safe, your movers may decide to remove the door and handle. From experience, this is where most of the weight lies and they will reattach these when it gets to the new location.
The movers may also remove other removable attachments, shelves, and drawers of your gun safe to make it lighter and easy to carry.
4. Protect the walls and floors of your home
After preparing your safe for the move, it is essential to protect the floors and walls of the house. That is because the safe can cause damage to them if they collide. Your movers will cover the gun safe with blankets and also put protective items on the floor along the route they will use to move the gun safe. After wrapping the safe with a blanket, they will secure it in place with tape. However, they will leave some unwrapped areas to provide a good grip when moving the safe.
5. Use the proper equipment
Moving a safe requires using the proper equipment and tools. Some vital tools may include a heavy-duty appliance dolly, supporting ropes and straps, gloves, and pallet jacks. A reputable moving company with experience in moving gun safes will have the tools to ease the move.
The bottom line
It may be tempting to move the gun safe by yourself, especially when it is across the same room or property. However, that approach is risky as it can lead to injuries or property damage. It is a good idea to hire professional movers because they have heavy-duty trucks capable of carrying the weight of your safe.
