How to prepare a piano before it goes into storage

You do less than you think

The good news first. When your piano goes into storage with a specialist, almost all of the preparation is ours to do, not yours. We wrap it, protect it and handle the lift at both ends. There are still a few small things on your side that make collection day smooth and keep the instrument in good order while it is away.

Before collection day

• Clear a path from the piano to the front door, and move rugs or anything you might trip on
• Note any tight doorways, tight turns or steps and tell us when you book, so the right crew and kit arrive
• Take a few photos of the piano, including the lid and any existing marks, for your own records
• Remove loose items from the top and inside the lid, such as music, framed photos and metronomes
• Make sure someone over 18 can give access during the three hour window we confirm the day before

What we take care of

On the day, our crew protects the instrument properly before it moves a single inch. That means fitted transit covers, padding on corners and, for grands, removing and bagging the legs and pedals so nothing is left exposed. The piano is then secured for the journey and logged against your booking.

While it is in storage

Your piano sits in a clean, dry, climate-controlled space where temperature and humidity are held steady. That is the single most important thing for a piano in storage, and it is exactly what a heated spare room, a garage or a general self-store unit cannot promise.

When you want it back

There is nothing to prepare at your end beyond clearing the route again. You book a re-delivery, we bring the piano home and set it where you want it. Give it a week or two to settle into the room before you book a tuning, since any instrument moves a little after a journey and a change of environment.