How to Move a Piano: The Complete Guide
Few household items are harder to move than a piano. It’s heavy, awkwardly shaped, delicate on the inside, and often deeply sentimental—which makes piano shifting
- 28 Papworth Place, Meadow heights VIC 3048
Ashville Removals has been operating from Meadow Heights, VIC 3048, since 2013, and in that time we have helped thousands of Melbourne families, renters and homeowners relocate with confidence. We are not a call centre or a franchise. We are a family-owned removal company built on repeat customers and genuine word of mouth across Melbourne’s northern corridor and beyond.
What makes a local move feel easy? It is the small things. Our two-person and three-person removal teams arrive on time, treat your furniture as if it were their own and work through each job without cutting corners. Every move includes padded blankets, stretch wrap and rubber-wheeled dollies, not as add-ons but as standard. Goods-in-transit insurance and public liability cover are included automatically with every booking. No extra charges. No last-minute surprises.
Our crews have moved everything from terrace houses in Richmond and Collingwood to high-rise apartments in Southbank and the Melbourne CBD. We work across all 35+ Melbourne suburbs we service: inner, outer, north, south, east and west. Whether you are moving out of a studio apartment in Carlton or a four-bedroom family home in Glen Waverley, we plan every job carefully, efficiently and with your timeline in mind.
Over the years, we have earned a 4.9-star Google rating from 250+ Melbourne customers. Our background-checked crews handle every job with the same standard of care, and our written quotes clearly show the hourly rate and call-out fee you will pay.
We coordinate lift bookings, loading dock access and parking permits before we arrive, so there are no surprises on move day.
Goods-in-transit and public liability insurance cover your belongings from the moment we lift them.
At Ashville Removals, our pricing is straightforward: the hourly rate and call-out fee we quote are exactly what you pay. We have been handling local moves across Melbourne since 2013, and we know that hidden fees, fuel levies, stair charges and overtime traps are among the biggest frustrations customers face with other moving companies. We do not do any of that.
Our local removalist rates start from $140/hr for a small moving truck and two professional removalists, ideal for studio and one-bedroom apartment moves in suburbs like Carlton, Fitzroy and Southbank. For a typical two-bedroom home move, most customers choose our medium truck at $160/hr. Larger homes in outer suburbs like Frankston or Glen Waverley often need our large truck at $180/hr, or our XL truck with three removalists at $240/hr for big four-bedroom properties or small office relocations.
Every rate, regardless of truck size, includes your removalists, all protective equipment (padded blankets, stretch wrap and floor runners) and fuel. Goods-in-transit insurance and public liability cover are included automatically. There are no bolt-ons and no surprises.
Estimated move durations: a studio or one-bedroom apartment typically takes two to three hours. A two-bedroom home usually takes three to five hours. A three- or four-bedroom home generally takes five to eight hours. These are estimates only, as the actual time depends on access, volume and the distance between properties.
For a fast, free quote tailored to your move, fill in our 60-second form or call 0404 382 743. We respond within 15 minutes.
Fill in our 60-second form or call us. Receive a detailed, itemised quote within 2 hours — no sales pressure, ever.
Choose your move date, confirm your details, and relax. We handle all planning and logistics from here.
Our team arrives on time, packs, wraps, loads, and transports every item with professional care and precision.
We unload and place everything exactly where you want it. Your new home, perfectly set up from day one.
Not every removalist is the same. In Melbourne’s competitive moving market, the difference between a professional removal company and a budget option often comes down to what happens when things get complicated.
At Ashville Removals, every crew member is police-checked and trained in professional furniture wrapping, securing loads safely and floor protection. We have been serving the Melbourne metropolitan area from Meadow Heights, VIC 3048, since 2013, completing thousands of local moves across 35+ suburbs. Our processes are built around protecting your belongings, your new home and your time.
We use padded furniture blankets, stretch wrap and purpose-built rubber-wheeled dollies on every job. Floor runners go down before the first item is carried. These are not extras; they are simply how we work. Our 4.9-star Google rating from 250+ Melbourne customers reflects a consistent standard of professional, careful service that budget or general-purpose movers rarely match.
Melbourne’s property market is one of the most varied in Australia, and that variety shows up on every moving job. Ashville Removals has moved customers from terrace houses in Collingwood and Richmond (where narrow one-way streets require careful truck positioning) to high-rise apartments in the Melbourne CBD and Southbank (where service lift bookings and loading dock access need to be arranged well in advance).
We also relocate customers from townhouses in the inner east, where established gardens and small driveways can limit truck access, to large family homes in outer suburbs like Frankston (3199), Werribee (3030) and Glen Waverley (3150), where long carry distances require additional planning and the right crew size.
Every job includes padded blankets, stretch wrap, rubber-wheeled dollies and a written quote that clearly sets out your hourly rate and call-out fee, with no surprise charges on move day. Our relocation specialists plan for every property type before we arrive. You will not need to chase anything.
Ashville Removals moves all types of furniture, from flat-pack IKEA pieces to solid timber dining sets, antique hardwood cabinets and large modular sofas. Furniture disassembly and reassembly are included as standard whenever items are too large for doorways or lifts. There are no extra charges for this service.
For specialist items, we use equipment built for the job. Upright pianos, baby grand pianos and concert grands are moved on specialist-rated dollies with full floor and doorframe protection. Pool tables, heavy safes and large gym equipment are handled the same way: carefully and by the right specialist moving team.
All specialist items are covered under our standard goods-in-transit insurance. The only thing we ask is that you mention specialist items at the quote stage. This allows us to allocate the correct crew size and equipment before move day.
Our professional packing service is available across all 35+ Melbourne suburbs we service and comes in three levels: full-home packing, partial packing (including fragile items only) and a supply-only materials package.
We use premium-grade packing materials throughout: double-walled cartons, bubble wrap, acid-free tissue paper, wardrobe boxes with hanging rails, picture-frame cartons and mattress bags. For fragile items, we go further. Fine china, crystal stemware, artwork, antique furniture and electronics are each individually wrapped, clearly labelled and packed with void fill to prevent movement in transit.
Our packing service pairs directly with our removal service for a seamless moving experience. If you would prefer to pack most items yourself and just need help with the fragile ones, we can do that too. Ask about our professional packing services when you request your quote.
Melbourne’s suburbs each come with their own moving challenges. Knowing them in advance is what separates a smooth relocation from a stressful one.
In CBD high-rises and Southbank apartments (3006), service lift bookings typically need to be made five to ten business days in advance. Loading dock access and council parking permits are often required too. We handle all of this as part of our standard planning, so you do not need to chase building management.
In inner suburbs like Richmond (3121), Collingwood (3066) and Fitzroy (3065), narrow one-way streets and resident parking restrictions limit moving truck access. We assess these constraints before move day and plan accordingly.
For strata properties across Melbourne, building managers often require a certificate of currency from your removalist before approving a move. Ashville Removals provides this as standard, so there are no delays.
In outer suburbs like Frankston (3199) and Werribee (3030), longer carry distances and driveway access need to be factored into your quote. In heritage properties across Hawthorn (3122), Camberwell (3124) and Kew (3101), period features, narrow hallways and established gardens require extra care. We plan for all of it.
Choosing a removalist in Melbourne is easy to get wrong. Here is what to watch for.
Avoid moving companies that only give verbal quotes. A written quote is the only way to know what you are paying. If a removalist will not confirm their insurance details, will not provide a direct point of contact or pushes for cash-only payment, look elsewhere. Check their Google reviews too, not just the rating but also whether the reviews are recent and detailed.
Professional Melbourne removalists always provide a written, itemised quote, confirm their goods-in-transit insurance and public liability details on request and give you a direct contact throughout the job.
Ashville Removals has operated since 2013 and holds a 4.9-star Google rating from 250+ reviews. We are fully insured, a member of the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) and provide clear written quotes with no hidden fees. If you are comparing options, those are the benchmarks worth using.
Real words from real customers — pulled directly from our Google Reviews profile.
We cover every corner of greater Melbourne across all five metropolitan regions — with local knowledge of streets, buildings, parking, and permit requirements in each suburb.
We’ve answered Melbourne’s most common moving questions so you can book with complete confidence.
Removalist costs in Melbourne are typically charged by the hour, with rates varying based on crew size, truck size and the nature of your move. As a general guide, a one-bedroom apartment move costs $280 to $380, a two-bedroom home $380 to $550 and a three-bedroom home $480 to $750. These estimates assume a standard metropolitan move with no specialist items. Stair carries, long walks from street parking to your door and large, heavy items (such as pianos and safes) may affect the final duration. Our written quote breaks down every element so there are no surprises.
Yes, every move with Ashville Removals includes full goods-in-transit insurance and public liability insurance as standard, not as optional extras. Your belongings are covered from the moment our removalists lift them to the moment they are placed in your new home. The policy covers accidental damage during handling and transport for standard household and office items. Full policy documentation is available on request before your move date is confirmed.
We service 35+ Melbourne suburbs across all five metropolitan regions: Eastern Melbourne (Hawthorn, Camberwell, Brighton, Kew, South Yarra), Western Melbourne (Footscray, Werribee, Point Cook, Sunshine, Williamstown), Northern Melbourne (Coburg, Brunswick, Fitzroy, Preston, Reservoir), Southern Melbourne (Frankston, Cheltenham, Dandenong, Moorabbin, Mentone) and South-East Melbourne (Ringwood, Clayton, Oakleigh, Rowville, Knox). See the complete suburb list in our locations section.
Yes, we operate regular scheduled interstate removalist routes from Melbourne to Sydney, Melbourne to Brisbane, Melbourne to Adelaide and Melbourne to Perth. We offer two service types: a dedicated truck (a full-load, direct route for larger homes or time-sensitive moves) and a shared container (a part-load service at a lower rate, suited to smaller homes or single-room moves). All interstate moves are covered by full goods-in-transit insurance and are GPS-tracked in real time.
For weekend moves and end-of-month dates (the busiest periods in Melbourne’s rental and property market), we recommend booking three to four weeks in advance. Mid-month weekday moves are more flexible and can often be arranged within a week. For urgent or same-day moves, call us directly on 0404 382 743. We keep a small amount of reserve capacity for last-minute bookings and will always be honest about our availability.
All bookings include free packing boxes as standard. We also carry bubble wrap, packing paper, packing tape, double-walled cartons for books and heavy items, wardrobe cartons with internal hanging rails, picture-frame cartons and mattress bags. If you prefer to pack yourself, we offer a supply-only materials package: we deliver everything you need and collect any unused materials after your move.
Yes, specialist heavy-item moving is one of our core capabilities. We carry professional piano dollies rated for upright and grand pianos, stair-climbing hand trucks for tight staircases and heavy-duty, load-rated straps for safes, pool tables and large gym equipment. All specialist items are covered under our standard goods-in-transit insurance policy. We recommend letting us know about any specialist items at the quote stage so we can allocate the right crew and equipment.
Yes, our commercial relocation team is specifically structured for after-hours and weekend moves to minimise disruption to your business operations. We have completed hundreds of office relocations in the Melbourne CBD, Southbank and Hawthorn outside business hours. We provide a pre-move logistics plan, a dedicated site supervisor and a post-move walkthrough to confirm everything is correctly placed and reconnected.
Cancellations made more than 48 hours before your confirmed move date incur no cancellation fee. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the move may incur an administration fee to cover crew allocation costs. We always prefer to reschedule rather than cancel. If your circumstances change, contact us as early as possible and we will work around your situation.
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