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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To expect them to use professional movers?

67 replies

rosesinmygarden · 19/10/2020 13:34

We are giving away a large, heavy, bulky musical instrument for free. We no longer use it and need the space for something else. It needs a minor repair which I have been upfront about and I have also said it is free on the condition that whoever takes it uses professional movers with insurance as we don't want our house damaged in the process.

A local man wants it and came to look at the weekend. He's happy to pay for the repairs etc and wants it. But, he doesn't want to pay for professional movers. He reckons he has a friend with a trolley and a strong brother.

AIBU to insist that it only gets moved by someone who is insured and would therefore be responsible for any damage caused? We have quite delicate floors and a newly refurbished house which has cost us our life savings to build, decorate and furnish.

OP posts:

Zaphodsotherhead · 19/10/2020 16:27

We moved one, with three strong men and a horsebox.

Didn't damage anything either. It can be done.

TW2013 · 19/10/2020 16:57

dun1urkin I was thinking of this!

The piano was the only thing we did get professionally moved so yes I think they have probably underestimated the task. As you have more interest I would stick to your guns.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=73QtwAOq8LA

Skysblue · 19/10/2020 17:03

I wouldn’t let them do it OP. If your house gets damaged he will just shrug and walk away. It concerns me that he is ignoring what the ad said and ignoring what you said when you met him. He doesn’t care what you want, so why would he care about your house during the move?

(We had many tradesmen this year. Nice guys but they ruined SO much stuff - floors scratched, paint splashed, walls scuffed, tiles cracked you name it. Just clumsy. Didn’t pay for any of the damage, naturally.)

Houseplantmad · 19/10/2020 18:17

Our local piano shop moves pianos for around £50. Is there one local to you? They're very careful and very good.

Original poster

rosesinmygarden · 19/10/2020 19:57

Thanks everyone.

I may be being precious but that's my choice. We've spent years and a lot of money working to achieve our current home. We built most of it with our own hands and for that reason we are rather precious of what we've created. I'd rather keep the piano or dismantle or than have my house wrecked.

I'm sure it would have made sense to get rid of the piano before we did the work but it got put into storage with everything else and we've only recently decided we'd like to use the space for something else. Hindsight is a wonderful thing...

Hearing from other people woth experoemce of pianos has made me realise I need to stick with my guns. We may offer it for sale at the price of delivery or we may contact local piano shops. I'm not having it removed by anyone who isn't insured if they damage my house.

OP posts:

Puzzledandpissedoff · 19/10/2020 21:08

It concerns me that he is ignoring what the ad said and ignoring what you said when you met him. He doesn’t care what you want, so why would he care about your house during the move?

Exactly this - and now he's supposedly "getting some quotes" which could easily turn out to be just more mates whose insurance details will be mysteriously "missing"

In many ways the thread's been the best of Mumsnet though ... lots of great suggestions and even some from folk with real experience of this

I hope you get it sorted, OP, and don't think you're precious at all; it's your home. your piano and your choice to make

Yoloyohol · 19/10/2020 21:31

stick to your guns, however also right now there are crews of music road crew up and down the country who are used to shifting pianos, organs et all in ways that damage neither the instrument not the theater, surrounding venue, club etc, whose industries are shut down, so it might be worth looking at hiring a professional crew cheap ensuring at least one has PL cover.

One of my lot whose dying a little more each day said:" You know what if someone said there was a gig truck that needed unloading and a PA needing setting up in a venue, or stripping out of one, I reckon we'd all be throwing our blacks on and begging to be let do it for free, just to hear the sound of rolling flight cases again!"

(most will cover PL of between 1 to 5 million as standard self employed btw)

MitziK · 19/10/2020 21:38

The last piano we moved involved five blokes and me (because I actually moved musical instruments around for a living) making sure they didn't trash the house, the furniture or the piano at either end.

Admittedly, it had to go up three flights of stairs and across two very valuable parquet floors in that time, but it was only a small 1930s piano and there was no way one twat bloke and his mate would have been able to shift it.

I'd tell them you've changed your mind.

Original poster

rosesinmygarden · 22/10/2020 13:13

UPDATE:

The piano went to a lovely lady in the next village. She teaches piano in school and is going to use it for some private clients at home and for her twin daughters to learn to play.

She was delighted with the piano and was very happy to pay for movers. They came yesterday with trolleys and floor coverings etc and loaded it up in about 15 minutes. No damage to house or piano and a very happy new owner . I am glad I stuck to my guns.

OP posts:

CovidClara · 22/10/2020 13:15

My neighbour paid for professional piano movers- they wheeled it a mile along the road to the new house.

Original poster

rosesinmygarden · 22/10/2020 13:16

@CovidClara ha ha! That's the kind of thing I was worried about... ours came in a van and drive it the couple of miles up the road.

OP posts:

MitziK · 22/10/2020 14:33

@rosesinmygarden

UPDATE:

The piano went to a lovely lady in the next village. She teaches piano in school and is going to use it for some private clients at home and for her twin daughters to learn to play.

A far better use of your generosity!

pinkbalconyrailing · 22/10/2020 14:43

can you get it to the front door yourself and they then pick it up from there?

pinkbalconyrailing · 22/10/2020 14:44

I obviously should have rtft

Original poster

rosesinmygarden · 22/10/2020 15:14

Lol @pinkbalconyrailing

For anyone who wondered, I asked the lady who took the piano and the removers charged her £65. Bargain, I'd say!

OP posts:

TW2013 · 22/10/2020 16:52

And really nice for you to think about all the children who will learn piano on it.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/10/2020 17:11

So pleased it worked out so well, OP ... pleased for the lovely-sounding lady and the pupils who'll enjoy it too

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