When you're preparing to move to a new home and you own a piano, it's best to call a piano-moving organization to give you a hand. However, whether you're changing some things around within your home or have recently finished an addition, you might wish you move your piano elsewhere under your roof. Although it's certainly advisable to hire a team of professionals like Extreme Piano Moving to give you a lift, it's also possible to move this heavy instrument yourself. Moving a piano isn't as simple as just using brute force. Although pianos are extremely heavy, they're also fragile. You'll greatly increase your odds of success by equipping yourself properly. Here's what you'll need.

Quilted Moving Blankets

It's simply not enough to toss a blanket from your bed over your piano to protect it. Instead, use a quilted moving blanket, which you can buy or rent from stores that sell moving accessories. These heavy-duty blankets not only provide padding to protect your piano's surface from bumps and scratches, but also are heavy duty and won't tear during the move. Once you wrap the piano in a couple blankets, it's best to use packing tape to securely hold the blankets in place -- just be sure to prevent the tape from touching the instrument's finish.

Skid Board And Dolly

It's a poor strategy to try to carry or drag the piano to your desired location. A piano skid board is a sturdy, L-shaped device that supports two sides of the piano to improve the ease with which you move the instrument. Some skid boards are equipped with caster wheels; if the one you rent isn't, simply slide a wheeled dolly under the skid board to support the piano. Many skid boards, because they're pressed closely to the instrument, are covered with soft, carpet-style material -- don't use this perk as an excuse to avoid wrapping your piano in moving blankets, though.

Heavy-Duty Straps

When your piano is firmly situated on the skid board or the skid board and dolly together, the instrument's weight is typically enough to hold it in place. However, it's best to use heavy-duty moving straps -- not lightweight bungee cords -- to ensure everything is held together. Rent or buy straps that allow you to tighten them with a ratchet-style lever. Doing so gives you the ability to cinch the straps around the instrument firmly but without applying too much pressure. When the piano is secure, it's time to roll up your sleeves and carefully move it to your desired location.