Becoming a new homeowner is an exciting time. You found the home of your dreams, qualified for the loan, and just signed the papers making that house yours. Finally, you can paint the walls any color, hang up your pictures, and move in large, bulky, cumbersome boxes all day long! Wait. Did that sense of excitement just get replaced by a groan of dread? If moving day has left your friends with trucks running for the hills, then why not entice them with more than promises of a six-pack and pizza? Make their load a little lighter by supplying them with a few lifting straps.
Don't worry if you've never heard of lifting straps. Most often it's the professional movers that are the first to use tools of the trade to make moving a little easier. However, there is no reason why a homeowner cannot use the same smart, inexpensive devices to move their things around. After all, you will certainly be rearranging furniture, or adding new furniture and appliances, well after your first day of moving.
When most people think of movers, they envision big, bulky men with strong backs, who are built like an ox. But with the use of moving straps, even someone with a slighter frame can move larger than expected items since they are able to redistribute the weight to larger muscle groups.
Imagine two people trying to carry a mattress. I'm not referring to the lighter box spring. That part of the bed is usually easier for two people to carry since they can grip the wooden frame. I'm talking about that other part, the floppy top layer that seems to have a mind of its own when you are trying to move it up the steps. There is no place to easily get your grip, unless you use something like a forearm forklift moving strap. This strap wraps beneath your item, distributes the weight evenly, and wraps around your arms for lifting. One strap for each person makes moving that mattress much easier.
Now that the mattress is in the bedroom, what can you do with that heavy entertainment center that needs to go up a flight of stairs to the bonus room? It's very hard to get a dolly upstairs, especially if the stairs turn a corner! For this type of object, different styles of lifting straps are more appropriate. You want to use even weight, while getting the benefit of the strongest muscles. A team strap or shoulder dolly will allow this. Keep the lifting focused on your legs and shoulders, rather than solely relying on big biceps.
Using the tools that professional movers use such as lifting straps can make moving day into your new home seem less like a chore. Remember, the faster and easier you are able to move all those boxes into your home, the sooner you can start unpacking. So clear off that chair and grab a slice of pizza...where did you pack those plates anyhow?
