Frequently Asked Questions

Piano Moving World holds an Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) household goods permit for in-state jobs and US DOT/MC authority for anything crossing into Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, or Michigan. We’re not a broker forwarding your instrument to whoever’s free — the crew that quotes the job carries it, full stop.

Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable for a local Cook County move, longer for long-distance lanes or event dates that involve a venue's own schedule. We can sometimes accommodate a move inside a week — call (888) 278-9005 and Renata Kovac will tell you honestly whether a truck is open.

We quote flat rate by piano type, not by the hour. Upright and console pianos generally run $250-$400, baby grands $450-$650, grands $650-$900, and full concert grands $900-$1,400, based on a quick phone walkthrough or photos you send over. Stairs, tight basement access, or a piano safe add a separate, clearly stated fee.

Yes, a $150 refundable deposit holds your date. It comes off your final invoice, and it's fully refunded if you cancel at least 72 hours before your scheduled move.

Cancel or reschedule 72 hours or more before your move and your $150 deposit is fully refunded. Inside that window, the deposit covers the crew and truck time we've already held for you.

The flat rate covers loading, transport, and unloading of the piano itself. Extra stairs beyond a normal flight, an unusually tight basement stairwell, a piano safe, or long-distance mileage on out-of-state routes are priced separately and stated in writing before move day — never added afterward.

It's rare, but every piano we move carries $1M in cargo coverage. Call the office right away — Renata Kovac handles claims directly, and Eli Sorensen, a former piano technician, will assess any damage himself before we settle it.

It can. Lyons sits low along the Des Plaines River, and spring flood watches plus January freeze-thaw swings are genuinely hard on a piano — humidity changes warp soundboards and rust strings faster than almost anything else in a house. Winter lake-effect squalls off Lake Michigan can also back up the Stevenson Expressway with no warning. We build slack into move-day scheduling during both seasons and will reschedule rather than risk the instrument.

No — pianos are the whole business, plus closely related instruments like organs and harpsichords. We don't run general household moves. That focus is why our trucks are fitted with piano boards, skids, and ramps instead of general moving pads, and why every rigger on staff trains specifically on instrument handling.

Every piano is padded, blanket-wrapped, and secured on a piano board or skid built for its size, then loaded into a truck fitted for instrument transport rather than general cargo. Grand and baby grand pianos get their legs and lyres removed and separately padded. Crating and extra climate protection are available for long-distance or storage moves.

Yes. Beyond our Illinois Commerce Commission permit, we carry US DOT and MC interstate authority, so lanes like Lyons to Milwaukee, Indianapolis, St. Louis, or Detroit are handled by the same crew start to finish — no handoff to another carrier at the state line.