Moving stories
An Auchenflower to Gold Coast move with a grand piano
Around 80 cubic metres, one truck over two trips, and a grand piano carried up a narrow staircase to the third floor: one large move from Auchenflower to the central Gold Coast.
A large move from Auchenflower in Brisbane to the central Gold Coast combined a substantial household load with a demanding delivery. The booking involved approximately 80 cubic metres of belongings, one truck making two trips and two SwiftMove specialists. At the destination, a grand piano had to reach the third floor via a narrow staircase.
The move took place on 28 April 2025. The total job lasted around 13 hours, including loading, travel, unloading and the piano delivery. These are details of one completed booking, not a standard duration or staffing promise for another move.
The household load and the two trips
The overall volume was estimated at around 80 cubic metres. One truck completed two trips to transport the agreed load. Describing the job by the house size alone would not explain the work involved: vehicle capacity, the number of loads, the road journey and access at the destination all contributed to the total.
For a customer planning a larger move, that is why a full inventory matters. A room count can be a starting point, but it cannot replace the list of furniture, cartons, storage contents and specialist items that need to travel. Our large house moves page explains what to include.
Preparing the grand piano for the access route
The team prepared the instrument by removing suitable detachable parts, applying protective coverings and securing the load for handling. Lifting straps were used as part of the move. The narrow staircase and third-floor destination made access a central part of the task rather than a detail to consider after unloading the other furniture.
The instrument was delivered upstairs and reassembled as part of the agreed work. Piano tuning was not part of the moving service. Our team recalls that the customer was impressed by the delivery; this is not presented as a verbatim testimonial.
Why another piano move needs its own assessment
This job does not mean two movers can take any grand piano up any staircase. Instrument type, dimensions, weight, turns, stairs and the full route from the truck all need assessment. If access is unsafe or the required handling is outside our capability, we may decline the work. SwiftMove does not provide or arrange crane lifting.
Do not use this account as a guide to lifting a piano yourself. Send photographs or a short video of the instrument and both access routes so our grand piano moving team can assess the job. If you have an upright piano, grand piano or pianola, identify it accurately; they are not interchangeable when planning the handling.
What this move tells us about a useful quote request
Include every substantial item, the pickup and delivery suburbs, the floor at each property, stairs or lift access and the distance between parking and the entrance. For a large household move, mention whether packing, furniture assembly or more than one vehicle may be needed. The more closely the request describes the actual job, the more useful the written scope will be.
This was a Queensland move, not an interstate one. See our notes on Auchenflower moves and Gold Coast moves for what shapes a booking at each end.
