I have a great new joke I just made up, I was hoping I could try it out on you... What's blue, falling apart, and rolling down the stairs? It's the remains of my couch... and I'm sorry, that wasn't very funny - maybe you had to be there. Here's the thing - moving your stuff up and down stairs, I found out, is HARD. Couches, chairs, desks, beds? It's heavy stuff, and while you may be able to manage it yourself... with a little help from some friends, it's worth taking a few minutes to learn how to do it properly, so you don't make the same mistakes I did. I'm going to do one better though - because I have 2 great tools for you today, that I really wish I knew about a few months ago. One of them is the ultimate guide to moving your stuff up and down stairs, which, I know, doesn't sound exciting but it's important. The second one is a free tool from Movers.com that makes it simple to estimate how much it would cost to have the same job done by professionals - just so you know whether or not it's worth it. I'll hit some of the highlights in this blog, but for all the details, just click here to read the full, free guide from Movers.com. Their new comprehensive guide breaks down the process of moving your heavy furniture into simple steps - and it all begins with crafting a plan before any furniture has been moved. If you're standing in the hallway right now with your couch, wondering how to make it fit... well, you might be starting your research a little too late. The guide suggests that you should start by measuring the stairs, furniture, doors, and any turns, to ensure that all the items are small enough to make the full trip. Whenever possible, you should also deconstruct furniture as small as you can, by removing legs, drawers, shelves, or any other detachable parts. While this can make the items a more manageable size, it also helps to keep down the overall weight per trip - and after about the 5th or 6th time up and down the stairs, you'll be thankful for that, believe me. But wait, we're still not ready to start moving stuff - because now we need to take some protective steps. Using moving blankets or something similar, you can protect banisters and railings, and it might not hurt to install stair edge covers to protect them from damage and to prevent you from slipping. In some situations, particularly those with slippery or fragile floors, you might also want to consider non-slip neoprene floor runners. Now that the building is protected, it's time to think about protecting your back. It doesn't matter if you're elderly, middle-aged, or young enough to think you're invincible, this is still important. The guide suggests two super helpful tools for heavier items: a hand truck and moving straps. While the hand truck, a 2-wheeled dolly, is useful for carrying taller or heavier items for long stretches, it can also be used to carry items upstairs by rolling them up backward, one step at a time. This is always the best option when you can because it means you don't need to actually carry the weight. If it doesn't fit on the dolly though, then you should try some moving straps, which require at least two people. They make it easy to carry larger objects safely by evenly distributing the weight across your shoulders. I'm not going to get into a lot of detail about how to use them, if you want to know that, just click here to read the full guide. That's as much as I really want to talk about moving your own stuff - because I'm never doing it again, personally. Instead, I'm using the second option. The second tool from Movers.com is my new go-to, not that I plan on moving again anytime soon. Here's why - If I had filled in a little form, and clicked a few buttons, someone else would have shown up at my door on moving day, and done all the heavy lifting for me. I mean, sure, there's a cost - but that's what I'm getting at. This free tool lets you figure out exactly how much it will cost, well in advance, so you can decide if it's worth it. You just fill in some details about your move, and they send you 7 free, no-obligation quotes from top-rated local moving companies. Easy-peasy - and it won't even strain your back. The best part though, is that "free, no-obligation" part - because it costs you nothing other than a minute of your time, and you don't have to hire them. It's just good, solid information so that you can make your decision with all the facts in hand. As the full guide explains (yes, I copied and pasted a bit): “Moving heavy furniture is a complex task in itself, and carrying it upstairs makes it even more challenging. While professional movers can easily do such jobs in less time, you can also do it yourself once you know the proper technique and the kind of tools that can help with the maneuver.” Just remember, before you start hauling your furniture up and down the stairs, read the full free guide to learn how to do it safely, or visit Movers.com to get 7 free estimates from local professionals. You never know, it's probably cheaper to hire an expert than to take a week off of work to recover - but that's up to you. My advice? Start by clicking here to get your 7 free quotes.