Awkward access item moving in Exeter
Professional awkward access item moving services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-£160
Typical Duration
1.5-3 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Large furniture moved through tight spaces, narrow Victorian staircases, and awkward doorways without damaging your home or the item itself. Pianos, sofas, wardrobes - if it seems impossible, I'll find a way.
When "It Won't Fit" Isn't The End
You're moving that 3-seater sofa upstairs, but the staircase is Victorian-narrow and corners at an angle that seems designed to prevent furniture moving. Or you've bought a wardrobe on Facebook Marketplace and now it's in the bedroom and won't fit back through the door.
This is where experience matters. I've moved hundreds of awkward items through Exeter's older properties - I know the tricks, have the patience, and won't wreck your walls trying.
💡 Pro tip: If you're buying large furniture for an older property, measure your narrowest doorway and tightest staircase FIRST. Save yourself the headache.
Professional vs "Let's Just Force It"
| ✅ Done Professionally | ❌ Amateur Attempt |
|---|---|
| Measured, planned, methodical | "It'll fit if we just push harder" |
| Walls and furniture protected | Chunks out of plaster, damaged sofa corners |
| Pivot points and angles worked out | Stuck halfway, blocking the stairs |
| Right equipment (sliders, straps, padding) | Rope and optimism |
What You Get
🔧 The Awkward Access Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Measure access route, identify problems, plan approach |
| Protection | Pad corners, protect banisters, cover floors |
| Problem Solving | Remove spindles/doors if needed, find the right angles |
| Move | Slow, methodical, controlled - no rushing |
| Restore | Anything removed gets put back properly |
📦 Equipment I Use:
- Furniture sliders (protects floors)
- Padded straps (secure grip without damage)
- Corner protectors (saves plasterwork)
- Tools to remove temporary obstacles (spindles, door frames)
Pricing Guide
| Difficulty Level | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Tricky but straightforward (sofa, narrow stairs) | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
| Genuinely awkward (wardrobe, tight corners, upper floor) | 2-2.5 hrs | £110-£135 |
| Seriously difficult (piano, multiple obstacles, disassembly needed) | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Impossible to quote accurately without seeing the space - call for assessment.
Perfect For Your Situation If...
✅ Victorian/Edwardian property - narrow stairs and doors built for smaller furniture
✅ Large modern furniture - American-style sofas, king-size bed frames, wardrobes
✅ Upright piano - needs moving to/from upper floors
✅ Already stuck - tried to move it yourself, now it's wedged in the doorway
Why Choose Us for Awkward access item moving in Exeter?
Experience with Victorian staircases
Windows and frames removed if needed
Proper equipment and protection
No damage to walls or furniture
What to Expect
Step 1: Assess & Plan
I measure everything - the furniture, the doorways, the stairs, the corners. Work out what needs protecting, what obstacles might need temporary removal, and the best route through.
Step 2: Protect Everything
Padding goes on every corner that might get touched. Floors get protected. Banisters get wrapped. Your house matters as much as the furniture.
Step 3: Move Methodically
This isn't a race. Slow, controlled movement. Finding the right pivot points and angles. Sometimes we need to tip things vertical, sometimes horizontal, sometimes at odd angles that look impossible but work.
🔧 DIY Tips
Honestly? Awkward access is where DIY goes wrong most often. But if you're determined:
🔧 Essential equipment:
- Furniture sliders (not carrier bags on carpet!)
- Thick blankets or moving pads
- At least one other person (preferably two)
- Tape measure
- Someone to spot from different angles
📐 Technique that helps:
For stairs:
- Always work from the widest end of the staircase
- Tip furniture on edge - never try to keep it flat
- "Pivot" is your friend - rotate around corners, don't force straight
- Go slow - rushing is how things get stuck or damaged
For doorways: 5. Measure diagonally - sometimes tipping 45° gets an extra few inches 6. Remove door from hinges (easier than it sounds) 7. Consider removing legs from sofas temporarily 8. Protect the door frame - it's easier to damage than you think
⚠️ When to stop and call someone:
- If it's stuck and you're forcing it - you'll break something
- Pianos - these are dangerous, genuinely
- Anything valuable or irreplaceable
- Upper floor windows as the only option (insurance nightmare)
💡 Pro trick: Sometimes removing the back panel from a wardrobe makes all the difference - you can flex it slightly to get through tight spots. Keep the screws safe though!
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🏠 Moving house? I can help with your most difficult items while the removal company handles the easy stuff. Often works out cheaper than getting the removal company to spend hours on one awkward sofa.
May need to remove things: Stair spindles, door architrave, even window frames for hoisting - these sometimes come out to make space. I put them all back properly, but worth knowing in advance.
Exeter properties are tricky: Victorian terraces, Georgian townhouses, old cottages - they're beautiful but weren't built for IKEA wardrobes and corner sofas. This is normal, not your fault.
Sometimes it won't go: Very occasionally something genuinely won't fit without damaging it or your house. I'll tell you honestly rather than forcing it and causing expensive damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as 'awkward access'?
Usually means narrow Victorian staircases, doorways that aren't quite wide enough, tight corners where things don't pivot easily, or anything above ground floor in older properties. If you're looking at your sofa and your stairs with concern, that's awkward access.
Can you move a piano down narrow stairs?
Yes - I've moved upright pianos down all sorts of Exeter staircases. It's slow work and sometimes we need to remove the stair spindles or even take a door frame out temporarily, but it's doable. Won't touch a grand piano though - that needs specialists.
What if my furniture genuinely won't fit?
Sometimes we need to get creative - remove legs from sofas, take wardrobe backs off, sometimes even remove a window frame to hoist things out. I'll assess it honestly and tell you if something genuinely won't go through without damage.
Do you protect the walls and banisters?
Absolutely - padding on corners, protection on banisters, careful handling throughout. Old Exeter properties have plasterwork and woodwork worth preserving - I don't want to damage your house any more than you do.
How long does awkward access moving take?
Depends entirely on what we're moving and how awkward it really is. Could be 1.5 hours for a sofa down tricky stairs, could be 3+ hours for a wardrobe that needs partial disassembly. I'll give you a realistic estimate once I see the situation.
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