Moving a Gun Safe in Fort Collins? What You Need to Know
How Do Professional Movers Move a Gun Safe Without Damaging Your Home?
If you need to move a gun safe in Fort Collins, Colorado, the weight of the safe is only part of the problem.
You also have to think about stairs, hardwood floors, narrow doorways, tight corners, basements, garages and where that safe needs to end up when the move is finished.
Maybe you're moving to a new home in Fort Collins.
Maybe you bought a used gun safe somewhere in Northern Colorado and need to get it home.
Or maybe the safe isn't leaving your property at all. It just needs to move from the garage to the basement, from one room to another or up or down a flight of stairs.
Whatever the situation, there's usually one moment when somebody looks at the safe, looks at the stairs and asks:
“How are we going to move THAT?”
The answer probably shouldn't involve four buddies, an old furniture dolly and the hope that gravity decides to take the afternoon off.
Moving a heavy safe is very different from moving ordinary household furniture.
Here's what Fort Collins homeowners should know about professional gun safe moving, how movers plan these jobs and what you should tell a moving company before anyone starts lifting.
Can Fort Collins Movers Move Gun Safes?
Yes, but not every Fort Collins moving company handles heavy safes.
Gun safes, residential safes, fireproof cabinets and commercial safes fall into the category of specialty moving because their concentrated weight creates challenges that don't exist with ordinary household furniture.
Billy Goat Moving provides specialty moving services in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado that include gun safes and other heavy or unusual items.
But moving a safe doesn't start with picking it up.
It starts with understanding exactly what needs to be moved and where it needs to go.
Start With the Weight and Dimensions of the Safe
Before contacting a Fort Collins safe mover, gather as much information about the safe as possible.
Ideally, know:
Manufacturer
Model
Approximate weight
Height
Width
Depth
Current location
Destination
Whether stairs are involved
There is an enormous difference between moving a smaller residential safe across a Fort Collins garage and moving a massive gun safe out of a basement.
If you don't know the weight, look for the manufacturer and model number. You may be able to find the empty weight and dimensions in the manufacturer's specifications.
And don't assume a safe is “probably around 200 pounds.”
Humans have a remarkable ability to underestimate the weight of objects right up until gravity gets involved.
The Moving Path Matters Almost as Much as the Safe
A gun safe doesn't teleport from one room to another.
Unfortunately.
Before moving a heavy safe, the movers need to understand the entire route from its current location to its destination.
That can include:
Doorway width
Hallways
Tight corners
Stairs
Landings
Flooring
Exterior steps
Entryways
Elevation changes
Distance to the moving truck
Fort Collins homes can present very different safe-moving situations.
A safe sitting inside a garage with a relatively straight path to the driveway is one thing.
A heavy gun safe located in a basement with stairs, a landing and a tight turn is an entirely different moving job.
The same is true at the destination.
Getting the safe out of the original home is only half the problem.
Professional movers also need to determine how they're going to get it into the new Fort Collins home and into its final position.
That's one reason Billy Goat Moving offers free in-home move inspections and written moving estimates.
For unusual or extremely heavy items, understanding the item and its environment before moving day can help reduce surprises when the crew arrives.
How Do Fort Collins Safe Movers Protect Floors?
One of the biggest concerns homeowners have isn't simply damaging the safe.
It's damaging the house.
A heavy gun safe can put tremendous pressure on a relatively small area.
Improperly dragging, rolling or repositioning one can potentially damage:
Hardwood floors
Tile
Laminate
Carpet
Trim
Doorways
Walls
That's particularly important when moving a safe through a finished Fort Collins home.
Professional safe moving requires thinking about the entire moving path, not merely the safe.
Billy Goat Moving uses protective materials when handling specialty items and can protect flooring, walls and other surfaces along the moving route.
The exact approach depends on the home, flooring, weight of the safe and access.
That's another reason a heavy safe move should be planned instead of improvised.
Can Fort Collins Movers Take a Gun Safe Up or Down Stairs?
This is where a safe move can become considerably more complicated.
Moving hundreds of pounds across a flat surface is one thing.
Add a staircase and gravity suddenly becomes an active participant in the move.
Before moving a gun safe on stairs, professional movers need to consider:
How much does the safe weigh?
How wide is the staircase?
How many steps are involved?
Are there turns or landings?
What's at the top and bottom of the stairs?
What surfaces need to be protected?
Is there enough room to safely maneuver the safe?
Not every safe can or should be moved through every staircase.
That's why you should tell your Fort Collins moving company about stairs before getting an estimate.
Don't wait until the crew arrives and casually mention:
“By the way, the 800-pound safe goes in the basement.”
That's rather important information.
Tight Corners Can Be Harder Than the Weight
A gun safe may technically fit through a doorway and still be extremely difficult to get into position.
Why?
Because turning clearance matters.
Imagine trying to move a refrigerator through a narrow hallway.
Now imagine the refrigerator weighs several hundred pounds.
Before attempting the move, the crew may need to consider the safe's dimensions in relation to:
Door openings
Hallway width
Corners
Stair landings
Ceiling height
Railings
Final placement
Sometimes a few inches can determine whether a particular route works.
If you're preparing for a gun safe move in Fort Collins, measure the safe and any obviously difficult areas along the moving path before moving day whenever possible.
Pictures can also help the moving company understand what they're dealing with before the crew arrives.
Can Movers Relocate a Safe Within the Same Fort Collins Home?
Absolutely.
You don't have to be moving to another house to need professional moving help.
Billy Goat Moving can help Fort Collins homeowners with heavy-item moves within the same property.
That might mean relocating a safe:
Garage → Basement
Basement → Garage
Room → Room
Main Floor → Another Floor
House → Detached Garage
Or simply repositioning a safe within the same room.
This is where professional in-home furniture and heavy-item moving can be useful.
You're paying for help with the difficult part of the job without necessarily hiring a moving company for a complete household move.
What If You're Buying a Used Gun Safe in Fort Collins?
This is another situation people don't always associate with hiring movers.
Suppose you find the perfect used gun safe in Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor or somewhere else in Northern Colorado.
There's just one problem.
It weighs hundreds of pounds and is sitting in somebody else's house.
A professional moving company may be able to pick up the safe, transport it and place it at your home.
But information about both locations matters.
The seller's property may have stairs.
Your property may have stairs.
There could be narrow doors, difficult parking, tight hallways or unusual access at either location.
Before requesting a quote, provide as much information as possible about:
Where the safe currently is
Where it's going
How much it weighs
The dimensions
Stairs at either property
Difficult access
Where you ultimately want it placed
The more your movers know beforehand, the easier it is to properly plan the job.
What About Commercial Safes and Fireproof Cabinets?
Gun safes aren't the only extremely heavy items Fort Collins residents and businesses need moved.
Other heavy specialty items can include:
Commercial safes
Fireproof cabinets
Security cabinets
Large metal cabinets
Other unusually heavy equipment
These can present many of the same challenges as a residential gun safe.
Weight.
Access.
Stairs.
Floor protection.
Transportation.
Final placement.
Billy Goat Moving's specialty moving services in Fort Collins include heavy and unusual items requiring more planning than ordinary boxes and furniture.
If you aren't sure whether Billy Go
Why Moving a Heavy Gun Safe Yourself Can Get Expensive Fast
At first, moving the safe yourself can sound like the cheaper option.
Get a dolly.
Call some friends.
Rent a truck.
Buy pizza.
Done.
Except a gun safe doesn't behave like a couch.
If several hundred pounds starts moving in the wrong direction, there isn't much time for a committee meeting.
A poorly planned safe move can potentially result in:
Damaged hardwood floors
Broken tile
Damaged drywall
Damaged trim
Damaged stairs
A damaged safe
Vehicle damage
Personal injury
That's why professional gun safe movers in Fort Collins approach the job as a heavy-item moving problem rather than an ordinary furniture move.
Before anything moves, you want to understand the safe, the route, the obstacles and the final destination.
How Much Does It Cost to Move a Gun Safe in Fort Collins?
There isn't one honest price that applies to every gun safe move.
The cost of gun safe moving in Fort Collins can depend on several factors, including:
Safe Weight and Size
A smaller residential safe and an extremely heavy gun safe aren't the same moving job.
Larger and heavier safes can require additional planning, labor and equipment.
Stairs and Difficult Access
A safe located in a garage with direct driveway access is very different from one sitting downstairs behind a narrow hallway and a tight turn.
Stairs, landings, narrow doors and difficult access can affect the work required.
Pickup and Delivery Locations
Moving a safe within the same Fort Collins home is different from picking one up across Northern Colorado and transporting it to another property.
Final Placement
Where does the safe ultimately need to go?
The garage?
Main floor?
Basement?
Another room?
The job isn't finished merely because the safe reaches the property.
Is the Safe Part of a Larger Move?
If Billy Goat is already moving the rest of your household, moving a safe may be part of a larger residential move.
If the safe is the only item being moved, the job may be planned differently.
That's why the lowest number somebody gives you over the phone isn't necessarily the best way to choose a moving company.
If you're comparing estimates, read our guide explaining why some Fort Collins moving quotes are so much cheaper before automatically choosing the lowest number.
What Should You Tell a Fort Collins Safe Mover Before Getting an Estimate?
Give the moving company as much information as possible.
At minimum, provide:
Safe type
Gun safe, residential safe, commercial safe, fireproof cabinet, etc.
Approximate weight
Dimensions
Pickup location
Destination
Current floor
Destination floor
Number of stairs
Tight turns or narrow doorways
Type of flooring
Any unusual access
Pictures can also be extremely helpful.
Take photos of:
The safe
The path out
Any stairs
Tight corners
The entrance
The intended destination
If you're contacting Billy Goat Moving about a safe move in Fort Collins, this information can help us understand what you're dealing with before moving day.
More information beforehand generally means fewer surprises when the crew arrives.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring Gun Safe Movers in Fort Collins
Don't assume every moving company that can move a sofa should automatically be trusted with a heavy safe.
Before hiring someone, ask:
Have you moved heavy safes before?
Do you use your own employees or temporary labor?
Are you licensed and insured?
How will you protect my flooring and walls?
Do you need to inspect the safe or location first?
Is the estimate in writing?
Are stairs included in the estimate?
What information do you need about the safe?
Billy Goat Moving uses experienced W-2 moving crews rather than contract or day labor moving crews.
We've served Fort Collins and Northern Colorado since 2005 and offer free move inspections and written estimates.
If you're comparing moving companies, you can also read our guide covering 10 questions to ask before hiring a Fort Collins moving company.
Need a Gun Safe Moved in Fort Collins?
Whether you're moving a gun safe to a new Fort Collins home, bringing home a safe you just purchased, relocating one within your property or moving another extremely heavy specialty item, planning the move before anyone starts lifting matters.
Billy Goat Moving has served Fort Collins and Northern Colorado since 2005.
Today, we complete approximately 3,000 moves each year with experienced W-2 moving crews.
We handle:
Residential moves
Commercial moves
Gun safes and heavy items
Piano moving
Packing
Custom crating
Other specialty moves
And when a move requires a closer look, Billy Goat can provide a free move inspection and written moving estimate so we can understand the safe, access, stairs, moving path and destination before moving day.
Have a Safe That Needs to Be Moved in Fort Collins?
Call Billy Goat Moving at (970) 221-0701 or request your free written moving estimate today.
