Should I disassemble furniture before movers arrive?
Quick Answer
Most movers include basic disassembly and reassembly in their service. However, doing it yourself saves time and ensures you know where all the hardware goes. Ask your mover what is included - IKEA furniture and cribs are sometimes excluded from reassembly.
Whether to disassemble furniture yourself depends on your moving company's policy and the furniture in question.
What movers typically disassemble for you: bed frames, dining tables, standard desks, and simple shelving. This is usually included in the service for full-service movers. Ask during your estimate what is covered.
What movers may not disassemble or reassemble: IKEA and other flat-pack furniture (many movers exclude this because cam-lock connectors break easily during repeated assembly), custom built-ins, murphy beds, complex entertainment centers, and specialty cribs with intricate mechanisms.
If you disassemble yourself: bag all hardware (screws, bolts, cam locks) in zip-lock bags and tape them to the furniture piece. Label each bag clearly. Take photos of the assembly before taking it apart. Keep the Allen wrenches and tools with the hardware bags.
Advantages of doing it yourself: you save 30-60 minutes of billable mover time (relevant for hourly local moves), you know exactly where every piece of hardware goes, and you can verify nothing is missing before the move.
Advantages of letting movers do it: they have the right tools and experience, they are liable for damage during disassembly, and it saves you physical effort.
Remove all drawers from dressers and desks - this reduces weight and prevents drawers from sliding open during transport. You do not need to empty the dresser completely; lighter items like socks and t-shirts can stay in wrapped drawers.