Why Professional Gun Safe Movers Ensure Success
Get the full rundown of what it takes to move a safe, what could go wrong if you hire a general mover, and how to ensure a successful move.
When it comes to relocating, hiring a full-service moving company can be a great convenience, especially if your budget allows. These companies are typically well-equipped to handle everyday household items efficiently and with care. However, when it comes to specialty items like safes, most standard movers simply aren't prepared.
At Northwest Safe, we've been moving safes since 1988. We’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to hiring a moving company to move your safe. While there’s no denying we would like you to use our service, we want you to be as informed as possible so you can make the right decision for you.
This post will cover:
Why Full-Service Movers Aren't the Best for Safes
Full-service movers are convenient for household items. The level of service can range from movers loading your pre-boxed items into their truck to movers boxing everything in your home for you. As we mentioned, it’s a very convenient service, provided you can afford it.
Unfortunately, these moving companies are often not equipped with the necessary tools and expertise to move specialty items, such as safes. Some moving companies can handle smaller safes, such as those weighing 500 pounds or less. When discussing large, heavy safes, this is where people often find themselves in a sticky situation.
3 Most Common Issues with General Movers and Safes
In many cases, we’re called in on short notice to ensure a home sale closes on time, stepping in to do what the general movers couldn’t. When called on short notice, there is almost always a premium, as we frequently need to bring in an additional crew for that specific service call.
These emergency moves are often required to save homeowners from unnecessary delays or damages caused by improper handling.
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General movers often lack the proper tools and training.
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Last-minute calls to safe specialists are common due to moving company failures.
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Emergency services usually incur premium costs because they require rerouting crews and extra labor.
How to Avoid Problems Moving a Gun Safe
The best way to get in front of a last-second move would be to look at all your large, awkward items and get an idea of what it takes for someone to move these items.
When speaking with your moving company, you should inquire about the specific tools they use for your specialty items, their level of experience, and how they will protect your home during the move.
Red Flag: If your moving company mentions standard equipment or hesitates to answer, you need to carefully consider whether they are equipped to handle the job.
Why Choose Northwest Safe to Move Your Gun Safe
With nearly 40 years of experience, we specialize in delivering, installing, and relocating safes and vault doors. Our expert crews—bringing over 80 years of combined experience—pride themselves on delivering seamless, damage-free service.
From standard garage installs to complex relocations involving cranes, barges, or tight construction timelines, we’ve done it all. Our crews utilize custom-developed tools and proven techniques to ensure every job is completed correctly.
Our Installation Process Includes:
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Inspection – Every safe is carefully inspected before it ever leaves our facility.
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Shimming & Leveling – Ensures smooth door swing and proper ventilation.
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Cleaning – We wipe down every safe post-install to leave it spotless.
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Site Cleanup – We remove all packaging and debris before we leave.
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Customer Education – Our techs walk you through the operation and flag any future service needs.
Weight Capacity & Specialty Moves
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No Max Weight (Flat Pathways) – For flat, unobstructed routes, we can move any size safe using our in-house equipment.
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Stair Limits — It’s not uncommon we encounter safe moves with stairs that greatly exceed the limits of other companies. We work extremely hard to accommodate all moves. Just the other day, we helped a gentleman move a 2,200 pound safe up a flight of stairs.
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Complex Moves – We’re equipped for jobs requiring cranes, heavy jacks, or construction coordination.
Professional-Grade Tools & Protection
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Freightliner M2 Trucks with Maxon BMR Columnlift™ – We have our own custom-built trucks with oversized liftgates for safe, efficient loading.
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Ultralift Motorized Hand Trucks – These are heavy-duty, custom-built hand trucks that can handle up to 2,000 lbs on stairs.
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Slick Sticks – Proprietary sliding pads made of wood, plastic, and foam for safe, damage-free moves to protect your floor.
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Additional Protections – Door jamb protectors, Masonite, plywood, and carpet runners.
Hidden Costs of Subcontracted Moves
Another thing to keep in mind is that many moving companies that offer whole-house moving don’t actually do it themselves. Instead, they subcontract to companies like ours, which can drive your costs up 2–4x compared to booking directly with a specialty mover.
The Smarter, Safer Approach
While hiring a full-service mover might seem like the easiest option logistically, when it comes to your safe—or any specialty item—it’s almost always safer, smarter, and more cost-effective to work with a team that does it every day for these items and rely on the general moving company take care of your pots and pans.
Is Moving a Safe Worth It?
You may be wondering, with all that can go wrong and the associated costs, if moving a safe is even worth it? This is a valid concern. And sometimes it’s not. In cases like this, our buy-back program provides a straightforward solution.
As you consider whether or not to move your safe, we recommend asking yourself these three questions:
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Does Your Safe Fit Your Needs?
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What is Your Safe Worth?
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What is the Cost to Move My Safe?
We have a guide to help you answer these questions.