Ten tried-and-tested professional hacks that will save you time, prevent damage and make your move stress-free
Efficiently dismantle and reassemble furniture when moving
Dismantling and reassembling furniture is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges of a move. Anyone who has ever tried to reassemble a wardrobe without instructions knows how quickly a seemingly simple project can turn into a nerve-wracking puzzle. However, with the right strategy, a little planning and a clear system, dismantling furniture can be done efficiently and without chaos. Find out here how you can save time, avoid damage and keep a cool head during the move with the ten best hacks. The tips are based on the experience of experienced removal professionals and methods that have proven themselves in practice every day.
Thorough preparation: how to create the basis for smooth furniture removal
1. preparation is the be-all and end-all
Before you reach for the screwdriver, it's worth taking a quick look at the big picture. Think about which furniture needs to be dismantled and which can be transported as a whole. Many pieces of furniture, especially modular systems, are designed so that they can be dismantled into sections - this saves space in the van.
Have all the necessary tools ready: Cordless screwdriver, Allen key, screwdrivers in various sizes, pliers and possibly a rubber mallet. Also check whether the piece of furniture is firmly screwed down or only plugged in. Thorough preparation prevents you from searching for the right bit in the middle of dismantling or overlooking an important part.
A tried and tested method from the everyday work of professional furniture fitters is to mentally divide each piece of furniture into subassemblies - for example into "supporting structure", "panelling" and "fittings". This sounds trivial, but it saves minutes, sometimes hours, during reassembly. In customer projects, Maier Umzüge also makes sure that dismantling is structured and comprehensible - so everything remains logical and transparent.
Documenting instead of puzzling: Why photos are worth their weight in gold when mining
2. taking photos - the perfect building instructions
A smartphone is no substitute for assembly instructions, but it can be a surprisingly good help. Take photos of every step of the dismantling process: the back panel, the position of the hinges, the arrangement of the screw strips. Many manufacturers use similar screw systems, making it difficult to differentiate between them later without photos.
The pictures are particularly helpful for complex furniture such as sliding door wardrobes, loft beds or kitchen modules. If you are unsure later during assembly, a glance at the gallery is often enough to immediately recognise where which screw belongs.
A practical tip: Take two photos per work step - one with an overview and one close-up. This allows you to visualise every detail. Incidentally, this is not only helpful for your own use: the photos can also serve as a reference if a fitter or helper is assisting with the reassembly. Maier Umzüge reports that this method reduces the assembly time by up to 25 per cent on average - a figure that is also confirmed in the industry.
Organising small parts correctly: How to keep an overview during rebuilding
3. cleverly organise screws and small parts
Hardly anything costs more time when assembling furniture than searching for the right screw. Therefore, pack small parts immediately after disassembly. Use small, resealable bags or screw-top jars and label them clearly - for example "Bed - slatted frame left".
If you are dismantling several items of furniture at the same time, you should create a separate container for each item. A simple solution is to use egg cartons or film canisters for particularly small items. The professionals at Maier Umzüge use systematically numbered bag sets for larger projects - a method that also works excellently in the private sector.
Another tip: Simply stick the sachet with the screws to the matching piece of furniture, for example on the inside of a door. This guarantees that nothing gets lost.
Structured dismantling: This keeps your furniture undamaged and organised
4. disassemble furniture systematically
Dismantling furniture is not a feat of strength, but a logical sequence of steps. Always start with easily accessible elements such as shelves, doors or drawers. This is followed by larger parts such as side panels and back panels.
Only dismantle what is really necessary. A lot of furniture can be transported as a whole if there is enough space in the vehicle. For large wardrobes or beds, however, it is worth dismantling them in parts.
It is important to keep an overview. It is best to work from top to bottom - this will prevent furniture parts from jamming or coming loose in an uncontrolled manner. For high-quality furniture, such as solid wood or veneered surfaces, it is advisable to protect each surface with a soft blanket or felt layer before stacking. This prevents pressure marks or scratches.
Work carefully - why force is rarely the best solution
5. avoid too much violence
If a piece of furniture cannot be removed, it is almost never due to the material, but to an overlooked screw or a concealed connection. Force can quickly lead to irreparable damage. It is better to loosen carefully, feel for concealed areas and, if necessary, use a lever tool with a soft base.
Wood joints react sensitively to punctual force. Pressboard or MDF in particular can burst if too much pressure is applied. If you are unsure, it is better to ask a second person for help instead of tearing or levering.
Professional fitters use special plastic wedges and spatulas to loosen tight joints without damaging the surface. This small difference often makes the decisive difference in quality in the end.
Secure correctly, avoid damage
6. protection from scratches and damage
Sensitive furniture surfaces are at great risk during transport. Even the slightest friction is enough to damage the lacquer or veneer. Blankets, felt, stretch film or bubble wrap are therefore essential.
For glass surfaces or high-gloss fronts, you should also use edge protection profiles, which are available from DIY stores or specialised retailers. A study by "Versicherungskammer Bayern" found that around 32 per cent of all removal damage is due to inadequate packing. With a little preparation, this can easily be avoided.
Care should also be taken during storage: Wood reacts to temperature fluctuations. Therefore, do not store furniture directly on a concrete floor, but on a pallet or blanket. Maier Umzüge uses air-conditioned areas in its own warehouses, for example, to store sensitive furniture safely.
With a plan instead of chaos - labelling as the key to rapid reconstruction
7. use markings for quick retrieval
Nothing saves more time during reassembly than well thought-out labelling. Mark all parts with small sticky notes or masking tape. Number the parts and make a quick note of what belongs where - for example, "rear wall inside left".
Make sure to affix labelled stickers on the inside so as not to leave any visible traces.
For furniture with many identical parts - such as shelving systems - a colour system helps: red for upper parts, blue for lower parts. This simple technique prevents confusion and ensures that the furniture is assembled in a logical order.
Good planning is half the battle - efficient sequencing when assembling furniture
8. plan the furniture assembly precisely
After the move, it's tempting to get started straight away. However, the assembly process needs to be organised. Firstly, decide which furniture should be in which room and make sure that the space is clear. If you set up without a plan, you will often have to dismantle again later to move furniture.
Start with the large, load-bearing parts and gradually work your way to the smaller components. Doors, drawers and fittings only follow at the end.
Another professional tip: Before final assembly, check that all connections are still stable. Screws that have been used several times can wear out - replace them with new ones if necessary. This will significantly extend the life of the furniture.
Two hands are good, four are better - efficiency through collaboration
9. work in pairs or with several people
A lot of damage occurs simply because furniture is too heavy or unwieldy to move alone. Therefore, always work with at least two people. A second person not only helps with carrying, but also with aligning, holding or assembling parts in a controlled manner.
Practical experience shows that two people do not work twice as fast when assembling furniture, but usually three times as efficiently. Errors can be recognised and corrected at an early stage.
Professional teams such as Maier Umzüge also consistently rely on teamwork. The well-practised communication between the fitters ensures that even large projects run smoothly and without damage. The same principle also works in the private sector - all you have to do is talk to each other and agree on what to do.
Complex furniture? Better to call in the experts
10. lean on professionals if you are unsure
Not everyone has the experience or the tools to dismantle or reassemble furniture professionally. Especially when it comes to high-quality kitchens, designer furniture or built-in units, it is worth calling in a specialist company. Professional fitters immediately recognise which parts are sensitive and how best to handle them.
If you want to move a kitchen, for example, removal by trained fitters can prevent worktops from breaking or connections from being damaged.
Maier Umzüge regularly offers such services as part of complete removals. The advantage: all steps - from dismantling and transport to reassembly - are in one hand. This not only saves time, but also nerves.
Conclusion
Dismantling and assembling furniture doesn't have to be a burden. With good preparation, a structured approach and a clear system, everything remains manageable. If you label your furniture carefully, organise small items and spread the work over several shoulders, the move will run smoothly.
Many of the methods described here come from the everyday work of experienced removal professionals and have been tried and tested in hundreds of projects. Even if you do not use a professional service, you will benefit from this experience.
A little planning pays off several times over - through less stress, less damage and a better overview. Use these ten hacks as a guide and your next furniture assembly will not only be quicker, but also more relaxed.
