Furniture bags

[byhammerandhand]

I got some "hump straps" many years ago after seeing professional movers use them.  Mine are 2" nylon(?) straps that I got from a company that makes tarps for semi trailers.    I use them regularly.  Basically, I look like a bass drummer in a marching band and my hands simply steer the cargo. 

http://www.ehow.com/how_12193222_move-heavy-furniture-hump-strap-technique.html

If you want to spend more money, and have two people, you can get "forearm forklifts,"   but I like the ability to put the hump strap over my shoulder.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgnfkCW1m7U  But wait... there's more....

Over the years, I've also bought a number of movers' blankets and a few months ago, I bought some mover's rubber bands that ease strapping them on.  I've used them a number of times and they work well.    The large ones will go around a sofa.
http://www.wwhardware.com/delivery-blankets-and-bands-shblankets/

[sofadoc]

Those "Forearm forklifts" look like they'd work pretty good for those with back trouble that can't lift from a full squat.

But any time I look at any of those gadgets, I'm thinking strictly from the perspective of twisting a sofa through a doorway in a customer's home. Doing my own PU & delivery, I've manuvered (with a guy on the other end) giant couches through tight door jambs in a way that defied all known laws of physics. I can't imagine any apparatus that wouldn't just be a hindrance.

Moving a sofa around with straps in a wide open space is one thing, while getting it through a door, and down a narrow hallway filled with delicate knick-knacks is quite another.