Ask Spartan: answers to the questions customers ask us

Every page in this section started as a question a Bay Area customer actually texted or emailed us before a move. We grouped the near-duplicates, kept the ones people keep asking, and answered each one on its own short page with the same facts David gives on the phone: our rates, what is included, how drive time works, and where the limits are.

Pick a topic below. If your question is not here, call 1-877-417-6060 and ask us directly.

Hourly rates by crew size, the 3-hour minimum, and what ends up on the final bill.

• What is Spartan's hourly rate for movers?
• Is the hourly rate per mover or for the whole crew?
• Are weekend moves more expensive than weekdays?
• When do I need a crew of 4 movers instead of 3?
• Can I hire just 2 movers to save money?
• Is there a minimum charge for a local move?
• How are you billed after the 3-hour minimum?
• How is the final price of a local move calculated?
• Are there any other charges besides the hourly rate?
• Is sales tax included in the moving rate?
• Do you charge a truck fee, fuel or mileage on local moves?
• Is my emailed moving quote a binding price?
• What is a not-to-exceed price for a move?
• Will Spartan match a cheaper moving quote?
• Is there a discount for paying cash?

How California's double drive time rule works and what we do not charge for.

• What is double drive time on a California move?
• Does double drive time apply if I move within the same city?
• How much will double drive time add to my bill?
• Do you charge for the drive to my home and back?
• Is there a fee for an extra stop on a local move?

Reserving a date, changing it, and what happens between booking and move day.

• How do I book a move with Spartan?
• What information do you need to give me a moving quote?
• Can you hold a moving date before I confirm?
• Do I need to pay a deposit to book a local move?
• Can I change my moving date after booking?
• What is Spartan's cancellation policy?
• Do I need to sign anything before my move?
• I did not receive my moving quote email. What should I do?
• Do you move on Sundays and holidays?
• Can my move be split over two days?
• Do you confirm the move before moving day?
• Will the crew stay until my whole move is finished?
• Can I text Spartan Moving instead of calling?
• What happens if it rains on moving day?

Morning and afternoon windows, and the call you get before the crew pulls up.

• What time will the movers arrive on moving day?
• Why is the arrival time a window instead of an exact time?
• Can I book an afternoon moving slot?
• Can the movers start later in the morning?
• Will the movers call before they arrive?

What the hourly rate covers, from blankets to floor protection, and who shows up.

• What is included in the hourly moving rate?
• Do your movers take apart and reassemble furniture?
• Do you wrap furniture in moving blankets?
• Are wardrobe boxes free to use during the move?
• How do movers protect my floors and stairs?
• Can the movers protect my building's elevator walls?
• How many movers will you send for my move?
• How big is Spartan's moving truck?
• Will all my belongings fit in one moving truck?
• Are Spartan's movers employees or subcontractors?
• Do the movers check the truck and do a final walkthrough?
• What if something is missing after my move?

Silver and Golden packages, boxes on the truck, and how to pack fragile things.

• Do you offer packing services?
• What does the Silver Package include?
• What does the Golden Package include?
• Do I have to choose a packing package before the move?
• Does the package rate apply to the whole move or only packing time?
• Is it cheaper to buy my own boxes than pay for a package?
• Can I get extra boxes from the movers on moving day?
• What does 'charged as used' mean for packing supplies?
• Do I need a mattress cover, and how much is it?
• Do you have TV boxes, and how much do they cost?
• How do movers pack a large mirror?
• Do I have to pack fragile items in boxes?
• How should I pack dishes, glassware and china?
• Can you pack artwork and large framed pictures?
• Can you move items packed in plastic bags?
• Do I need to empty my dresser drawers before the move?
• Should I empty my filing cabinets before movers arrive?
• What should I do before a full packing crew arrives?
• How should I prepare garden tools and brooms for movers?
• Can you pack just part of my home, like the kitchen?
• Will the movers unpack boxes at my new home?
• What if I am not fully packed when the movers arrive?
• What is the difference between the Silver and Golden packages?

Pianos, TVs, appliances, heavy pieces, plants, cribs and everything awkward.

• Can Spartan move a piano?
• How many movers does it take to move a grand piano?
• Can you move an upright piano up a flight of stairs?
• Can the movers take my TV off the wall?
• Will the movers mount my TV at the new home?
• Can the movers disconnect my washer and dryer?
• Can you move my refrigerator?
• Will movers transport food from my fridge and freezer?
• Can you move liquids like cleaning supplies and laundry soap?
• Can you move very heavy items like a safe or hot tub?
• Can you move a treadmill or home gym equipment?
• How do movers handle glass table tops?
• Will movers move my house plants?
• Can movers take apart and reassemble a baby crib?
• Can you move a king bed frame without taking it apart?
• Can the movers haul away furniture I no longer want?
• Can movers take apart and move a sectional sofa?
• Do you move antique furniture?

Accepted payment methods, the card fee, when you pay and how tips work.

• What forms of payment do movers accept at Spartan?
• Is there a fee for paying the movers by card?
• Do you accept personal checks for a move?
• Can I pay for my move with Zelle or Venmo?
• When do I pay for my local move?
• Can someone else, like my employer or escrow, pay for my move?
• Is the tip included in the moving price?
• What happens if my card was charged twice?

Repeat customer, friend referral and real estate agent discounts.

• Do you offer a repeat customer discount?
• Do you have a referral discount for friends?
• Is there a discount if my real estate agent referred me?
• Do moving discounts apply to storage fees?

Licenses, insurance limits, valuation coverage and building certificates.

• Is Spartan Moving licensed and insured?
• What does basic valuation coverage at 60 cents per pound mean?
• How do I buy full-value protection for my move?
• Can you send a certificate of insurance (COI) to my building?
• How do I file a claim if something is damaged in a move?
• What are Spartan Moving's license numbers?

Curb space, permits, narrow streets, elevators and stairs.

• How much parking space does a moving truck need?
• Do I need a parking permit for movers in San Francisco?
• Who pays if the moving truck gets a parking ticket?
• Will a moving truck fit on my narrow street or steep hill?
• What is a shuttle truck and when is it needed?
• Can the moving truck pull into my building's garage?
• What time should I reserve my building's elevator for movers?
• Do you charge for waiting on the elevator?
• Do you charge extra for stairs or a long walk to the truck?
• What if my street has street cleaning on moving day?

Weight-based pricing, delivery windows and reserving a whole truck.

• Does Spartan do long-distance and out-of-state moves?
• How is a long-distance move priced?
• What is a minimum space reservation on a long-distance move?
• How long does long-distance delivery take?
• Can I reserve a whole truck for a guaranteed delivery date?
• Are there extra charges on an interstate move?
• How do I pay for a long-distance move?
• Can you move me from Sacramento to the Bay Area?
• What areas does Spartan Moving serve?
• Do you move from the Bay Area to Los Angeles?
• Will the same crew load and unload my long-distance move?

How storage is billed and how to get things back out.

• Does Spartan offer storage during a move?
• How is moving storage billed?
• Is Spartan's storage climate controlled?
• Can I get a few boxes out of storage before final delivery?
• Can you move my things out of a self-storage unit?

Free on-site estimates and how long moves of different sizes take.

• Do you offer free in-home moving estimates?
• Can I get a moving estimate by video call?
• How long will my local move take?
• How long does a studio move take and what does it cost?
• How long does a one-bedroom move take and what does it cost?
• How long does a 1,200 sq ft home move take?
• How long does a 4-bedroom house move take?
• What happens if my move takes longer than the estimate?

Loading only, single items, office moves and getting your home ready.

• Can you just load my POD or rental truck?
• Do you move just one item, like a couch?
• Can you move furniture between units in the same building?
• Do I need to be home during the move?
• What should I do to get ready before the movers arrive?
• Do you handle small office moves?