Relocating to the Bay Area for work

• Is there a lump sum, or will the company pay the mover directly?
• Do they need an itemized invoice or a receipt for reimbursement?
• Does the package cover storage, and for how long?
• Is packing covered?

If the company will pay us directly, tell us when you book; David confirms billing arrangements case by case. We do not give tax advice on relocation benefits.

• Settle where you will live before you ship everything, or plan for storage.
• Check building rules: many require a certificate of insurance and an elevator reservation.
• In San Francisco, ask about parking for the truck; a temporary permit may be needed.
• Find out your commute before signing a lease; Bay Area distances are deceptive.

Plenty of people come to the Bay Area for a new job. The move usually comes with a start date, a relocation budget or package from the employer, and very little time to learn the region. Here is what we can do for you, and what we cannot. For employers organizing relocations, see corporate relocation.

We serve the Bay Area for local moves and handle long-distance and interstate moves that originate in California. If you are moving from Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento or elsewhere in California, we can move you door to door; see Los Angeles to Bay Area. If you are coming from another state, we generally do not pick up there; call and ask, and David will tell you whether your move is something we can take. Either way, we can help at the Bay Area end.

Many out-of-state movers ship belongings in a portable container or drive a rental truck. We can unload it and carry everything into your new home on an hourly basis. On an unloading-only job moving blankets and wardrobe boxes are not included, and since we did not load or drive it, we cannot take responsibility for damage that happened in transit. Disassembly and reassembly of furniture are still part of the work. See loading and unloading help.

Many relocations start in corporate housing or a short-term rental while you look for a permanent home. If your things arrive before you have that home, climate-controlled storage holds them, billed as a flat monthly fee in 30-day periods. When you find a place, we deliver from storage. See temporary housing to a permanent home.

Local moves are $175 per hour for 3 movers or $235 for 4 movers for larger homes, every day of the week, with a 3-hour minimum and 15-minute increments. Long-distance moves within California are priced by weight, with a minimum space reservation of 3,000 pounds, and are delivered within 7 business days, or the next day when you reserve the whole truck at 5,000 pounds. Long-distance payment is half at pickup and half at delivery.