Residential Movers in the Bay Area

What a home move costs

Price follows the size of the home, because home size sets the crew and the hours.

Every job has a three-hour minimum and an $80 one-time truck fee. Finish sooner than estimated and you pay for the hours actually worked. Hourly rates by crew size · All rates and estimates

What moves the number within that range

Three things decide how long a home move actually takes, so we ask about all three before we quote:

• Stairs at either address.
• Elevator waits, including any booking the building requires.
• The carry: the walk from your door to where a 24-foot truck can legally park. Measure it and tell us the number.

Parking matters too. Tell us about permit zones, hills, narrow streets and any building loading-dock hours at both addresses when you ask for a quote. Then there's how much is boxed and ready when the crew arrives.

How we protect your home

• Floor runners and door frame protection go down before the first item leaves the room.
• Blankets and stretch wrap on furniture, and shrink wrap on upholstery that could snag.
• Boxes stacked no higher than the crew can handle safely, with heavier items low.
• The truck loaded with weight over the axles, and nothing resting on soft furnishings.
• Hardware from furniture we take apart is bagged and labeled for each piece, then the furniture is put back together at the new place.

Full service or just the heavy lifting

You pack, we move. Box up what you can and the crew handles furniture, loading, the drive and placement at the new home. We recommend finishing packing before moving day.

We pack too. Our crew packs some or all of the home. Packing services

Add-ons you can book with the move or on their own:

• Unpacking, including placing items in cabinets and closets when you ask.
• Assembly of new flat-pack furniture, including IKEA.
• TV wall mounting and wall shelving installation.
• Furniture and household-item disposal, for an additional charge.

Items that need special handling

• Pianos: pads, straps and a piano board, by crew members who have moved them before. Quoted separately because of the weight and the stairs.
• Safes and gym equipment: weight decides the method. We tell you before the move if an item needs special equipment or can't be moved safely.
• Artwork and antiques: wrapped and carried rather than stacked, and crating is available on request for valuable or fragile items. Tell us about value and fragility when you book.

Some things can't go on the truck: hazardous materials such as propane, gasoline, paint and aerosols, perishable food, plants, firearms, pets and people. Not sure about an item? Send a photo and the dimensions. What we move and what we can't

Booking, payment and damage

• Estimate first. You get a written estimate, and your charges and terms are documented in your moving agreement.
• Deposit. A deposit may be required to hold your date. The amount and how it applies to the final bill are written on your estimate.
• Cancellation. Give at least 48 hours' notice; a cancellation fee may apply without it.
• Payment. Cash, credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), check, Venmo and Zelle.
• Insurance. General liability, cargo and workers' compensation coverage for household goods moves in California.
• If something is damaged. Note it on the paperwork before the crew leaves, or photograph it the same day and email sales@shipshapemoving.com with your move date, the item and the photos.

Booking and claims policy · Licensing and insurance

Other home moves we handle

• Apartment movers: buildings with elevators, stairs and certificate-of-insurance rules.
• Large home moving: bigger households that need a larger crew.
• Local movers: hourly rates and moves within the Bay Area.
• Long distance movers: moves out of the Bay Area, handled by the same crews.
• Cities we serve

Home move questions

How much does it cost to move a 2-bedroom home?

Starting at $1,120 by card or debit ($1,080 cash) with three movers and four base hours. The typical range is $1,120 to $2,160, depending on stairs, carry distance, parking and how much is packed.

Do I have to pack everything myself?

No. You can pack and let us move, or book our crew to pack some or all of the home.

Will you take apart and put back our furniture?

Yes. Hardware is bagged and labeled for each piece, and the furniture is reassembled at the new home.

Can you get rid of furniture we're not taking?

Yes. We can dispose of almost any type of furniture and household item, with the move or as a separate job, for an additional charge.

Who will show up?

Full-time ShipShape employees in a ShipShape truck. We never hand jobs to subcontractors.