How to Choose the Best Local Mover in Sunnyvale
A few factors to consider when looking for a moving company include services offered, licensing, customer reviews, and cost.
Determine Your Budget
A local move costs $117 per hour on average. Based on this, a standard two-bedroom move costs approximately $4,553 overall. Your home size, move distance, move date, and any additional tasks you need the movers to do will contribute to your actual cost.
We advise getting quotes from a minimum of three reputable movers in your area. It's essential to get written estimates, which should detail your total cost and the hourly rate or flat fee. Hold onto your mover's estimate until your move is finished.
Read Customer Reviews
Customer feedback plays a crucial role for moving companies. You can identify moving companies that provide good customer service by reading reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and social media.
Ensure Proper Licensing
Moving companies in Sunnyvale must follow different licensing requirements depending on their service area. If you are only moving intrastate, choose a company that carries a California Bureau of Household Goods and Services license. You can check a company's license using the Transportation Carriers Lookup tool.
If you're moving interstate, the regulations are different. Choose a company licensed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It should also carry active United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers, which you can use on the FMCSA’s mover registration search tool to check a mover’s registration status and complaint history.
Services
Assess whether the mover can provide the specific services you need during the quote process. Get ready for the quote process by taking a detailed inventory of your possessions and writing down any services you may need. Additionally, tell your moving company representative about any extra services you may need to assess the company's capacity to offer satisfactory service.
Types of Moving Services
For basic moves, full-service movers often include the following services in the starting cost:
- Basic wrapping materials for furniture protection
- Loading and unloading
- Released liability coverage for loss or damage
When asking for a quote from your moving company, discuss any additional services you need. Services that can contribute to higher pricing are:
- Crating for art or antiques
- Extra flights of stairs
- Long carries
- Packing
- Piano moving
- Storage
- Unpacking
- Vehicle shipping
Tips To Consider When Moving in Sunnyvale, CA
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when relocating to, from, or within Sunnyvale.
Schedule an Early Move
Sunnyvale usually gets congested during rush hour. Navigating it can be more challenging in a moving truck compared to a standard personal-use car. Movers caught in traffic may lead to delays and a higher cost since local moving companies charge by the hour. We recommend planning before morning rush hour, which makes sure the movers avoid heavy traffic and wrap up the move before evening.
Avoid Busy Season
The busiest time for movers—between May and September—coincides with Sunnyvale's hottest time of year. This can impact your move if you begin looking too late and can't find an available moving company. By planning your move at least eight weeks in advance, you should be able to secure your desired moving company. However, be prepared for the possibility that the hot weather could make the move more difficult for your movers.
Pack in Advance
Most movers handle same-day packing requests similarly. Movers will not move loose items that haven’t been packed by the time your move is scheduled to begin in many cases. We suggest you start packing about six weeks in advance to prevent rushing to pack on your moving day. Spending time packing some items each day can get the task done without overwhelming you.
How Much do Movers Cost in Sunnyvale, CA
Movers in Sunnyvale cost $2,748 on average for moves less than 250 miles. It can cost up to $8,516 to move a larger 4 bedroom house the same distance. See the chart below for more moving estimates, and contact a moving company for a more accurate quote specific to your situation.
Distance | Studio-1 Bedroom | 2-3 Bedroom | 4+ Bedroom |
---|---|---|---|
Less than 250 miles | $2,748 | $3,705 | $8,516 |
250-999 miles | $3,367 | $4,396 | $11,859 |
1,000-2,499 miles | $3,423 | $4,980 | $12,800 |
2,500+ miles | $3,437 | $6,077 | $15,003 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Moving in Sunnyvale
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