Where do these questions come from?
From real texts and emails customers sent us before their moves. Names and personal details are left out, and similar questions are combined into one page.
Ask Spartan: answers to the questions customers ask us
150 answers to the questions Bay Area customers ask before a move: rates, drive time, packing, pianos, parking, payment, storage and long distance.
Jump toReal questions, straight answersRates and pricingDrive time and travelBooking and schedulingArrival timesWhat is includedPacking and suppliesFurniture and special itemsPayment and tippingDiscountsInsurance, COI and claimsParking and building accessLong-distance movesStorageEstimates and move timeOther moving servicesFAQ
Real questions, straight answers
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.
Rates and pricing
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?
Drive time and travel
How California's double drive time rule works and what we do not charge for.
Booking and scheduling
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?
Arrival times
Morning and afternoon windows, and the call you get before the crew pulls up.
What is included
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?
Packing and supplies
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?
Furniture and special items
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?
Payment and tipping
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?
Discounts
Repeat customer, friend referral and real estate agent discounts.
Insurance, COI and claims
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?
Parking and building access
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?
Long-distance moves
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?
Storage
Estimates and move time
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?
Other moving services
Loading only, single items, office moves and getting your home ready.
Questions and answers
What if my question is not listed?
Call 1-877-417-6060 or request a quote online. David answers questions about rates, access and special items directly.
Are the prices on these pages current?
Yes. Local rates are $145 per hour for 2 movers, $175 for 3 and $235 for 4, the same every day, with a 3-hour minimum.