Go ahead. put the book shelf on top of the fine china, that's fine.
October 29, 2010 1:50 PM Subscribe
Moving within San Francisco. Need a couple of reliable, strong people for the afternoon to move a small apartment's worth of stuff about a mile. Not dropping my couch down the stairs a plus. Recommendations?
Looking through the mover review sites I've found a lot to avoid, and the recommended ones are national chains which want to charge me like I'm moving across the country.
I don't have much stuff, a 12" truck would likely hold it all. It will all be packed.
All previous experience with movers has been, at best, on the unpleasant side of neutral, so I'm anxious to get any recommendations.
Looking through the mover review sites I've found a lot to avoid, and the recommended ones are national chains which want to charge me like I'm moving across the country.
I don't have much stuff, a 12" truck would likely hold it all. It will all be packed.
All previous experience with movers has been, at best, on the unpleasant side of neutral, so I'm anxious to get any recommendations.
I've been very happy with Delancy Street Movers and have used them twice over 5 years, very good.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 2:17 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by bottlebrushtree at 2:17 PM on October 29, 2010
It sounds like you're looking for professional movers (rather than illegal labor or impromptu MeFi meetup).
I would recommend Delancey Street (yelp) highly. Delancey Street is a support organization for addicts and ex-convicts. They run a tight, efficient ship and were excellent in my move from San Francisco to Oakland when I was in a wheelchair. (Just be sure to hide your narcotics aforehand.)
I have also used Puma Movers (yelp) (to move from Oakland to Berkeley), who I noted shared some employees and procedures with Delancey Street, so maybe it's a creation of Delancey graduates. They were maybe not quite as organized and professional as Delancey, but the end result was the same. Fast, quick, courteous, no damage.
My friends in San Francisco have also used Delancey and Puma. All had favorable impressions. Both get great reviews on Yelp (I'll add in links ...)
posted by mrgrimm at 2:19 PM on October 29, 2010
I would recommend Delancey Street (yelp) highly. Delancey Street is a support organization for addicts and ex-convicts. They run a tight, efficient ship and were excellent in my move from San Francisco to Oakland when I was in a wheelchair. (Just be sure to hide your narcotics aforehand.)
I have also used Puma Movers (yelp) (to move from Oakland to Berkeley), who I noted shared some employees and procedures with Delancey Street, so maybe it's a creation of Delancey graduates. They were maybe not quite as organized and professional as Delancey, but the end result was the same. Fast, quick, courteous, no damage.
My friends in San Francisco have also used Delancey and Puma. All had favorable impressions. Both get great reviews on Yelp (I'll add in links ...)
posted by mrgrimm at 2:19 PM on October 29, 2010
I've used Pat Ryan twice, and while they were OK, they're fairly expensive and hit-and-miss as far as speed goes.
Tom and Tak at Got2Move are great. He sounds gruff on the phone but he's the best. Fast, cheap, and they really do care.
posted by kcm at 2:30 PM on October 29, 2010
Tom and Tak at Got2Move are great. He sounds gruff on the phone but he's the best. Fast, cheap, and they really do care.
posted by kcm at 2:30 PM on October 29, 2010
I've been a fan of TaskRabbit for other daily inconveniences but I bet they can help you out on the cheap. You can name your price and people can bid on the job.
posted by Senator Howell Tankerbell at 2:39 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by Senator Howell Tankerbell at 2:39 PM on October 29, 2010
I wish I had a small enough amount of stuff that it fit in a 12" (vs. 12') truck ;) ;)
posted by shortskirtlongjacket at 4:31 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by shortskirtlongjacket at 4:31 PM on October 29, 2010
Response by poster: Great answers so far, thanks all!
1) Definitely looking for professionals, not guys off the street. (Oh the horror stories I could tell about that.) A small-time company is fine (2 guys and a truck) as long as they're professional.
2) Yes, 12' truck. I'm not moving Stonehenge.
posted by Ookseer at 4:36 PM on October 29, 2010
1) Definitely looking for professionals, not guys off the street. (Oh the horror stories I could tell about that.) A small-time company is fine (2 guys and a truck) as long as they're professional.
2) Yes, 12' truck. I'm not moving Stonehenge.
posted by Ookseer at 4:36 PM on October 29, 2010
I've had great experience with Delancy Street--used them 3 different times for a 1 bedroom, a studio and another 1 bedroom move. They are fast and efficient, I've never had any damage. One thing to note is they have a policy against moving particle board furniture--it is too easily damaged.
Charges based on time and number of steps (both stairs and steps taken) to the door.
I think it is worth getting professionals because of liability issues.
posted by agatha_magatha at 4:37 PM on October 29, 2010
Charges based on time and number of steps (both stairs and steps taken) to the door.
I think it is worth getting professionals because of liability issues.
posted by agatha_magatha at 4:37 PM on October 29, 2010
Here's my problem with Delancy Street:
As a non-profit / do-good entity, they are allowed to circumvent pay scale and minimum wage rules. Their "employees" are not employees; they are comvisted addicts. alcoholics etc. who are placed by the court to acquire work skills and have access to rehabilitation services.
However they are more aptly termed conscripts subject to a company store. Funded by the states within which they operate.
Example: You have been arrested convicted and then given a choice between jail or Delancy Street. More than a decade ago Forbes magazine listed the 10 least glamorous ways to create a million dollar business. Moving companies were first or second ( memory fails me at the moment).
Released from jail to a Delancy Street residence, then allowed out to work for Delancy Street, your wages are applied against the fees for your state mandated room, board and rehab.
Guess how much is left?
A company store if I have ever there was one.
Shamrock Moving & Storage Golden Gate Moving & Storage Pat Ryan, all are good. (one reason companies like these are respectable is that if there is a problem they will take responsibility for them).
Don't call me. I'm a specialist; I only move pianos.
posted by pianomover at 5:27 PM on October 29, 2010
As a non-profit / do-good entity, they are allowed to circumvent pay scale and minimum wage rules. Their "employees" are not employees; they are comvisted addicts. alcoholics etc. who are placed by the court to acquire work skills and have access to rehabilitation services.
However they are more aptly termed conscripts subject to a company store. Funded by the states within which they operate.
Example: You have been arrested convicted and then given a choice between jail or Delancy Street. More than a decade ago Forbes magazine listed the 10 least glamorous ways to create a million dollar business. Moving companies were first or second ( memory fails me at the moment).
Released from jail to a Delancy Street residence, then allowed out to work for Delancy Street, your wages are applied against the fees for your state mandated room, board and rehab.
Guess how much is left?
A company store if I have ever there was one.
Shamrock Moving & Storage Golden Gate Moving & Storage Pat Ryan, all are good. (one reason companies like these are respectable is that if there is a problem they will take responsibility for them).
Don't call me. I'm a specialist; I only move pianos.
posted by pianomover at 5:27 PM on October 29, 2010
I used Oasis Moving when going from the Outer to Inner Sunset and boyhowdy, they hustled and were cheap. I will never try to move my own shite again--it was so worth it!
posted by smirkette at 5:38 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by smirkette at 5:38 PM on October 29, 2010
I'm negative on Delancy Street - was given an estimate on a small move (around $500) and they ended up charging about $700, forcing me to scramble for the cash. Very positive on Pat Ryan though.
posted by bendy at 10:00 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by bendy at 10:00 PM on October 29, 2010
We used One Big Man, One Big Truck for a move from the East Bay to the Peninsula about six months ago and couldn't have been happier. (I know they also do moves within SF proper.) They were fast, reasonably priced, and nice guys. I was worried that, because you pay partially by the hour, they would drag it out to get paid more but they actually ended up coming in at less than the estimate we were provided. I'm seriously never moving my own stuff again as long as I can hire these guys.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 11:04 PM on October 29, 2010
posted by wuzandfuzz at 11:04 PM on October 29, 2010
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posted by anadem at 2:14 PM on October 29, 2010