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Frequently, moving is described as one of the most stressful things people do in their lives. Even if you're normally organized and a good planner, moving in Oakland might still be a source of stress.
Depending on what time of year it is, you may have to deal with very high temperatures on moving day. This can be stressful.
Luckily, you can reduce your moving-related stress with the help of our expertly curated guide to Oakland's best movers.
Planning a shorter or last-minute move? A local mover might be your best fit. Local moving companies are the experts when it comes to knowing the streets in Oakland. They may also have lower prices and better short-notice availability.
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Cost is a common concern when talking about moving. The usual amount you can expect to spend hourly for movers in Oakland is:
The first step to picking a company is to figure out if you're better off with a national or local mover. As outlined above, different types of moves benefit from different types of movers. You'll also need to figure out if you want a full-service or self-service moving company. If you dread the thought of packing boxes, a full-service company that provides packing services may be best for you. If you don't mind packing yourself, you might be happy with a self-service mover, which will provide a truck and driver but not packing assistance.
Next, you can find out which moving companies near you meet the licensing requirements for movers in California. You can also look for reviews online and look at the company's rating on the BBB. All of the companies on our list of the best movers in Oakland are well-reviewed and selected by our team of experts.
After narrowing down your list, you can start contacting movers. It is in your best interest to discuss your move with at least one or two of the movers on our list to get a free estimate. Make sure that you discuss with them about all of the services you might need for your move. Also be sure that their estimate is a "binding estimate," as otherwise it may be subject to change.
Keep reading below to find our list of useful resources for before and after your move:
The median value of houses in Oakland is currently approximately $706,316. Some other facts about living in Oakland are:
Oakland has more tree coverage than in only 13% of the country. In addition:
Oakland's median income is around $68,442. Other information about education and employment is:
85% of Oakland's 424,891 citizens are physically active. On top of that:
Oakland has around 1,400 eating places. In addition:
National moving companies normally have more experience moving across state lines. This makes them better for interstate moving, or for moves that cover more than 75 miles. They also often have higher-capacity trucks and better familiarity with regulations across multiple states.
International Van Lines (IVL), founded in 2000, acts as both a carrier and a broker for long-distance moves. IVL provides full-service moving, offering services such as packing and loading for customers to choose from. IVL has been operating in over 180 countries since 2004, helping customers worldwide build custom moving packages to fit their unique needs.
For more than 20 years, Moving APT has dedicated itself to providing an excellent interstate moving experience to customers all over the U.S. Originally founded by a five-person crew in Florida, Moving APT has now served over half a million customers. The company is fully compliant with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
North American Moving Services was founded in 1933 and now has over 500 agents all over North America. North American provides both residential and corporate moves, and can take care of moves that are local, long-distance, or international. They offer packing, loading, and storage services, and everything they do is backed by 24-hour customer service.
American Van Lines, originally founded in Pompano Beach, Florida, now provides long-distance moving across the country. The company has been offering a variety of full-service moving packages for over 50 years. They have won one of Newsweek's 'Best Customer Service' Awards twice, in 2019 and 2021.
Allied Van Lines is an expert broker-carrier. This means that they can complete moves with their own team, or they can outsource to other carriers in an area where they don't offer direct services. A representative from Allied Van Lines can walk you through what options are available for your move. Allied Van Lines has over 90 years of professional moving experience.
JK Moving prides itself on making moving fast and easy with the help of modern technology. They use tools such as climate-controlled storage and GPS tracking to help everything go smoothly with your move. Since its founding in 1982, JK Moving has also prioritized the use of sustainable practices, such as recycling its materials. The company partners with the Race for Hope, Fight for Children, and Habitat for Humanity.
According to our research, the top-rated movers in Oakland are Gentle Giant Moving Company, California Movers Local & Long Distance Moving Company, and NorthStar Moving Company.
Our list of the best movers in Oakland is compiled using several weighted factors, such as:
If you have a piano that needs moving, you'll want to find a mover that has knowledge and experience in moving them. Not every company can provide this service. We recommend that you contact multiple companies to find out which ones have piano moving experience, and to ask them for references for past piano moves.
Cost and convenience are both important when planning your move. Most people move during the summertime, which makes moving in these months busier and more expensive. With about 152,239 students attending college within 15 miles of Oakland, you may want to reconsider moving in May and August, when the majority of them will be moving as well.
You'll also want to take into account the weather when you move. Oakland tends to have hot temperatures. This means that you'll want to move in the cooler months, to avoid uncomfortable and potentially dangerous hot weather while you're loading and unloading a truck.
When you decide to take care of moving by yourself, you'll be responsible for all steps of the process: renting the truck, packing everything, loading your boxes, and driving to your destination. A self-service moving company provides a truck and the people to drive it, although you'll still have to pack, load, and unload everything. A full-service moving company will offer packing and loading services on top of supplying trucks and drivers.
The type of company you pick will depend on how much work you want to do and how much money you want to spend. Full-service companies are generally the most expensive, but require the least manual labor on your end. Moving yourself is at the opposite end of both scales, and hiring a self-service mover will land somewhere in the middle.
We recommend reaching out to two or three companies from our list of Oakland's best movers to get price estimates. Then, you can compare estimates and decide which option you want.