Moving questions, answered

Local hourly starting rates are $129 for a small move (2 movers, 1 truck), $164 for a medium move (3 movers) and $199 for a large move (4 movers, 1–2 trucks). Local moves have a 3-hour minimum, and your quote lists the crew, the gas fee and any extras we expect for your move.

Yes. Ark Moving Co. has a 3-hour minimum for local moves, whether your move needs two movers, three movers or a larger crew. After the minimum, additional time is billed at the applicable hourly rate.

From time to time, when the schedule allows, we have made exceptions for customers facing serious hardship or medical circumstances. These are handled individually and are not part of our standard pricing.

Ark Moving Co. usually charges a one-time gas fee, not hourly travel time to the first address. The standard gas fee is typically $50. Nearby moves may be reduced to $30, or occasionally waived when both locations are very close to where our trucks park. For moves that start much farther from our base, the gas or truck fee may be higher depending on the distance.

We go over the possible extras before moving day, so you know what to expect. Besides the hourly rate and the one-time gas fee (typically $50, more for moves that start far from our base), the common extras are: a stairs fee (typically $100) when there's no working elevator and more than about 29 steps, heavy-item fees (from $150) for items like safes, pianos or pool tables, a certificate of insurance fee (typically $50–$70) if your building requires one, about $10 or more for paying by card, and higher rates on some weekends, holidays and last-minute dates. Packing and unpacking are billed at the hourly rate.

We generally don't charge a long-carry fee, and furniture pads and shrink-wrap aren't billed per roll or per blanket.

The clock normally starts when our crew arrives at your address at the agreed time and the moving agreement is completed. It stops after the last item has been unloaded and placed where you want it, and the move is closed out.

If you aren't ready or are delayed after the crew arrives at the scheduled time, billing may still begin from the agreed arrival time, because the crew and truck have been reserved for your move.

We accept cash, Zelle, Venmo and major credit cards. Cash and Zelle generally cost less. Card payments are typically slightly higher to cover processing costs, usually at least about $10 more, depending on the move and the total.

After the 3-hour minimum, Ark Moving Co. bills in 15-minute increments. Each additional 15 minutes counts as 0.25 of an hour, so you pay for the time actually used rather than being rounded up to a full hour.

Yes. Ark Moving Co. provides free moving quotes. Depending on the location and size of the move, we can review it through photos, a video, a video walkthrough or sometimes an in-person visit.

Any time estimate is an approximation: how long a move takes depends on access, stairs, elevators, parking, the amount of belongings, how ready the packing is and other conditions on moving day.

Yes. For most local moves, Ark Moving Co. typically takes a $50 booking deposit to reserve your date, crew and truck. The deposit is fully refundable if you cancel at least 48 hours before the scheduled moving time.

Tipping is never required, but the crew always appreciates it for good service. Tips go directly to the movers and are shared among the crew members on the job. Many of our customers tip about 10% to 25% of the total moving cost, depending on how hard the move was and how happy they are with the service, but the amount is entirely up to you.

Ark Moving Co offers 5% off moving services for eligible first responders — law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics — and active-duty military. Valid ID or proof of eligibility may be required. Ask about the discount when requesting your quote.

Use the quote form, or call or text 213-574-8437. Share both addresses, the date, move size and access details. Photos or a short video of the rooms help us estimate the time more accurately.

We'll need your pickup and destination, move date, home or office size, stairs, elevators, parking, any heavy or oversized items, and any packing, unpacking or furniture-protection needs.

We recommend booking at least 2–3 weeks ahead whenever possible, especially in summer and at the end or beginning of the month, when demand is higher. If your date, a crew and a truck are still available, Ark Moving Co. can sometimes take bookings with only a few days' notice, or even the day before.

Yes. If a crew and truck are available, we can often handle same-day or same-week moves without any additional fee. If we need to make special staffing or scheduling arrangements, the hourly rate may be slightly higher, so last-minute pricing is reviewed individually.

We try to keep rates as consistent as possible, but weekends and holidays may be about $10 an hour higher or more, depending on demand and crew availability. If you need a specific weekend or holiday, book early.

You can cancel or reschedule your move; we ask for at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations made at least 48 hours before the scheduled move get a full deposit refund, and there's generally no rescheduling fee with enough notice. We always try to accommodate schedule changes when crew and truck availability allows.

Yes. We strongly prefer that you, or an authorized representative, are there from the beginning to the end of the move. Movers often need real-time answers about what goes, where items should be placed and how furniture should be handled.

You or your representative also need to review and sign the moving paperwork at the start and at the end of the job.

Yes. Ark Moving Co. can provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for apartment buildings, condominiums, HOAs and other properties that require one. Request it at least one week before your move, because processing time depends on the insurance company and the building's requirements.

Depending on the insurer and the type of certificate, there may be a fee, typically around $50–$70.

Mon–Fri 8am–9pm, Sat 9am–9pm and Sun 9am–8pm. Call or text 213-574-8437, or send the quote form any time.

Yes, Ark Moving Co. can move a single item or just a few, but the standard 3-hour minimum still applies. The minimum covers the crew, truck, fuel, travel, scheduling and the time reserved only for your move, even when the job itself is small.

Yes. Office and commercial moves include furniture and equipment transport, loading and unloading, and disassembly and reassembly when requested, planned around your schedule, building access and new layout.

Yes. Labor-only loading and unloading is available for rental trucks, moving containers and storage units. Tell us where the crew will work, the date and what needs to be moved.

Ark Moving Co. can sometimes provide short-term storage for a few days. In most cases, though, we prefer to help you find a convenient, affordable storage facility rented in your own name. That gives you more control and easier access, and you can add or remove items without coordinating with a moving company, subject to the facility's own hours and policies. Our crew can load and unload your unit.

Ark Moving Co. is based in Irvine and serves Orange County, including Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Anaheim, Mission Viejo, Huntington Beach, Lake Forest, Laguna Niguel, Santa Ana, Orange and Fountain Valley. Long-distance moves run throughout California.

Yes. Ark Moving Co. provides long-distance moves throughout California, including routes between Southern California, the Bay Area and other parts of the state.

If your move involves another state, such as Nevada or Arizona, contact us with your pickup location, destination and moving date, and we may be able to recommend trusted long-distance moving partners we've worked with.

Ask us about timing for your route when you request a quote. Long-distance moves, such as Southern California to the Bay Area, are generally priced as a flat-rate quote from the pickup address to the delivery address, not at the hourly local rate. The quote is prepared after reviewing the distance, inventory, access, moving date and other details.

Packing is normally priced separately, because the time it takes varies a lot: a small packing job may take a few hours, while packing a whole home can take most of a day.

No. Long-distance shipments are dedicated to one customer rather than combined with other customers' shipments.

Yes. Packing help, furniture pads, shrink-wrap and wardrobe boxes are available, and packing-only service can be booked without a full move.

Both. Ark Moving Co. offers packing and unpacking. Unpacking is generally billed at the applicable hourly rate and should be requested in advance, so we can schedule enough crew time without affecting other moves that day.

Yes, we can provide moving boxes, tape and other packing materials when needed. To save money, though, you're usually better off buying boxes and supplies ahead of time from home-improvement or moving-supply stores, where prices are generally lower. Ask us for current material prices, and try to have enough boxes ready before moving day.

Yes. Our crew can finish packing boxes, kitchen items, fragile belongings and other household items if you're not fully packed when we arrive.

Packing is done at the hourly labor rate, so extra packing adds to the total time. A move that includes packing, furniture preparation, loading, transport, unloading and placement naturally takes longer than one where everything is boxed and ready.

We recommend emptying dresser drawers, bookshelves, cabinets, filing cabinets and similar furniture before moving day. Furniture is built to hold its normal weight standing still; moving it fully loaded adds weight and stress on the frame, drawers, slides, joints and hardware. Empty furniture is also safer and easier to carry and protect, so pack clothing, books and files separately before the movers arrive.

Yes. Standard disassembly and reassembly, such as bed frames and table legs, is handled as part of hourly labor.

Ark Moving Co. handles many heavy and oversized items, including safes, gym equipment, pool tables and certain pianos, depending on the item's weight, size and access at both addresses. Some equipment may need partial disassembly, and safes must be completely empty.

For extremely heavy items such as pianos, we may decline the job when there are several flights of stairs and no elevator, especially if there's a real risk of damage or injury. Heavy-item fees typically start at $150 and depend on weight, dimensions, stairs and access. Send photos and approximate dimensions in advance so we can evaluate the item.

Our movers can usually disconnect washers, dryers and refrigerators when the connections are accessible and the crew decides it can be done safely.

We don't normally reconnect water, gas or appliance lines, because our movers aren't licensed plumbers or appliance technicians and a badly connected line can leak after the move. Use a qualified plumber or appliance professional for installation.

We can usually take a TV down from an existing wall mount at no additional labor charge when it can be done safely with standard tools. We don't mount TVs at the new home: mounting needs a proper check of the wall, studs and hardware, so use a qualified TV-mounting professional for that.

Our crews arrive with the equipment a household move needs: two-wheel hand trucks, four-wheel dollies, moving straps, basic tools and moving blankets.

The trucks also usually carry four or five wardrobe boxes you can use during the move at no additional charge. They're reusable boxes for moving day; if you'd like to keep them, ask the crew about buying them.

Yes. We have floor-protection materials available and use floor runners, protective coverings or moving blankets when requested or when conditions call for extra protection. Our equipment has furniture-friendly wheels, and the crew takes care through doorways, hallways and finished floors. If your building has specific floor or door-protection rules, tell us before moving day so we can prepare.

We generally don't charge an extra long-carry fee just because the truck has to park farther from the entrance.

A stairs fee may apply when there's no working elevator and the move needs more than about 29 steps, such as a third-floor apartment without elevator access. In that case the stairs fee is typically $100, for the extra physical work.

Ark Moving Co. mainly uses 26-foot moving trucks for local household moves. That size works for anything from a one-bedroom apartment to a three- or four-bedroom home, depending on how much furniture and how many belongings there are. A full-size truck also gives the crew room to organize and protect the load and makes a second trip less likely.

As a guide, small moves take 3 to 5 hours, medium moves 4 to 7 hours and large moves 6 to 9 hours, depending on access and packing. Being fully packed, with drawers emptied, parking planned and any elevator reserved, keeps the time down.

Yes. For safety, Ark Moving Co. doesn't transport firearms, ammunition, propane tanks, gasoline, fireworks, or other hazardous, flammable or explosive materials. Some paints, chemicals, compressed gases and similar products may also be excluded.

We can take household plants when there's room and they can be loaded safely, but plants are fragile: leaves, branches, flowers or pots can be damaged in normal transport, so please understand the added risk of including them. If you're unsure about an item, ask us before moving day.

Our crews communicate in English, and depending on who is available, we may also have movers who speak Spanish or Russian. If you'd prefer a specific language, tell us when you book and we'll try to arrange it.

Yes. Ark Moving Co. holds California Household Goods Movers Permit BHGS #CAL-T203143 and is licensed and insured.

Tell the crew or Ark Moving Co. management as soon as possible, with photos and details of the damage. Every case is reviewed individually: depending on the circumstances, we may arrange a repair, replace a damaged part such as glass, find a comparable replacement, or settle it through the claims process.

With standard basic valuation, liability is generally limited to $0.60 per pound per article, under the moving agreement and California rules. If you need more protection, ask about valuation options before moving day. Serious damage claims are uncommon for our crews, because we focus on careful wrapping, the right equipment and safe handling.

Yes. Our crews work directly with Ark Moving Co. and are paid for the time they work on customer moves. That keeps expectations consistent for customer service, furniture protection, loading, unloading and communication throughout each job.