Moving FAQ

Eastside Movers is headquartered at 392 Union Street in Franklin, Massachusetts. We service the Boston area, Franklin, and surrounding Northeast communities — Norfolk County, MetroWest, the I-495 corridor, the Boston metro, the South Shore, and long-distance moves throughout the Northeast region.

Yes. Eastside Movers is a licensed and insured Massachusetts moving company. We carry general liability and cargo coverage on every move and we'll provide a Certificate of Insurance for any building or HOA that requires one before move day.

Local moves are typically billed hourly with a transparent two-person, three-person, or four-person crew rate plus truck. Long-distance moves are flat-rate based on weight, mileage, and access. We give you the rate, the minimum, and the realistic finish time up front. No fuel surcharges, no stair fees, no day-of-move 'we ran into a problem' surprises.

We accept major credit cards, debit cards, ACH bank transfer, certified bank checks, and cash. Personal checks are case-by-case for established repeat customers only.

Yes — a small deposit holds your date on our calendar. The deposit is credited toward your final bill on move day. Deposits are refundable up to 72 hours before your scheduled move.

Cancel or reschedule at least 72 hours before your move and the deposit is fully refundable or transferable. Inside 72 hours, the deposit is forfeited because the slot is no longer resellable. Same-day cancellations may incur a partial labor charge.

Yes. We sell new boxes (small, medium, large, dish-pack, wardrobe), packing paper, bubble wrap, tape, and specialty cartons for TVs, mirrors, and artwork. If you book a packing service, all materials are included in the quote.

By federal regulation we cannot transport hazardous materials: propane tanks, gasoline, paint thinner, lighter fluid, fireworks, ammunition, pesticides, pool chemicals, aerosols, or open containers of household chemicals. We also do not move live plants on long-distance moves (state agriculture rules), pets, perishable food, or controlled substances. Empty fuel tanks on lawn equipment before moving day.

Most Boston-area cities require a moving-truck street-occupancy permit posted 48–72 hours in advance. We will tell you exactly what your municipality requires during the quote. In some cases we file the permit on your behalf for a flat fee; in other cases the resident files directly with the city. Either way, we don't show up at a permit-required block without one.

Yes. Many Boston-area condo buildings, office towers, and historic-district properties require a COI naming the building as additional insured before they'll allow elevator reservations or loading-dock access. Send us the building's COI requirements during booking and we'll have the certificate issued before your move date.

Yes. Saturday is one of our busiest move days and we work weekends year-round. Sunday and most major holidays are scheduled by request only — pricing reflects the off-day premium. The September 1 Boston student move-day spike books out weeks in advance, so plan early.

For local moves: 2–3 weeks ahead is comfortable, more during May–September peak. For Boston student moves around September 1: book 6–8 weeks out — every elevator slot in Allston/Brighton/Boston disappears fast. For long-distance moves: 4–6 weeks gives us flexibility on the truck and crew. Same-week and same-day moves are sometimes possible if there is a cancellation.

Sometimes — depends on availability. If we have an open crew window we'll often take a same-day or next-day move. Call 774-462-2439 and we'll tell you what we can do today.

If we damage something during a move, we own it. We document any pre-existing damage to high-value items at pickup, and our insurance covers loss or damage during transit. Standard coverage is included on every move. Full-value replacement coverage is available for an additional premium on long-distance moves.

Yes — beds, dining tables, desks, shelving units, and entertainment centers are disassembled at pickup and reassembled at delivery. All hardware is bagged, labeled, and reattached to the piece it came from. IKEA and flat-pack furniture: we recommend NOT disassembling unless absolutely necessary — particle-board joinery doesn't survive being taken apart twice.

Yes. Upright pianos, baby grands, and grand pianos are routine for our crews. Gun safes up to 1,000+ lbs require a stair count and access measurement during the quote. Pool tables require full slate disassembly and re-leveling at the destination — we coordinate the timing carefully. Tell us about specialty items during the quote, not on move day.

Yes. Short-term storage-in-transit is available for the gap between your move-out date and move-in date — typical use case is a closing delay or an overlap-free lease transition. See the storage-in-transit page for details.

Tips are appreciated but never expected. The crew rate is the crew rate. If our team earned it, $20–$50 per mover for a half-day local move or $50–$100 per mover for a full-day or long-distance move is typical generosity. Plenty of customers don't tip and we hold no grudge — we charged the right rate up front.