I do not recommend these movers. Keep in mind, I had just moved a month ago with more stuff and with a different moving company. Both times, I requested two movers. But the previous movers did it in 4 hours. These guys were sandbagging or the old guy is too old. The kicker, a third person showed up without my consent and still took almost 5.5 hours. I should've paid more because the other movers reassembled all my furniture within the four hours. read more

I've been using Universal for two times in the past three years. Really reasonable price, good service and great work. The guys show up on time with all the packing supplies that they need and get to work immediately.  Work is done perfectly at a running pace, no slack time. They are meticulous and pay attention to all the details in packing and protecting my items and furniture.  No items were damaged in any of my moves. Highly recommend. read more

Universal Moving Company is the BEST! When we were getting ready to move, we looked at a bunch of different moving companies and got estimates for how much it would cost to move a 3-bedroom house to a city 120 miles away. Most companies were priced considerably more and some even wanted to schedule appointments to inventory how much stuff you had. Who has time for that?! The first thing I noticed was that the manager of Universal Moving Company (Vicki) was very good at responding to emails. We liked getting prompt replies/answers back, instead of having to wait hours or days like with other companies. Their quoted rate was significantly lower than their competitors, so we were a little leery at first. But thru our email correspondence, we found out that the company is fully licensed, insured and bonded. Another concern we had was with our newly-cleaned carpet at the new location. Would the movers be able to put on booties or take off their shoes? Vicki was very quick to email me back to assure me that the movers would put out blankets or rugs to protect the carpet/stairs. On the day of our move, the movers arrived 5-10 minutes early, which we loved. Punctuality is a must for us! They quickly got to work and even told me not to move boxes, when I was trying to help. :) I also liked how they put out a rubberized red mat over the carpet and stairs, to protect it while using their cart to move heavy boxes or furniture. We hired 3 movers for our move. 2 of them ("Mr. Chen and Mr. Chang") were in charge of moving the boxes/furniture from the house to the truck outside. 1 guy ("Bruce") was inside the truck, organizing the pieces to maximize the space. We compared it to playing Tetris. :) He had ropes to make sure everything was secure and wouldn't topple over when driving. We were really impressed with his skills. I really liked Mr. Chen's "We can do it" attitude. A few times, I'd say to him, "Well if it doesn't fit or it's too much trouble, we don't need to take it." He'd be like, "No problem. We can do it!" and he'd find ways to make the furniture fit. The other guy ("Mr. Chang") was more like, "Yeah, don't take it..." as though he didn't want the extra work. At first I thought Mr. Chang was just being lazy, but then I started to kinda feel sorry for him, cuz after I moved a bunch of furniture, I'd probably have the same attitude, "Why bring it if it's not necessary," right? I definitely think management should hire more people like Mr. Chen though. He really has the customers' best interests in mind. It was A LOT of work for these guys and we really felt for them (since we used to move all the items on our own, but got smart this time and decided to hire a moving company). They worked nonstop and wouldn't even stop to take a break when I kept trying to offer them cold beverages. Furniture items were carefully wrapped with heavy wool blankets or plastic wrap. Boxes were carefully moved. After around 4 hours of loading everything into the truck (I think we're hoarders), the truck was loaded and ready to drive to the new location. 2 hours later, they arrived at the new location. So punctual! They didn't waste time on the drive. Now if it were me, I'd probably just stack the boxes and furniture everywhere around the house and just let the homeowners deal with it. Instead, these guys took the time to patiently ask where each box and furniture item went, even when it was in random rooms UPSTAIRS! We were really impressed by how professional they were, and how they were cheerful and hard-working despite having worked all morning already! We made sure to supply these movers with ice-cold beverages and a hot meal, as well as tipping them generously for their hard work (we felt that their initial price estimate was a little low, so we made up for it by tipping the guys a lot. For this, they were very grateful). It was definitely not an easy job. We totally appreciated Universal Moving Company's help with our move. Their prices are truly the best and they do their work with excellence and diligence. We would not hesitate to recommend them to friends and family members who are looking for an affordable and efficient moving company. Thank you so much, Vicki, Bruce and Universal Moving Company! read more

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Used them 3 times. Great service, efficient and reasonably priced. They packed up my 3 bedroom 2 bath house with garage into a POD for $650, including tip. read more

They were fast, careful and thorough. They took time to wrap everything correctly and were carefully with fragile items. Further, they were fantastic at disassembling and reassembling several pieces of furniture. Highly recommend! Definitely 5 star service! read more

They deserve a zero star, be careful with this company, they quote me certain amount which was paid, and still waiting for my furniture, nobody answer the phone, at this point we don't know where my belongings are, to the point that we were force to hired a lawyer. By the way go to BBB and see all the negative reports, also the huge amount of people suing them for the same reason, quoting you certain amount, and charging you thousand more or they will sell your belongings. And in the best of the cases they deliver your moving, but damage, or some of the items simply dissapear. read more

We just moved out of the SF Bay Area to the Monterey Bay and these guys were great!!! They were no nonsense get the job done but with great care. We had packed our own things but they wrapped the furniture and even came with their own red carpet runner to cover the stairs so as not to damage them. We changed our mind about which room we wanted something big placed after it had been done and they were so kind and courteous when I asked them to move it again. I don't want to sound fake so I will stop here other than to say I highly recommend them! read more

Universal Moving company is fantastic! They have been helping with a large and complicated move that includes a household of 4 and an art studio with high value, fragile artworks and electronic equipment. We have hired them multiple days over this move to pack, disassembly, move all our items and furniture, and reassembly. They even do haul away service for old beds, xl boxes, etc. They are extremely reliable, and came early every time. They are always helpful and eager to please and do great work. They provide similar service for a price far less than the name brand movers. Universal movers was reccomended to us by our friends who were other satisfied customers and we are so happy we went with them. I can't reccomend them enough! read more

They started the job, but didn't finish it. They didn't leave enough time to complete the job and rushed out without finishing the move, leaving me with a lot of extra work to do. I tried to contact Vicki to get them to come back, but she just told me that I was wrong and then stopped responding to emails. A very bad experience. read more

After calling 2 moving companies I called Universal Movers. Spoke to Vicki. She was clear with her communication and gave us the best price. We moved from San Jose to Livermore CA, move was quick and efficient. All items were moved with care, where ever blankets and shrink wrap was needed the movers used it. They also used carpet in the new house on the floor, stairs etc. All in all good, clean move, will recommend and will use Universal Movers service again. read more

This is a terrific company! I used them about 5 years ago when my daughter was moving her few very ordinary things from our house to a flat in San Francisco. They had been super careful and even parked their truck on the street so they wouldn't hit a tree that hung over our driveway. I kept their info. Now, 5 years later my daughter was moving within San Francisco, from NOPA to the Marina. She had some very expensive furniture, including a 5' tall Anthropology mirror. We were worried about it and couldn't buy extra insurance through them. Bubble wrapping was not possible because of the weight of it. Moving day and they arrived on time, got all loaded quickly. At the new location it was a 3rd floor walk up, and they really worked hard. Communicating was a little difficult with a language barrier, but the office lady/owner? was very thorough and easy to deal with. Good job! I'd recommend them without hesitation! read more

Used universal 3 times. The first time was great however this last time they taped plastic on my 10k restoration Hardware custom couch ruining the back of the couch by ripping the finish off. I have reached out to Vicki and she did not respond :( don't use if you have nice furniture. read more

DO NOT USE THIS MOVING COMPANY! This company broke my dresser in the process of moving, and their damage policy will only reimburse you 0.6 cents per pound for a damaged item. So while my dresser was over $300 in value, they will only pay me $81, even though I will have to buy an entire new dresser based on the damage. Additionally, this company was extremely hard to get a hold of in order to report the damage. I left multiple texts and voicemails to which they never responded. I do not recommend this moving service to anyone in San Francisco. read more

Fantastic company, very efficient, safe, fair and reasonable pricing. no complaints, they were able to fit me in last minute and I couldn't be happier with my move. Highly recommended! read more

This is a long over due review . I hired Universal beginning of June to help me unload a jam packed storage pod into their truck and then driven to my new apartment and unloaded once there . 2 guys showed up 5 min early (great) and were so efficient, they unloaded the pod into the truck within an hour! I was planning on staying but I was pretty useless while they unloaded the pod so I ended up leaving and trusting them with my stuff . They then unloaded everything into my apartment without a scratch and put my bed back together . They did all this a little under 3 hours and Prices can't be beat. Will absolutely use Universal again and again! read more

I was totally prepared to give them 5 stars. The move went smoothly. Took a little longer than I expected but that was ok. I gave them a $30 tip. The guy hands me back the tip while saying "cheapo." And then asks in broken English for $30 per person. He left with that $30 tip because that was enough. I'll never hire them again. *Edited to add* They scratched the newly laid laminate wood floors. read more

I had an amazing moving experience with Universal Moving Company! They were timely, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure my move was seamless. If you're in the bay looking to move I would highly recommend! read more

Great experience. I was moving to a new studio apartment and my friend recommended them. I also quoted a few other movers but their price was the most competitive. On my moving day my movers come on time and quickly got everything done; they helped wrapping some of my larger furnitures and mattress which I couldn't pack ahead. The overall process only took two hours (two locations were around 20 minutes apart) and nothing was damaged. 5 star experience and highly recommended! Tip: note that they only take cash or check; no credit card payment. And be prepared to tip since the service is awesome. read more

30 minutes late took 4 hrs to move a small 2 bdrm apt 10 mins down the street. Mover used my master bathroom and requested a tip!

I have used them for two moves and they were excellent. The guys that worked didn't slow down their pace throughout the whole move. I recommended them to two friends and they both received the same great service. read more

Moving is never fun. However, using universal made it as minimally bad as I can imagine. They are highly professional, have a great attitude, work very hard, and charge a reasonable rate. I can't recommend them highly enough. You'll be getting a fantastic deal. As other reviews have said, I think they make most of their money in tips, so be generous. read more

The movers were punctual, efficient and careful with belongings. They took our request for wrapping wall hangings with enough padding. And used caution to not damage our new flooring. Totally recommend them. read more

Universal Moving Company - Movers Near Me

Universal helped me move from Fremont to South Bay with ease. Great communication and extra kudos to Vicki for being flexible since I had to change my moving date/time three times due to some contractor issues. The movers are very capable and paid great attention to details. They laid red carpet in my new house to make sure the floor is clean. Ask all detailed questions about where things should go. They bring tools too, which is handy. A definite 5 star from me. read more

Universal Moving Company helped me move from my 2-bedroom apartment in San Francisco to my house in Oakland. The three movers were punctual, efficient, and all around a great group! They worked hard and didn't take any breaks. I'm so glad I chose Universal Moving Company and would absolutely work with them again for my next move. read more

These folks have helped us move twice within Oakland and I would call them again first for future moves. They are flexible, have great rates, movers and management are really cheerful and easy to communicate with. My belongings arrived intact, they scheduled within 48 hours, really fabulous team. Highly recommend. read more

The two movers arrived early, were super efficient and professional. No drama. No whining. Will absolutely use them again.

Fantastic moving company, I will be recommending them to everyone. Extremely nice, professional, and efficient. Excellent service, if I could give 6 stars I would. read more

Unhappy and stressed with this move. We had already packed 30 boxes ourselves, and I shudder to think what would have happened had we not done that. The movers kept telling us we had "too much stuff." They came underprepared with the number of boxes, hurried through the packing process, and basically refused to pack up the kitchen - the main service I was looking for. I had to repeatedly call Vicki to complain, to no avail. We were prepared to pay the movers for however much time they took, but they were just not willing to work beyond 5pm. This move was very stressful and in spite of all the resistance we got the movers lunch and tipped them well. Then the main guy has the gall to ask me if I was happy with their service. I wasn't. read more

These guys took care of my small move (just the contents of a bedroom and a few other small pieces of furniture and maybe 10 extra boxes). They were prompt, courteous, and very fast! I swear - my furniture has never been better cared for than when it was in transit yesterday. They came with blankets and tape and plastic wrap, kept all the pieces together (drawers in dressers, etc.), and were done within 2 hours (their minimum charge). Scheduling was easy, too. For payment, cash or check is accepted. (And don't forget to tip your movers!) I highly, highly recommend them for your move! read more

I was very happy to give them 5 star. I used their service twice. 1st time was 10/2016. We moved from 1 bed 1 bath to 2 bed 2 bath. 2 people for $80 hourly rate. They arrived on time (8:00 am in San Rafael). They moved very fast and finish all in 3 hours. 2nd time was 09/2017. We moved from 2 bed 2 bath to 3 bed 2.5 bath. 3 people for $110 hourly rate. They arrived on time (8:00 am in San Rafael). We had so many things this time and did not finish packing finally. They also helped packing and finished all in 4 hours. I really appreciate them arriving on time in San Rafael at 8:00 am. They drove from Daily City. For both two moving experiences, no one got lazy during the moving process. They kept working all the times. They bring other shipping supplies (additional boxes, tapes, protection blankets, stairs blanket) to help your moving process get easier and smoother. They did a nice job in packing since no damage at all for both two moving. I would definitely recommend to everyone!!! read more

Had two movers on New Years Day. Super professional and treated my belongings with 100% respect. It took them 2 hours to move a 13x13 room. I recommended them a few times since. I will for sure call them for my next move. read more

This company is amazing. They meticulously wrapped and moved everything from our old apartment into our new one in under three hours. I would highly recommend them for anyone looking for a reliable moving company. read more

I am so disappointed it has been a month since my things were packed and 15 days later some of my things were delivered about half missing including the center back of my sofa bedroom furniture my tv entertainment center one box and delivered a broken Windsor chair and shelves missing from a piece they delivered. Also missing end table side table and no satisfaction when these will be delivered but full payment demanded before you know you do not have a complete shipment of your things. I would not recommend them to anyone. read more

Professional company! Guys showed up a bit early which I liked. Plastic wrapped items and delivered on time. Competitively priced. Recommend them to all my friends and family. Will definitely use them again. read more

They were an hour and a half late. They scratched be bedroom wall when moving our bed even though we warned them he was getting too close. He just brushed it off and didn't even apologize for scratching the wall. We'll have to pay for that out of our deposit I'm sure. We kept telling them to move the bedroom first so we could get that set up for my son to nap. They kept saying yes, but then didn't do it. Then when I paid them without a tip because I was so mad, he asked no tip? I would never use them again. read more

These guys were great! Viki was able to schedule a next day move from our 4th floor condo in SSF to our new place south in the peninsula. They were efficient and fast even with disassembling and putting back together some furniture. They had all the necessary equipment including mats to protect our hardwood floors.Everything made it in one piece and they even had me double check the truck to make sure nothing was forgotten. I highly recommend them! read more

Smoothest move I have ever had! They were very punctual and were very accommodating to my schedule. I was moving from 1 condo to another not too far away but they still spent the time and energy to pack everything perfectly. All the dishes/silverware were carefully wrapped and boxed so that they wouldn't move around and risk breaking. Antonio also spent the time to go over how he would pack thing and made sure I was comfortable with everything. I can also say there is no risk with these guys on stealing your stuff. One of my drawers had some credit cards and old iphones and after the move they were all still there. After they moved everything into my new condo, they asked me if I would like to keep the boxes or not (definitely didn't want a bunch of empty boxes taking up my condo space) so they broke down the boxes and took it with them. read more

This was my first move ever using a professional moving company. It was pretty stress free. Quick response, easy to schedule, and very reasonable rates. Fortunately it also helped the movers have been to my building before. The movers came exactly on time and did a very efficient job. Update: we recently moved and used them again. One of the movers remembered us from the last time. Again everything went smoothly and well, and we will use again. read more

Super easy to book these guys and the dispatcher was pleasant and wonderful to work with. The movers were careful with my belongings and nothing was broken. They were lightning fast and the price was great. Overall I had a great experience. read more

Cheap, fast, and efficient! I was able to book their services less than a week in advance without a problem, they showed up early, and were done in less than two hours. Considering the move was from Daly City to Divisidero SF, the items were mainly very heavy big boxes and bedroom furniture and a mattress/box spring, and that they had to lug everything up 4 flights of stairs with no use of an elevator, the time frame they did it in was amazing. My BF and I tipped the two of them pretty generously, and the best part was that the main guy (I forgot his name) actually said, "too much tip." Of course we told him it was their's to keep. All that hard work, quickness, and efficiency deserved it. I'd definitely use their services again. read more