NorthStar Moving Company

You know a company has got to be REALLY good or REALLY bad for me to review them WITHOUT actually using their services. But service is a HUGE chunk of one's experience -- and while I can't comment on the actual movers, I did want to add this review regarding their customer service -- or in this case, customer service to a non-customer.

For an upcoming move, my usual movers are unable to help me due to the condition of their trucks. I'm a little flabbergasted about that (I mean...after all the business I have sent you over the last five years, you'd think you could afford a decent truck), but in any case, I'm left with no choice but to find new movers.

The second place I called was NorthStar. Ultimately, I'm unable to use NorthStar because they're already booked up for the date I have to move.

That said, even after she knew the date I required was not available for them, and despite knowing that helping me would result in basically $0 for them in the near future, Lynn answered my questions re: how much this move might cost, breaking down costs for me and then even added that she'd be happy to contact some other companies to find me a reputable mover.

Of course, in the sea of movers and suddenly having lost my favorite movers, I gratefully accepted her offer.

"And if you have any questions about other quotes or need advice about your move, feel free to call me. I'm here all day!" VERBATIM, that's what she said.

If I didn't know any better, I'd think that I accidentally called Zappos Customer Service. It's not often you find a company who wants to take care of you even when they know there is little chance of this person being a paying customer this year.

Fast forward one hour, and I get a call from a moving company who has my information, moving details and offers me a quote. Whether or not I go with this other company or not remains to be seen, but it does say a lot about the level of service at NorthStar.

Thanks, Lynn, for taking care of me!

Don't work with NorthStar movers.

I've moved 9 times in the last 11 years. NorthStar Bay Area moved me from San Jose to Austin and I have to say that it has been the worst experience of them all.

The crew: careless, reckless, absolutely out of control. I gave them very specific instructions on what to pack and what to be careful with but the manager didn't take notes nor care to ask any questions during the packing days. He did whatever he remembered (or so he thought)....the result, they didn't pack things that they should've and packed other ones that they shouldn't have.
They broke and damaged several pieces of furniture and left behind (in California) a few boxes with utensils, silverware, and other things.

The management: absolutely terrible. They have no sense of customer support. In particular Julie Traurig (LA) and Jason Gonzalez (SF) I specifically told them that I needed my things in Texas by no earlier than Sept 15 - they confirm that they would hold the shipment to make sure the things did not arrive before my house was ready (of course I would pay an additional storage fee for this). They forgot about this request and shipped my belongings on August 27....they forced me to put my things in a storage unit and didn't even accepted that they had made a mistake.

Do not waste your time or money working with NorthStar.

I have used NorthStar 3 more times since my first review to move around in the peninsula SF Bay Area, most recently last weekend, and need to reiterate how great this service is. I recommend always getting the full pack and move service. They do an amazing job packing your things and take time to make sure all your items are fully protected. It is 100% worth the cost of the service, which is actually fairly reasonable. If you want a stress-free and quick move book NorthStar.

On the move again and this time I used Northstar Moving to move my 3 bedroom apartment in Diamond Heights to a house in the Sunset District. I reserved with pretty late notice for a Saturday move and got lucky that they could accommodate me. I decided to go with 4 movers (I've always used 3 in the past) so that we could hopefully get things wrapped up early in the afternoon. The hourly rate was competitive for 4 movers. They arrived to my house on time and got to work. The lead mover was friendly and approachable. At the end of it all no items were broken or missing so I was happy about that.

The thing that impressed me most about Northstar was their customer service and support. There were a few issues over the course of the day that I found confusing and stressful and I indicated this to the lead mover who encouraged me to reach out to the customer service/management team. I had the good fortune of receiving a call back from a woman named Wendy who I believe was from the district office. She was kind, empathetic and genuinely wanted to make sure I felt good about my experience. She was never dismissive of my concerns and worked very hard to make me feel like a valued customer. In a world right now where there is so much tension, animosity and defensiveness in general it was refreshing to feel validated and respected. This is the primary reason why I will use Northstar again. They really seem to care about the customer experience.

Even though I consider myself to be a veteran renter and mover there are lessons that everyone should always remember to keep in mind when moving. Get the estimate before the move starts. If you hire multiple movers clarify what each of their roles will be. Do not be shy to ask questions or get clarification from the team lead while the move is in progress. And if at all possible be an active observer and/or assistant director so that everyone is on the same page.

North Star was quick and super helpful! A little pricey but think it was worth it especially since our move was so last minute!

My belongings are being held hostage.
Northstar is trying to charge me an additional $3000 to return my belongings after putting them in storage. Wendy, Cesar, Alex have not been honest-- I have multiple emails where they contradict the quote that I agreed to before my belongings were taken by them.

I actually had them move for me back in 2017, but after experiencing other moving companies while moving within SF, I can honestly say that NorthStar is one of the best at the best price.

The company was very on time with helping me move from Outer Sunset all the way into SoMa, charging me $169/hour with a minimum charge for 3 hours. As I recall, I did not need additional labor aside from the one they had set me up with, but additional labor comes at $40/hour/man, which is reasonable.

I remember calling in and telling them I mainly needed to move my bed, TV stand, 40-some inch flatscreen, and a couple of nice dining room chairs, so I had a fairly small but effective and efficient crew come and move. Although there was no additional charge for the use of blankets, dollies, and piano boards, I ended up using some boxes and bubble wrap that the company provided for a reasonable price (and got to keep).

I was not at home at the time of the move, but my family took care of the move and said that the movers came on time and that everything transitioned all my stuff over to my new apartment in under two hours. By the time I got home, I just had to unbox and unwrap everything and clean up the apartment.

Very hassle-free and stress-free move, could not have asked for better service in such a chaotic city, thank you!

I went through several people including the owner Michelle when scheduling the move. Although it wasn't just one person, everyone was courteous and professional. They were also accommodating in changing our move date.

NorthStar was also able to quickly get us the insurance certificates and waivers that our HOA required for moving. They were responsive in everything we had inquired.

Edgar and his crew helped us with the move. They arrived on time and were very careful in wrapping our furnitures and mattresses - a very important step in moving. They helped to disassemble our beds, TV, etc. They were also quick and efficient in moving our stuff. Obviously an experienced crew. Would I get them again for a move? You bet.

NorthStar was quick and easy to work with. They made everything easy. Of all the places I called early on during the pandemic, they were the only ones who said their workers will wear masks, so I went with them even though they were a bit pricier than the other options I called. Better safe than sorry.

I called a day before to ensure they would wear masks, and the man said no, and I made it clear that they confirmed earlier masks will be used due to the high-risk nature of the people involved in the move. So the ensured we got a crew who'd wear N95 masks.

The move itself was fast but I had everything already packed and wrapped. All they had to do was load up the truck, drive, and unload. The price requires a three hour minimum, and we easily made that time for a one bedroom apt set up.

One star down was a bit damaged during the move but I was given a small refund for the trouble, but I had to follow up on it because I never got it (it was reissued eventually).

We have moved twice in the last year and used a different highly rated moving company the previous time. Our experience with NorthStar was vastly superior. The movers were quick and professional and the price was much better. We're very happy we went with NorthStar this time.

Third time's a charm!

This is the third time I've used these guys and I keep going back to them because they always provide great service. I moved from a house to apartment this time, and the experience has been consistent.

These guys are quick, efficient and I've never had any issues with damaged property. I chose to pack most of my stuff, but they took the additional measures to make sure items were securely taped or furniture covered with protective sheets to ensure nothing got scratched or damaged.

The guys themselves are also super courteous (I was reminded several times that I wouldn't be charged for any idle time).

Rates are really reasonable, too.

I highly recommend these guys for your local move!