Domestic Moves

At E Freight, our domestic moves solutions cater to both families and small businesses—offering personalized, stress-free relocation services that prioritize item safety, schedule flexibility, and cost transparency. This case study spotlights how we managed two simultaneous domestic moves for a client: relocating their family of 4 from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and moving their 10-person marketing agency (based in San Francisco) to a new LA office—all within a 7-day window, with zero damage to personal belongings or business equipment.

Our client, Sarah Miller, is the founder of a growing marketing agency and a mother of two. She needed to relocate both her family and business to Los Angeles to be closer to family and access a larger client base. Her key requirements were non-negotiable:

1. Dual Move Coordination: The family home (3-bedroom, with furniture, valuables, and kids’ toys) and the agency office (1,500 sq. ft., with 10 workstations, 2 conference tables, and a server) had to be moved simultaneously—no staggered timelines.
2. Item Safety: High-value items (family heirlooms: a vintage piano, antique furniture; business assets: a $15k server, 10 laptops) needed extra protection against damage.
3. Tight Timeline: The move had to be completed in 7 days (from packing in SF to unpacking in LA) to avoid disrupting the agency’s client projects and the kids’ school schedule.
4. Flexible Scheduling: Packing and loading had to happen after work hours (5 PM–9 PM) for the office, and on weekends for the home—so the family and team could continue their daily routines.
5. Full-Service Support: Sarah didn’t have time to handle packing, labeling, or unpacking—she needed E Freight to manage every step, from start to finish.

The Miller family’s 3-bedroom San Francisco home—filled with personal belongings, vintage furniture, and kids’ items—awaiting relocation to Los Angeles.

Coordinating two simultaneous domestic moves (family + small business) comes with unique hurdles that generic moving services often fail to address:

• Logistical Overlap: Scheduling packing, loading, and transport for two locations (home in SF’s Richmond District, office in SoMa) without delays required precise timing—any hold-up at one site would derail the entire 7-day plan.
• High-Value Item Risks: The vintage piano (800 lbs.) and antique dresser (fragile woodwork) could be damaged during loading/unloading, while the agency’s server was sensitive to vibration (risking data loss).
• Time Pressure: A 7-day turnaround meant no room for mistakes—missed deadlines would force the family to stay in a hotel and the agency to pause client work (costing ~$3k/day in lost revenue).
• Personal vs. Business Priorities: The family needed delicate handling of kids’ items (e.g., a favorite stuffed animal, school supplies), while the agency required urgent setup of the server and workstations to resume projects.

To meet Sarah’s needs, we assembled a dedicated dual-move team (separate crews for home and office) and designed a day-by-day timeline. Here’s how we executed the relocation:

Before packing began, we spent 2 days mapping every detail to ensure alignment:

• Dual Site Assessment: Two E Freight project managers visited the family home and agency office to:
• Create item inventories (e.g., “1 vintage piano, 3 bedroom sets, 10 office chairs") and note high-value items for extra protection.
• Measure doorways, hallways, and elevators (critical for moving the piano and large office furniture) to avoid last-minute delays.
• Share a 7-day timeline with Sarah, including packing/loading times for each site and delivery/unpacking windows in LA.
• Custom Packing Supplies: We provided specialized materials for unique items:
• Piano-specific moving blankets (thick, shock-absorbing) and a hydraulic lift for safe transport.
• Anti-static foam and tamper-proof boxes for the agency’s server and laptops.
• Kid-friendly labeled boxes (“Emma’s Toys," “Jack’s School Supplies") to make unpacking easier for the family.
• Team Assignment: We assigned two 4-person crews:
• Home Crew: Trained in handling personal belongings (especially fragile heirlooms and kids’ items) with 5+ years of residential move experience.
• Office Crew: Certified in tech equipment handling (servers, laptops) and experienced in small business relocations.

An E Freight project manager measures the Miller family’s vintage piano and plans the loading route—ensuring it fits through doorways and onto the truck.

We split packing into 3 days (evenings for the office, weekends for the home) to avoid disrupting daily routines:

• Home Packing (Weekend 1):
• The home crew packed room by room, starting with non-essential items (e.g., books, decor) on Saturday, then essentials (clothes, kitchenware) on Sunday.
• High-value items got extra care: the piano was wrapped in 3 layers of moving blankets and secured with straps; antique furniture was padded with foam and labeled “Fragile—Do Not Stack."
• Kids’ items were packed last (per Sarah’s request) and placed in clear plastic bins (so the kids could access toys during the move).
• Office Packing (Weekdays 1–3, 5 PM–9 PM):
• The office crew packed workstations one by one, labeling each box with the employee’s name (e.g., “Mike’s Laptop, Monitor") to speed up setup in LA.
• The server was disconnected by the agency’s IT team (with E Freight’s tech specialist assisting) and packed in an anti-static box with a GPS tracker.
• Client files (physical and digital) were packed in locked boxes, with only Sarah and the E Freight project manager having keys.

An E Freight home crew member packs Emma’s toys into a labeled bin—ensuring delicate items (like a ceramic doll) are wrapped in tissue paper first.

On Day 4, both crews loaded their trucks and headed to Los Angeles—with real-time tracking for Sarah to monitor progress:

• Dual Truck Dispatch: Two 26ft. moving trucks (one for home items, one for office equipment) left SF at 8 AM, with:
• GPS trackers updating every 15 minutes (Sarah could check the location via our mobile app).
• Dedicated drivers with 10+ years of California highway experience (familiar with LA traffic to avoid delays).
• Extra secure storage for high-value items: the piano was strapped to the truck’s interior (no movement during transit), and the server was placed in a climate-controlled compartment (22°C to prevent overheating).
• Real-Time Communication: Sarah received hourly updates (e.g., “Trucks passing Santa Barbara," “ETA to LA: 3 PM") and a call 1 hour before arrival to confirm she was at the new home/office.

On Days 5–6, we focused on fast, organized unpacking—prioritizing Sarah’s top needs:

• Home Unpacking (Day 5):
• The home crew unpacked essentials first: kitchenware (so the family could cook meals), bedroom sets (for a good night’s sleep), and kids’ items (to help them settle in).
• The piano was moved into the living room using the hydraulic lift and positioned per Sarah’s request—then inspected for scratches (none found!).
• Unused boxes and packing materials were removed by 6 PM, leaving the home clutter-free.
• Office Setup (Day 6):
• The office crew set up the server first (working with the agency’s IT team) — it was fully operational by 10 AM, allowing the team to resume client work by noon.
• Workstations were assembled to match the SF office layout (e.g., “Mike’s desk by the window")—each employee’s laptop, monitor, and supplies were in place by 2 PM.
• Conference tables and office decor were set up by 5 PM, making the new office ready for a team meeting the next day.

E Freight’s office crew works with the agency’s IT team to set up the server in the new LA office—ensuring it’s connected and functional by noon.

On Day 7, we checked in to ensure everything was perfect:

• Final Walkthrough: Sarah and the E Freight project managers toured the new home and office to confirm all items were present and undamaged. The only issue: a missing coffee mug from the office kitchen—we tracked it down (left in the SF office’s break room) and had it delivered via courier the next day (no extra cost).
• Feedback Session: Sarah shared that the kids loved having their toys unpacked first, and the agency team was thrilled to resume work 2 days early. We noted these priorities for future domestic moves.

“E Freight made moving two locations in 7 days feel easy—something I never thought possible. The team handled my kids’ items with so much care (Emma’s stuffed bear was waiting on her new bed!) and got our agency server up in hours, so we didn’t lose a day of work. The piano arrived scratch-free, and the timeline was followed to the minute. I’ve recommended them to every friend moving locally—they’re not just movers, they’re problem-solvers."

— Sarah Miller, Founder, [Client’s Marketing Agency]

• Dual-Move Expertise: We specialize in coordinating simultaneous residential and small business relocations—no need to hire two separate companies.
• Item-Specific Care: From vintage pianos to tech servers, we have the tools and training to protect unique, high-value items.
• Flexible Scheduling: We work around your timeline (evenings, weekends, holidays) to avoid disrupting work, school, or family routines.
• Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees—we provide a detailed quote upfront, including packing supplies, labor, and transport.

Need a Domestic Move?

Contact E Freight’s domestic moves team today for a free in-home/office assessment and customized quote. We serve all U.S. states, with special expertise in family and small business relocations.