Where San Francisco Furniture Comes From, and How It Reaches the Truck
Most furniture that leaves this city comes from one of three places: a home being emptied, a dealer or showroom, or a family house where an heirloom is changing hands. Each one shapes the pickup a little differently, and the building matters as much as the piece.
Houses Built Over a Garage
Across the Sunset, Parkside and the Outer Richmond, most houses put the living floor above a street-level garage, usually joined by an interior stair. A cleared garage gives the crew a short, flat path from the door to the curb. When you book, say which floor each piece sits on and whether the garage will be open on pickup day.
Victorian and Edwardian Flats
In the Lower Haight, Duboce Triangle, Alamo Square and the Western Addition, older buildings are split into two or three flats stacked over each other. Their stairs are narrow and often turn at a landing, and a tall armoire or sleeper sofa that came in through a front bay window may not go back down the stairs. Call (866) 333-8018 to check access at your building before you book.
Towers in Rincon Hill and South Beach
Condo and rental towers near the waterfront usually send every move through a loading dock and a freight elevator booked in time blocks. Phone us at (866) 333-8018 to talk through access for your tower before you book.
Curb Space for the Truck
Few residential blocks here have a loading zone. An SFMTA temporary No Parking permit reserves curb space, the city asks for at least 5 business days to process it, and on unmetered streets the signs go up 72 hours ahead.
Antique Dealers, Showrooms and Flea Market Finds
Jackson Square, the brick-lined historic district just north of the Financial District, is home to a cluster of long-established art and antique dealers. The showrooms around Showplace Square sell new and vintage furniture, and across the bay the Alameda Point Antiques Faire fills the old naval air station on the first Sunday of each month. A buyer from out of state can have a writing desk, a mirror or a set of chairs collected from the seller and shipped. Ask how long the seller can hold it, since our pickups are scheduled 2 to 10 business days after booking.
What People Ship Out of the City
- Large furniture such as armoires, china cabinets and hutches
- Mid-century credenzas, sideboards and teak dining sets
- Sofas, sectionals and sleeper sofas
- Bed frames, mattresses, dressers and nightstands
- Antique desks, clocks, mirrors and framed art, crated when needed
- Standing desks, office chairs and monitors from a home office
- Boxes of books, dishes and clothing packed alongside the furniture
Where We Collect Around the Bay
Pickups are not limited to the city. We also collect on the Peninsula, in the East Bay, the South Bay and the North Bay, including Oakland and San Jose. If you are not sure your address is covered, phone us first and we can confirm it.
Rain Season and Lease Dates
Most of the city’s roughly 23 inches of yearly rain falls between November and March. For a winter pickup, keep upholstered pieces and wood indoors until the crew arrives, and clear a covered route to the street if you have one. A lease that ends on the last day of the month leaves no slack, so book at least 10 days ahead; same-week pickup is often possible, but extra fees may apply.
Shipping Furniture to San Francisco
Plenty of shipments come the other way: a family piece sent from a parent’s home in another state, or furniture following someone who took a job here. Pricing works the same. For furniture delivery in San Francisco you pick the level of service. Will-Call is the lowest-cost option, where you collect the shipment at the destination terminal. Curbside Delivery brings it to the nearest point the truck can reach, and Full Service carries each piece inside your home or office. If your move-in date falls after the shipment arrives, short-term storage at the destination terminal can hold it.
