One word to describe my movers, Sergio and Aca, and the owner, Derek....AMAZING! I work in a field were customer service is key and I must say these guys totally get what customer service is all about. They went above and beyond and really pay attention to detail. First, the owner Derek made the move a breeze. He answered every little question and concern I had prior to booking the move and after. He explained in further detail how the moving industry works in terms of hidden fees (which they didn't have), approximately how long it would take (pretty dead on!), and what was provided (wardrobe boxes, padding, shrink wrap, etc). He also answers you quickly, within minutes of sending an email. He confirmed my appointment and the number of movers required, so I wouldn't have the nightmare you read on yelp about other companies not showing up. Derek also conveyed to the movers the approximate time frame I wanted the move completed. He didn't just stop at booking the move, he constantly was in communication with the movers to make sure the move was going well and that I was happy. Now onto the movers, Sergio and Aca, I couldn't have asked for better guys to help with the move. They truly were amazing! While packing, I ran out of boxes, so not everything was boxed up when they arrived. Obviously, my fault, but these guys did their best to pack everything they could into a box or directly into the truck without anything breaking or missing. They wrapped and padded all my furniture and it was moved and unpacked with no damage. All the boxes were moved to the new place to each room I wanted them in. Okay, maybe that's not much of a chore for most places, but these guys had to go up a flight of stairs in my old place and then had to deal with two different flights of stairs at the new place and with me changing my mind where things should go. A big bonus! They took apart and rebuilt furniture as needed. They paid attention to detail and informed me of damaged furniture before moving it into the truck. Truly, these guys did an awesome job and were very efficient. They didn't take their time even though the job paid by the hour. Their truck was no joke, a fully-equipped moving truck with all the straps and wrap needed for a professional move. Don't let the other big-name, fancy websites fool you....1st Choice Movers are worth every penny and then some! read more

Ok....So I liked these guys so much that I made a yelp account just so I could brag about them... For the past month, I have been dreading my move! I have had and heard of horror stories using moving companies: damaged furniture, late, no shows, rude, expensive, hidden costs...etc. etc. However, I have a few heavy pieces of furniture and knew I would have to find help for my move. I found these guys on yelp. I called up Derek and he immediately e-mailed me with several time slots to chose from as well as the cost (the price included everything! Gas, blankets, shrink wrap, tools, ties, they even offered a few wardrobe boxes!). No hidden fees. The price given to me was by far the cheapest I found. Roy and Asa were the movers who helped me. Amazing guys! Super friendly and professional. They showed up 20 minutes early (awesome!). Right away they noticed I had a bunch of other odds and ends that needed to be moved (which I had planned on doing myself and would have taken numerous trips). They offered free of charge to move it ALL for me! They took such care wrapping all my furniture, maneuvering it through my apartment complex and into the truck. I was shocked by how quick they worked. When we got to my new home, Roy and Asa got straight to work arranging and reassembling furniture for me. I have to admit, I am pretty picky and change my mind often on the location of my furniture. They were patient with me and rearranged all furniture to my liking! (they moved my couch and bed about three times!) Not to mention, my new home is two stories with a not so easy flight of stares with many corners. The guys blanketed the corners in order to protect my furniture. They were so careful getting my bedroom furniture upstairs and situated. My family, friends, and I have all had experiences with past movers in which our furniture ends up scratched or dented...I was SO happy to see that all my furniture looked perfect! Now here is the added bonus...I lack smarts in the technological department. Asa offered to re-install my internet and cable at my new home...which he did! It works great! The move could not have gone any better. Thanks to Roy and Asa, my move was completely stress free. I am definitely passing the word on to my friends and family! Thank you Roy and Asa, such a pleasure working with you! I could not be happier read more

Yesterday he sent an employee to unwrap, install and repair things that didn't get done. A two day move is exhausting. Still hoping to find my triple dresser and mirror. It goes to an expensive set with four poster king bed set. A packer also removed a protective clear vinyl cover on a 5' brocade seat! My tower lights still aren't plugged in on a bed set with mirrors. He didn't know how! I am still moving my house with 2 SUVs loaded per day because your 5 guys didn't take notice they were Leaving my Belongings and locked my 5 drawer file cabinet which I can't find a key. They also left five shelves from the library and the brass pins are missing! 3 of your 5 guys spent the last hr. Hanging out in the truck! They also promised to take my two heavy printers but didn't! It took 5 guys to load 7 hrs and the following day they had an attitude and dropped everything off in 4.5 hrs and left at 2 pm leaving my home in a total disaster! You should advise all clients prior to moving that everything has to be packed in 4' garment boxes or you don't take it! This has been the worst disaster ever! Obviously I'm a senior and can't move heavy furniture dumped and left so drawers can't open because there 6" from the bed and beds not put together right either and one bed set left in garage so packers could leave early! Truly a Nightmare! And the Worst!!it took 5 guys all day to load 2 26' trucks. They dropped off all the things in FOUR HOURS, Broke my ceramic water container and didn't tell me...they said they just spilled a little water, the gallons of water ran under my Grandfather Clock!! They didn't care and Left me in a total mess! They ruined many of my clothes, still can't find some silk dresses and cashmere sweaters and new leather shoes ruined because they threw them in a smashed pile in grocery boxes and bags! They even used a hospital bag I had and ripped garment covers w zippers, scrunched cashmere sweaters into bags and crushed them up! These people don't know how to pack good clothes or shoes and 8 pair designer sunglasses are broken, neck of light missing, lamp turner knob missing.....they do not take care! My China closet, two nightstand scratched, etc. read more

Your friends are not this quick! You can not beat this price! Gentlemen you can trust! I have the misfortune of moving more often than your average person and have been taken advantage of by big companies when I move. Being a single female on my own I was worried about getting taken advantage of again!! Three years ago, when it came time for me to move some things out of my storage unit I turned to Craig's List and found Derek. His add sounded promising so I called and was very impressed with his professionalism so I hired him to come out. He and his partner Tom did such a great job with my storage move I called them again when it was time to move my whole apartment. Derek was extremely patient with all of my questions and kept in contact with me right up to the day before the move. The flat rate can not be beat! I have run into situations where I was quoted one price and then once the truck was loaded it doubled. Not with these guys. The price has always been the same and they never stick you with those last minute fees. The best part... there is no sob stories about how rough the economy is and how little they get paid, you know the drill... the I want a tip drill. I have had that happen more times than I can count. 1st Choice Movers are top rate and would rather do a first rate job than stand around and yack when they are on the clock. Tom and Ryan showed up right on time and got my whole upstairs apartment moved into the truck in two hours. I know for a fact that no matter how many of my friends offered to help me before the move, none of them would have shown up to do it or done as quick and efficient a job as 1st Choice Movers. The way they managed to get everything loaded into that truck was mind boggling. They unload the truck in even less time and to top it all off they asked where I wanted each stack of boxes to go. They even went that extra mile and lifted a few of the REALLY heavy ones onto the shelves for me. That is what I call service!! 1st Choice Movers is an exceptionally efficient and professional moving company and one I have/will recommend to anyone I know. Thanks again Derek, Tom and Ryan for making my move a piece of cake! =) Allison read more

This was a pleasant move; I can't believe I wrote that, I hate moving. I was referred directly to Derek by my son. Six moves in the last 33 years; three in the last 3 years; two in the last six months. Somebody else paid for the first three. Of the last three, this was the BEST! It starts with Derek Parker. Responsive, efficient, intuitive, compassionate, up front. Took one call to schedule, an email right after to confirm terms, and a confirming email the day before. Terms were clear; 3-hour minimum, over charges specified. When Edgar, Jose, and Chris arrived, we signed the contract and they got right to work. Nice guys! This was fun to watch. They only moved furniture, mostly large items. Assess, wrap glass items in blankets, wrap large pieces in plastic, load, etc. They were good. From a third floor apartment to a single family residence. Elevator; no problem. They put three or more items in at a time. At times, one guy loaded the elevator and let it go down, where another intercepted it and took it off. This probably took one-third of the time that would have been necessary for one mover; and half of the time for two. Derek nailed it based just on my description,; suggesting three workers. At the house, two big items went upstairs. Chris and Edgar were careful and able; these were heavy and bulky items (Thomasville oak from the mid-eighties). They moved several other items from room and placed the other pieces (large, Thomasville oak) just as requested. Edgar, Jose, and Chris were courteous at arrival and departure, communicative throughout, and very accommodating. Derek is a real professional. Five stars are not enough. Thanks to Derek, Edgar, Jose, and Chris! BTW; one of my fears was the drive time. I hired movers once who took about an hour to drive 8 miles. Really; calculate that. These guys followed me, so I set the speed. Sweet. Fifty MPH on the freeway. That was my furniture. BTW; three hours start to finish. Good tip. read more

I should say that I didn't completely believe the reviews on Yelp because they seemed too good to be true. But my need was urgent and I just called 1st Choice. Now I know why they are 5-star movers - they truly deserve it!! In the past few years of hiring various services I have worked with only one or two companies who were really 5-star worthy. this company is one of them. We were moving from a 3 bdrm townhome with some heavy furniture to another 3 bdrm townhome. Most importantly we sold our home so it was very important that there are no damages to the home we were moving out of. Finally I only gave Derek (Parker) two days notice to schedule the move. Derek wasn't able to schedule me right away but worked with me via SMS constantly until he was able to comfirm a date and time. On the move date Derek arrived with 3 of his men - i didn't need 4 but he came in to plan and kick off the move, gave his men directions, helped with moving the really heavy stuff. Once he left, his men took care of the rest. In the both the old and new places they have ensured that there is not a single scratch to the walls nor did they break or lose any of the stuff being moved. All three of the movers were really nice and polite gentlemen. This is the email I wrote to the owner "thanks for all the super-quick turnaround time, working with me to fit me in at the last moment while not making me feel that you are doing me a favor. it has been a very long time since i have see this level of service. kudos to you. beyond the fact that i am happy with the excellent job and attitude of your employees (and you too) i also foresee that you are going to be very successful in your life. your service is an epitome of what business used to stand for in this great country - customer is king - unfortunately not all businesses are paying attention to this all important factor" read more

I was very apprehensive about hiring movers because I have had horrible experiences in the past. They have all of these hidden costs they they fail to disclose and I always end up paying more than what they quote me. I read all of the positive reviews about 1st Choice and decided to give them a try. Within minutes of submitting an online request Derek contacted me. He listened to my concerns and assured me that there will be no hidden costs and that his team would take care of move. He asked me to send him a list of what I was moving to help with an early quote. After doing so he recommended that he stop by and do an assessment to provide a better a quote. The price he quoted was fair and we settled on a moving date. The day of the move his team arrived, headed by Dan. They arrived exactly on time which was a great first impression. Dan did a preliminary walk through and told me to sit back, relax and his crew would go to work. And work they did! These guys were amazing! I moved from a 2 story house into another 2 story house and these guys were like a well oiled machine. They loaded up 2 trucks and delivered my belongings to my new house and set everything up. What was surprising was that they actually finished early and the final cost was a lot less than what I was quoted. I have never had a moving company charge me less than what was originally quoted. As stated earlier all my previous movers charged me more and had all of these hidden costs. 1st Choice itemized all of the costs associated with the move so that at the end there where no hidden costs, no surprises except that I actually paid less. Moving is very stressful but 1st Choice alleviated a lot of stress for me on moving day. I don't want to move again anytime soon, but if I do, I am calling 1st Choice!! Thanks Derek, Dan, and the moving crew!!! read more

1) I *hate* moving. 2) Despite hitting the gym hard one day this month, I knew I could not move a 2br all by myself, 3) I have several fragile glass furniture items and floor length mirrors that needed to be transported safely. All of these factors made it necessary to hire a moving company that would handle my belongings with care and make my move as painless as possible. I got exactly what I was looking for with 1st Choice Movers. Derek, Jose, and the guys were great. This company was professional and efficient from beginning to end. Derek was always quick to respond to my (many) questions and provided a clear estimate so I would know what to expect - even giving me tips to cut down on the move time. I was able to save money by paying in cash and using the Yelp coupon. I needed to change my move date, and Derek was quick to accommodate. On the day of the move, the guys showed up 15 minutes early, which was impressive. They inspected my place, had me fill out paperwork, and then got to work right away. I was impressed with how quick, efficient, professional, polite, and honest they were. My delicate furniture items were shrink wrapped and made it to the new location in tact. Out of the entire move, only one wall was scratched, and they made sure to tell me about it right away, which I greatly appreciated. The guys were great about communicating anything that could be a potential problem. The only issue I did end up having was promptly corrected by Derek. 1st Choice Movers is the real deal - they deserve every 5 star review they get. I am beyond grateful for their hard work and amazing customer service. read more

1st Choice Movers, you are my hero's. The situation: I gave a 30 day notice on 4/1/13 to end my lease, and given the fact that I was living with a family member - this became an emotional mess and I was told to move out of the premises immediately on 4/2/13. I found 1st Choice Movers on Yelp on 4/2/13 and figured I would request a quote, even though their website said they would be closed until 4/4/13 and that they were booked until the end of April. Derek responded to me right away and told me they had an appointment available 4/3/13 at 8:15am. Not being 100% sure if this was going to be even feasible for me, I responded back about two hours later and Derek was quick to go over details, options, and pricing with me. The experience: The movers, Roy and Esteban, were so nice and such hard working men. They were running just a hair late and called me to let me know, which I thought was extremely courteous. They offered boxes and solutions on packing and moving things, and even offered to set up furniture once we got everything up three flights of stairs to our new place. Just like Derek, both Roy and Esteban were professional, courteous, and personable. It was nice to be able to spend half the day moving with people you could actually throw a joke at and laugh with! The outcome: Given an interesting and stressful situation, they made the process of moving less stressful and honestly I couldn't ask for much more. These guys are the best and if I ever move again I am going to call them, and if anyone I know ever moves, I'm going to recommend them. Thanks Derek, Roy, and Esteban!! read more

Awesome! Have absolutely no hesitation about hiring Derek and his crew. Derek did a small apartment move for me on Thursday. Here's a list of the TOP TEN REASONS I rate 1st Choice Movers as simply AWESOME: 10) Derek accommodated MY schedule and time frame; 9) Communication was instant, constant, reassuring, funny, honest and sincere; 8) Moving supplies at no additional cost, to include: shrink wrap, furniture & box dollies, tape, flat screen TV protection, furniture pads, rope & tie downs, and protective stuff for computer & monitor; 7) Space utilization: Derek knows how to load a U-Haul! I had extra space and every item was unloaded in exactly the same condition it was loaded... nothing damaged; 6) The crew never stopped moving... time management favors the customer's pocket book... I got more than what I paid for... they never took a break and the move was completed in less than 3-hrs, including driving time to my new place; 5) Derek drove the U-Haul for me so I could drive my own car, the move was completed with a one way trip! 4) Derek uses a GPS so no lame excuses like "I got lost" "Unexpected traffic delays" "bumpy roads damaged your furniture" ... he took the shortest route possible to minimize costs while protecting my belongings; 3) He's the cheapest on the market for what he provides; 2) He's good looking; and, 1) He's studying to be a firefighter... and I love men in uniforms, especially firefighters! Seriously, Derek gives you more than what you pay for. 5-Stars : ) read more

Amazing moving company. Have used them in the past and just the other day and their service has only gotten better over the years. The owner Derek is super on top of everything and goes above and beyond to make sure you have a excellent moving experience. He handled the reservation from the beginning and was super fast to reply. I know he is busy too, so this means a lot to see the owner being so hands on and punctual with customers. The 3 guys Derek sent were Jose, Daniel and Evan and they were the best moving crew I have ever hired to help with my move. They were very professional , punctual and were extremely careful with everything. They were carrying things by themselves that I was amazed they could carry with ease. Hats off to Jose, Daniel and Evan. Have only good things to say about these guys. They were very respectful and really hustled and made an extremely stressful move not so stressful. Can't thank these guys enough. They deserve a 10 star review if I could give it. I have moved many times in my life and I know from experience how a moving company can make things more stressful. You don't have to worry about that once you talk to Derek and hire them to do your move. Derek only hires top notch guys to move your things and I will only hire First Choice Movers and recommend them to family and friends in the future, as long as Derek owns the company. Thank you Jose, Daniel and Evan for all of your help, greatly appreciate you guys and Derek as well. A++++ business & services!!! read more

As most would agree, moving is a pain. I decided not to do it my self because was moving from my home in Eastlake to a downtown building. My place had stairs and downtown buildings are so hard to move into because of the limitations of parking and elevator usage. I did a yelp search and found a lot of options. I must say, that 1st choice stood out from the very beginning. Derek was professional, informative and eager to answer any questions. Either by phone or email he responded quickly and honestly. To be honest, he gave me a estimate (and that it was) of how much time it would take. He overestimated and purposely so, because he didn't want me to be blindsided the day of the move. He did explain why he estimated the amount of hours when dealing with a downtown move. So I took it in stride and budgeted for such a case. The Day of the move went as smoothly as I could have hoped for. Paul, Cesar and Edgar arrived 10 minutes early. These guys worked fast, yet were meticulous about everything they wrapped and protected. They made sure to ask me any questions they had with out guessing. Not only were they professional and courteous but had outstanding personalities and all around great people. To top it off they did the whole job way under the estimated amount of time that Derek had given me. I would not hesitate to refer 1st Choice Movers and to friends, family or Yelp viewers. You can not go wrong with them! All the best, Daniela read more

I'm just now getting settled in the new house but 1st Choice moved me about a week ago and top to bottom they are as solid as it gets. From Derek setting it up to the packers working diligently and quickly and the movers just busting it out, I have no complaints; absolutely none. I have used 3 different moving companies in the past 15 years, all with major flaws and ridiculous pricing. I thought you couldn't move for less than $5,000 without dealing with problems. These guys proved me wrong. They packed and moved a 3 bedroom house packed floor to ceiling with furniture, paintings, and everything in between and I was out the door for less than $1,900. I don't remember the packers names because I only met with them briefly but 3 ladies packed the entire house in about 8 hours! It would have taken me 2 weeks... Then the movers arrived the next morning... Dante led the team, David was a machine (Taking apart and putting furniture back together so quickly it was incredible to watch), Jermaine never stopped working or smiling for that matter, Jose was crushing it like a ninja on the truck and Edgar was still telling jokes at the end of the day. If you aren't satisfied with these guys then your expectations are unrealistic. Get them some lunch and throw them a few bucks at the end of the day if they did their job well. I asked Derek for cards and magnets as I will recommend these guys to everyone I talk to. read more

Before calling these folks, I really set aside the opportunity to peruse the greater part of their review...took me a moment, however I endured. What I need to say in regards to this organization is basic; take each positive angle in each of their surveys and rely on your turn to be the same! It was entertaining, such as perusing a book, then going to watch a film in light of that book, where you're trusting it is in any event half as great. For my situation, as every other person, Derek was the primary setup. Reacts inside seconds each time and dependably answers your inquiries... No BS! The group you are getting will doubtlessly be distinctive, yet my turn comprised of Andy, Leo and Edgar. These folks kept an awesome beat, dependably appeared to be peppy and were anything but difficult to converse with. Attempt to mess up their arrangements and they essentially evade it and proceed onward. They move with each punch while keeping a grin all over! By the day's end, they went about as though they wished I had more to move! I never got the feeling that they had some place better to be. Sensibly estimated, definitely justified even despite the significant serenity it gave me knowing my better half wouldn't need to move without anyone else's input on the off chance that I couldn't make it home. Experts who know the significance of administration!!! I'll remember these folks next time I require ANYTHING moved!! read more

I have used 1st Choice Movers twice now for moves in San Diego and I have to say, they are by far the best movers I have ever worked with!! PROMPT They arrived at our storage unit 10 minutes before the scheduled move so we were able to get cranking right away. They worked so efficiently to get our stuff wrapped, moved to the truck, and strategically placed in the truck. We then went to our old place to pack things up. EFFICIENT AND COURTEOUS WORKERS They worked very quickly to get our items on the truck and made sure to take extreme care with all of our stuff. They also made sure I didn't do any heavy lifting, which was nice! They didn't waste any time, just worked incredibly fast and efficiently. I only had to tell them once what was going and what wasn't (my brother was moving to a different place later on that week). When we got to the new location, I gave them the layout and they quickly got the truck unpacked. It only took about 45 minutes to get the entire truck emptied and the place set up. HIGHLY RECOMMEND I absolutely recommend using 1st Choice Movers for anyone moving in San Diego. I don't have a ton of money, so choosing a solid moving company that is affordable and very good at what they do is crucial! I've done the U-Haul thing a couple times and for the extra money it is definitely worth paying professionals to do the job. Call Derek and he will take care of you for your move!! read more