--- title: How Far Ahead to Book Movers for a Reno Move url: https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-far-ahead-to-book-movers/ business: O'Brien's Moving & Storage address: 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 phone: 775-359-6683 (toll-free 1-800-253-7814) hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm licenses: U.S. DOT No. 30611, MC-109375, Nevada CPCN 1070; interstate agent for Bekins Van Lines since 1955 type: Moving and storage company, family owned since 1941 --- - [Home](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/) - [Moving resources: guides, checklists, tools and data](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/resources/) - [Moving guides](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/) - How far ahead to book movers # How far ahead to book movers Call as soon as your move date is firm, because the three steps that come first (a price, an estimate visit and a date on the schedule) all take calendar time. O'Brien's offers three ways to a price, a phone ballpark, an online request or a free in-home estimate, so the first step can happen the day you decide. or call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 [U.S. DOT No. 30611](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/licenses-and-authority/) There is no single number of weeks that fits every household. Lead time depends on how big the home is, how far the goods travel, whether anything goes into storage, and which week of the year you want. This guide shows what drives the answer so you can set your own. ## What decides your lead time A short local move of a small apartment needs less planning than a whole house that travels across several states. The more services in the move, the more people have to be scheduled around your date. Packing crews, a driver, a loading crew at one end and an unloading crew at the other all have to be free on the same days. Season matters as well. Summer weekends and the last days of a month are the days most households pick, so those dates fill first. A weekday in the middle of a month is usually easier to schedule than the first or last weekend. If your dates can bend, tell the estimator which days are firm and which are only preferences. ## The three steps that come before moving day Moving day sits at the end of a short chain. First you get a price. O'Brien's gives that three ways: a phone ballpark when you only need a rough idea, an online request, or a free, no-obligation in-home estimate by an O'Brien's estimator. Second, the estimator visits and walks through every room, the garage and any storage space. Third, you choose a date and the crew is scheduled. Because the in-home estimate is done by appointment, it is the step most likely to set your calendar. Book it before you start packing, so the estimator can see the home as it really is. Each in-home estimate comes with 10 free heavy-duty boxes, yours to keep, so you can start packing right away. [How our estimates work](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/) explains what the visit covers. ## When to call earlier than usual - You are moving between states. A long-distance move runs through the Bekins network, and the shipment is priced by weight, so the weight has to be estimated before a date can be set. - Part of the move goes into storage first. Vault storage needs about 2 to 3 weeks notice to ship stored goods, so tell the office early if a delivery date depends on it. - You need packing. Full packing of a whole house takes a crew more time than a drive does, so the packing days need to be on the calendar too. - You have a piano, a pool table, a hot tub or fine art. Specialty items need their own planning; see [specialty moving](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/specialty-moving/). - The date is tied to a closing, a lease end or a school start. A fixed deadline is a reason to call sooner, not later. ## If your date is close If the move is only days away, call the office at 775-359-6683 and say so in the first sentence. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, and can tell you what is open on the schedule. A near date does not rule out a move, but it narrows the choices, so be ready to be flexible on the day of the week. For a longer look, read [last-minute moves](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/last-minute-moves/). ## A simple rule to follow Request your estimate first, pick the date second, and give notice to your landlord or buyer third. Once the date is set, work backward through [the moving timeline](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-timeline/) so utilities, address changes and packing all land before the truck does. ### Sources (checked October 18, 2026) - [FMCSA, Protect Your Move](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move) - [eCFR, 49 CFR Part 375 (interstate household goods)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-375) ### Free in-home estimate - An O'Brien's estimator walks through your home - A written, itemized estimate - 10 free heavy-duty boxes, yours to keep [How our estimates work](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/) ### Visit or call the office 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) | Monday to Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | | --- | --- | | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Get my free estimate](#estimate) ### Related - [Free in-home moving estimate (plus 10 free heavy-duty boxes)](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/free-estimate/) - [How our estimates work: phone ballpark, online request, in-home estimate](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/) - [A moving timeline that works](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-timeline/) - [The best time of year to move in Northern Nevada](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/best-time-to-move/) Moving guides ## Read next - [A moving timeline that works](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-timeline/) - [Change-of-address checklist](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/change-of-address-checklist/) - [How to transfer utilities when you move](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/transferring-utilities/) - [What goes in a first-night box](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/first-night-box/) - [Move-out cleaning checklist](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/move-out-cleaning-checklist/) - [Moving-day tips from a family mover](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-day-tips/) - [Planning a move on short notice](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/last-minute-moves/) - [How big a truck does your move need?](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-truck-size/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683), Mon-Fri 8-5, or see the [moving FAQ](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/faq/). ### Do I need to book before I get an estimate? No. You can ask for a phone ballpark or request an in-home estimate first, and choose a date after you have seen the written estimate. ### Does the free estimate commit me to anything? No. The in-home estimate is free and carries no obligation, and the 10 free heavy-duty boxes that come with it are yours to keep. ### Can I move on a weekend? Residential dates are set by the schedule, so ask when you call. Commercial crews work evenings, weekends and holidays by arrangement. ### How do I reach the office? Call 775-359-6683, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, or use the free estimate request on this site. ## 4.3 stars from 71 Google reviews What customers say about O'Brien's [Read more reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/)[See them on Google](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=17335326057105140938) C Charles C. May 31, 2025 Great company, I'd highly recommend for any move!!! ### Owner's reply Charles, It was a pleasure working with you on your moves. We hope your trip is amazing and if you ever come back our way, we will be happy to help. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to complete this review on our behalf. N Nadine K. May 15, 2025 The guys were very friendly and hard working. Would definitely use them again! ### Owner's reply Nadine, We are pleased you chose us for your move, it was a pleasure working with you! We are extremely happy the move was a success. G Greg S. January 22, 2025 3 O'Brien movers came down from Reno to South Lake Tahoe to assist our company moving a lot of big furniture out of a large warehouse. They showed up on-time, were friendly, and were professional and got the job done quickly and diligently. Will definitely use them again. ### Owner's reply Thanks for the great review Greg! We really appreciate you taking the time to do that for us. We look forward to working with you again! ## Get your free, in-home moving estimate An estimator visits, walks through everything and gives you a written, itemized estimate. Rather talk? [Call 775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Our estimators: Sean, Luke, Christa and Janet. 2277 Glendale Ave Sparks, NV 89431 [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 U.S. DOT No. 30611 · MC-109375 · Nevada CPCN 1070