Movers in Kensington, MD
Movers in Kensington, Antiques Row Local
Independent municipality adjacent to Bethesda, Howard Avenue Antiques Row, MARC Brunswick Line, and the iconic Washington D.C. LDS Temple. We pull permits, work narrow staircases, and price every Kensington job upfront.
At a glance
- Licensed and insured: USDOT 4539918, MC 1801440
- Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Kensington is a 20-minute drive for our crews
- Town of Kensington parking permits handled
- Antique and Victorian estate packing handled with care
- Upfront, binding pricing. No hourly creep
USDOT 4539918 · MC 1801440
What movers in Kensington need to know
Rowhouses, historic districts, narrow streets, and city permits. Here are the four things our crews handle on every Kensington job.
Howard Avenue narrow streets and parking permits
Howard Avenue Antiques Row has narrow streets and tight on-street parking. We file the Town of Kensington parking permit 48 hours ahead and dispatch 20- to 22-foot trucks for moves in the historic core.
Victorian and Craftsman estate packing
Older Kensington homes often have inherited Victorian-era and Craftsman furniture, art collections, and architectural details from the 1890s-1920s. We bring archival packing materials and a four-person crew.
MARC station area traffic
MARC Brunswick Line Kensington station has weekday rush-hour traffic. We schedule loads outside the morning commute window.
How does a Kensington move with us actually go?
Five steps from the first call to the follow-up. No mystery, no scope-creep.
- Step 1
Free Quote Walkthrough
By phone, video, or in-person. We measure stairs, hallways, and access. You get a binding price, not an estimate that creeps.
- Step 2
Confirmation & Permits
We lock the date, pull the street permit, book the loading dock if needed, and send your building's certificate of insurance.
- Step 3
Pre-Move Prep
Packing tips, supplies dropped off if you ordered them, and a day-before check-in so you know exactly what to expect on move day.
- Step 4
Move Day
Same crew start to finish. Clean blankets, straps, dollies. Updates as we go. We don't disappear for two-hour lunches.
- Step 5
Wrap-Up
Furniture placed where you want it, walk-through with the lead, and a follow-up call within 48 hours to make sure everything held up.
Which moving services do we offer in Kensington?
All of them. Every service is available for moves into, out of, and within Kensington, MD.
Moving
Local and Out of the State Moving
Loading Help
Help with Loading
Unloading Help
Help with Unloading
In-Home & Same-Building Moves
Move Items Within Premises
Junk Disposal
Junk Disposal and Cleanouts
Packing Help
Help with Packing
Storage
Moving and Storage Companies
Specialty services in Kensington
Long-distance, labor-only, senior moves, same-day, commercial, furniture delivery, and piano moves — all available for Kensington jobs.
A Kensingtonmove we're proud of
Kensington Heights: Five-bedroom 1905 Queen Anne Victorian with original heart-pine flooring, wraparound porch, and inherited family antiques
The Challenge
Multi-generational family moving from a 1905 Queen Anne Victorian in Kensington Heights to a single-family home in Bethesda (Wood Acres). Town of Kensington parking permit required. Family had an extensive antique collection (1880s-1920s American furniture, English china, Persian rugs), a baby grand piano from the 1910s, and three generations of inherited inventory.
How we handled it
Filed the Town of Kensington parking permit 48 hours ahead. Dispatched a 22-foot truck and a five-person crew. Inventoried and crated each antique piece with archival materials. Disassembled the 1910s baby grand piano at the action. Inventoried the Persian rug collection with archival paper. Ten-hour move, no damage to the original 1905 heart-pine flooring or the new Bethesda home's hardwood.
Looking to book a similar Kensington move?
Get a binding quote in under two minutes.
Meet the team
The two people behind every Kensington job. Real owners, named and accountable.
What permits do you need to move in Kensington?
Most rowhouse moves need a city right-of-way permit, plus loading-window and historic-district rules to plan around. We handle all of it. Here's what's involved.
- Town of Kensington issues temporary parking permits when curb space is needed.
- Howard Avenue Antiques Row has on-street parking permit zones.
- Montgomery County requires moving companies to be licensed and insured. Verify at FMCSA's Protect Your Move.
When's the best time of year to move in Kensington?
Spring and fall, with summer the busiest and winter the quietest. Here's what we adjust through the year so weather, traffic, and local quirks don't bite you on move day.
Winter
Mild winters with two or three snowfalls. Howard Avenue Antiques Row holiday-season traffic peaks in November-December.
Spring
Best moving weather. Kensington spring events pick up.
Summer
Peak season. Book 30-45 days ahead.
Fall
Second-best season.
Which Kensington neighborhoods do we serve?
All of them. What changes from block to block is truck size, parking, and access. Here's the crew-relevant detail for each.
Howard Avenue Antiques Row
Narrow historic streets. Parking permits required. 20- to 22-foot trucks.
Kensington Heights
Victorian and Craftsman residential. Tree-lined streets.
Newport Drive area
1950s-1960s single-family. Easy access.
Kensington Park
Single-family. Easy driveway access.
Kensington Town Center area
Mixed residential. Standard access.
Why hire Blue Crab Moving in Kensington?
Twelve-plus years of Kensington moves, licensed and insured by USDOT, and the same crew on your job from the first lift to the last walk-through.
- 12+ years moving families across Maryland, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia
- Licensed and insured: USDOT 4539918, MC 1801440
- Same crew start to finish, no swap-outs mid-day
- Upfront, binding pricing. No surprise hourly creep
- 5-star service across the DMV
Kensington moving FAQ
Straight answers to the questions we hear most from Kensington customers.
Do I need a permit to move in Kensington?
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Town of Kensington issues temporary parking permits when curb space is needed in historic Howard Avenue and other historic streets. We file 48 hours ahead at booking.
How do Howard Avenue moves work?
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Howard Avenue Antiques Row has narrow streets and tight parking. We file the Town of Kensington parking permit, dispatch a 20- to 22-foot truck, and use careful staging. Mixed-use apartments above the antique shops sometimes require coordination with the shop owners.
Can your trucks fit in Kensington neighborhoods?
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Howard Avenue and the Victorian-era side streets need a 20- to 22-foot truck. Newport Drive area, Kensington Park, and other established residential neighborhoods accommodate 26-foot trucks fine.
Do you serve other adjacent neighborhoods?
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Yes, including Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Rockville. Our HQ is in Gaithersburg, 20 minutes north.
How much does a Kensington move cost?
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Howard Avenue historic apartment $1,800-$3,800 (parking permit, narrow streets), Victorian residential $2,500-$5,500 (antiques, oversized inventory), suburban single-family $1,600-$3,500. Every quote is binding.
Does Blue Crab Moving handle antique packing?
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Yes. Full and partial packing with archival materials for the antique furniture, art collections, and Persian rugs common in Kensington Heights and the broader Kensington estate community.
Where do you serve around Kensington?
All of Kensington, MD and the surrounding metro. The map below shows our service footprint.
Insurance, valuation coverage, and claims
Every Blue Crab move is covered by our active USDOT 4539918 cargo and general liability policies. Federal law (49 CFR 375) requires interstate movers to offer two valuation tiers. Here is how each works and which one we recommend for your inventory.
Released value protection (default)
Included at no extra cost. Covers 60 cents per pound per article. Adequate for routine apartment and small-home moves with no high-value items. Not enough for antiques, pianos, fine art, or anything you would file a real insurance claim over.
Full value protection (recommended for high-value inventories)
Premium coverage that pays repair, replacement, or current market value of any damaged or lost item. We recommend it for moves with antique furniture, original artwork, china cabinets, grand pianos, or anything irreplaceable. Cost depends on declared value of your shipment and is itemized on the binding quote, never tacked on later.
If something does get damaged
Notify us within 24 hours of delivery. Our office reviews the claim within one business day, sends a written acknowledgment, and resolves repair, replacement, or settlement within 30 days. No back-and-forth, no runaround. We document every load and every unload with photos so the claims record is complete from day one.
Our Rates
Starting from. Off-peak weekdays.
from
$100/hr
2 Movers + Truck
from
$140/hr
3 Movers + Truck
from
$180/hr
4 Movers + Truck
1st Month Free*
*ask if you qualify
from
$49/mo
Storage
Weekends, end-of-month, summer, and holidays run higher. Real quote always wins.
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Read playbookREADY TO MOVE IN KENSINGTON?
Tell us about your move. We know Kensington and we'll plan around what matters here.
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What our customers say
Real words from customers we've moved across the DMV, including Kensington and the surrounding area.
“Absolutely phenomenal service! The Blue Crab team arrived on time, wrapped everything carefully, and had us moved in by early afternoon.”
“Moving from DC to Virginia was stressful enough, but these guys made it seamless. Professional, friendly, and incredibly efficient.”
“We've moved 4 times in 10 years and this was BY FAR the best experience. Fair pricing, no hidden fees, and they treated our antiques with extra care.”