Moving cross country

I would strongly suggest checking out this website:
http://www.movingscam.com/

The website also has a list by state of companies that have comitted the cash-only, double the bill, pay or we take your stuff scam.

They also have tips about finding and hiring professional movers. Depending on how much stuff you have, I would guess that a professional move would be at least $8-10K.

Again, that website is *really* helpul. I got some fantastic advice from their message board when I had to negotiate extra charges from my ILs move.

I would do the ABF again in a heartbeat!

[SuzySunshine]

We've done it both ways. We moved from Kansas to California in U-Hauls. It went fine but the drive was stressful over the sierras in February (I moved seperately) towing my car.

After medical school we moved from California to Minnesota and we hired North American to do it. Our Alumni association (from our undergrad) had a discount with them. Our destination had also negotiated rates, they were about the same so it cost us a little less than $7,000 to have our 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1 office cottage packed up and moved. They did all the packing, lifting, loading, etc. and we didnt' have any problems. They were great. I will never move myself long distance again!

We moved from Vancouver, WA to Phoenix, AZ using ABF's "U-Pack" program, too. It worked very well for us. Only one item was damaged, (which was our own fault since we packed everything and loaded it all into the trailer), and it was REALLY cheap. We were originally quoted $900, but were only charged $650'ish.

ABF has a semi drop off the trailer a couple of days early so you can pack. Then ship it and hold it at the destination yard until whenever you need it delivered. They then give you a couple of days to unpack it.

We drove from WA to AZ in our little car with our three kids, aged 9, 4, and 2, at the time. They did better than we did during the trip. We had lots of books, snacks, games, pillows, blankies, and tapes of Grandmama reading some of their favorite books. We stopped a couple of times a day and let the kids get out and run/play/be goofy. (Usually at meal times.)

Worked well for us. The trip was pretty fun and the kids had a blast.

[DCJenn]

Lesson learned, and I will repeat it to the dismay of those of the iMSN crowd who lived through the trauma with me.

If you have animals, BOARD THEM. Period. If you're entering medical school or residency- just charge the fees. If you're going to the staff world, negotiate boarding costs as a moving expense. Take it off the taxes when the time comes.

Nothing is worth the trauma, the hurt, the true ick...of finding your cat packed...seven days later...I'll spare you all the rest of the horrendous story...

Jenn

[Cumberland]

I know you said you would spare us.... but now I am really curious... would you share?

[DCJenn]

The short version is that my cat was packed- and he died in the box. and we were the last of 5 families to be offloaded from the truck that had traveled from San Antonio to DC in late June. It was 107 when we left SA.

So, needless to say, my poor kitty died a grusome death, and five families had their belongings infected with dead cat smell for a week.

It was seriously the worst move ever and that just sealed the deal for us.

Jenn

[Cumberland]

That is so terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so sorry!!!!!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! These tips are wonderful. We're looking at an across the country move in a few months as well, and I am so glad this thread was started.

And that is truly horrible, about your cat. I'm so sorry.

[ides]

Moving to NYC

Hi all. My dh starts his residency in nyc on July 1. Due to orientation he will need to be there a week and a 1/2 early. Here in lies our problem. Our hospital apt will not open for us until July 2 and we currently live in TN. So, as with all of you, it's up to me to figure it all out and keep it as cheap as possible. Here are the three options I have come up with.

Option 1: he flys up early, I pack and drive a truck and tow the car with two cats alone from Tennessee. Not cherishing this idea.

Option 2: We use some place like PODS - which I like the idea of, yet I'm not so sure we'd be allowed to drop the pod on a nyc street for unloading. Guess I need to call them Again I'd have to pack alone, but I'd be able to drive up with the kitties when the apt opens.

Option 3: use a place like abf, however I highly doubt my apt complex would let me leave a truck trailer in our apt parking lot. I think it would fill up the entire lot! Also, same issue with nyc street as opt 2.

so, I'm confused and starting to get freaked out about this. What do you all suggest? Am I leaving any options out? Anyone else have this situation with nyc residencies?

Thanks,
Ides

Ides -- I used ABF. I can't remember for certain if they will hold your trailer for a week or two (for a fee?) before delivering. Same might be true of Pods, that they would store it for you.

I can't say enough about how helpful the movingscam.com website was for us offering advice for a moving dispute we had to settle for our in-laws. I saw some questions similar to yours, specifically the truck in NYC question. You might want to check their message board too.

Good luck on the move! And welcome to the site.

[ides]

nmh - thanks for the advice. I am going to movingscam.com presently.

Ides

We are planning our 3rd cross country move with a moving company. We have never had any major problems with the movers and paid out of pocket. I can't remember what we paid exactly, but here is how I am currently (and each time in the past) doing this process. It can be very overwhelming and stressful, so we try to preplan as much as possible and realize that much of this is also going to be a matter of luck, too.

Step 1. Search moving companies in the good old local yellow pages and make a list of every one that does long distance residential moves and that looks good just in the phone book.

Step 2. Call or go online to the BBB.org and look up each of the specific local moving agents from your list. Take notes as to how many complaints have been resolved and whether or not they are members. It will tell you how long they have been in business too. I learned that many moving companies that had several complaints simply gave themselves a new name to disassociate from their bad reputation, this way......but the BBB keeps track of companies that do this sometimes.

Step 3. Contact the US DOT (Department of Transportation) to look up any complaints on your listed companies. You can also contact local trucking authorities such as the Public Utility Commission (in PA) to do the same thing------it's all very enlightening.

Step 4. Try to choose the top 5-10 companies based on your research and call them for an initial phone interview. Come up with a preset list of standard questions to ask them on the phone---as many as possible......and ask them at the end if there are any questions you forgot to ask them that you should. They will likely all want to set you up with a sales rep to come do an in-home estimate and they will not be able to tell you a great deal over the phone about your specific move----but they should be able to tell you quite a bit about their company and how they hire their workers and when their peak rates go into effect, and why you should go with them over someone else, etc. Take lots of notes during each phone call. Do not release any personal information to them at this point.

Step 5. Based on the previous phone calls, pick your top 3-4 companies and call them back and ask for the in home estimate appointment.

Step 6. Take lots of notes during the in home estimate and demand that they provide you with either a "Nonbinding Estimate" or a "Not to exceed" estimate" in writing. Ask them to define these terms and how they differ and which is best for your situation and why. Ask them all the same questions and show them the same stuff at your home so they each get the same exact story from you regarding your needs. Ask a lot of questions about the spread of dates for delivery and be as specific as possible about your packing and insurance needs. Ask if you will be sharing the truck with anyone else and how that is handled....ask if you can accompany them when they go to weigh the truck after they load it.

Step 7. Compare estimates very closely and the company or local agent's way of handling everything. Cheapest is not always best if all you get are unknown contract workers who do not even work for that company solely and do not meet some higher standards that other companies demand. Many companies do not work on Sundays or charge huge prices to do so. Some charge something like $55/100lbs of cargo and others charge differently. Some charge $80.00 to use a specially made wooden crate for a large glass table top and others will bubblewrap and cardboard box it safely for $36.00. Some hire local laborers for the loading and unloading (go to a sister company in the new city to hire whoever's there that day) that are dedicated to their company and some pick them up at truck stops or wherever. Some drive with 2-3 guys in the truck and those same guys do all the unloading without hiring new help at the new location.

Step 8. Figure out what is best for your needs and hope for the best based on all the knowledge you have gained along the way.

Step 9. Do as much stuff yourself as possible such as finding great boxes and filling as many of them as you possibly can--------every little thing you do on your own will lesson the expenses. Set up a good labeling system such as putting K-1 on the first box for the kitchen and counting at the end how many will be going to the new kitchen, keeping close track of your own inventory----even though the movers will do their own inventory. Also make sure to have a few "Open First" boxes to be loaded last---with bedding and things you will want handy for the first night. The first thing we try to do when we move is make everyone's beds first, as soon as the beds are put together.


Right now, dh and I are at step 7----trying to weigh the pros and cons after getting the estimates. There was a pretty wide range of prices we were quoted and variance on the estimates of weight of our stuff even though we gave each sales rep the exact same tour of our property. In the end...a lot of it is a matter of luck that you will have no control over...but usually works out ok in the end. Life is an adventure!!!!!!

[fluffhead]

Holy cow Laurel - you are one organized person.
Our first move I had two companies at random come for estimates and I chose one of them. It was not a great experience.
Our second move I used a company that a neighbour recommended, and it was fine.
Good luck everybody!