I am moving state to state, so not on the other side of the country, but what I am doing is just calling a bunch of movers Allied, United vanlines... and getting quotes. They come out to your house, and give you an estimate.
apalettepassion.wordpress.com/ WHO IS BONQUIQUI!?!?!?!??!
"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"
apalettepassion.wordpress.com/ WHO IS BONQUIQUI!?!?!?!??!
"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"
We used ABF u-pack when moving cross country twice. We loaded and unloaded ourselves. Would def. recommend.
Do they offer loading and unloading too? or do they just simply drive??
I think they may just do the driving. When we moved to CA, my H hired some guys off of Craig's List to unload. It was a lot of work. I will admit that, but the price was great.
We hired a trucking/moving company to move the stuff. We hired local help to load the truck.
ETA: Looked it up - we used ABF U-Pack Moving. Moved in 2008.
My biggest suggestion, make sure to use plenty of furniture pads. Our load help didn't do a great job, and some of our wood furniture was damaged from the friction of the move. I'm guessing the stuff was jostled around enough to scuff up the wood.
(The company paid) for packing, loading and unloading (but not unpacking).
Agreed with Jalapeño, get insurance. We've had luck with Atlas, but while we didn't have this particular issue with United (our issue with them is the gross misquote), two fellow co-workers of DH (who used the same vendor, since they have a contract with their employer) had similar stories where a significant amount of jewelry went missing.
apalettepassion.wordpress.com/ WHO IS BONQUIQUI!?!?!?!??!
"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"
We've moved about a jillion times. There was a great website that DH found that has ratings on all of the cross country moving outfits. I.e. one United Van Lines franchise might be wonderful and another might suck. Make sure you get insurance. I'll see if I can find the site if you're interested. It was VERY helpful.
Their estimate was 2/3 what it ended up costing. Which was weird, since there was a ton of things that we said we were going to take that ended up staying back in Seattle, and suddenly they GROSSLY underestimated the weight (again, this has happened to a lot of people). The bad thing is that they invoiced DH's employer so fast, not much could be done about it since they got paid (Through AP in a different div).
We've moved about a jillion times. There was a great website that DH found that has ratings on all of the cross country moving outfits. I.e. one United Van Lines franchise might be wonderful and another might suck. Make sure you get insurance. I'll see if I can find the site if you're interested. It was VERY helpful.
Sorry to hijack blackcat's post, but I would love it, if you had it available
apalettepassion.wordpress.com/ WHO IS BONQUIQUI!?!?!?!??!
"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"
Post by DotAndBuzz on Oct 28, 2013 21:21:48 GMT -5
I've moved with cross country with Atlas and Mayflower. Both exceptional. I had them do the packing, and paid for the extra insurance. There's a base insurance that's like $0.60/LB, so if they destroy your $4k china cabinet, well, tough luck, it only weighs 200 lbs, so here's $120. The extra insurance isn't that much more, and is SO SO SO worth the protection it offers.
Get multiple offers, in writing, in a Not To Exceed estimate. This protects you (or, in this case, your parents) because if they overestimate weight, you get money back. If they under estimate, that's still on them because they didn't do a good job surveying the goods in the house. And on that note, when they come to do the estimate, have them do it as if everything goes. Don't have them exclude big items, or say "oh, I'm TOTALLY going to clear out this whole room, and half the basement," because then you could be stuck with paying the extra if the weight does go over, and that item/room isn't included on the estimate survey of goods. The NTE estimate only includes what you tell them to include. So have them include it all, and know that you'll be better for it in the end.
If someone flakes on getting the quote back to you, do not pursue them. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but you want someone who can be easily reached, in one phone call, and WANTS to work for you. I usually had to call 6 people to end up with 3 written estimates, in hand. Ridiculous.
Make sure they don't contract out any of their laborers, and that all the workers are background, checked and full employees.
Have them consider a full pack. It was shocking how little it actually costs when you're looking at a cross country move. I think ours were around 15-20% of the whole price, so while it is still 15-20%, it is SO SO SO convenient, and they are ridiculously efficient and careful. They also won't necessarily be willing to fully insure items that they don't pack. This might vary by company, but definitely have them ask about it.
I've moved with cross country with Atlas and Mayflower. Both exceptional. I had them do the packing, and paid for the extra insurance. There's a base insurance that's like $0.60/LB, so if they destroy your $4k china cabinet, well, tough luck, it only weighs 200 lbs, so here's $120. The extra insurance isn't that much more, and is SO SO SO worth the protection it offers.
Get multiple offers, in writing, in a Not To Exceed estimate. This protects you (or, in this case, your parents) because if they overestimate weight, you get money back. If they under estimate, that's still on them because they didn't do a good job surveying the goods in the house. And on that note, when they come to do the estimate, have them do it as if everything goes. Don't have them exclude big items, or say (oh, I'm TOTALLY going to clear out this whole room, and half the basement), because then you could be stuck with paying the extra if the weight does go over, and that item/room isn't included on the estimate survey of goods. The NTE estimate only includes what you tell them to include. So have them include it all, and know that you'll be better for it in the end.
If someone flakes on getting the quote back to you, do not pursue them. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but you want someone who can be easily reached, in one phone call, and WANTS to work for you. I usually had to call 6 people to end up with 3 written estimates, in hand. Ridiculous.
Make sure they don't contract out any of their laborers, and that all the workers are background, checked and full employees.
Have them consider a full pack. It was shocking how little it actually costs when you're looking at a cross country move. I think ours were around 15-20% of the whole price, so while it is still 15-20%, it is SO SO SO convenient, and they are ridiculously efficient and careful. They also won't necessarily be willing to fully insure items that they don't pack. This might vary by company, but definitely have them ask about it.
Oh trust me, United Van Lines figured out how to finagle this.
Their estimate was 2/3 what it ended up costing. Which was weird, since there was a ton of things that we said we were going to take that ended up staying back in Seattle, and suddenly they GROSSLY underestimated the weight (again, this has happened to a lot of people). The bad thing is that they invoiced DH's employer so fast, not much could be done about it since they got paid (Through AP in a different div).
So.. yeah... Beware.
Heeey, our movers here used United and they were amazing. They guarantee not to go above their quote, which is nice, since we ended up waaaaay heavier than the guy who gave us the quote estimated. We used them for two different moves!
Post by gracioushoney on Oct 28, 2013 21:27:06 GMT -5
Lurker here. The military moved us, so I don't know what the price was, but we used Red Ball and they were amazing. They packed, loaded, moved, and unloaded. They would have unpacked if we'd asked them to, but it was snowing and we didn't want to keep them longer than necessary. Everything was wonderful, nothing was broken, they took great care of our stuff.
Their estimate was 2/3 what it ended up costing. Which was weird, since there was a ton of things that we said we were going to take that ended up staying back in Seattle, and suddenly they GROSSLY underestimated the weight (again, this has happened to a lot of people). The bad thing is that they invoiced DH's employer so fast, not much could be done about it since they got paid (Through AP in a different div).
So.. yeah... Beware.
Heeey, our movers here used United and they were amazing. They guarantee not to go above their quote, which is nice, since we ended up waaaaay heavier than the guy who gave us the quote estimated. We used them for two different moves!
I'm bitter.
They gave us an estimate. We had the contract. Everything was crystal clear (and let it be known that given that Atlas moved us to Seattle, i wanted to go with them, but United was slightly more inexpensive (like, $500...).
1) Our move arrived later than estimated (by 2 days). 2) Our car arrived late (they gave us paid for extra days of our rental though), by 4 days. 3) Some things arrived damaged (including furniture - a mid century mod chair that I have and love was ripped ) 4) They said that they'd take the flattened boxes back at no cost - then magically they appeared in the line item to the tune of $400 - FOR TAKING THEIR OWN BOXES AWAY. 5) We were quoted $11K. Our budget from DH's employer was $13.5k so we thought we were being judicious. Our move from Madison to Seattle was $12k in 2007, so we thought it was somewhat comparable. In the end, it ended up being $16k, and we had budgeted that extra $2.5k for "our" travel costs to get here (road trip) and other incidentals, so there they went (i.e. the move cost US money). 6) All of a sudden, when we wanted to contest the overcharges, they were nowhere to be found, ditch ditch ditch, errors, blah blah blah. We wanted to contest, but DH's employer had already paid them ahead, so it was a hard thing to do from a bargaining perspective. We decided we were so exhausted that we'd eat the cost. Which sucked.
I used Bekins (I think) to move from SC to MO about 10 years ago. I was moving from my parents house to a 2-bedroom apartment. They told me I had as much as newly married couples usually have. I packed it all, they moved it. No bad experiences.
We've moved about a jillion times. There was a great website that DH found that has ratings on all of the cross country moving outfits. I.e. one United Van Lines franchise might be wonderful and another might suck. Make sure you get insurance. I'll see if I can find the site if you're interested. It was VERY helpful.
Sorry to hijack blackcat's post, but I would love it, if you had it available
Yes I agree, this would be a very helpful website if you can find it again!
We've moved about a jillion times. There was a great website that DH found that has ratings on all of the cross country moving outfits. I.e. one United Van Lines franchise might be wonderful and another might suck. Make sure you get insurance. I'll see if I can find the site if you're interested. It was VERY helpful.
Sorry to hijack blackcat's post, but I would love it, if you had it available
Here it is - totally looks like one of those fake placeholder websites, but it's actually legit. I think we used it because he read an article about it years ago. In any case, in each of our 7 moves in the last 9 years, it's been spot on. www.movingscam.com
There are a few other moving company review sites out there, which also look good but I can't vouch for them.
and -Moe-, seriously, it's not United! It's the particular company you used! They sound truly terrible. You need to write them many scathing reviews. Did you report them to the bbb? What a nightmare.
I used Bekins (I think) to move from SC to MO about 10 years ago. I was moving from my parents house to a 2-bedroom apartment. They told me I had as much as newly married couples usually have. I packed it all, they moved it. No bad experiences.
To where in SC are they moving?
Right outside of Fort Mill, to a ginormous 55+ community. I call it Disney World for retirees. lol
Post by ElizabethBennet on Oct 28, 2013 21:51:02 GMT -5
Ours were military moves but I'm pretty sure we used Allied when we moved from GA to CA.
They packed everything and loaded and unloaded the truck. I can't speak to the cost but I was pleased with the service. All of our stuff arrived in CA in perfect condition.
Sorry to hijack blackcat's post, but I would love it, if you had it available
Here it is - totally looks like one of those fake placeholder websites, but it's actually legit. I think we used it because he read an article about it years ago. In any case, in each of our 7 moves in the last 9 years, it's been spot on. www.movingscam.com
There are a few other moving company review sites out there, which also look good but I can't vouch for them.
apalettepassion.wordpress.com/ WHO IS BONQUIQUI!?!?!?!??!
"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"
apalettepassion.wordpress.com/ WHO IS BONQUIQUI!?!?!?!??!
"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"
Thanks for the votes of the extra insurance also. I figured I wouldn't need that so I wasn't going to get it, but you have all changed my mind. lol
Think about it this way. Do you own ANYTHING that is only worth $.60 a pound?
Yeah, yeah, me neither.
I know I know. I figured no damage all of the other times I have had movers so... Wrong line of thinking I know. I am glad that you guys talked sense into me.
apalettepassion.wordpress.com/ WHO IS BONQUIQUI!?!?!?!??!
"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"
We U-hauled the first couple of times but our last move was with Graebel. It was a quick turn-around, I got quotes from the four majors and they did a pretty darn good job considering they ended up driving through a major snowstorm that blanketed the Midwest and still came in on time. A couple dings on a couple things that were easily repaired with no problems. It's also the company that a number of major employers in the area contract with so they've done a lot of interstate moves.