Moving company suggestions

[screetch]

I will be moving out of state sometime within the next few months and I'm trying to find good, reputable movers. The company DH took a job with has ties with Allied (through Cendant) but they seem a little pricey and we haven't been impressed with the local people who have come out for estimates.

Any raves? Rants?

[MLA]

No raves or rants yet. I'll be using Mayflower, I think -- because that's the company DH's company wants us to use, and they're paying for the relocation.

I've heard really good things about Bekins moving company. I have experience w/them from an office move, and they were good for that. There are a couple of people I know who used them for home moves, and they were very pleased with the service.

[screetch]

Thanks. I haven't checked either of them out - not sure if DH has.

DH's company will be paying for the movers, but our relocation expenses are capped and we really want to make sure we stay under or at the cap. We can use anyone so that's why we are shopping around, although I wonder if potential grievances might be handled best if the movers are under contract with company's relocation company.

[nuhmah]

Ugh... we had a corportate move 2 years ago, and DH's company picked them. We called around for quotes, and then they picked the company. I would be leery of a place that does not come out and do an inspection - and get some references. We totally got ripped off (and they were not the cheapest, either). They showed up almost 5 hours late, with a rented truck (IMO, a moving company should have their own trucks), and a few migrant workers hopped out of the back when they opened it. They didn't have enough boxes, and they taped things shut with the sticky side down. Thank goodness we had insurance for this move! They ended up having to come back a 2nd day (we had to call in a family member to supervise the rest of the packing for us so we wouldn't miss our theatre tickets), and were super late to that, too. They ended up charging us more than they quoted for storage, and tried to make us pay $6,000 on the spot.

I guess I tell this because I don't want this to happen to anyone else. When we have to do a move like this again, we are defenitely going with a large name brand company (no matter the price) because the hassle is just not worth it. I have also heard great things about Bekins!

[strwbrygirl]

I'm in the middle of trying to plan a 1,000 mile move and have found this site to be really helpful in terms of what to look for, how to find a reputable mover, and who NOT to choose:

Moving Scam.com (http://www.movingscam.com/)

Good luck with your move, and let us know who you choose- I'll be checking back!

[jeeplover]

We are going through the same thing right now! We are being relocated by DH's company but they are the ones that are finding the company and so on but I want to check out the company before I agree to them!

Thank you for the warnings and raves about your companies!

We are moving to VA from Boston and I am really nervous since I had a co-worker move from Boston to Miami and they took away her furniture and everything 2 weeks before she was leaving!

Also does anyone plan on shipping a car to their new location?

[kam]

I wouldn't use "movers" if you paid me. I've been through two large moves (including one out of state) and the stuff came to us late, damaged, in a rented truck, and their "estimates of weight/feet" was WAY off. I thoroughly investigated the company for the long-distance move and still it was awful.

I've heard raves about ABF (they drive the stuff, you pack it in). If you're unable to load/unload, I'd get temp labor. It's cheaper, they're still licensed and bonded, and you can tell them that if they move quickly, they'll get a larger tip (unlike movers, they don't expect a tip). We are doing this upon suggestion of a friend's sister who said they were great.

http://www.laborready.com

[jeeplover]

Kam-with ABF will they let you use labor ready to pack it for you then they drive it! I am totally new to this so I have no idea how it works!

[kam]

NO - two separate companies. ABF gives you a trailer which you would need to load/unload at the beginning/end of the drive. Labor Ready will supply people to you if you don't want to load/unload and they have locations throughout the U.S. Labor Ready is a temp/day labor agency - they don't do moves but will supply laborers to haul the stuff in and/or out. They aren't affiliated.

[screetch]

Yeah, DIY packing really would be difficult for us. It would just be me doing all the packing and organizing, on top of caring for a toddler.

I'm planning on documenting/photographing everything. Plus anything valuable I will either transport myself or pack myself.

I think we've decided to go with the moving company that DH's new company's relocation group deals with, either Allied or Atlas (can't remember which), mainly b/c we hope that if we do encounter problems, hopefully Cendant (relocation company) will step in on our behalf.

hbeshore -- we'll be shipping a motorcycle.

[strwbrygirl]

I've read a lot of great reviews about ABF. If you're unsure about the packing/unloading part, you may want to consider getting local movers at the beginning of your trip to make sure that the trailer is packed well. On the unloading end, it doesn't matter as much. I've read that Labor Ready is OK on the destination end, but not always good at the packing since they aren't necessarily movers.
Here's a link to more info about ABF from happy customers (http://www.movingscam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2050) and an impartial FAQ. (http://www.movingscam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1771)

I received a quote from ABF, and they were lower than other self move options (like renting a truck), plus they drive the truck and fuel, tolls, etc. are all included in the quote. However, keep in mind that ramps ($50 each at origin and destination) are not included unless you exceed 12 linear feet, and neither is anything else. You pay by the linear foot, and the truck is 8 feet wide by 9 feet tall. If you don't use all of your estimated space, you can get a partial refund/credit.
They cannot guarantee an arrival date or time, and depending on your origin or destination (whether there is a place to park a 28-ft trailer plus cab) they can only allow you to unload for an hour for free- after that you are charged by the hour for the driver's waiting time.

We were OK with all of it except that we couldn't guarantee the arrival date- and even though I spent a lot of time discussing dates and stuff with the reservations people, the arrival depends on the other freight in the trailer. Basically the ABF truck is dropped off at your house and you have up to two days to fill it yourself and replace the "bulkhead" (divider placed at the end of your stuff). They pick up the trailer and take it to gather up commercial freight (cat food, batteries, whatever), and then they leave for the destination city. Once they arrive, the freight has to be offloaded first, and then they will bring the truck to you (or to the nearest terminal, whatever you have arranged ahead of time). If you have a driveway big enough, they can leave the truck again up to two days- but if not, you get one hour free while the driver sits with the truck.

ABF seems to be really professional and friendly so far (from the three different reps I spoke with), but unfortunately we have a very slim window during which to move, and can't sit around waiting for a truck that may or may not arrive in the prescribed window of time. We've decided to rent a Penske truck and move/drive ourselves so that we can guarantee the arrival time. The price is still about the same- the 15' truck was cheaper than the 10 linear feet that ABF quoted me, but we'll have to pay for gas at 6-10mpg on the rental, which isn't cheap.

Bottom line: For me, reading lots of reviews about different companies helped me to make a decision that I was comfortable with. Good luck!

[allyray231]

bumping up

[mia's mama]

Bump!

[ThreeYell]

I just had an awesome move. Seriously!

It was not my first long-haul move. My previous one sucked in all the normal ways - late stuff, couldn't get anyone to tell me where my stuff was once it left me, everyone was rude, etc. This time was totally different. FWIW, if anyone is in the D.C. area I used Hilldrup Moving and Storage which is an agent of United Van Lines.

I interviewed several major van lines and the few general tips I can offer are:

1. Anyone worth their salt has to come to your house to do an estimate. Everyone I interviewed had a Treo with some sort of software that let them walk around my house, looking in every closet and storage space, and give me a binding estimate on the spot or within a few days.

2. If you're using their packers, ask if they have professional packers or if the same people pack and load you. This is going to come across as totally sexist, but I believe all's fair in love, war, and moving. From my experience and everyone's I know who's moved recently: you want women to pack you! Last move, it took 3 men 2 days to pack my one bedroom apartment. This move, it took 3 women 5 hours to pack my entire 3 bedroom house. I've unpacked 90% of my stuff and not one thing has been broken.

3. Ask about communication with the company once stuff is in transit. You want to have a move coordinator within the company and you NEED the cellphone number of your driver. Make sure it's company policy that you get both of these before you kiss your stuff goodbye.

If anyone is considering a move from the Virginia or DC area, please feel free to PM me and I can give you the name of my driver with Hilldrup. He was such an awesome guy. I didn't know they made people, let alone movers, like him anymore.

[carrie9142]

Bumping this up and requesting advice/info!

We are moving from Little Rock to Birmingham in a few months. My ideal would be for us to pack everything and load it ourselves, and have movers load the heavy furniture and unload it at our new house. We can drive the truck ourselves, and don't mind unloading boxes.

So...does anyone know if this is doable? Cost? Have any recommendations on companies to use? Thanks!

[justHB]

My dad used to work for Mayflower so when it came time for us to move across country, we had to use them. They "packed" up our stuff and put it on the truck to drive to PA. To this day I don't know what happened to some of my stuff on the way, but it never showed up.

When DH and I moved back from PA, we used Bekins and everything went okay. Our friend met them at the storage unit and supervised putting everything on the truck. I seem to recall them being a day later than they said they would, but when they arrived, they brought everything up a flight of stairs into our apartment which would have been miserable to do on our own.

Locally, we the Delancey Street Foundation (http://www.eisenhowerfoundation.org/grassroots/delancey/)for every move and they are fantastic. I don't think they do cross-country moves though.

[shortcake]

DH just got an offer for a job in CA (we are in WA) but they want him to call around and get some moving estimates asap...does anyone have any companies they can recommend? Thanks!

[TazLuv]

We moved from CA to MN in 2004 and have nothing but good things to say about North American. Good luck.

[laura]

We had good luck w/ United Van Lines from Boston to the Bay Area.

[shortcake]

Thanks guys! Very helpful!

[kissmary]

North American was also great for our move, from Louisiana to Pennsylvania.

[larslobster]

We used an affiliate of National Van Lines when we moved from L.A. to Portland, OR. There was another move on our truck going to Seattle. They were wonderful and if you are moving to SoCal, you may be able to use them as well. Here's their info:

Pink Transfer
Monrovia, CA
(626) 357-2919

[mamax2]

*bump*