TIPS: Selling, Packing, Moving

[Aletheia]

Hi all- We'll be moving in May or June of next year, and I'd like to start hearing advice from those who have recently moved. I don't have any specific questions yet, but I thought our community might enjoy a thread that collected the little things all of us might not think about!

What tips do you have about the selling process?

What tips do you have about packing? Moving?

Questions to get us going...
Were there websites that helped you organize yourself?
Checklists you used to get ready to sell the house?
How did you learn about all the selling/buying lingo?
How did you move with your pets/children/plants?
How did you move on a budget?
What do you wish you would have known earlier?

[Aletheia]

The one website that has gotten me thinking about this is Flylady's List of Moving Tips. (http://www.flylady.net/pages/Flying_MovingTips.asp) I especially like her suggestion of packing a "things you'll need as soon as you get there" kind of a box.

[sinderstorm]

I'm also looking at moving in May, but our issue is that at least initally we'll be moving from our 3br house into a 2br apartment. So I'm looking for culling tips as well. We know it'll be 12-18 months once we move before we'll be able to afford a house in our new area. So we're torn between putting the stuff we can't fit into storage, or just getting rid of what we can (we'll still have some storage, I'm sure) and re-buying when we get a new house.

[MarriedaGoalie]

I hate packing! I wish I could just hire someone to pack for me. I'll move it. Just pack for me. :D I haven't even started packing yet... and we move in 10 days!

[mindy]

Subscribing I need all the help we can get our last move was horrible and we should be moving hopefully in about 3 weeks once we close on our house. I am going to try throw alot of stuff out thaat we dont need but just the thought of packing all these toys I could scream!

[SweetRed]

One tip for moving on a budget: I have found that moving in the middle of a month can save LOTS of money. I have done a few moves up and down the East Coast over the years and found I could save hundreds of dollars on just a 1-bdrm apt move just by scheduling dates in the middle. Not as much demand as the start or end of the month.

Also, if you are DIY-ing it, U-Haul's "reservation" system isn't really a reservation. (Ever see that episode of Seinfeld where they have a reservation for a car but the agency doesn't have any left? That's U-haul.) Now for most people is most areas of the country, this isn't a big deal. But try moving September 1st in a college town and you'd better be at U-Haul when the doors open that morning.

That Fly Lady list already posted pretty much includes anything else I could think of about the moving packing and moving process. Just to add: be sure to have water (and cups or bottles) and maybe even some food on hand for your movers on both ends of the move. They will GREATLY appreciate it, and I'm sure it has something to do with my luck in never having something broken during a move ;)

~ Kay

[nuhmah]

OMG, it took us four days to move last month. :(

I didn't realize how much stuff I had in the kitchen... my advice is to start packing in the kitchen ASAP.

If you need to store stuff, or are a DIY'er, I seriously suggest looking into a PODS - www.pods.com - we have one sitting in our driveway right now with all our good furniture and such (until we are ready for it - we are renovating). Totally worth it.

[ManteoChik]

I've heard from others that Pod's is the way to go when moving. You pick a Pod size and they deliver it to your house. You pack all your items and put it into the Pod. They come pick it up and deliver it to your new home.....then they come back to pick up the empty Pod.

Have you priced the cost of hireing professional movers?? I know people who have used them.

As for selling I would seriously consider looking at the furniture and big items that you have now and decide if they are worth keeping. When you move into a new house are you planning on wanting new furniture? Is the style of the house going to be different? It can almost be worth it to sell and get new stuff unless what you have is in great shape and you still want to use it.

**We made the move from NC to FL to finish up school and we were in an apartment at first (talk about small). We ended up not bringing ANY furniture with us and buying what we needed when we got here. For us we new that whatever we bought would last us a while so we made sure to get nice peices that we'd want to keep. The leather furniture for the living room will mostly likely be used in a "den" when we buy a house and we'll get new but at least we'll keep it because it's nice stuff. It was also the first time we were living together (we're not married yet) and all the furniture that he had prior to moving was from the "Bachelor Pad" she shared with my brother...lol.

If you plan on having a yard sale or anything like that I would suggest to keep an open mind and be realistic. Most people going to yard sales aren't going to be willing to pay a lot (unless it's a great piece of furniture) but either way you'll take a hit....but the extra cash is handy when moving. Don't let yourself think "well this lamp cost me $50 and there is no way I can see it for $10" - just do it, otherwise you'll be stuck with the lamp to move.

[apoppy]

I've moved many, many times and these are some things that helped me:

1) Figure out how much time you think you will need to pack and then double it. It always takes longer than you think.
2) Spend at least one full weekend just getting rid of paper and other clutter, magazines, old clothes, etc. If you aren't using it now, why move it to the new place? If you pack it, you will never get rid of it. I agree with the previous poster, sometimes it is just not worth it to move some things, including furniture. Be ruthless.
3) Let people know that you are moving and are in the market for boxes and packing materials. Many people have packing peanuts and the like that they would love to get rid of. If you have oddly shaped, fragile items, it may be worth it to buy a box from U-haul---we have a tall, fragile lamp that we bought a box for because there is no way we could have packed it safely otherwise.
4) I have a hard time living with a lot of boxes and also living in empty rooms. Start packing the things that you don't see---the things in your closets and drawers---and then pack the rooms that you use the least to most. I always leave the living room for last because I like having at least one space that isn't in a shambles to escape the mess.
5) If you can, make itemized lists of what is in each box. Just write the contents on a sheet of paper and use clear packing tape to adhere it to the box. I usually color code the boxes too, so I know what room each box goes in. This takes a lot of time when packing, but ultimately it is easier. I had far too many moves with boxes marked misc.
6) If you are using a moving company, or if you are making a long move through hot temperatures, don't pack anything even remotely caustic. The moving trucks and warehouses get very hot---batteries explode---big mess for you. Also, candles melt and warp. Pay attention to how you are placing your candles in the box and what you are packing them with.
7) If you are using a moving company, keep anything that you hold precious with you if at all possible. Important papers, photographs, sentimental items, etc. can get lost or broken, even with the best companies.
8) Don't use plastic bags as cushions. Small plastic bags can be very helpful when packing, but don't substitute them for paper or peanuts when packing fragile items. Plastic bags will compress and things will get broken.
9) Be aware of how heavy your boxes are. Even if you are using a moving company, chances are that you will have to move a few boxes around when you arrive.
10) A common tip is to have a move-in box containing items that will help you on your first night in your new home. My box usually contains: toilet paper; a bar or two of soap; 2 bath towels and 2 hand towels (kitchen & bath); sheets; paper plates, disposable cups, and disposable cutlery; trash bags; a change of clothes; tylenol; a few light bulbs; a hammer, a screwdriver, and scissors; pen & paper. I pack cleaning supplies seperately, but that is just me.
11) Plants: I have always kept my plants in the car with me. If you are moving a distance: Water your plants to the point of over-watering right before you are ready to put them in the car. Line a box with a plastic bag or large piece of plastic. Put as many plants as you can in the box. And then pray that they don't die before you get there.

Okay, I think that is it. Good luck!

[strwbrygirl]

apoppy, those are some great tips!


I second (third?) the suggestion about the "essentials" box- stuff like toilet paper, paper towels, bath and hand towels, lightbulbs, matches, flashlight, battery-operated alarm clock, plastic cups and a water pitcher. I usually try to make sure that box goes in the car, or is the last box on the moving truck- clearly labeled so that it can be first off the truck.

DIY moving- I moved 1000 miles last month and we were originally going to go with ABF (http://www.upack.com/default.asp?refnum=abffront&NLO=upmq)- a DIY company where you pack the boxes & truck yourself and they do the driving and deliver the truck on either end. It would have been cheaper to go that way, but we didn't have the flexibility time-wise that they required- they can't guarantee the delivery date more than within a time frame of 2-3 days. It probably would have turned out OK, but we weren't willing to take the risk and rented a Penske truck instead. Keep in mind that even if you do DIY- moving, there are lots of options on either end to get local moving assistance. Budget-wise, it was lots cheaper to hire either ABF or a rental truck company as well as local movers on either end than it was to use a full-service moving company. That may vary slightly depending on your area, of course. ABF also has things that are like "PODS" and I found that they were cheaper than using either PODS or Door to Door- may depend on your origin and destination, though.

When looking at rental trucks, I stayed away from UHal- their prices are high anyway, though. Both my SIL and a friend from college had serious problems when renting UHauls that were poorly maintained, so we stay far away from them. Penske was the cheapest that we found, and also when you get the quote from their website, everything is included, which was great. We also dropped off the truck at a different location than originally planned - and there was no problem with that at all.

The other DIY moving company that I've heard good things about is Broadway Express (http://www.broadwayexpress.net/), but I don't think they have as many trucks as ABF. You may want to check out this site for some valuable tips and stuff: MovingScam (http://www.movingscam.com)

Also- another word about local movers. We used eMove.com for finding a local mover at our old apartment, and it worked out really well. Basically you pay the website up front for the mover's time- and the site gives you a "payment code number" for the mover. Once the mover has completed your job, you give him the payment code and he has to log into the site to get paid. We used Craigslist at our destination and were disappointed after the great help that we had earlier in the week.

Hmmm... other things. Computers (laptops, etc) go in the car, as do other fragile and irreplaceable items. We packed suitcases with clothes for a week so that we wouldn't need to be worrying about where things were- even some dress clothes for DH in case we didn't get to the closet before he had to start work (the day after the move.) Laundry detergent was packed in the car (in an accessible place) in case we needed to do some laundry en route.

Keep in mind that there are some items that full-service movers are not permitted to take- paint, grills, flammable stuff like propane, doghouses, and other stuff. You'll need to get rid of (or find alternate transport for) those items- you'll want to check for a full list with the mover.

Create a budget for the move, and think seriously about where you need to spend, and where you can save. Are you able-bodied and willing to move some stuff? Can you at least pack your own stuff, even if you want someone else to do the moving? If you are renting a truck, make sure to factor in gas and tolls. A 10-15 ft. rental truck (depending on carrier) gets 6-10 mpg.

If you have expensive art, get the materials to pack it up well and make sure that it's put in a safe place. Your tupperware collection will probably be OK in a recycled box from the grocery store- just make sure it's packed full and not positioned where it could be crushed. Try not to make the boxes too heavy, but also make sure to fill them up. If they are full, they're less likely to be crushed.

Good luck with your move! I'll try to think of other things that might be handy. :)

[Aletheia]

Great tips, ladies! This is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for.

Ours will be a DIY move, and we'll most likely be moving from Maryland/Pennsylvania to Oregon or Washington state... YUCK!

[Lil_Mrs_0702]

We are in the middle of packing and prepping for a move. So here's a few tips I have so far....

1. If you have a spare bedroom... Completely prep it for moving out in advance. Clean carpets, walls, etc like you are moving out. Then use that as your storage room. We have packed things from our home that we know we will not use before the move... Serveware, summer clothes, barware, pictures, candles, extra bathroom accessories, guest sheets, books etc.

2. Make this an opportuntiy to clean sweep everything. As I pack everything I clean anything that is collecting dust. I am also purging a ton of junk. It's just less work when you are unpacking.

3. Pack/clean a little every day. I grab a category or box worth of stuff, bring it out in the livingroom and pack it as I watch tv. It doesn't feel like as much of a chore this way. I am also recaulking our tub, spackling holes in the wall now, so I can tackle all the last minute stuff as it comes up.

4. Some storage places have free moving trucks. We will need a small storage unit b/c we will no longer have a garage/ storage for our seasonal stuff.

[emmjay]

We're moving this month and I want to make sure I don't forget anything!

I requested transfers for:
- phone/internet
- cable
- electric/gas

I have changed my address with:
- banks
- student loans
- credit cards
- cell phone
- magazine subscriptions
- frequent flyer accounts

The movers are scheduled, and I'll be sending out an email to family and friends with the new address.

Anything else? I hate moving, so I want to try to minimize any problems and take care of everything beforehand. Thanks for any suggestions! :)

[irish74]

Garbage company & water company.

[emmjay]

Thanks! We're actually moving between rentals and we don't have to worry about water/trash (I meant to say that in the first place).

[tenofcups]

Also make sure to update your info with employers.

[elladee]

You can do a change of address with the post office. If you forget to tell anyone, they will forward your mail to your new address.

[emmjay]

Thanks! I forgot about employers, and that reminded me that I need to notify our 401(k) and other investments.

I did the post office change of address too, so thank you for that!

I just remembered to change the newspaper delivery.

I guess the post office will take care of everything else, but if anyone has any more ideas please let me know!

[irish74]

I thought of a few more, insurance (car, medical, life, renters), the dmv (both for your car reg and your dl).

[emmjay]

Thank you! I totally forgot about insurance.

I lost my DL last month so I guess I have to go to the DMV anyway. :rolleyes:

[shopaholic]

I was going to chime in and say the DL as well & car insurance.

Just a FYI, the post office will only forward "important" mail....they do not forward cataloges. So if you like receiving your weekly/monthly cataloges lets say from Victoria's Secret, you will have to give the company your new addy.

The PO will still delivery your cataloges to your old address but just cross off your name.

[eponymous]

Voter registration - in some states, it's automatically updated when you change the address on your driver's license, but in some you have to register to vote.

[polarama]

Don't forget to add your new home number to the do not call registry.

I totally didn't even *think* to do that...and no joke--we've only had our new number for 2 days, and already I've gotten around 20 telemarketing calls.

[honeygirl]

**bump**

We're moving across the country in 3 months (DIY) and could use some more tips. :) Has anyone driven a long distance themselves? Did you have any problems parking your truck at hotels? Any concerns with truck safety (stealing)?

Any ideas to keep from going crazy on a long drive? :) We have 1700 miles to drive over 3 days (give or take).

TIA!

[ks_piper]

We've done a cross country DIY move and a local move in the last year (crazy huh?) with two little kids. *phew!*

We used ABF for our cross country move and would highly recommend them. You do need to be flexible on delivery, but we packed all our necessaries to get through a couple days in our car and we were fine.

Keep in mind that you're doing the packing so it's your fault if things get roughed up in the move. DH hadn't moved furniture before and he didn't pad it well enough in the truck and we had some pieces get banged up.

Start packing way in advance. It will take you a lot longer than you think. I highly recommend finding your local Williams-Sonoma/Bed Bath and Beyond or other houseware type store and asking them for boxes. I work at W-S and got all our boxes for our last move there and they were awesome. Very sturdy boxes in great sizes.

You can also buy boxes at Sam's Club (and packing tape - lots of packing tape) for less than at any Uhaul store.

Start saving newspapers for padding a few weeks/months in advance. It's probably one of the best packing materials around.

If you've got kids - let them loose with markers and crayons on the packed or even the empty boxes. Stickers are great too. Hours of instant fun and occupation so you can get packing done. :)

Label your boxes on the top, at least one side and at least one end. And be specific! It'll be easier to unpack if you have a good idea what is in each box.

Jetson anything you haven't used in eons. You'll save yourself the weight of moving it and having to deal with it at your new place.

I highly recommend the "first night home box." If you've got kids, add a "first night home box" just for them - new pjs, new toothbrush, books to read at bedtime, bubble bath, snacks and a couple new toys each. It'll make the transtition a lot easier for them and will make it seem exciting. Wash the pjs before you move if you can, just in case your washer and dryer aren't up and running that first night.

Starting early is the best thing in all honesty. Set aside a spot or room where you can start stacking boxes. Pack a few every day and you'll be set and not be so stressed closer to move time.

:)

[ks_piper]

Honeygirl- we did 1500 miles in just over 2 days with 2 kids. But we opted to let ABF drive our stuff out. With the kids it was just plain easier for us since we had to drive our car out anyway. And it actually cost us less to let ABF move our stuff for us. You might want to look into it.

I worried a lot about the Uhaul getting broken into, breaking down, or just plain being too slow. Thankfully, the ABF thing worked out for us.

Don't know if that helps or not!!! :)

[Asha]

Has anyone driven a long distance themselves? Did you have any problems parking your truck at hotels? Any concerns with truck safety (stealing)?

i don't know if you noticed my post in the other thread, but i had a horrible experience driving my own uhaul truck. i drove from north carolina to new york by myself. i posted more details in the other thread, but let me just say it is not an experience i care to repeat again.

[maxandmolly]

I did a give away/sell everything that didn't fit in the POS car I just bought cross country move with 2 cats in car with no ac four years ago. FUN! I have also done, literally, a dozen moves with my cats in the last 8 yaers (for Molly, 6 for Max).
So, for Alethia's Mackenzie (and whoever else has cats):
Several days before moving day, take out and put together the carrier(s). Mine seem to prefer being smushed together in one even though they don't really fit.
The night before the move, put the carrier in the bathroom.
On moving day, round up all feline residents of the house and put them in the bathroom with the door shut (mine have their litter boxes in there in most places we have lived, if not, move the litter box in there and show it to them).
Load truck/car/whatever.
Go in the bathroom, shut the door, load everyone in the carrier.
Put them on the front seat with of the car or whatever you're driving.
When you get to the other end, put them in the bathroom with their litter box, let them out of the carrier, put down a small bowl of food & water, shut the door.
Unload.
Let them out to investigate their new home. Normally I will make the last thing I pack, and the first thing I unpack, something that is their favorite. They both favor a particular comforter I've had for years and years, I always make sure I have it unpacked and folded on the couch or bare bed before I let them out so they have something familiar.

Good luck!

[Eric's Wife]

I found some great info from Real Simple magazine. I think they have it on their website. Here is something that can help you if you subscribe to many magazines. It's a website that changes your address in one step to many mags. It's free and it goes a step farther than just forwarding them. It's http://www.oneswitch.com

[honeygirl]

Thanks Ladies these are great tips!

I had heard to stay away from Uhaul, so we're looking at Penske. We are doing the packing/driving ourselves. We'll have help with the driving though, from family. :)

Eric's Wife - Thanks for the magazine forwarding link, that's a great help. I'll also try to find the Real Simple article.

[Amuse Bouche]

We moved cross country last summer.

If you're moving long distance, I highly recommend driving your stuff yourself. After some research, we rented a truck from Penske, which has gotten much better ratings pretty much everywhere than UHaul. As in, if you make a reservation, it's a reservation. Also, you can make a reservation and move it forward in date twice without a change in price. We reserved a truck for middle of the week, the cheapest date we could find before our move, and then moved it forward to a holiday weekend for the same price.

If you do rent your own truck, you can hire people to help you load and unload the truck. We found people on both ends from www.emove.com-- the companies are all rated, and you can get price quotes, and ask for just the services you want (ie., packing, packing and loading, truck, no truck, etc.) you can hire people for local moves through emove as well.

[honeygirl]

We just reserved our truck, Penske. They had a 10% off sale (on-line), plus we got an extra 12% off w/ my AAA membership. :)

I appreciate the tips, anymore?

[JennZ]

Hi!

Just wondered if anyone has used professional packers and if they had a recommendation or suggestion?
Thanks! :)

[bellezzadolce]

10) A common tip is to have a move-in box containing items that will help you on your first night in your new home. My box usually contains: toilet paper; a bar or two of soap; 2 bath towels and 2 hand towels (kitchen & bath); sheets; paper plates, disposable cups, and disposable cutlery; trash bags; a change of clothes; tylenol; a few light bulbs; a hammer, a screwdriver, and scissors; pen & paper. I pack cleaning supplies seperately, but that is just me.

This is a wonderful tip, I will definately keep this one in mind.

[citygirl22]

I picked up the address change packets for my move before I moved - and inside was a 10% off Ryder Truck Rental coupon which we happily used! :)

[roberta]

searched and *bump* moving 1200 miles in 2 weeks!

[nektarine]

i was searching for info on moving costs this morning as well. glad to see this thread and all the great tips!

we are hoping to pack up everything in boxes and do the driving ourselves (with a rented truck), but we'd like to pay movers to load and unload the truck.

has anyone paid for this service, and how much did it cost? we don't have a huge amount of furniture (we're in a 1.5BR/ 900 sq. ft apt), we're guessing that it would take 4-5 hours to load the truck. but that's based on our past un-professional moving experiences.

[honeygirl]

Roberta - Our 2000 mile move is now over, so I have a couple more tips. :)

If you are a member of AAA ask for a trip-tic. They map out your route and it comes in a flip-able binder thing. They also gave us LOTS of maps and it's free (if you're a member). It was helpful to know where the rest stops were. :)

Rent more furniture pads than they recommend. Wrap your furniture very carefully or the edges/tops can rub off a bit.

That's all I can think of for now. Good luck with your move!!!

[lawyergirl25]

Have to agree about the furniture pads. In addition to protecting your furniture and floors, they allow you to slide furniture around the truck more easily.

If you find yourself wondering if you're renting a big enough truck, upgrade. Avoid making multiple trips or packing the truck too tightly!

If your help backs out at the last minute (or if you have no one to help you), hire moving help. We should have done this. I wouldn't be hobbling around the office today if we had!

[lawyerlee]

i was searching for info on moving costs this morning as well. glad to see this thread and all the great tips!

we are hoping to pack up everything in boxes and do the driving ourselves (with a rented truck), but we'd like to pay movers to load and unload the truck.

has anyone paid for this service, and how much did it cost? we don't have a huge amount of furniture (we're in a 1.5BR/ 900 sq. ft apt), we're guessing that it would take 4-5 hours to load the truck. but that's based on our past un-professional moving experiences.
My DH used to work as a mover, so I know a little bit about how they handle it. Companies usually charge you based on the weight of your stuff, whether they are doing it all for you or not. But it will obviously be cheaper if you pack it yourselves. Just do them a favor and make sure you don't pack any of your boxes too heavy. My DH almost killed me last time we moved because I packed entire boxes of books (some of them were boxes of all law textbooks :o ), then expected him to load and unload them. Whoops! ;) :D

If you call some different companies and tell them how big your place is, they should be able to estimate the weight of your stuff and how much it will cost to move it.

Or you can go on a site like this one and get estimates:

Moving.com (http://www.moving.com/Moving_and_Planning/Quotes/index.asp?MType=SS&wtid=2)

[Jodi AKA BostonTeacher]

I have slight OCDs when it comes to organized moving, but in reality it doesn't take all that long on the packing end and saves a lot of time and headache on the unpacking end.

I pack by room.

I use construction paper and assign a different color to each room. As I pack I write what is in each box/bag on the color room it belongs in. I then tape that to the outside of the box.

When we get to the new place I tape a colored paper on the door to the room it goes in.

All boxes get moved to the right place and unpacking is easier.

[lawyerlee]

I just came across a pretty cool website on organizing your life that has an entire section devoted to moving! I hope someone else finds the information helpful. :)

Life Organizers: Organize Your Move (http://www.lifeorganizers.com/moving/)

I thought this was a particularly good packing/unpacking tip that I hadn't considered before:
USE THE A-B-C SYSTEM. Everything you pack does not have to be unpacked the first day in your new home. If it contains essential items, mark it PRIORITY A. If the contents are important, but not crucial, mark the box PRIORITY B. If the box contains out of season items, holiday items and other things you won’t need right away, mark the box PRIORITY C. Then, unpack in A, B, C order.
from 25 Tips and Tricks for an Organized Move (http://www.lifeorganizers.com/moving/organize-move.htm)

My best friend and I are both moving this summer, so we're going to have a multi-family yard sale sometime soon (before it gets too hot!) to get rid of our excess junk. I need to get my butt in gear and start going through things, though.

[lelee17]

does anyone have an recs/websites that sell moving supplies? I'm looking for boxes, bubble wrap, moving blankets etc.

Another question: What's the best way to move bedroom furniture? We are going through PODS, but I'm not sure what to use to wrap for our armoire, dresser, etc. I would hate for our furniture to get scratched.

Thanks!

[Tanya]

www.moveout.com sells boxes and supplies. Their shipping times leave much to be desired (came 2 days later than stated), but their prices are good. I ordered cardboard corners from them for our furniture that my local box store didn't have. I'd check craigslist.com in your area for people selling moving boxes cheap first, though. That's how we got ours, and got all our other supplies from the place above or our local store. Buy more bubble wrap than you think you could ever possibly use. You'll still need more. We bought a 2'x8' diameter roll and we've used all that plus about 350 feet of a 1' roll. We have a lot of breakables, but it's insane. Make sure you know what you are ordering. The 3/16" bubbles are kinda wimpy. The 5/16" or even 1/2" are much better. We also bought lots of packing tape/tape gun and newsprint.

[lawyerlee]

does anyone have an recs/websites that sell moving supplies? I'm looking for boxes, bubble wrap, moving blankets etc.

Another question: What's the best way to move bedroom furniture? We are going through PODS, but I'm not sure what to use to wrap for our armoire, dresser, etc. I would hate for our furniture to get scratched.
There are special boxes you can get for some things, such as mirrors (there are special boxes available for mirrors & artwork that you could use), and you will want to wrap everything else in furniture pads (the thick cloth blankets).

As for where to buy supplies, I'm not sure where you can get the best deal on them, but some suggestions for places to check with are UHaul locations (they have a price list online here (http://store.uhaul.com/compare_boxes.aspx)), UPS Stores (we got a coupon for 50% off packing materials and boxes from them in the mail, so you might want to see if stores in your area are offering that), office supply stores (I think Staples and Office Depot sell these online) or just about any moving company in your area. :)

[mgrace]

Here is a link with more moving tips (http://interiordec.about.com/od/moving/a/org_movetips.htm).

[jenahdawn]

Use older blankets or quilts. They work great for covering furniture.

Last time we moved, they company said, "Eh, 12 moving blankets" and there were 26. The guy told us, "Keep whatever's left, you'll move again" So, we did.

Also, with one of those websites, someone talked about how professional movers wouldn't have removed the drawers from their dressers, etc....

No, professional movers would do this:

LEAVE your drawers in your dresser. Cover dresser with one or two moving blankets. Wrap dresser in said blankets with industrial plastic wrap. Two people would pick up dresser, move it onto truck, then move it into place at final destination. No need to remove dresser drawers or clothing from dresser.

[justHB]

We're moving in 8 days and I've managed to pack 6 boxes, so clearly I'm no help at all.

I predict most of our clothes, towels, linens, and other non-breakables will be thrown into a Hefty bag and labeled appropriately.

[njdiva]

I wanted to post some tips based on my moving experience last week:
- the moving box was a blessing since we had to have our stuff in storage for 2 nights and stayed at our inlaws we really needed our essential things - and make sure you also pack an overnight bag just in case with some change of clothes.

- if you are hiring movers like we did please keep in mind the travel time. Even though the movers will advertise that they cover a large geographical area they will also charge you for the travel and it will be the same as their hourly rate including mileage and any tolls. please confirm all of this prior to making the reservation.

- when calling around for price quotes ask them how much they charge for using their supplies to transport your large furniture (i.e. tv, sofas, entertainment units, bed, mattress (this is separate from the bedroom set), etc.) Our movers charged us close to $300 over the fee that they quoted us because they used their materials.

- make sure you have some cash to tip the movers (this is really your personal discretion). We chose not to tip the foreman b/c we were not pleased with his attitude and he was not doing any work but standing around.

- keep a tally of the hours they are working - time they arrived and they time they completed the job. (it will take twice the amount of time to pack the truck then to unload.)

- label all of your boxed based on the room - this makes it easier for the movers when unloading.

- moving supplies are a bit pricey... especially bubble wrap... so try to shop around.

- if you need overnight storage make sure you confirm their rate before agreeing to the company. I received quotes from $75 - $300 for storage... which is a pretty large range.

good luck!

[ThreeYell]

Bumping to start planning a long distance move.

[shortcake]

I'm not sure exactly where the right place to post this is, but here makes sense...

I am curious, for those of you who have moved from one state to another, and from one house into another, what the actual cost of the move was.

My husband is looking at jobs in various places around the country now. Some companies will pay for the move outright, but the one that looks most promising doesn't have a set relocation plan - my guess is if they make an offer they will just give a lump sum for the move. I want to know ahead of time what lump sum we should ask for!

This would be a move from Washington State to the Bay Area of California.

We'd be hiring movers for sure - I'd love to even have them pack for us (we have a toddler and a baby) but I know that may be impossible. We'd have to ship 1 car, too. We'd be selling our 4 bedroom house here and looking to buy something (though smaller and dumpier, unfortunately) down there. But there may be time with stuff in storage, a rental, etc.

Any ideas on how much we'd be spending? Or rather, on how much to ask the company to pay for?

[ManteoChik]

The price will depend A LOT on where you are moving to and what time of year you are moving. I would suggest calling a couple of moving compaines and getting a quote. Let them know that you are looking for a rough estimate. They will ask you qestions like, how many rooms of furniture, ect.... I looked into it, and to be honest - it wasn't cheap.

I could have sworn there was a similar thread, but I searched and can't seem to find it to save myself. Maybe someone else will have more luck.

[SweetRed]

I second making a few phone calls. My moves were much smaller, so my costs would be irrelevant to you.

Some moving companies came out to my house, did a walk-through, and provided an estimate on the spot. This was the only way to get an estimate from these companies.

Some moving companies emailed me a check-off form where I indicated what all my major pieces of furniture, outdoor equipment, etc. were and how many closets of "stuff" we had. They turned around an estimate in email within a couple of days. The estimate was in no way binding, and they all insisted on coming out and doing a walk-through for final pricing. The one company we ended up using was pretty darned close between virtual and in-person estimates.

[shortcake]

Thanks for the advice. I am reluctant to get an estimate before we get an offer - too superstitious! :) But I suppose once we get the offer they'd wait for us to get some estimates to see if the offer makes sense.

[BTB]

We paid $1400 for a Illinois to Wisconsin move. Not that far in the grand scheme of things, but because it was technically interstate, we paid interstate tariffs. We went from a 3 BR to a 3 BR and packed and unpacked ourselves (packing costs are astronomical - we got several quotes in the $40 PER BOX range!) My employer reimbursed only up to the first $1,500 in costs so we wanted to stay below that. I doubt you could move for any less, and wouldn't be surprised, next time we move, to pay twice that. We got a bargain!

[KK812]

The government paid for the moving company so I don't know how much that was, but to move our car from Maryland to California was $1,000. Obviously your move is a shorter one, plus our car was a soft top convertible, but I would still expect to pay $600 or so for that.

If they are willing to cover all moving costs, factor in fees for turning on/off utilities, gas for driving down, and packing supplies if you decide to pack yourself (we were fortunate enough to have the packing done for us).

Good luck!

[shortcake]

Wow, BTB, you really did do amazingly well! I am sure I'll find you're right about the packing...but holy cow we have so much stuff to pack! And with the 2 little kids...I get a bit queasy just thinking about it.

[silentbunny]

I have moved cross-country a few times, and it was expensive ($3000 or so?) and very frustrating.

The first time we moved all by ourselves, rented a truck, and put my car on a trailer behind us. It was unwieldy, but if we had it to do again, it's what I would do, because the moving company we hired to come back to WA state from CT was a nightmare.

We did the pack-it-ourselves option, but didn't do very well estimating how much stuff we had, because it wound up taking up twice as much space as I had guessed (they charge by space).

Then it took several weeks longer than it was supposed to for our stuff to arrive.

Once it got there, I realized that all the stuff had been moved from the original truck it had been packed in into a different truck -- and obviously by someone who could not read the word "FRAGILE", so our dishes were in the box on the bottom of the pile, etc. They didn't reimburse us for broken dishes, etc. It sucked.

The moral of my story? DON'T go for the cheapest company out there. Find someone who has a good reputation, check BBB, and if possible, do as much of your packing yourself as you can.

Good luck! :)

[amew]

Moving is crazy expensive. We moved from Connecticut to Oklahoma four years ago in a rental truck that we drove ourselves (well, DH drove it, while I followed in one of our cars) and spent more than $3000 for a 6-day rental of the largest truck Ryder offered, packing supplies, and transportation costs (gas, hotels). We moved from Oklahoma to Texas three years ago with a moving company my firm hired and paid for, and I think the total bill was in the $5-6K range (not totally sure what the final figure was since I didn't pay for any of it). We were moving 3 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, a dining room, and an office. Prior to our last couple moves, we did several moves across several states for more like $1500-2000, but we also had a lot less stuff then and did everything ourselves.

Obviously, shipping a car and storing stuff pre-move adds costs. We have never shipped a car--always driven them ourselves.

[laura]

Well our move was paid for by my husband's company, and it was much farther than yours, but it was approximately $10K to move our approx 1600 sqft apartment (LR, DR, kitchen, 2BR, office) in Boston to our approx 1400 sqft apartment in the Bay Area. That also included moving 1 car, which they just drove into the truck behind our stuff (so no trailer). That included complete packing, moving, and unpacking, which included removing all the boxes/debris and was completely worth it. We did not pack 1 box; actually, they said anything we packed, they wouldn't insure. After the 3000 mile journey, the only things that were broken were 1 glass bowl and 2 pieces of stemware - everything else was in the same condition as when we last saw it. They did offer to reimburse for the broken items, but I never followed up on it b/c I am lazy w/ paperwork and it was ~$50 worth of stuff and just not worth it to me. Separate from the $10K, the company also paid for our house hunting trip, which was 2 cross country flights, and a week in a hotel plus rental car.

At my work, we offer a lump sum for relocation (I work at a university) and it is $3K. For most people, this does not entirely cover the cost of their move. If I were going to ask for money to move to a different state, I would ask for at least $5K - but as someone who makes the call on who gets more $, ITA that getting estimates from moving companies will *greatly* help your cause.

[KristyK]

We're moving cross country in about a week. I've been packing for quite a long time and I'm still not done! I've packed myself because I've had pro's pack me and they don't care, they just wrap and stick in boxes. I've had more things broken from a professional wrap/pack job then when I did it myself. My last move cross country, east to west was approx $5000, that was several years ago. This time our estimate with approx 9000 lbs (typical 3 br house) ranged from $7000 to $10,400. Just for moving household goods only. Thats no packing except boxing the mattresses. Thank goodness the company is paying for it.

The cost of our car shipment cross country is $1200. Its totally insured and they are picking up my car at my moms house. That was actually an extra $50. The company is also paying for that, plus our plane tickets, and they paid for my DH to drive the 3000 miles with his truck, towing his boat, for all the gas, and the hotels he stayed in on the way. They are also covering the first months rent for him in FL.

So what our deal was, they gave us $5000, that was to purchase the plane tickets and pay for the car shipment. They put the moving company on a purchase order, billed directly to the company, and my DH put all his trip expenses on a corporate card. They have been very generous to us, and my DH so far seems to like his job!

One thing I would say, my DS was 3 when we moved back to WA and I was by myself. I packed a few boxes at a time, taking my time and getting rid of things along the way. Thats pretty much what I've done this time too, but I don't have a young child to watch either.

Good luck!! and good luck with your DH's job hunting!!

[Asha]

i'm going :eek: at the expense of moving. we are making a long distance move by the end of the year, and i figured it would be close to $5k, but i don't think we will come close to that figure given the costs people are listing here.

so, since it is so expensive, and i don't think dh's work will reimburse, is it true that long distance moving costs are tax deductible?

[shortcake]

Laura - your estimate sounds more like what I was expecting (because I would really like them to pack/insure our stuff).

You all are right, though, that an estimate would help our cause.

amew - I remember when we moved from CA to here (WA) we got estimates on u-hauls because we were only moving a 1 bedroom apartment...it cost nearly as much as getting a moving van! We packed ourselves though. I thought that was nuts.

KK812 - thanks for the car estimate. Actually the more I think about it, if we stay on this coast we might just be able to drive both cars. Plus our 2nd car is a bit of a junker - we might just sell or donate it and get a new (used) one in the new location.

[j*east]

i'm going :eek: at the expense of moving. we are making a long distance move by the end of the year, and i figured it would be close to $5k, but i don't think we will come close to that figure given the costs people are listing here.

so, since it is so expensive, and i don't think dh's work will reimburse, is it true that long distance moving costs are tax deductible?

If you're moving to take a job, yes, and you can save quite a bit on your taxes that way! We moved cross country 2 years ago, which cost around $3000 (we packed ourselves, used UPack, and only had a 2BR apartment) and saved hundreds on our taxes. Keep all receipts, including packing materials. ETA: Also gas, hotels on the way, anything connected to your move.

[malala]

We moved last year (march 06) almost 1200 miles away and we paid about $5000.
We moved from a 1500 sf 3 bdr home and they did all the packing. At the time DD was only 2 months old so we didn't have any of her furniture to move with us (just the craddle and a couple of other things).

If you can afford to have them pack for you I highly recommend it.

I hope your DH gets the job:)

[ThreeYell]

We recently moved from D.C. to New Orleans. We had about 7000 pounds of stuff and I think it ended up being about $6700 with a major van line. We had them pack us and it was wonderful. It took 3 people about 6 hours to pack our entire house! Worth every penny, IMO, especially since DH's employer was paying. ;)

I was surprised at how much the estimates varied among the major van lines I contacted but was also pleased that they offered binding estimates so there were no surprises.

[udsweetpea]

I didn't have any movers help me move from Florida to Pennsylvania, but here were my expenses:

Penske Truck Rental= $1200
Gas for my car= $200
Gas for the rental truck= $500
Hotel for two nights= $120

[Tali]

We moved from Yakima, WA to Portland, OR (about 210mi) in 9-06, fortunately paid for my my company. To pack and move our 1500sf house was $5300. It was soo worth it, but hey, I didn't have to pay for it.:cool:

[Amuse Bouche]

We moved from NYC to L.A. in 2005, packed our (large) 1 BR apartment by ourselves (we bought tape and bubble wrap, but my DH is a box saver extraordinaire, so we didn't have to buy boxes), rented a (Penske) truck (partially because I couldn't find a long distance mover I felt comfortable with), and DH and his dad drove the truck cross country while I went with the dog in a plane. Whole thing cost about $4000.

[kam]

It was crazy expensive, as everyone else has said. We used movers but packed the majority of it ourselves (with exception of furniture). We moved from CT to NC (600 miles) and it was easily $4k, probably $5k. Like others, I would definitely look into driving the car yourselves as that will add a large expense. Since the company didn't pay for it, it was all tax deductible but make sure you fall within the tax deduction guidelines before you think of it as a viable option.

[Anna]

DH and I moved from GA to VT in August '05. We packed for ourselves, and I enjoyed the process of purging unnecessary belongings before the move. Granted, we also had a small apartment so it did not take very long.

We paid about $3000 to have our stuff professionally moved. It was a smooth process overall, but it did take about 2 weeks for our belongings to arrive. I did not like sleeping on an air mattress on the floor for that long. ;)

[PinkMartini]

Bumping up for any more ideas?

[gardenmommy]

I'm looking for ideas too. I recently saw on the u-haul website they have a board for procuring used boxes for free, or resale. I'll post a link if can find it again.

For those of you who bought boxes, how much did you spend??

[jeninef]

Gardenmommy - We used a moving company to move which offered used boxes for free. They even dropped them off and picked them up! I got quotes from 4 different companies to make sure their prices weren't inflated and they weren't! I would call around and get some estimates...it can't hurt, right? BTW...we packed up ourselves and this was a local move.

[gardenmommy]

Jenine~ Excellent tip, thanks!

[bug]

Since I'll be jumping into the moving fray in the next few weeks, this thread is very timely bumped & gets me thinking about packing.

For finding boxes, I have gone to the grocery store & the ABC store or the wine store, which are my favorite b/c the boxes are sturdy but not huge. I've also asked people who have recently moved (neighbors) if I can have their boxes rather than them having to get rid of them.

As for packing, I don't use bubble wrap for fragile items. I pack anything that is breakable or fragile in my clothes/towels/linens and tape them up. Mens tube socks work really well for glasses. Saves space & $.

Anything super valuable or irreplaceable goes in the car w/us.

[bookworm]

You can check freecycle for boxes--I got rid of all my boxes and bubble wrap that way.

[gardenmommy]

Bookworm~Thanks a million!

I just found 59 free moving boxes on freecycle! I pick them up tomorrow! You rock!:D

[L&D Nurse]

bump...

We are moving cross-country in about a month. We are paying for everything ourselves (no relo bonus), so we're trying to figure out the least expensive way to get 2 cars + our furniture moved. DS and I will fly out, which leaves DH and his dad to 1) drive the cars and we'll have a moving truck move the stuff, 2) drive one car and rent a truck to pack up and tow one of the cars, or 3) something else we haven't thought of. Any ideas? Has anyone done something similar to this? Thanks!

[maxandmolly]

My brother used a car transport service when he moved to CA. It was cheaper than paying for the gas to drive it himself.

[ThreeYell]

bump