Moving Gripes

[Phoenix84]

I have a release date from my current job on October 18. My new employer pick me up on Sunday, October 19.

Anyway, I'm stressing out over the move.

It's a short turnaround, and the Navy just seems to be happy sitting on their hands until the last minute. I don't know what's going on.  I requested relocation assistance, and the job announcement said it MAY be offered, and HR put in the request to management, but I haven't heard anything.

The move is two weeks away and I have no idea what, if anything they're going to help me with. I don't know if they're going to force me to start work on the 20th or let me drive out there for three days.  I don't think it's really fair to expect me to take leave to travel to the new jobsite.

Really, I'm not worried as much about the cost of moving or if I have to pay for it or not as much as I'm worried about getting a mover on such short notice.

I don't know if the Navy hires the movers directly, or I hire them and they pay the movers, or I hire the movers and they reimburse me.  Or if they won't pay for anything and I have to hire and get the movers myself.

I've started calling and requesting quotes.  The clock is ticking and I can't afford to sit around for another week doing nothing and waiting to see what will be offered.

I'm trying to find interstate movers, but it's proving more difficult than I anticipated.  Most places I find locally only do local moves.  I found the local Atlas Van lines agent but he says they need at a minimum three weeks advanced notice.  A lot of the interstate movers I've found aren't based in my area and can't help.  As one said, it's starting to get into the slow season.

I don't know exactly where I'm going with this, probably just venting and seeing if anyone has tips on finding good interstate movers on relatively short notice.

[sesfw]

Wish I could be of some help to you. Something you can do to take up your time is start packing the things you don't use each day. At least you'll have that much done.

Good luck on your move and your new job.

[Phoenix84]

Oct 3, 2014 11:21:25 GMT -5 sesfw said:

Wish I could be of some help to you. Something you can do to take up your time is start packing the things you don't use each day. At least you'll have that much done.

Good luck on your move and your new job.

Yeah, I'm going to start packing this weekend.

Not going to do much good if I can't find a mover though...

I don't know.  I have good friends in VA that (at least they say) will let me stay as long as I like. I don't need my stuff in VA anytime soon. I wonder if movers can come, management can let them in, and they can take all my stuff out without me being there?

I have to keep the apartment anyway until Nov 1.

[ArchietheDragon]

What about getting a pod?

[Phoenix84]

What's a pod and how does it work?

It wouldn't really be feasible for me to do much "do it yourself."

I can't drive more than one car there myself, and I can't carry out all my furniture myself. And I don't have anyone locally to help.

[ArchietheDragon]

They drop off a shipping container at your house.   You fill it up.  When you are done they pick it up and ship it your new house.  You unload it.  When you are done they take the pod away. 

[Deleted]

Rent a moving truck.  Hire local moving company to fill truck.  Put your car on a dolly behind the truck.  Drive to destination.  Hire local moving company to empty truck.  Done.

[Deleted]

I would do a POD over driving a moving truck yourself. 

[justme]

It's not cheap (the smallest POD when I called was $1800 since you have to have it for a month and it probably didn't fit much) but I recall seeing an option to have people help you move your stuff into the POD.

[Phoenix84]

I never considered a POD, but I'd still need to hire movers to help load it and unload it.

How can I find local POD dealers? I need a local one that goes to Virginia sometime in the next few weeks.

I don't know if I'll do it, but it might be worth considering.

[Deleted]

Oct 3, 2014 11:40:46 GMT -5 justme said:

It's not cheap (the smallest POD when I called was $1800 since you have to have it for a month and it probably didn't fit much) but I recall seeing an option to have people help you move your stuff into the POD.

he's 2 weeks out....I can't imagine being able to schedule a moving company for a cross-country move in that time.  I moved 1.4 miles and had the movers lined up a month in advance.

[Deleted]

Oct 3, 2014 11:43:19 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

I never considered a POD, but I'd still need to hire movers to help load it and unload it.

How can I find local POD dealers? I need a local one that goes to Virginia sometime in the next few weeks.

I don't know if I'll do it, but it might be worth considering.

google

[Sharon]

In our area the local high school football/wrestling team have a hire a jock program to raise money for equipment etc.  For a donation to the program they will send some kids (and a Dad or two to supervise).  This might be a way to get some cheap muscle for moving furniture to a load a pod etc.

[justme]

Oct 3, 2014 11:43:19 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

I never considered a POD, but I'd still need to hire movers to help load it and unload it.

How can I find local POD dealers? I need a local one that goes to Virginia sometime in the next few weeks.

I don't know if I'll do it, but it might be worth considering.

It's all online/by phone. The website said I had to call because the move was over 50 miles.

[The Captain]

I used to manage the relocation programs at a large company (in addition to my main job).  We used United Van lines.  I was alway impressed with their service.

Personally, I also used them for my move of a few months ago.  They are not cheap, but I'm working crazy hours and need to keep sane.  DH and I agree they were worth every penny and we even tipped the guys pretty well.

So, I can recommend United from both a personal and professional point of view.

[Lizard Queen]

Can your parent(s) fly out to help arrange things with the movers?

[resolution]

Oct 3, 2014 11:52:30 GMT -5 The Captain said:

I used to manage the relocation programs at a large company (in addition to my main job).  We used United Van lines.  I was alway impressed with their service.

Personally, I also used them for my move of a few months ago.  They are not cheap, but I'm working crazy hours and need to keep sane.  DH and I agree they were worth every penny and we even tipped the guys pretty well.

So, I can recommend United from both a personal and professional point of view.

I used United Van Lines as well for my cross country move. I was very pleased with the service. I felt it was worth the expense.

[flutterby]

I just used a pod thingy for my move a couple months ago. About $2500 for 1000-ish mile move. POD and U-Haul are both options, depending if they serve your area. They didn't serve the area I was moving from so I used PackRat. It went pretty smoothly, but I definitely should have hired help for unloading. Craigslist is good for finding help with that part of it. Oh, they also have storage facilities if you don't have a place to move your stuff to lined up yet.

ETA: You're in an apartment complex, right? Check with management to make sure pods are allowed. I had to get permission from the HOA.

[Phoenix84]

Oct 3, 2014 11:40:46 GMT -5 justme said:

It's not cheap (the smallest POD when I called was $1800 since you have to have it for a month and it probably didn't fit much) but I recall seeing an option to have people help you move your stuff into the POD.

How's your move coming along?

Did you mange to convince your work to do a house hunting trip as a work trip. Did you convince them to let you postpone it until after the holidays?  Did you ever figure out if you're moving to MD or CA?

[Phoenix84]

Oct 3, 2014 12:05:43 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Can your parent(s) fly out to help arrange things with the movers?

Mom is in the hospital with some surgery complications, so she's out. Dad might be able to if it conincides with his days off. He's not willing to take leave to help me, which is understandable. He used a lot of leave after his heart surgery and is strapped for it right now.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

I have a close relative who is a mover and have moved cross country on short notice before so it CAN be done.  

I also recommend United.  When i moved from CA to MA (in the slow season-Nov), they were able to move me in relatively short notice. I was moving for the military and found out I was moving to MA near the end of Oct, was in TX at the time, flew back to CA on Nov 10 and had the movers there on Nov 12 to get my stuff (couldn't even coordinate with them while in TX because I had no phone/freetime-was in military training).  The only thing that did take a little time was getting the stuff to MA because they wait until the truck is full to leave and I only had a 1 bedroom apt of stuff so they had to wait until it had enough stuff to go back east.  I did get lucky in that the driver wanted to get to Maine (his home) by thanksgiving so he didn't wait too long.  He did say on Nov 12 that he was going to wait around CA for a few days to see if any other loads would be added (Movers frequently find out the day before where/what they are working).

Your apartment Mgt could sign for them to pick up your stuff but I wouldn't recommend it.  The person who is there signing for it is going to be watching to make sure they get all your stuff as well as signing for the condition of the items upon packing.  If they say an item is dented/scuffed/broken and it shows up in VA broken, etc they won't pay.  Your time to debate the condition when packed is before it leaves CO, not when it gets to VA.

I would call the local United (or Graebel) agent and tell them you are interested in getting a quote and where you are moving.  They will arrange everything and you can set how much you want to pack (vs wanting them to pack.. you packing some can reduce the costs).  They will also coordinate the cross country driver and arrange for your items to be put on a truck going back east.  They usually have a local crew come out and pack then have the distance trucker come and the local team helps him to load into the truck that is going back East (That way your stuff doesn't go into a local truck, their warehouse and back into a long distance truck... reduces the chances of stuff getting broken/lost). 

[Phoenix84]

Oct 3, 2014 11:52:30 GMT -5 The Captain said:

I used to manage the relocation programs at a large company (in addition to my main job).  We used United Van lines.  I was alway impressed with their service.

Personally, I also used them for my move of a few months ago.  They are not cheap, but I'm working crazy hours and need to keep sane.  DH and I agree they were worth every penny and we even tipped the guys pretty well.

So, I can recommend United from both a personal and professional point of view.

How much more expensive are they compared to a "normal mover?"

I'm not totally adverse to paying a bit more for good service. And that's especially true if the Navy ends up helping to pay for it.

Regardless, I'll take a look at them. Thanks.

[Deleted]

Oct 3, 2014 12:39:50 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Oct 3, 2014 11:52:30 GMT -5 The Captain said:

I used to manage the relocation programs at a large company (in addition to my main job).  We used United Van lines.  I was alway impressed with their service.

Personally, I also used them for my move of a few months ago.  They are not cheap, but I'm working crazy hours and need to keep sane.  DH and I agree they were worth every penny and we even tipped the guys pretty well.

So, I can recommend United from both a personal and professional point of view.

How much more expensive are they compared to a "normal mover?"

I'm not totally adverse to paying a bit more for good service. And that's especially true if the Navy ends up helping to pay for it.

what do you mean by a 'normal mover'?  sounds like United may be a bit more expensive but have a great reputation....doesn't do you much good to get a cheaper mover and then they demand another $1000 to give you your stuff off the truck.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

I asked my relative a few months ago how much it would be to go from CA to your part of VA (I was interested in moving out there).  He works for United and said it would be about $6k (ETA: I think this price included a small "relative discount" on the loading side.... ) but I have a 2k square foot house with lots of crap.  I have 3 queen bed sets, 2 large dressers, 2 couches, 1 love seat, 3 big screen TVs, tons of books and book shelves, and the requisite kitchen ware, clothes, knickknacks.  The books especially cost a lot (They weigh a ton and pricing goes on weight).  

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I paid about $6200 to pack and move from KY to WA.  Best money I ever spent.  The company did all the packing and hauling.....I just provided drinks.

i did some research on local distance movers and the same name kept popping up as having superlative service, and they did.

When I researched all my options, to deliver a POD for my 800 sq ft apartment, pick it up and deliver to WA would have cost $4800.  By the time I bought packing materials and movers on both ends, I figured it would be close to another $1000.  For $400 more, they did the whole job.  UHaul, I had to factor gas into the equation, it would have been about $500 less than the POD.

I did make arrangements far in advance, probably about 6 weeks or so.  However, there have to be movers which can handle a quick move.

i believe the movers were part of United as well.

[justme]

Oct 3, 2014 12:36:28 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Oct 3, 2014 11:40:46 GMT -5 justme said:

It's not cheap (the smallest POD when I called was $1800 since you have to have it for a month and it probably didn't fit much) but I recall seeing an option to have people help you move your stuff into the POD.

How's your move coming along?

Did you mange to convince your work to do a house hunting trip as a work trip. Did you convince them to let you postpone it until after the holidays?  Did you ever figure out if you're moving to MD or CA?

I got them to postpone, so I'm moving just after Thanksgiving. They're shipping me up there for two work trips. One got pushed up to next week but only M-W so I won't have a lot of time to look around. I got a pretty good deal from Penske for a truck and a trailer to tow my car so we'll drive that and my parents van up. 

Lol! It's California, MD. As in the town is called California. Lexington Park is also an option. (There's also a Hollywood in that area too!) I'll be working with Pax River folks, so in that area. 

Now I'm in a purge and clean mode, that I'm mostly failing at the moment. 

[Lizard Queen]

Oct 3, 2014 12:37:47 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Oct 3, 2014 12:05:43 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Can your parent(s) fly out to help arrange things with the movers?

Mom is in the hospital with some surgery complications, so she's out. Dad might be able to if it conincides with his days off. He's not willing to take leave to help me, which is understandable. He used a lot of leave after his heart surgery and is strapped for it right now.

Sorry about that.  It's rough when you don't have anyone to turn to.  It's nice that you have friends near your new location.

[gooddecisions]

I stopped tapping friends and family to help me with moves years ago. I just didn't like risking anyone else's back, so it is possible to do it without the help of friends and family. If it were me, I'd pack up everything myself, rent a truck, hire a couple of guys to empty the house into the truck and drive it to the destination. If everything is packed, 2-4 hours is all that's needed to load if you have 2-3 guys. I don't lift a thing myself. Then I'd hire a few guys to empty the truck into the new place. Or, I'd get a pod and hire a few guys to load it all into the pod and then call the pod company to pick up and deliver.

[resolution]

My costs are from 5 years ago, so I expect they would be higher now.

I paid united van lines $4000 to move a 3 bedroom house from the southwest to the mid-atlantic. This was roughly 10,000 pounds, as I gave away half my stuff before I moved.

I did most of the packing and just had them pack the odd shaped items and artwork that didn't fit well in a box. They loaded the truck, drove it across country, transferred to a smaller truck that could fit on my road, and then put it in the appropriate rooms in the house. They also reassembled beds and put all the furniture pieces where i asked.

[Peace Of Mind]

Don't you just have a one bedroom apt.?  How much stuff do you have?   I would not want to wait on the Navy to decide when I'd pack if it's only 2 weeks out.  I would rent a UHaul for the duration and get reimbursed later.  You can also rent a transporter for your vehicle.  It's much more reasonable than a moving van line or POD and you can pack and load up at your convenience.  You are a big guy and you can do most of the loading yourself.   For the big items like sofa and bed - and if you can't find a neighbor or co worker to help you - check with a temp agency.  They have laborers that can be hired for at least a half day if not hourly.  Again - way cheaper than some of the other options you have. 

That's what we always did even when we moved to NM.  DH1 and I each drove a 36 ft. truck loaded with furniture, boxes and our plants and we each took a cat and had our cars on a transporter.  Locally DH2 and I did the same thing when we moved from our last place to our new house because we wanted our stuff stored while the crown molding guy and painters did their thing.  Our stuff wasn't in the way and we could leisurely move and unpack when they finished. 

UHaul also had the wardrobe boxes for your clothes so you can just hang them in these huge boxes (they are like a closet so you can use it that way until you have time to get organized at your new place), blankets, bubble wrap and dish dividers, etc. that you may need. 

ETA:  It took us 3 days to get from Florida to NM but we weren't rushing.