Moving, any advice?

[NAOS]

I am not afraid of commutes

famous last words.

Seriously, though, if you don't mind commutes, then you should try to get out of that valley and into smaller areas to the east. I'm not sure how this fits the rest of your criteria, but I know I'd much rather live out there. Idyllwild looks like a nice place to be.

 

[JAZZGASM]

Hire a moving company.

Check out movingscam.com for more information on moving.

We have moved a few times, and have used U-pack (ABF), North American, United, and Broadway Express (my favorite). When my employer pays for the move, I use full service, when the give me a flat rate moving allowance, I used Broadway and pocket the difference...

Broadway Express brings a semi trailer, and you reserve the space you need. You pay your own movers to load (we use the mover service through U-haul and have had good success). We have saved about $5k compared to other quotes by using Broadway. On our last move in February, we reserved the whole truck (53') and had enough room to add a 4Runner to the trailer. We saved about $6500 compared to full-service and a separate car shipper (we packed our own boxes). We moved to Cali using Broadway Express and it was great. Moovers is also highly recommended, but I haven't used them.

 

[LogGrad98]

Hire a moving company.

And get quotes....not a pricing menu, not an estimate....get quotes and only quotes.

Yep. And one thing I did was, I noticed how the contract said I only have to pay for the hours worked. I think it was $150/hour and the quote was for six hours. At about the three hour mark, I told the guys, if they could get it done in five hours, it would save me $150, and I'd toss them half of that, or $25 each. They got it done in five hours.

Thanks for the advice. Luckily I have a full relocation package with a lump sum plus movers that come and pack everything for us, will store it for up to 30 days, and unload and unpack in our new place, so that piece is covered. In fact I am leaving tomorrow for a house hunting trip on the company dime. Will be there from tomorrow to Sunday.