How are you moving?

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chewie

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Does anyone have suggestions on the best way to move stuff from city to city? I currently live in Seattle, and I am attending NOVA next year and I'm wondering how I am going to get all my stuff to Florida (ie. bed, desk, dresser, car). I have narrowed it down to three options: moving company, ship on train, or ship my car with some things in it and buy new stuff when I get there.

If anyone has any suggestions, or experience that would be great.

Thanks
 
I suggest that you sell your old stuff and go buy new stuff. It's still cheaper than shipping cost.

:laugh: :laugh:
 
Ooh, If you arent going to drive the car and ship things cross country, I'd say just ship the car and buy new things. All you really need is a bed and dresser right? The TV, stereo etc, I think you can put in your car as they ship it.
 
It depends on how much stuff you have.

I'm facing the same decisions, moving from Boston to Cali.

If you are single, have just a room or two full of stuff, and own a car, then selling everything and driving cross-country is cheapest.

You could have a hitch installed on your car, then rent a U-Haul trailer (~$1000) and haul all of your stuff that way. This is good if you have just a roomful of stuff.

If you do a self-move - where you rent trailer space in a commercial truck, the minimum cost for ~7 ft of trailer space is ~$1300, using a service like ABF U-Pack. This is good if you have more than a roomful of stuff, but can't afford a commercial mover.

Renting and driving a U-Haul while towing your car is still less expensive than a commercial mover, but more expensive than self-packing and driving your car cross-country, factoring in the cost of the U-Haul and towing your car (~$500 for the tow, ~$1500 for the U-Haul).

Be warned, however, that a big moving van with car in tow is a perfect target for thieves. Good friends of mine had their entire moving van stolen when they stopped at a motel for the night.

I have two cars, two dogs, a wife and baby on the way.

I'm selling one car, plan on using a self-mover, then driving myself and the dogs cross-country, with my wife flying out with the baby later.

So, it depends on how much stuff you have.

If the value of the stuff you want to bring with you is less than $1000, then sell the stuff, and drive yourself cross-country. Otherwise, you will have paid more money to haul your stuff than the stuff is worth.

- Tae
 
I already got my Apt and I'm good to go. I'm just gonna load my suit cases like crazy with my general stuff (clothes, etc). Ship my books (from undergrad) via parcel mail. A couple of days before I move down to Philly I will buy a desk, bookcase, lamp, school supplies from Office Depot and have them deliver them to my apt in Philly when I get there from their branch in Philly (free delivery if you buy $50+). I will order a cell phone via the web and have it set up w/ my new area code before I go down there so I have some mode of communication. When I get there around Aug 5th I will go out and buy a bed and have it delivered. Then I will call up to get DSL and phone service supplied.

How do you like my plan of attack?

DesiDentist
 
If you go to Uhaul.com you can get a free rate quote on renting a uhaul. I am moving from Florida to Kentucky and a 14ft truck for five days use is only about $350. They also let you secure the rate with no penalty if you cancel before 24hours of the date of use. Might be worth a look.
 
Is anyone transporting animals across the country (aside from dogs...just because dogs are fairly easy to move)?
How are you doing it? Flying or driving them?
I have four cockatiels and a cat. I am worried about how I am going to move the birds because they are so fragile. Any suggestions?
I may just fly them in a plane because it's the quickest way, but will they have to sit in the cargo? It will be way too cold for my birds.
Also, if I drive, what do I do with the cat? I have never taken my cat on a road trip. Do you leave the cat in the kennel box/cage?
What if it needs to use the litter box?
 
Hey Nolechic-

I just checked out Uhaul.com and they wanted 3,000 for a 14ft truck to move from Washington to Florida. That seemed a little high. Did you have some special discount code or anything???

Im thinking about just loading up my stuff in my car and driving cross counrty, and then getting new stuff when I get to Florida. Anyone know any good stops along th way?

Beagle- I would check with the air lines, but I think that they have a temperature regulated storage area for pets.
 
Beagle, luckily that you have cats and birds. If u had turtles, airlines wouldn't let the turtle get on the plane.:laugh: :laugh: Airlines can be very ridiculous. To answer your question, I think that flying cats and birds are best way to go. I flew my dog before and he arrived just fine. If u worry about temp. sensitive, you can wrap some sheets around the cage to keep them warm.

I don't plan to move my pet though. I'll just buy new fish when I move to my apt. in SF. :laugh: :laugh: I only have to order my aquarium and accessory on the net in advanced. Just have to go to Petco once I'm in my new place.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
 
Why aren't you allowed to carry a turtle on the plane?
Well, the good thing about turtles is that I doubt they are scared of car rides....I don't think they realize the car is even moving.
What kind of dog do you have Tinkerbell?
 
Hi,

I was looking at U-Haul to move from CA to PENN. They quote $1600 and that did not include gas you have to pay on the side. So I looked at some movers online and from my preliminary inventory list they quote me $2000 (based on cubic feet), or $850 for the 1st 1000 pounds (123movers.com) . Moreover, the price is still negotiable. I suggest you shop around ( I just went to yahoo, type "movers" in search, then whole bunch of them popped out). I have lots of heavy stuff but they do no take up too much space, so Im gonna go with the weight-based company. Hope this little piece of info may help. By the way, the services include door-to-door loading and unloading, assembly and disassembly of furniture ...
 
Airlines said that turtles are unidentifiable object. 🙄 🙄 :laugh: :laugh: Beagle, I had a bichon frisee before, and flew him around a couple of time, he was fine with it.
 
Hi, I just got my final quote today. - $650 for the 1st 1,000lbs and 45 cents additional pounds after that. Also I'll get 10% discount with a student ID. To move from Stockton to Philadelphia that's good. I used commercial movers to move from Alameda to Stockton, and it already costed me $300. Anyhow, if you would like some more info, post a message or PM me.
 
Originally posted by cobecana
Hi,

I just went to yahoo, type "movers" in search, then whole bunch of them popped out)....
Click to expand...
I just wanted to say , be really careful about some of the moving companies on the web. "Dateline" had a program about this a couple of months ago on TV. Some of these companies give you very cheap prices but they might break and destroy your stuff. Some others would triple the price at the end and will hold your stuff hostage untill you give them the money. Dateline was showing some people who had never gotten their stuff back because they had refused to pay the hight price and some people whose stuff where destroyed during the moving process. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.
Just be carefull about shoppoing around on the web.
 
Originally posted by dentist2008
I just wanted to say , be really careful about some of the moving companies on the web. "Dateline" had a program about this a couple of months ago on TV. Some of these companies give you very cheap prices but they might break and destroy your stuff. Some others would triple the price at the end and will hold your stuff hostage untill you give them the money. Dateline was showing some people who had never gotten their stuff back because they had refused to pay the hight price and some people whose stuff where destroyed during the moving process. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.
Just be carefull about shoppoing around on the web.
Click to expand...

Excellent advice!

Here's the article: http://www.msnbc.com/news/858828.asp

- Tae
 
Thanks for the info. I will definitely check the company out before handing my stuff to them.
 
I just made it from LA to Philly. I used ABF U-pack ($1145 for 5 linear feet...this is ALOT of space) to haul my stuff and I flew one way on America West ($215+$80/cat total). This was much cheaper than if I drove a UHaul ($1600 at least for just the truck) since gas is so freakin expensive right now. Not to mention the hotel rooms and food along the way. Plus, I wasn't about to torture my girlfriend and two cats by trapping them inside a cramped vehicle for four+ days. Road trips are fun but not when you're moving. My girlfriend did pay half of the moving expenses so that helped out as well. We took the two cats on board the plane with us since I've heard many a horror stories about animals being mistreated in the cargo area🙁 . As for the car, my girlfriend had her car shipped by DAS for $750. All in all, the move worked out great. We are here and so is most of our stuff (still have to get a couch🙂 ). BTW, I love Philly so far. This place is awesome!
 
Originally posted by GoLakers!
BTW, I love Philly so far. This place is awesome!
Click to expand...

Yay!! What are you gonna do until school starts? I can't wait to get down there myself. Leaving the first week of August. Just gonna bring my clothes and books. I'm gonna go on a fun shopping spree the two weeks before school starts.

Woo hooo!

DesiDentist

PS: While you're there, try to find what cell phone plans are the best. I'd appreciate that. I think Verizon is the best for its deal, but I would love a second opinion.

PPS: Do you think you will switch you name to GoSixers! Now?

:hardy:
 
GoLakers
what airline allows you to carry cats as a carry on?
 
DesiDent-as soon as I settle down, I'm flying to Japan to see my relatives I haven't seen for the last 6 years. When I get back, I plan to do some summer research hopefully at Temple and I also plan on volunteering at Ortho and maybe some Pedo (just to see what it's like). As for shopping, you are in luck. This place has more malls and shopping centers than you could imagine. It even has an Ikea 15 min away from Roxborough and that should speak for itself. You should have no problem in this department. As for phone plans, I'm stuck with T-Mobile for a few more months but I do like their service. I'll keep an eye out for you but most companies are priced similarly...it just depends on what features youre looking for. Also, I'd check online. And BTW, my love for the Lakers will never die!!! I'll have fun watching the 76ers but when they meet the Lake show, I'm all purple and gold baby😀...gotta stick to your roots!

Beagle-most of the major airlines I checked allowed cats as carry on luggage. The catch is, you can only have 1 per passenger and they have to have a health inspection. I would check with them directly since each has its own policy and prices. I chose America West b/c they were the only airline where the one way ticket was cheaper than the round trip (wierd huh?). Plus they had one of the larger areas underneath the seat where the cats go. As far as I know, they allow all species of cats whereas only onle certain types of dogs are allowed as carry ons (no rots or pitbulls). Lemme know if you got other questions.
 
Originally posted by GoLakers!

Beagle-most of the major airlines I checked allowed cats as carry on luggage. The catch is, you can only have 1 per passenger and they have to have a health inspection.

1 passenger as in only one cat is allowed per person?
Is your wife sitting with the other cat?
Hmm...I have four birds. I guess I can cage two in one cage?
Click to expand...
 
Hi all

I will be moving coast to coast. Does anyone know what kind of SUV or any rental car can tow a small car? I am trying to figure out if I can do this for less than what a u-haul truck would cost because I don't need all the space of the u-haul truck. I don't know much about these things...😡
If towing my car with a rental car is impossible, then I guess u-haul is my best bet, right?
Thanks in advance for any help.
P.
 
Beagle-my girlfriend (not wife thank you very much!) did have the other cat in the seat next to me. It's one cat/person so if you're traveling alone, then you gotta choose which lucky animal gets to sit with you. I would check with the airlines directly to see what exactly you can do with the birds. If they're noisy birds, its probably not a good idea to have them with you on board. I do remember seeing one airline that specializes in transporting pets but they were crazy expensive. Sorry I can't help much but the best advice I can give is to call the airlines and ask them what thier policy's are.
 
all I say is throw the cats, the birds, and the dog into a cage and see who survives. It's survival of the fittest ya know? J/K

For those taking pets, I laud you. I wish I had the time and energy to take care of my cat in dental school.

DesiDentist
 
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