moving to dallas...rockwall (Howe, Rice: movers, house, transfer)

[tanyarwood]

Hi everyone!

Does anyone know of a good moving company with good prices?? I have been looking at some companies that don't pack your stuff, but where their services include the truck, gas and driver. But I was also interested in companies that offer packing our stuff as well to compare the prices. We will be moving from Florida to Texas in late June and we will need at least two 24 foot trucks.

Thank you so much!!

[Grainraiser]

I can't help you with any moving services but be very carefull. I have heard more than a few of them hold your personal items hostage until you pay them more than what was agreed upon.

[CurrentlyinSanAntonio]

You need two 24' trucks, which is equivalent to just about a full semi trailer? Wow, thats a lot of stuff.

[aeh]

We have had great experience with movers--Bekins, Atlas, AMJ Campbell (might be a division of one of the big ones). Going through all that right now. Packing services for us on this move are going to be about $6,000 but we have a few items that make it more difficult (air hockey table, pool table, crating some XXL mirrors, crating a marble furniture top, etc). We have had it run around $3,000 before. Unpacking is less, and most of the time I end up dismissing them early. However, I did just get a good tip from a mover--unpack the kitchen yourself and direct the unpackers to other areas of the house..that way you don't have 42 plates all over your kitchen counters (because they just lay them out) and this is what causes most homeowners to excuse the packers early because it just gets overwhelming and they're in your way. That way, they can be unpacking the bedroom, the gameroom, whatever, and you can be unpacking the kitchen that first day. Then when you are done, they can take all of the boxes, packing paper, etc and you don't have to dispose of it yourself...plus your whole house is unpacked. Granted, unpacking is not quite the ordeal packing is so if you can only go with one or the other, I'd go with packing. I have found the packing service to be extremely worth it. Go with one of the most reputable, well-known companies. Some of the smaller ones have really bad records. If you do choose to use one of the smaller ones for cost savings, check them out with the BBB.

[nsumner]

Originally Posted by Grainraiser

I can't help you with any moving services but be very carefull. I have heard more than a few of them hold your personal items hostage until you pay them more than what was agreed upon.

Yes I can vouch for that personally. We had used a company from Chicago though the relocation department. We had 2 trucks holding 22,000 lbs and when we got to Dallas their local rep met us at the house and they wanted 3K more than the 10K we were quoted plus they insisted that it be on a check from a local bank. We drove down following the trucks so we just didn't have any accounts set up here. Anyway, it was a nighmare and they kept our stuff for an additional 48 hours until we were able to open an account and transfer funds here.

Needless to say, they were dropped from the vendor list from the relocation department after we were done with them.

So, yes, shop carefully. I hear that Bekins is really good and if you use your AAA card you get a 20% discount too... If you don't have a card, get one, it's only $50 a year, well worth it.

Naima

[texasorbust]

We used Stevens. We moved from CA to Texas and we had one of those hugh big trucks. The under bid us and still didn't charge us more. The told us that we would only fill the biggest truck 3/4 full we ended up filling the whole truck and then some. We only had minor stuff broken and could of file a claim but it was just a glass or two.

[ottomobeale]

GET PRICE IN WRITING AND IRON CLAD. There are scammers out there. (generally local unknowns) They will demand extra and hold your stuff hostage to get it... All the while adding on "daily storage fees"

2 24' trucks is a family with kids. We filled a 50'er but came out at only 16000 lbs. Lots of plastic bulk.