Moving Cost? (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: sale, rent, movers)

[txtoia]

I will be moving from Des Moines to Dallas this Summer and have no idea what moving cost will be. My husband's company always paid for our moves but my husband passed away and now I am moving bck to Texas so just curious as to moving costs! Also, if you recently moved, any advice?????

[emmablue]

Depends on if you are moving yourself through u-haul how big your house is etc. We are moving from Dallas area to Des Moines as soon as house sells. Moving through a mover can run 7000.00 on up depending on amt of stuff. You can move through PODS the portable containers you load at your site and they deliver to your new home for unpacking. You can go on line and get qoutes for the move it yourself. Hope this helps....I'm sorry about your husband.

[mrs_moby73]

We just recently moved TO Des Moines. We did all the packing ourselves but hired a moving company to actually transport the goods for us. Turns out the cost for that was almost the same amount as doing a PODS-type move. Our move was about 1700 miles and the paid the moving company approximately $6500. Call some area moving companies and they will come to your house and estimate your weight and give you a quote. You can also get an estimate from PODS over the phone or call the nearest U-Haul office. Whatever mover you use, just make sure they are part of a big national chain to keep from getting ripped off. Hope that helps!

[LookKXLight]

Originally Posted by txtoia

I will be moving from Des Moines to Dallas this Summer and have no idea what moving cost will be. My husband's company always paid for our moves but my husband passed away and now I am moving bck to Texas so just curious as to moving costs! Also, if you recently moved, any advice?????

You are giving few specifics so it is hard to say. There are several primary factors most likely. I will omit closing costs or selling commissions on homes:

Incidental costs (utilities on/off): About $500 is a decent guess, perhaps more if there are any credit problems and greater deposits are required.

Physical move: If you have the ability to move yourself I would use the AAA discount with Penske and rent a truck from them. I priced a move of similar distance and a large truck (22 or 26 foot) was about $900. The AAA discount cut off about $100. Also add for fuel (figure about 6 to 8 mpg for a truck of that size taking the total distance and dividing by the midpoint for a good guess).

You may need movers on either end and you probably can arrange for day labor. Rather than hiring a couple of "guys" off the street (lacking equipment and experience, and with a greater chance of injury that they may try to use as a basis of a liability claim against you) I would use a moving company or temporary agency. The few more dollars paid are well worth it in terms of speed, correct loading, and reduced damage. Also, if they damage the goods or home on either end they are likely insured, a big plus.

A professional move (like you probably enjoyed before) is very nice and very expensive. From the marquis movers you are likely looking at about $12,000 to $15,000 for moving a house of 2000 to 3000 sf. I priced out the self move at about $3000, a substantial savings.

As to boxes, you can perhaps get these from somebody who recently moved. I purchased an entire minivan full (40 or 50 good boxes of various sizes) off of a Craigslist ad for $65. Just make sure they are clean (not oily or full of insects. Roaches like cardboard).

For a full relocation including house sale of a $300k home to the other end with closing costs, goods and vehicles moves, and househunting, I figured about $35,000 to 40,000 with a self move. My last two corporate relocations cost in the mid $50s. This is an unfortunate added joy of the current recession in that few companies are willing to pay these costs (or are willing to pay less) and many people have been hurt in terms of their home value, aggravating the situation. You can deduct a few of the costs on your taxes (check the IRS publications or an accountant for details) but for me the value seemed to be maybe $2000 tops.

Good luck to you. Happy/safe move.

[txtoia]

OMG, thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL the advice!! I am going to print out your info and will write back with some detailed questions!! To answer a few of your questions....I have 3 floors of furniture, main floor, upper floor and basement that is completely finished and furnished with a pool table, wall unit, etc., so I can just imagine what that would cost. Yes, through our 4 moves, the company paid for everything...even once we had them unpack when we arrived. I have no experience on moving myself!!! As I had mentioned, my husband took care of everything and since he passed away. I have 2 sons, 17 and 25, and the thought of 3 of us driving a Uhaul scares the hell out of me. I just need to think this all through, put a pencil to the cost AND options, etc. I have never heard of PODS, so will write back about that. I do plan on having a "moving sale"....there is soooo much I should sell HERE before I move south. Craigs List the best way to sell things??? Again, your info was extremely valuable and gave me much food for thought! I have learned a lot since my husband died suddenly in his sleep...."which end of a screw driver to hold, how to turn on a lawn mower" and I got through that with asking questions, so I will get through this too with your help!!! Thanks again....will write later, just need to get the spirit back now....

[swlmc2]

For my NY to IA move I used a national chain to move me for various reasons, but largely because I didn't know where I would be living in Iowa City. It was more practical that time for me to find an apt/house then call to have my furniture delivered. That move cost a fortune, almost $7,000, and that was AFTER paring down my belongings.... Big mistake.

For my move from Iowa City to Des Moines, I used PODS. I hired 2 men from a local moving company to move my furniture into the POD, and then again hired 2 men to move my things out of the POD into my home in DM.

I bought packing supplies, e.g. boxes, bubble wrap by the ton, and moving blankets online for less than retail.

Personally, I would absolutely use PODS again for another move. If you hire men from a pro moving company, they will know how to pack the POD for maximum use of available space, and also how to pack to protect your belongings while in the POD.

[txtoia]

Thanks so much! Explain PODS if you will. I am not familiar with that at all. Is it a form of UHaul?

[QuadCityImages]

PODS | About PODS Moving & Storage Solutions

[Corbyesmommie08]

Originally Posted by txtoia

I will be moving from Des Moines to Dallas this Summer and have no idea what moving cost will be. My husband's company always paid for our moves but my husband passed away and now I am moving bck to Texas so just curious as to moving costs! Also, if you recently moved, any advice?????

I'm sorry to hear about your husband. We just recently moved to Fort Worth last September, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I hated living there because of the weather Spring and Summer were great. I hated the winter time there it sucked.. Texas is a beast in the winter but I will take 115 degree days over 30 below, no issue there. There is allot more to do in Texas then there is in Iowa, I lived here before I got married for about 3 yrs then moved back to Iowa and then back to Texas aftter I got married both my kids were born in Iowa. It's expensive to move, I can tell you that much, I would highly recomment getting a Driveable U-haul and a dolly to put your car on. We moved here with 8x12 trailor attached to our van via a hitch and loaded both vehicles to tilt that cost us a total of 700.00 for the uhaul, about 500.00 for gas and 70.00 for a hotel on the way down here, it took us two days to get here, as I have two small kids and two cats so we had to stop allot.

I really wish you luck moving to Dallas, however i wouldn't recommend it, Dallas has allot of crime and gangs, my bet would be Fort Worth, it's safer and less crime and no gangs that I know of...Just my opnion..Good luck!

[Corbyesmommie08]

I also wouldn't recommend pods or a mover both very expensive, 2000.00 min for Pods we looked at that b4 we moved here to Texas, but your choice again good luck.