Logistics of moving across the country (Las Cruces: transplants, rental homes, condo)

[lawmom]

For those of you who are LC transplants and moved a fair distance, how did you do it?

We will likely be coming by the beginning of August. One of us will drive the moving van with husband's truck towed on back, and one will drive our minivan with the kids (I foresee a lively discussion over who has to drive the minivan!!!)

We will plan the route so we can see some neat things and visit some family, and take more time than necessary so the kids can deal better with it.

My question has more to do with housing. I just don't see how either of us can get out there again before we move to look at rentals. Of course, the thought of renting some place sight unseen is untenable. I imagine there are short-term rentals available, especially at that time of year? That's the only option we can come up with, rent a place for a month while we look.

Anyone suggestions?

[tecpatl]

Originally Posted by lawmom

For those of you who are LC transplants and moved a fair distance, how did you do it?

We will likely be coming by the beginning of August. One of us will drive the moving van with husband's truck towed on back, and one will drive our minivan with the kids (I foresee a lively discussion over who has to drive the minivan!!!)

We will plan the route so we can see some neat things and visit some family, and take more time than necessary so the kids can deal better with it.

My question has more to do with housing. I just don't see how either of us can get out there again before we move to look at rentals. Of course, the thought of renting some place sight unseen is untenable. I imagine there are short-term rentals available, especially at that time of year? That's the only option we can come up with, rent a place for a month while we look.

Anyone suggestions?

Jeez, lawmom....I can't imagine that it's not worth it for one of you to fly out for a couple days (maybe while the other supervises the packing ???) to find a place in advance. You could probably sort out possible rental homes in advance online, then hit the ground running and be done with it in a short time.
Just showin' up seems much more disruptive and hassle-prone to me..but maybe you thrive on adventure!
Good luck in any case, and welcome to New Mexico.

[tecpatl]

...and on top of that, if you rent a condo or something for a month or so, wouldn't you have to unload the moving van into a storage unit(s) until you found a place? Sounds like lifting and handling things a couple extra times to me....never a good idea.

[PenguinMA]

Hi, lawmom, this doesn't address the housing problem, but I had some thoughts about the trip for your kids. Wouldn't it be cool to have them do scrapbooks chronicling the adventure? You could buy them each a book, supplies, stickers, etc. Get brochures at different places you visit to cut out and glue, draw pictures, etc. This will keep them busy during the driving and visiting along the way. Of course, the minivan will be a real mess. Can I come?

[malamute]

If I was moving cross country, I might try something like pods which gives flexibility and you wouldn't have to unload into a storage unit and then again later. I'd want about a month at the least to find a more permanent place especially with kids.

[malamute]

I've never tried pods -- so I can't say anything about the quality or service or cost, it just seems like a pretty good way of moving at least for the way I'd want to do it.

[lawmom]

PODS is something to consider, thanks!

Penguin, our van is already a mess, so more mess won't make much difference. And the scrapbooks are a great idea, at least for our daughter (our son just turned 3 and would likely rip the pages to smithereens.)

[Steve Hazzard]

Originally Posted by lawmom

For those of you who are LC transplants and moved a fair distance, how did you do it?

We will likely be coming by the beginning of August. One of us will drive the moving van with husband's truck towed on back, and one will drive our minivan with the kids (I foresee a lively discussion over who has to drive the minivan!!!)

We will plan the route so we can see some neat things and visit some family, and take more time than necessary so the kids can deal better with it.

My question has more to do with housing. I just don't see how either of us can get out there again before we move to look at rentals. Of course, the thought of renting some place sight unseen is untenable. I imagine there are short-term rentals available, especially at that time of year? That's the only option we can come up with, rent a place for a month while we look.

Anyone suggestions?

Having been involved in the household goods moving and storage business for more than 25 years, including 12 years as an owner-operator leased to United Van Lines, moving to a new location (any location) without a game plan and pre-arranged housing is a recipe for disaster, especially with children. At the very least, you should have temporary housing in place before you leave your place of origin. I ran all 48 states and Canada, there is always some form of short term housing (30 days to 6 months) available for rent. I have witnessed the "no housing" situation go bad very quickly which usually resulted in me hauling the shipper's goods back to the point of origin or to the location of a family member and putting the goods in storage. Please have pre-arranged housing before you load that first piece of furniture on your moving truck.

[tito]

I agree with Steve Hazzard, moving without a definite destination is asking for trouble, particularly if it's a family with children. When I moved at the end of 2007, I already had an address to go to. I secured my place a few months in advance in a pre-moving trip to Las Cruces. Moving was very easy with me driving my car and a moving truck carrying my belongins a couple of days behind.

[nancy thereader]

I have seen the "no housing" situation go bad very quickly which usually resulted in me hauling the shipper's goods back to the point of origin

Wow. Has that ever happened ; have you ever moved someone's furniture all the way back to say, New York, from New Mexico?