Relocating, need help with moving companies (Phoenix, Flagstaff: rental, mover, appliances)

[hogsrul]

Company is giving me a lump sum of $20k for total moving expenses. What van line should I go with to save the most money? Anyone have any experiences with this?

Thanks

Brandon

[sweetp979]

I've done 3 relatively big out of state moves in the last couple of years and used ABF for all of them. They have a few options - loading/unloading at your homes or loading/unloading at their freight depots. I believe they also offer packing services.

As long as you're going from a major metro area to another major metro area, it can save a lot of $$. They outbid every company I tried by a significant amount. The only time I didn't use them was moving to Flagstaff - the cost coming up the mountain was just astronomical.

[hogsrul]

I'm moving from Northwest Arkansas. Doesn't look like door2door has any services here. Not looking promising.

[hikernut]

Hi,

The website "movingscam.com" has lots of good reviews and resources. Most every mover has some bad reviews, unfortunately.

We decided to do most of the box packing ourselves, and moved those boxes and a few nicer pieces of furniture ourselves with a Budget rental truck. We're hiring a moving company to deliver the rest of the furniture and appliances (my back isn't strong enough to lift all of that stuff any longer!).

Good luck,

hikernut

[MalteseJane]

We moved from Houston to Phoenix area 4-1/2 years ago and used Graebel but paid more than 2,000$. It was something between 5 and 5500$, don't remember exactly. We were expecting more. It depends on the weight. We did 99% of our packing ourselves. They packed our TV's and the glass top from our kitchen table (42" ROUND). They also loaded our second car in front of our house (SUV). We were very happy with them. They were on time for loading and unloading. Nothing was broken and nothing missing. A friend of ours used them a few years earlier and was happy with them too. Since she had only a few pieces of furniture she tried first to rent a U-Haul. Believe it or not, U-Haul rent was more expensive than Graebel. We could not believe it and my husband went to U-Haul to check it out because we thought she misunderstood them.

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by hogsrul

Company is giving me a lump sum of $20k for total moving expenses. What van line should I go with to save the most money? Anyone have any experiences with this?

Thanks

Brandon

$20k????

[mcanchola2]

I used United and was very satisfied. They are a little pricey but it was worth it. I had no damage at all and the entire process ran very smooth.

[hogsrul]

Burning, what's the question?

[Jkgourmet]

Find a moving company with a good reputation in your area where you live NOW. The loading is more important than the unloading, generally speaking, as more damage occurs from stuff that is packed improperly.

But if you main goal is to save the most amount of money, hire a U-haul and a bunch of college students. Consider the cost of breakage and damage. If you have nice stuff, you'll be better off with a reputable moving company. If you have crappy stuff, I'd ask the company if you can use some of the booty to buy new furniture when you get here rather than move the stuff you have now.

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by hogsrul

Burning, what's the question?

I thought that the moving company was quoting $20k. Then I reread your post. My bad.