Moving from NYC to L.A. -- movers suggestions? (packing, moving company, upack)

[enro]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to figure out the best way to move from New York City to Los Angeles in mid June. Does anyone have any suggestions that would include movers, storage, etc?

We don't have much stuff, but what we do have is kind of fragile and needs to be shipped properly. We'll be keeping a bed, a TV, an iMac computer, a small table, and about 8-10 boxes of clothes and items.

We won't have an address to ship to immediately, we're hoping to find an apartment our first week there, so we would need storage.

I looked into U-Haul's Pod system, which seemed the most affordable/reliable. I think the quote was around $2200 and includes movers to help load the Pod (and the fee to bring the Pod to our apartment).

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[ccm123]

I have used Mayflower for my past moves and have been very happy with them. Most moving companies do have storage facilities, you can ask them.

[enro]

Thanks. I just called them, unfortunately they have a 2100 lb minimum which seems to be a lot more than I would need.

[sprint100]

I have done a long distance move and highly suggest using movers. Even though some of them can't guarantee delivery on the day you specify, if you plan properly for that, then that would be the small sacrifice. Since you have fragile stuff I would suggest packing it yourself and don't go scrooge on the boxes. Most of the problems people have are with breaking of items, but if you do it right then it shouldn't be a problem.
During my move just from CA to CO, yours is three times that distance LOL, the benefit of having my stuff didn't outweigh driving that truck all those hours and paying 100+ at every gas station to fill up the tank or worrying when my tank was on 1/4 and just hoping to make it to the next station. Family and additional cars just add to the worry LOL.

Just to add you can also go to the website uship. It is like an auction site for shippers. You will get asked about your items then just wait for the prices and estimates to start coming in.

[jacktravern]

Originally Posted by enro

Hi everyone,


We don't have much stuff, but what we do have is kind of fragile and needs to be shipped properly. We'll be keeping a bed, a TV, an iMac computer, a small table, and about 8-10 boxes of clothes and items.

We won't have an address to ship to immediately, we're hoping to find an apartment our first week there, so we would need storage.

I looked into U-Haul's Pod system, which seemed the most affordable/reliable. I think the quote was around $2200 and includes movers to help load the Pod (and the fee to bring the Pod to our apartment).

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I once made that move from NYC to Los ANgeles and you know what I did, I decided is was best to minimalize what I brought with me and decided to buy new things once I got here. I brought 4 suitacses of clothes, DVDs, CDs, and important paperwork.

A move that far will really add up some way or another with any moving company or van b/c thats alot of gas needed to go 2800 miles, plus you would need money to use a storage chamber. You can use that money towards rent, a deposit, a car, and first months groceries, cable set up, Car Ins. ect..

I sold or gave away things in NYC, or left a few valuables with my parents and went back for them later.
I say lose the bed and the table and maybe sell the computer. When you sit and think, you may realize the trouble and money this saves.

If u were moving slightly south to say Virginia or a Carolina, I would maybe look into a moving company, but when doing the cross country thing, you gotta change you're reality a bit and leave some things behind unless you have an extreme amount of disposable income. Good luck

[Mr. Zero]

We used OZ moving company when we left NYC for another East Coast city and we were really happy with them. We would've used them for our move to LA as well, but I believe they only do NYC-CA long hauls. We ended up using Mayflower for the cross-country move and we were satisfied with them, but had a better experience with the OZ move.

[bounty80]

Highly recommend United - and have them pack up all of your stuff. A little more expensive, but worth it. It will make an already tough move a little easier.

[dvduval]

I've had good experience using those relocubes from upack. I've moved from coast to coast 3 times that way. I hire my own packers on either side of the move. I have not tried the uhaul, but it sounds similar.

[enro]

Thanks jacktavern. I've decided that's what I'm going to do. Sell everything except my computer and ship around 6 boxes of clothes, personal items by UPS or Fed Ex.

Originally Posted by jacktravern

I once made that move from NYC to Los ANgeles and you know what I did, I decided is was best to minimalize what I brought with me and decided to buy new things once I got here. I brought 4 suitacses of clothes, DVDs, CDs, and important paperwork.

A move that far will really add up some way or another with any moving company or van b/c thats alot of gas needed to go 2800 miles, plus you would need money to use a storage chamber. You can use that money towards rent, a deposit, a car, and first months groceries, cable set up, Car Ins. ect..

I sold or gave away things in NYC, or left a few valuables with my parents and went back for them later.
I say lose the bed and the table and maybe sell the computer. When you sit and think, you may realize the trouble and money this saves.

If u were moving slightly south to say Virginia or a Carolina, I would maybe look into a moving company, but when doing the cross country thing, you gotta change you're reality a bit and leave some things behind unless you have an extreme amount of disposable income. Good luck