[Schatzi]

Warning Long Post..and Boring if you aint movin!

I'm starting this thread since it seemed a few of us are in the middle, or just starting to Move..for those that have done this before..please jump in with some lessons learned or destressers! This will be my 9th move in my life time and it won't unfortunately be my last... but no matter how many times I move...its more stuff..more work..and more stress!

Ken (DH) and I are in the middle of moving from Jersey to North Carolina... I am the free spirit ..holding on to much of nothing ..of course this is subjective since I live with a man who holds on to everything... Why today he FINALLY let go of over 400 (yep) 8 TRACK TAPES! Base Ball mitts, 6 Bowling Balls, and scads of trophies from his Days of Yore... A TURN TABLE, an 8 Track player and 25+ year old Base ball uniforms... 3 B/W Tvs with RABBIT EARS.. Holy Almighty Bob..I did the Snoopy Happy Dance..!
We got estimates for professional movers, They Pack, We pack, or a combo of the two... The average was 15,500 pounds of "Junque" ... The average price for a "you pack most of the crap and we'll move it" is $6,400 (with valuation "insurance") So we decided that we will rent a trailer to move the bulk of the stuff ourselves,lower our out of pocket to around 4500.

Anyway, I want to share some insights with any one doing these major kind of moves without relocation packages...

a gem of a website is www.movingscam.com This website is full of Buyer Bewares, Blacklisted movers, some leads on good movers and "do it yourself " moving .(e.g Uhaul vs Penske etc) and will lead you to other "must know before you go" websites... Most all reputable movers go by Tarriff 9N which "governs" the pricing for the move.. Therefore, the cost won't vary much between reputable movers...
If you don't plan on moving any of your own stuff, ensure you get a Binding agreement.. this means that the cost is not to exceed that which was quoted. In the states, if you do not get this cap and it exceeds the weight quoted, then you pay no more than 10% over the quote.
Ensure the company is not going to subcontract out your move to another company... and get a timeframe for the move.. EG. if out of state, they can tell you that they will be there within 2 to 3 days.. STAY AWAY FROM INTERNET MOVERS.. movers must come to your home to do a weight estimate, not a cubic foot measure..
Get the DOT license number and look them up on www.FMSA.com.. ensure they are licensed to do the move and are insured to do so..

Lesson learned (so far) : If you go with a mover, most provide boxes for free, and will help you estimate how many and type you need.. but you will need to return them afterwards for some. I jumped the gun and purchased boxes.. at a Metro Jersey site called www.Boxesbythebundle.com . They were the cheapest, and delivered to my door... I am very satisfied with the quality of materials...and am not sorry I bought my own (except for the &*% tape dispenser)
Get Valuation insurance...and don't forget to declare "Items of extraordinary value"..that is anything that is worth over $100 PER pound...
Move things of importance or sentimental value yourself if you can: Personal files, jewlery, art work... Even if you take the additional " insurance" , it's worth the piece of mind to pack and move that which you love or need...
I'd rather pack and move these items even if I end up damaging them.. Your call...

Have Fun! I often get distracted by putting on old hats... or trying on old stuff...perusing old photos, and sometimes heaving a heavy sigh as I ditch something that use to be important to me..

Even if no one posts...it's okay..just wanted to share my lessons learned and steer any potential movers to movingscam.com It has been invaluable to me!

[3!girls!for!me!]

Schatzi, sounds like you have done your homework!!! I will not be moving any time soon (I hope) but hope you have a smooth transition from Jersey to North Carolina. I cant image having moved 9 times and knowing that you will be moving again, does yours or your DH jobs transfer alot? I get a kick out of reading everyones posts here and should probably post more often than I do but by the time I get done reading everything and get ready to post something one of my girls needs something and off the computer I go!! Hope all goes well for you and DH!!!

[Marianna]

This is our 4th move in 2 1/2 years... so I am a little over it.. we sold our house and rent to be closer to work and university so we maximise our time at home with our daughter (when we owned we had up to 3 hours of travelling time)... but I am sick of moving - so this next move should be it for quite some time (fingers crossed anyway)... i searched and searched and waited and waited.. I think you get the picture for such a great house!

But I always try and get the keys for the new house a few days before all of the big furniture goes and then in the couple of days prior I make like we are camping out at home and set all of the cupboards and bedrooms up at the new house.. as well as the kitchen... and then when we move the big things it is simply a matter of making the beds and we are ready to go.. that way it minimises the stress on my daughter who is 3... tends to work for us.

Oh and a great list.... just stick everything you need to do on it and go from there..

Good Luck to all of the movers

[pearshape]

I'm not moving anytime soon, not until next Christmas but I am like you, Schatzi, a "free spirit" ! I am soooo not a packrat and can't stand clutter and useless junk around. My bf, on the other hand, is the world's worst packrat. 4 out of 5 bedrooms in his bachelor pad are crammed full of 10 years worth of stuff that's doing nothing but collecting dust. I told him he needs to clean house before I'll move in and he keeps saying he will but hasn't so far. Well, he's got a year and a half (yes, i'm counting down the days) and will need every bit of that and more. It's sort of hard cause I'm trying not to hurt his feelings but I really can't stand his house at all. It has great potential but right now it makes my skin crawl. He's always telling me how he's going to do this and that and make everything perfect for when I get out there. He gets all excited when he talks about it so I don't want to be mean by telling him to get off his @$$ and do it then!! Oh well, I'll just bite my tounge for now...ouch ! Sorry, this is not exactly the same subject thread just got reminded of the move and started to vent!

[mrs.brenda]

Welcome to NC. I live in Greensboro.

[KimberlyHeidi]

Hope you have good moves, I hate moving