Moving Companies/Car Shipping

[NeverNeverland]

Ok, so, I'm going to be moving in a few months, yay.
And I'm still deciding between renting a UHaul (scary to think of of having to drive it cross country!) and having a mover haul my stuff. I will have a few pieces of furniture and some (many? ) boxes. Luckily I've been moving place to place so I don't have tons of stuff. No matter WHAT I need to pay someone to move my TV from my house to the truck.

Would UHaul be cheaper? I'm really nervous to drive it, and gas is $$ and I've herd horror stories about them breaking down and stuff. BUT I'm afraid a moving CO will be a lot more money. My mom used to work for one and said sometimes they'd combine loads, if there was someone going out that way, and then it was cheaper. Is that true?
And what would be a good cross country company to get a quote from?

AND:
I need to ship my car. I think I've decided that's cheaper than selling it and buying a new one and being even more in debt for a few more years (it'll need repairs either way). But I'm not sure how to find a reliable place? I shipped my car from CO to CA but I can't remember how I did it LOL

Thanks for any help or suggestions. I'm kinda clueless here.

[aimster]

http://www.twomenandatruck.com/

Not sure if they do state-to-state moving, but the last time I moved, I used them and they were beyond awesome. They actually finished the job in less time than I was quoted for, so the final payment was much less than I was expecting. They moved everything perfectly safe and were totally professional and the guys they sent were really nice.

[TraceCub]

From what I understand these days, U-Haul does offer help for some fee with moving things in/out of the truck/apartment, etc.

It can NOT hurt you to call a few moving companies and have them come in for an estimate. It's pretty cool. They look at everything you'll be taking and they use a chart of pre-determined average estimates as far as weight goes and they'll quote you based on that. Make sure that, if you like the quote and want to sign, they have a no-overage policy. This means that if your stuff ends up weighing MORE than estimated, they won't charge you more. Our stuff ended up weighing A LOT more than estimated (I don't remember just how much but the driver was SO astonished he called us from the weighing station! ) and we really got a steal out of the company 'cause of it.

The last big move (From Vegas to ATL) we used Atlas and they were awesome! They did combine orders on the truck. We were first on, last off which was fine with us. They did special wrapping of a few rare furniture pieces we have (coffee table and 75lb Buddha statue) and everything arrived perfectly.

I've shipped my car twice and both times was really pleased. I'll try to find the name of the company we used to let you know. Moving companies will ship the car in addition to your things, but it's generally more expensive than going with a separate specialized car moving company.

Exciting that you're planning this out!

How many *rooms* would you say you have? That'll be what any company will ask. If you have enough stuff for a studio apartment, one bedroom apartment, etc. That'll also help you determine whether to do a rental truck instead.

[Coheteboy]

what?? you're moving???? what's going on????

[NeverNeverland]

Thanks for the help so far!
Last out is OK since Jeff has all the basics, and I'll be UPSing a few boxes. I guess I'd say studio? It's my bedroom and a few things from the living room. Nothing from the kitchen (dishes but nothing bigger/heavier than that) I guess I can't get estimates 'til after Jeff gets back out here and we decide what to keep and what not to. Always planning way ahead - that is ME!

Thanks for the info and I'll check into those places!

^^ Coheteboy

[nbodyhome]

I have read SO many bad things about U-Haul, I just wouldn't even think about using them.

I know Matt (PhotoMatt) ended up selling some of his stuff instead of spending the money to move it (we were fortunate enough to end up with a few of his items). If it was me, I'd probably end up driving my car and stuffing it with whatever could fit. But that is just me!

[NeverNeverland]

My car won't make it across country w/o repairs. I'd rather have it repaired out there where Jeff has a trusted mechanic - I don't have one here. And my TV would NEVER fit in it! Nor would the few other pieces I HAVE to have.

[garbear]

http://www.atlasworldgroup.com/

[pratt55]

When my sister moved back here from PA she rented a U-Haul and had a car-trailer thing on it so she could drag her car with it. She then paid for a friend's flight out to PA who drove the U-Haul back with her.

Maybe some MC'er would like to make a road trip with you, and then you pay for their flight back home? Or you can always look in the paper/craigslist to see if anyone is taking a partial load out there.

[knittingknerd]

Starving Students moving company is good from what I hear.

[MollyTrolly]

My best friend moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta (and then back a year later) she had her car shipped and she also had a moving compnay move her stuff. One big thing to remember is if you have your car shipped make sure you take EVERYTHING out of it. They stole all 10 CDs hat were in her changer when they shipped her car.

[sir clinksalot]

When your making a cross-country move, it's usually less expensive to have somebody else do it for you rather than Uhaul.

I'd have somebody move it then drive cross-country in the car. How many chances do you get to do that?

EDIT ... just saw the stuff about the car not making it. Scratch that.

[TraceCub]

When my sister moved back here from PA she rented a U-Haul and had a car-trailer thing on it so she could drag her car with it. She then paid for a friend's flight out to PA who drove the U-Haul back with her.

Maybe some MC'er would like to make a road trip with you, and then you pay for their flight back home? Or you can always look in the paper/craigslist to see if anyone is taking a partial load out there.

I've never used U-Haul but I have used Penske. When you go cross country they let you drop the truck at another authorized location in the town you moved to.

[aimster]

^^Uhaul does that too. Most Uhaul trucks I see here in Florida have Arizona plates.

[NeverNeverland]

I'm starting to look more seriously at moving companies so I'm bumping this up...

Any cheap, reliable moving companies for a cross country move?
Thanks!!