Moving Conundrum... most cost effective?

[Lauri D]

When I get back from Colorado after the Thanksgiving week, I will be giving the required 30 days' notice on my apartment and moving my things out there to store with the b.f. since he has plenty-o-space and I can use that location as a jumping off point for traveling (by car and perhaps sometimes flying) until the summer/fall.

I've never moved a whole "household" before - when I sold my house before I got rid of everything and have only in the last year, since moving in to this place, acquired a one-bedroom-apartment's worth of furnishings etc. that I am not prepared to sell or give away as I was before. I will be getting rid of a couple of things that I feel have paid for themselves, but the bedroom set/couch/dining room set/kitchenware stuff and fridge are new enough that I can't justify getting rid of 'em and buying new.

So my question is, is it better to hire a moving company or one of those U-Haul trucks? When the b.f. moved there he used a moving company we'd used before and had a *horrible* experience - lots of lost boxes, huge upcharges from the estimate, etc. However, since I have less stuff and feel fairly certain that it could all fit into one of the U-Haul trucks, it seems like it might be better to maintain that control over where and when my stuff arrives. Except, I don't know if I would feel comfortable driving it and also my own car's gotta get out there somehow. Maybe hire someone to drive in tandem (me in my car following or something)?

If anyone has any tips or experiences to share, maybe a moving company that was really great or pros and cons to DIY, I would really appreciate it. I only have about six weeks and procrastination is my favorite hobby!

[LadyShea]

I have moved 13 times in 20 years. I would do UHaul with only a one bedroom apt worth of stuff.

If you decide to hire someone, be sure to get a "Not to exceed X amount" on your contract, otherwise they will underestimate then the actual cost may be 2-3 times higher.

[Ensign Steve]

I've done it myself and hired movers, and there are lots of pros and cons to both. For what it's worth, I've never been ripped off by a mover. They always had some checksheet I could fill in ahead of time with how many boxes, beds, washing machines, pool tables, etc. I intended to move, and then gave me an estimate based on that. The final total was always close to the estimate. I think one time I had to pay like $21 extra for three seven-dollar rolls of tape that I could have gotten at Wal-mart for two bucks each because the movers insisted upon mummifying everything in tape and I was like whatever.

[LadyShea]

Oh and surely your BF can come out and drive the truck while you drive the car? If not, maybe a friend who has the time. I flew my dad out to Vegas to drive with me when we moved here.

[Lauri D]

LS - that's what I'm thinking, the expense would be the least to have a friend who lives here drive the truck out and fly him back (it's an expensive round trip from Durango because there's nothing direct). I'm gonna hit up Troy - you met him when he came to pick me at your Vegas place - he's a good driver and is usually off work that time of year anyway!

[freemonkey]

When we moved from Illinois to Washington, we had some friends come with us. We rented a large truck and trailer to tow one car while we drove the other. We flew them back and hired a limo to take them home to Racine, Wisc. from the airport in Chicago. It cost us less to do all that then to hire movers.

Also, we rented a Penske truck after hearing horror stories about some of the other companies. No regrets.

[cocolove]

They always had some checksheet I could fill in ahead of time with how many boxes, beds, washing machines, pool tables, etc. I intended to move, and then gave me an estimate based on that. The final total was always close to the estimate.

[Ensign Steve]

That's what I said! :robothrust:

[Dingfod]

Voice of authority: I have moved over 30 times, only twice by professional movers.

By the time you factor in gasoline or diesel for the rental truck, lodging, and meals in transit, it might be very competitive with container shipping, where you load it and unload it yourself, or hire it done locally, if desired, such as upack.com (http://www.upack.com/) or PODS. (http://www.pods.com/) Any of the above will be less than hiring professional movers.

Note: if you need help unloading at the new place, my services could be had very inexpensively (way cheap). I would love to get back to that part of the country for a visit.