Moving Options

We have no idea at this point how we are getting from Point A (Ohio) to Point B (Florida) with all of our stuff...and it's a lot of stuff!  When we moved into this house, we didn't have a whole lot.  In the past 5 years, we have FILLED this house which is almost 3000 square feet!  Moving is expensive.  Moving 3000 square feet of stuff almost 1000 miles away is VERY expensive!

OPTION #1

Good 'ole U-Haul.  The load it yourself, drive it yourself, and unload it yourself option.  Ugh.  I'm not sure if even their biggest truck could hold all of our stuff.  I do not want Henry to have to drive a gigantic truck down through the WV turn-pike.  We would have to probably make 2 trips with 2 trucks at 2 different times if we went with U-Haul.  Estimated cost is around $3000.



OPTION #2

A moving company.  There are soooo many moving companies!  Here's a warning to you:  Don't make the mistake that I made and fill out an online request for a quote from a moving company. You will have about 8 companies calling you 1-2 times a day plus emailing you about twice a day.  We have someone coming out this Friday to give us a quote.  We used United Van Lines years ago when we moved from Columbus to Chicago.  Back then, Henry's company paid for our move.  The movers packed up our whole house, loaded the truck, drove our stuff to Chicago, stored it on their truck for 6 days, and then unloaded at our new place in Chicago....for a grand total of $13,000!!!  We have since learned that if it's a 'company paid move', the moving company will jack up the price.  This move to Florida is not a company paid move so I'm interested to hear the quote.  I, of course, have been reading reviews online on different companies.  They are all terrible!!  Scary things like damaged goods, lost goods, stolen goods, jacking up the price once they get your stuff on their truck, etc.  None of this sounds fun.  Pluses, though, would be that they do it for you!!  AND all of our stuff could be moved at once.  AND Henry wouldn't have to drive through the mountains.


OPTION #3

PODS moving containers seem promising.  You have a POD delivered to your driveway.  Then, you can load it up as you find time to do it (not all in one day like a U-Haul!).  The price is the same if you have it for just one day or 30 days.  Then, they drive it to your new location for you.  Then you can take as long as needed to unload it.  I just got an over-the-phone quote.  $4700   Ouch.  I was told that each pod only holds about 3 rooms of furniture so we would need at least 2 (2 pods, 2 drivers, 2 trips down to FL).  I just saw on U-Haul's website that they now also have something similar called 'U-Box Pods' so I'll have to get a quote from them too.  

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There's no way around it.  Moving to Florida is going to be EXPENSIVE.